THE HOUSE DIRECTORY GUIDE TO OUTDOOR LIVING
With summer in full swing, it’s time to take advantage of the warmer days and get out in the garden. With that in mind, we asked the The House Directory members for all the latest trends as well as their expert advice on how to create a functional and fabulous outdoor space.
Three Outdoor Living Trends from Suns Lifestyle
Modular Furniture
“When investing in outdoor furniture, prioritise designs that offer the same comfort and character as your indoor pieces,” says Meg Holloway, brand manager at Suns Lifestyle. “Clean lines and simple forms are timeless and won’t look dated in a few seasons. We recommend avoiding anything too trendy or niche. Instead, opt for designs that feel stylish but that have lasting appeal. Increasingly, we want our homes to be a reflection of our personality. Modular furniture is the perfect solution, as it can be configured to create a bespoke environments that work for you. Suns Lifestyle’s modular sofa collections make it easy to adapt your space for larger crowds.”
Smart Technology
“Smart technology is something we’re used to in the house, but it’s growing in popularity outside too. From automated lighting to heating that ensures your garden is usable year-round, to electric shading options like Suns Lifestyle’s louvered pergolas, smart features elevate outdoor spaces to create a more immersive experience that’s both comfortable and practical. This ties into a trend we’ve seen more of this year which is indoor/outdoor spaces. Modular furniture, retractable shading and durable textiles bring indoor home comforts to gardens and patios.”
Outdoor Kitchens
“The outdoor kitchen trend continues evolving with more integrated solutions that are transforming al fresco dining. We’re seeing more sliding glass doors, open-air concepts and covered patios that allow your outdoor kitchen to feel like a natural extension of your home for year-round entertaining. For example, our Blenheim Outdoor Kitchen collection embodies this trend perfectly, featuring modular designs that can be adapted to your needs. The sleek designs and wide range of sizes and configurations available mean you can create the perfect outdoor cooking space that’s beautiful and functional.
Awning Trends for 2025
Smart Awnings for Seamless Living
In 2025, awnings are getting smarter. Appeal’s latest models feature weather sensors that extend the awning when the sun’s out and automatically retract in high winds, protecting your investment. With remote, app or voice control, plus optional LED lighting and heating, they bring comfort, efficiency and ease to year-round outdoor living.
Natural Tones & Minimalist Design
This year’s trend is all about blending in — beautifully. Think earthy tones like terracotta and forest green, textured, UV-resistant fabrics, and streamlined cassettes that virtually disappear when retracted. Appeal’s range offers over 150 fabric choices, making it easy to create an awning that’s both functional and flawlessly stylish.
Editors’ Picks – Outdoor Sofas
Weatherproof and maintenance free, this triple sofa is handmade from refined recycled aluminium and can be finished in your own choice of colour and cushion fabric. £5,495, Oxleys
This elegant sofa is crafted from laminated teak, which is intricately woven between brushed stainless-steel rods that gently arc around the seat. POA, Summit Furniture
Made from natural willow grown locally in Britain, this sofa has deep buttoned, loose cushions that can be upholstered in your own fabric or a Soane design. POA, Soane
This garden sofa has an invisible frame, deep cushions and a hand-woven rope structure, which is available in anthracite or pepper. £8000, Go Modern
Inspired by Greek islands, this modular design has generous seat cushions, an all-weather suspension system and a powder-coated aluminium base. £1850, Andrew Martin
Its sturdy metal frame, handwoven cord armrests and comfy cushions make this 3-seater sofa perfect for laid-back outdoor living. £3305, Holloways of Ludlow
Outdoor Tile Trends: What’s Hot for 2025
“For outdoor flooring, porcelain tiles are ultra-durable, therefore will stand the test of time, and matt finishes are popular as these offer an extra element of slip resistance,” says Richard Skeoch, director at Hyperion Tiles. “Define zones in your garden with on-trend patterned tiles, or use them to form a distinctive path, a striking feature wall or even an outdoor shower area for cooling off from the summer sun. There are almost endless design possibilities that will help create a completely bespoke look.”
“If you want to create a professional finish, make sure you choose tiles, adhesive and grout that are suitable for use outdoors, as those meant for indoor use won’t withstand temperature fluctuations, moisture or frost,” he continues. “A solid, level base is key as if weak, it could lead to loose tiles, cracks and pooling water. Concrete or a strong mortar bed is ideal, especially if tiles are heavy. Plan your layout first by dry-laying tiles to check the pattern will align. Lay in mild, dry weather, and don’t walk on them for at least 48 hours.”
Rustic Revival – Dijon Blend Tumbled Cobbles
Warm and soft-toned, these cobbles add a traditional charm in a flexible format that can be laid in a plethora of ways. Their tumbled finish and varied surface make them ideal for courtyards, terraces, pathways, garden steps or borders around gravelled areas. They are also useful for zoning outdoor spaces. Mix them with larger slabs to break up a uniform surface.
