In many parts of the world at the moment, it’s far too cold to think about gardening and landscape designs. However, the trends for the year are being set, and we already have a good glimpse of what this year’s gardens will look like. And whether you were planning a redesign and looking for ideas, or just browsing around hoping to be inspired, these beautiful trends are sure to help you make your garden look like it stepped right out of a magazine.
Open living rooms
Why would you ever spend your time inside if you could be out in the open air? And while the weather can sometimes be a big factor in spending time outside, having an outdoor living room is something that everyone can enjoy. You can install thermal glass panels that will provide comfort during the colder months while still letting you enjoy the feeling of being outside, and that can be removed when it gets warmer. The best part is that you don’t have to remove any walls to get this done: simply designate a part of your yard for the room. It doesn’t even have to be connected to the rest of your house – think outside of the box and make your ideal living space in nature.
Meditation and zen gardens
Being in nature means being at peace and reconnecting with our inner selves. So the trend of the year are gardens designed exactly for that purpose: to help us meditate and relax. If you don’t want to devote your entire garden to this, you can create a small corner of zen. Try hanging crystals and wind chimes from a tree branch, plant some flowers with a calming smell, and make sure you have something comfortable to sit on, whether that means a chair or a nice patch of grass. A great addition to this can be some sort of flowing water, like a fountain. You can get a small natural fountain that blends into the space, or install a birdbath to attract some wildlife around you. If you find the songs of birds calming, you can also put up a bird feeder in the trees.
Pathways
After years of minimalism, we are steering away and looking at something a lot more colourful, textured and fun. Try breaking up your path by placing smaller blocks of stone or marble with plenty of natural grass in between. This will give a more natural, rustic look to your path. Or, you can get artistic and make the entire walkway out of smaller, colourful rocks, creating a design that follows the path. You can go geometrical, freestyle, or even write something out with the darker pebbles. Or if you need to keep the surface smooth for easier access, you can add pops of colour by using coloured concrete. These techniques of decorating walkways will give your garden an instant pop of colour. It will definitely make your guests feel more welcome than just a solid driveway.
Conclusion
With all the time we spend inside while we are working and living our busy lives. We almost need the extra motivation to go outside and spend time in nature. Having a garden that is ready and waiting for you to go outside and enjoy it. It will give you the boost to actually breathe in some fresh air. If you are a fan of gardening, make it a hobby this year to tend to your garden. If you dislike getting your hands dirty, keep your garden minimal so you don’t have to spend too much time tending to it. In the spirit of the new year. Make it a resolution to spend more time in the garden and give yourself some much-needed nature time.
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Guest post courtesy of Diana Smith.
Hi, I am Diana Smith. I am a full-time mom of two beautiful girls interested in home decor and latest DIY projects. On my free time, I enjoy exercising and preparing healthy meals for my family. Follow me on Twitter and Google+
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I’m ready for Spring and to add more green to my house and outdoors. I have a small plant in my kitchen that I water every couple weeks.
Me too! I can’t wait for spring. I wish my home could keep a plant alive like you. 🙂