Summer’s here so we thought we’d take a look at this season’s major garden trends.

Already this year we’ve seen the continued popularity of outdoor living and entertaining at home. We’re also beginning to see a contemporary revolution and a sizeable shift towards sustainability.

If there was one positive point that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, it was our newfound appreciation for the outdoors, especially the space right outside our backdoors. This, combined with the current rising cost of living and homeowners choosing to improve rather than move, has led to many of us making improvements to our alfresco areas, whether that’s a garden, balcony, or courtyard.

Taking the inside out.

Many of us are now considering our gardens as an extension of our homes – an outdoor room – rather than a separate entity and using them in myriad ways, such as outdoor kitchens and entertainment spaces.

One way to create an ‘outdoor room’ is by introducing a decked area. Whilst there are many types of decking to choose from, those who want a low-maintenance, sustainable solution are vying for wood composite decking. Not only is wood composite decking easier to maintain than timber, it’s also durable and easy to clean so it remains in tip-top condition. In addition, composite decking is extremely versatile and available in a variety of styles and designs, allowing inside aesthetics to easily flow to the outdoors.

Contemporary colours.

Unlike traditional timber, composite decking comes in an array of different colours, from natural to contemporary. Although nature-inspired tones will always be highly sought after, we believe the more modern shades, such as anthracite greys, dark blues, and blacks will begin to be more popular throughout and come more to the fore this summer and into next year.

This is partly due to the ongoing popularity of coloured window and door frames and wanting our decking to complement these characteristics. However, it’s also due to a growing demand for more modern hard landscaping features in unique colours, as more of us look to create a truly contemporary, yet timeless, outside space.

This year’s Pantone colour of the year is a great example of this. Viva Magenta is described as a ‘shade rooted in nature descending from the red family’, which is a colour that can be seen reflected in flowers like poppies and roses. Coloured composite decking, such as grey or black, is the perfect foil for these brightly toned-plants and will help create the perfect contemporary outdoor space.

Sustainable simplicity.

Although aesthetics are important, sustainability is a trend that we believe will continue to grow well beyond this summer. When it comes to making a purchasing decision, being able to trace materials and have confidence in a brand’s environmental credentials are now important considerations for many of us.

This trend has seen an increase in the number of people choosing wood composite decking. as they become more aware of its sustainable attributes compared to traditional timber. For example, Ecodek decking is made from 95% recycled and sustainably sourced materials and the decking itself is 100% recyclable. Also, wood composite decking does not require regular treatments which could release dangerous fumes into the environment.

Overall, we believe this summer will be the season that sees us using our outdoor areas far more – relaxing and entertaining friends and family and these outdoor spaces will continue to be transformed into contemporary, sustainable, and long-lasting habitats.