Sleek & Minimal – Kast & Edge Porcelain
Clean and contemporary design, the Kast and Edge porcelain ranges offer an architectural finish and practical performance. These tiles are ultra-low maintenance, slip-resistant and perfect for creating continuity from interior to exterior. Ideal for minimalist terraces or city gardens, the large-format reduces grout lines for a sleek look. They look great combined with materials such as corten steel, timber, or polished concrete for a textural contrast.
Heritage, Reinvented – Antique-Effect Porcelain
For those who love the look of reclaimed flagstones but need something more practical, these antique-effect porcelain tiles are designed to replicate the texture and tone of natural stone. With their aged edges and realistic patina, they are perfect for traditional homes, barn conversions, country gardens and courtyard settings.
Five Garden Lighting Tips
from Sally Storey, Creative Director at John Cullen Lighting
- When it comes to garden lighting, less is often more. Be selective in what you choose to illuminate – sometimes it’s the shadows that make a space feel magical. Pinpoint key features you want to highlight and let areas of darkness help disguise any less appealing corners.
- Flexibility is at the heart of a well-lit garden. Spiked LED lights, like those from John Cullen Lighting, can be repositioned easily to accommodate evolving planting schemes throughout the year. To reduce unwanted glare or light spill, opt for fittings with integrated glare shields.
- If you’re lighting an outdoor dining area, don’t forget the surrounding planting. A soft wash of light can bring colour and depth to nearby borders once night falls. This is easily achieved with a mix of Kew spiked spotlights and Hampton floodlights to subtly lift the foliage and guide the eye.
- Lighting your pathway or garden steps serves id both functional and aesthetically pleasing as it ensures safety while creating a gentle route through the space. The Lucca Steplight is ideal for casting an elegant wash of light across each step, while a discreet spiked fitting like the Hampton can highlight the path ahead.
- Though black fittings are common, olive green tends to blend more seamlessly into most schemes. Copper fittings work beautifully too, and will naturally age to a soft green patina. For tree-mounted downlighting, bronze fixtures are a smart choice – they will match the tone of the tree bark and cast atmospheric pools of light below.
Editors’ Picks – Outdoor Wall Lights
Painted in Farrow & Ball colours, this LED wall lamp is IP44 rated and features dimmable technology. £225, Heals
IP rated as standard, this lantern can be custom coloured to any RAL reference upon request. £2034, Hector Finch
Chic and contemporary, this wall lamp is available in a black or burnished bronze finish. £175, Elstead Lighting
This wall lamp has prismatic glass to cast a more diffused light. The unlacquered brass develop a patina with age. £125, Pooky
Perfect Pots & Pretty Planters
Heritage Handmade Garden Collections
“With an ever-growing importance being placed on outdoor living spaces (and now with the warm weather to enjoy them!) our Verdigris patinated copper garden planters are a popular choice for sectioning areas to create garden rooms. Fill individual planters with striking silver birch trees and line them up in a row to create a divider, or group as a family of planters for a harmonious display,” says Alex Puddy, owner at Heritage Handmade Garden Collection. “We’ve also seen an increase in the desire for larger, taller planters and a popular choice from this season is our Circular Terrace Copper Garden Planter, which is often being purchased as a ‘family in small, medium and large, as seen here on our stand at Chelsea Flower Show.”
“Clients are going big!” she adds, “and year-on-year looking to specify larger and larger copper containers, leading to the introduction of our ‘Extra Large’ copper planters, in both our circular and square designs. When purchasing pots or ornaments for the garden, always buy what you like, but bear in mind that with outdoor ornamentation, longevity is key. Our heavy gauge, hand crafted Verdigris patinated copper planters and water containers will never rust and will last many lifetimes.”
“Large terracotta planters are definitely ‘on trend’ for 2025, both ornate and plain – we have just had another container arrive from Italy to satisfy demand,” says Simon Scott, director of ORNAMENTI by Lapicida. “Unlike most terracotta available in the UK, all planters offered by ORNAMENTI are made by artisan craftsmen in Tuscany using their local Galestro or Impruneta clays that are frost resistant.”
“We have also seen an upsurge in popularity for timeless carved stone obelisks and proper Versailles-style planters, some of which we are proud to have supplied to a certain famous Royal residence.”
“When buying planters and pots, consider materials. A high-quality, frost-resistant clay, zinc or steel are great options that offer longevity. Avoid cheap, plastic planters, as these will quickly deteriorate. Our terracotta planters will gain an elegant patina and only look more beautiful with time.”
“We have never followed trends. Our planters are made from high quality metals, and the designs are deliberately classic – most of them were inspired by historic designs and were drawn up twenty years ago – so they will never look out of date” says Kenneth Topp, founder of Bronzino. “We make a lot of custom sizes as well as standard stock sizes, mainly in copper with a bronze finish. They are strong but not hugely heavy, so when empty, can be carried fairly easily and they fit into most spaces.”
“Generally, I would say designers are mixing up styles and finishes rather than having everything matching – all our metals work well together. My advice when shopping for planters would be to choose things that will last. I think people should have fun with plants and not take things too seriously in the garden. My best tip is not to seek perfection – nature has its own route.”
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