Key trends for outdoor living areas in 2025

Sustainability is now very much at the forefront of many people’s minds when it comes to revamping our homes and gardens in 2025.

This is reflected in the availability of sustainable products on the market from the materials our garden furniture is made from to what we choose to grow in our gardens.

Likewise, prioritizing our mental and physical health is also becoming a major consideration in what we grow and what we use our gardens for.

Rope Garden Furniture

Rope is becoming increasingly popular because it’s made from biodegradable materials like jute or hemp, which have a lower carbon footprint than synthetic materials.

Furniture made from rope is very strong and can easily withstand UK weather conditions, lasting for up to 20 years.

Outdoor kitchens fitted with external blinds

Outdoor kitchens have been popular in warmer countries for many years.

But as our climate warms and we experience more intense and more regular heatwaves, outdoor kitchens are catching on in the UK.

While outdoor kitchens in hotter climates are usually open on one side overlooking the garden or pool, UK outdoor kitchens tend to be enclosed with large bi-fold doors and windows to protect users from the wind and any sudden downpours.

As such, external blinds are a must have as they stop any solar glare making the outdoor kitchen hot and uncomfortable, as our case study demonstrates.

Kensington’s external blinds use a special open weave which blocks the sun’s harmful rays reducing the temperature inside and keeping occupants cool while allowing light into the room and for everyone to enjoy the view of the garden.

The sleek, stylish blinds can be controlled remotely, allowing you to raise and lower the blinds to keep the garden kitchen at an optimum temperature.

Tapestry lawns and wildlife gardening

More gardeners are allowing part of lawns to return to the wild albeit in a more managed style via low maintenance, bio-diverse tapestry lawns.

The trend sees gardeners planting a mix of flowering groundcover plants instead of grass, creating a colourful tapestry.

In addition, gardeners are setting aside areas for native wildflowers, helping to encourage natural habitats for bees, butterflies and hedgehogs.

In the same way, people are installing small ponds to encourage frogs and toads, the best slug and snail hunters in the world.

Edible gardening and sensory spaces

Otherwise knowns as a vegetable patch or an allotment, the so-called edible gardening trend in set to explode as the cost of food continues to rocket.

Gardeners are opting for raised beds made of reclaimed wood and old bricks of fruit bushes and vegetables while strawberries and herbs can be grown in pots attached to walls.

Sensory gardens have been popular with people with disabilities for many years but are also set to become more popular, providing us with a sanctuary from the world outside.

Favourite plants include beautiful-smelling herbs like lavender and rosemary and brightly coloured flowers and ornamental grasses that swish in the wind.

Cold plunge pools & saunas

The trend for Nordic-style plunge pools and saunas has grown massively over the last few years thanks to social media influencers and outdoor swimmers claiming life-enhancing physical and mental benefits especially when combined with saunas.

However, it’s not just anecdotal. There’s plenty of scientific evidence proving that alternating between heat and cold improves circulation, potentially benefiting cardiovascular health, reduces inflammation, promotes relaxation and boosts self-esteem and stress relief.

Cold water immersion is also reported to reduce negative emotions like anger and depression.

Smart technology

As seen with external blinds controlled remotely to manage indoor temperature, smart technology is helping us to manage our gardens.

Don’t have time to mow the lawn or water the plants? Then try a robotic lawnmower and app-controlled watering system instead.

And if you’ve been neglecting to feed the birds in your garden, then you can now buy Wi-Fi connected birdfeeders. Garden lightning and sound systems can also be controlled remotely.