As many of us are now spending so much more time at home, it’s a good time to get enthusiastic about our outdoor spaces and it seems the trend for fun, useful, outdoor areas that are an extension of our indoor rooms in this time of lockdown is catching on in a big way. With that in mind, we thought we’d bring you some trending ideas for gorgeous gardens…
Black Floor Focus
The trend for focal-point patios and terraces is here to stay, and the idea works beautifully for both large and small gardens. For small spaces, a perfectly-formed few square metres of outdoor tiles creates a focus, whether the tiles are colourful, dark, or pale. Set some outdoor seating around the perimeter, stand back and admire. For trend-watchers about to shop for outdoor furniture, keep an eye out for modular seating, sofas and coffee-tables. Shower-proof fabrics are a must, especially in the UK (however lucky we’ve been with the sunshine so far this year!). Our Marble Stone Lava large format outdoor porcelain tiles are designed to look like black marble and have great anti-slip properties, so are perfectly suited to an outdoor terrace. Dark tiles look great with light-coloured furniture and lots of greenery, or switch up the style with vivid, colourful accessories too.
Distress Signals
Distressed finishes are big news, for everything from kitchen and bathroom cabinetry to dining room and occasional furniture. It’s a trend that’s here to stay, especially as so many ‘big-ticket’ items such as kitchens, are featuring distressed timber finishes. If you want to feature a worn and distressed timber finish (without the upkeep required of timber decking) in your garden, have a look at our Icon Grey outdoor slab tiles. They’re tough, hardwearing, no-upkeep porcelain large-format slabs that look great when used for a large outdoor terrace or for a small balcony. We also think they would be rather fabulous running indoors to, into the utility, porch or hallway – adding a highly on-trend look to the home.
Burning Desire
A fire pit is certainly a trendy must-have to this summer’s garden. If you’re in lockdown at home and lucky enough to be able to escape into the garden for some peace and quiet, a fire pit can extend that time well into the cooler evenings. Add some comfy outdoor seating, a few cushions and some blankets (and perhaps a few candles or torches for settling down to read later in the evening!). The Ignis Fire Pit from Morso is made from painted cast iron, and can be used as a log-burning fire pit, or as an outdoor grill with the addition of the Polished Steel Ignis Grill Grate.
Table Tops
As tiled and paved garden terraces and patios become more on-trend, the furniture and accessories used with those areas is becoming more and more sophisticated, extending the use of these areas so they become outdoor living rooms and even outdoor kitchens. The Romero Gas Fire Pit Table by Danetti is certainly a sophisticated addition. It’s an aluminium-framed table with integral cupboard to conceal the gas canister, and a tempered glass table top surface, so there’s plenty of room for cocktail glasses and bowls of nibbles! We can’t help but think that our sleek and stylish Dakota outdoor slab tiles would pair very well with this table. And remember, trend-watchers, that the table and these slabs would also work with the grey and/or black glazing frames seen in the latest kitchen-family room extensions…
Ahead of the Trends
Sometimes, in Trend Watch, we just want to spark joy and imagination, and bring you news of intriguing and unusual ideas for interiors and exteriors. This seems a good opportunity to show you the Bubble Wood Burning Firepit from Focus Fireplaces. Ok, it’s unlikely you will want to purchase more than a single Bubble, but we love it’s outrageous style and yes, it’s going on our post-lockdown wish-list!
Minimalist Styling
Simple garden screens and panels are a straightforward way of switching up the style in a garden – screens are a great way of dividing and adding privacy, can add colour and texture to a boring wall, cover up a multitude of patches and mis-matched bricks, or simply hide the bins. We love the contrast between stark white slabs (our Axis White Outdoor Slab Tiles have a very similar vibe), the natural timber screening and the strips of grass. Fake turf is fine for such landscaping purposes! That gorgeous retro-style rattan look furniture is the Lois collection from Marks & Spencer.
Ray Diamond Chairs from John Lewis & Partners | Ray Four-Seater Round Table from John Lewis & Partners | Adirondack Folding Wooden Chair from Von Haus
Top Tips for Trend Watchers
Three fabulous and stylish ideas for on-trend garden. From left; Ray Diamond Chairs, sold in pairs, shown here in Aegean, and also available in Terracotta and Charcoal Grey, from John Lewis & Partners. The geometric pattern couldn’t be any more stylish, they’re perfect outdoor seats that would also work indoors as well if you need extra seating around the table for parties! Centre; we had to show you the Ray Four-Seater Round Table in Terracotta, to match those Ray Diamond chairs, also from John Lewis & Partners. Right; These classic This Adirondack Folding Wooden chair in acacia wood is from Von Haus look perfect in any outdoor space, whether it’s an overgrown country cottage garden or a contemporary paved terrace. We love designs that are always on-trend, but which are also timeless classics too.
Horizontally Challenged
Creating an on-trend, enjoyable and colourful garden should be fun and satisfying – once you’ve got the basic groundwork done, of course! Horizontal screening is a fairly straightforward DIY project that anyone (who can wield a power drill and use a saw) could attempt. And the perfect stay-at-home lockdown activity could be painting the screen or fence in joyous, uplifting colours. We say ‘stay in and get creative!’ Create a rainbow or ombre effect with colours from Sadolin’s Superdec opaque finish, which is available in 300+ shades, is self-priming and undercoating and penetrates to add a durable and decorative finish to outdoor furniture, screening or decking. From top, Bleached Rose, Sandbank, Gingerbread, and Sharon Fruit.
Don’t forget…as always we would love to see your latest projects, whether they are last-minute lockdown ideas or planned-ahead garden transformations! Hit us up on twitter @TileMountainUK, Facebook or tag us on Instagram with your pics!
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Linda has worked as a freelance interiors writer and blogger for many years; she has written for most of the major home and design magazines, including KBB Magazine, Grand Designs, Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Period Homes and Good Homes. She made the break and moved from London back to her home town of Shrewsbury three years ago and has just finished renovating her house. She also works in an interior design studio, produces copy for brochures and website, tries to tame her garden, aims to finish all the home furnishing projects she has on the go … and loves walking.