Looking ahead

Landscape designer Franchesca Watson’s 2018 forecast for your outdoor space

INSIDE/OUTSIDE Bring the garden in and take the house out. Blur the boundaries – install glass walls, windows in the roof, balconies, terraces, bridges, towers and conservatories. Plant right up to the windows and create places in your home that provide light and air so you can have plants living inside with you.

LIVING IN YOUR GARDEN use your garden. Create spaces to eat, sleep, play, wash, watch a movie and work. add music, lights, warmth and comfort. We have one of the best climates in the world, after all.

SUMMER KITCHENS Kit up an area where you can not only cook, but have facilities for preparation, storage and refrigeration. sleek and practical make for seamless outdoor living.

LIGHTING This trend will never end, but allow some dark patches for the nocturnal creatures to enjoy a little peace. ROCKERIES with A DIFFERENCE

not the humpy, random mounds your aunt had, but natural-looking shelves of rock slanting across the garden, walls of rock with plants in the crevices and steps looking like a mountain path. Keep in mind that rock placement requires skill and understanding in order to look like nature put it there.

CREEPERS ARE ESSENTIAL

They deliver a whole lot of plant for water delivered to a very small area and they add dimension in terms of vertical gardening. once you have them trained they are easy to look after, too.

COLOUR gone are the misty and cool shades: bold, vibrant and hot is happening. orange-red and fuchsia set an exciting tone with yellows and bronzes as highlights. White will never be out of fashion, so if you must do classical, stick to whites and creams.