14 Garden Ideas and Trends From a Garden Designer

California garden designer Margie Grace says water features, lighting and a host of other surprising outdoor elements are trending in garden design right now.

July 21, 2021

By: Felicia Feaster

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Photo By: Holly Lepere

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Container gardening remains on trend for offering anyone — whether suburbanite or city dweller — the opportunity to grow in any size space. Garden designer Margie Grace of Santa Barbara's Grace Design Associates shared the trends she is seeing.

Cutting Gardens Are Big

"Home gardening took off during the pandemic quarantine days, and it is not slowing down," says Margie.

Cutting Gardens Are a Great Home Gardener Project

"People want to grow their own veggies and herbs," says Margie, "and cutting gardens (with flowers, too!) are a great way for home gardeners to develop their green thumb."

Wellness Gardens Bring Peace to the Outdoors

"A garden is experiential," says Margie. "It impacts all our senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and even taste." A wellness garden is a way to engage those senses for greater well-being.

A Garden Space for Quiet Contemplation

"The effect of the garden on our senses can most certainly be salubrious," says Margie. "Wellness – well-being – is defined and experienced differently for each of us, comprised of physical, emotional and spiritual components."

Create Wellness Zones in Your Outdoor Space

According to Margie, "Wellness elements in outdoor spaces can include: a water feature, privacy, places to sit/nap/meditate, special lighting, speakers for listening to music and scented plants/flowers." Anyone who has stared for hours into a fire or listened to the trickling movement of water through a fountain knows the soothing properties of water, fire and gardens.

Aim for Comfort in the Outdoors

Part of wellness is creating spaces that offer comfort and joyful surroundings. This outdoor space features pillows and throws that work in harmony with the natural elements and offer plenty of places to rest and decompress.

Multi-Use Outdoor Spaces Are a 2021 Trend

"Outdoor dining, kitchen, play area, a fountain, a fire pit and maybe a hot tub or some veggies, or all of the above," make for a great multipurpose space says Margie.

A Hot Tub and Fire Pit Offer Multipurpose Options in This Yard

"Throughout 2020 and this year too, clients are asking for outdoor offices, outdoor yoga, an outdoor sanctuary (stress relief), furnishings similar to indoors (lighting, heaters, comfy furniture, table lamps), 'me' space (as in, 'Leave mommy/daddy/grandma alone, s/he’s having quiet time,' – sort of a reverse time-out), outdoor classroom, outdoor everything," says Margie.

Water Features Are Trending...And Timeless

This is a long-lasting, classic trend that will never go out of style.

Wellness and Design Come Together in Water Features

Whether it's a small fountain or a natural pond or stream, "water is life," says Margie. "Water features will always be on trend."

Water Features Can Add Sculptural Element and Drama

You can never go wrong including water in your garden or on your patio, says Margie, especially when you add a dramatic piece like this metal fountain that serves as a striking focal point in the garden.

Outdoor Lighting Is Becoming More Elaborate

Margie has seen features that we find in indoor lighting -- such as dimmers -- moving outdoors in weatherproof lighting accessories.

According to Margie, "popular outdoor lighting options include moonlighting (lighting trees from above the branches to give the effect of moonlight shadows on the ground below); backlighting; silhouetting; uplighting (with night-sky-friendly protection overhead); string lights (café lights are a big deal right now); twinkle lights (lots of decorative options available); color-changing lights and unusual materials and effects (examples include backlit scrap sheet metal; cast-shadow patterns from laser-cut sheet goods; salvaged/repurposed objects converted to lanterns/lights)."

Multiple Light Sources and Effects Are a Growing Part of Garden Design

"The big trend right now is a combination of multiple light sources in outdoor rooms and fabulous, user-friendly lighting controllers to achieve different effects, dimming, on-off switching, etc." says Margie.

Take Your Work and Fun Outdoors With Wi-Fi

WI-FI outside is a growing trend says Margie, as people try to savor every moment of work and life outdoors: "Wi-Fi in every corner, to work, to study, to shop, to play, to listen to music, to chill," says Margie.