5 Trends in Garden Design For 2024
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In 2024, the landscape of garden design is evolving, embracing creativity and pushing the boundaries of traditional norms. This year's trends reflect a harmonious blend of sustainable innovation and beauty, highlighting how gardens can serve as both a refuge for wildlife and a sanctuary of tranquillity.
As we explore these five key trends, we'll discover how they redefine garden spaces by demonstrating a synergy of artistic expression and eco-friendliness whilst also adapting to modern urban living. This shift represents a deeper appreciation for nature's role in our daily lives, blending traditional gardening principles with innovative approaches to meet the challenges of the present and future.
1. Ornamental Edibles (Edimentals): Blending Taste with Aesthetics
The Community Garden designed by Nilufer Danis Studio
This trend involves integrating plants that are both visually appealing and edible into garden designs. These plants, such as certain varieties of herbs, vegetables, and edible flowers, provide an additional sensory experience, combining taste with visual aesthetic. They offer practicality, encouraging gardeners to think beyond traditional ornamental plants and consider the functional aspects of their gardens. The focus of this trend is on how gardens can serve a dual purpose, enhancing both the table (through fresh, organic produce for the kitchen) and the view.
One of our previous projects featuring edible planting beds is The Community Garden in Taichung. In this project, the raised bed included a mix of edible plants (e.g. vegetables and herbs) to encourage a healthier and more sustainable living, demonstrating a way of growing food in your own home and with limited space.
2. Zen & Harmony: Embracing Japanese Garden Aesthetics
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Japanese garden design is characterised by its minimalist and natural approach, creating spaces of tranquility and reflection. Key elements include water features, rock formations, and carefully selected plants that together create a balanced and harmonious environment. These gardens often mimic natural landscapes in miniature form and are designed to foster a sense of peace and contemplation. This popular trend highlights the importance of mindfulness and connection with nature in 2024.
3. Transforming Limited Spaces into Green Havens
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As urban living spaces become increasingly compact, the challenge of creating green spaces in small areas has led to innovative garden designs. This trend focuses on transforming balconies, rooftops, and compact yards into vibrant, green sanctuaries. Techniques like growing up instead of out (vertical gardening), using innovative ways of colonising indoor space as well as featuring small-scale water features to maximise limited space and help urban green spaces to flourish. The ultimate goal of this emerging trend is to bring a touch of nature into urban environments, improving the quality of life for city dwellers.
4. Conserving Water Through Sustainable Rain Gardens
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Rainwater gardens provide a practical and effective solution for managing rainwater runoff. Specifically designed to capture and utilise rainwater, these gardens play a crucial role in decreasing dependency on municipal water supplies and alleviating the risk of flooding. In addition to their water management benefits, they also contribute to improved water quality, particularly as excess water overflows into rivers. These gardens often include plants that thrive in wet conditions, such as native grasses and perennials, creating ecosystems that are both aesthetically pleasing and beneficial for local wildlife. This trend is particularly relevant in areas facing water scarcity, emphasising the role of gardens in sustainable urban planning.
5. Using Naturalistic Planting
Contemporary Garden Design by Nilufer Danis Studio
The perennial movement celebrates plants that return each year, offering a sustainable and low-maintenance approach to gardening. This trend appreciates the natural lifecycle of plants, allowing gardens to evolve and change over time. It emphasises the use of native and local species, which are not only beneficial for pollination but also better adapted to local climates, thereby supporting local wildlife. Gardens designed with perennials such as our Cricklewood contemporary garden often feature a more relaxed look within a clean, minimalistic layout. The result is a wild and exciting appearance achieved through naturalistic planting.
The 2024 garden design trends reflect a growing desire to combine planet-friendly gardening with resilience and creativity. From the practicality of edible ornamentals to the serene beauty of Japanese gardens, these trends offer a new way to experience and interact with nature.