Siobhan Hunt's blog Evolving and Here to Stay on open-plan living got me thinking — not about our homes, but about our gardens. Specifically, how the way we live in our outdoor spaces has been quietly, but significantly, evolving.
I grew up with what many would recognise as the classic suburban garden: a central lawn with flower beds wrapped neatly around the edges. It worked well. There was space for children (and dogs) to run freely, and the planting provided a natural screen from neighbouring gardens.
But as Gardeners' World has pointed out before, this layout doesn't necessarily make a garden feel larger — despite what many of us were led to believe.
For a long time, the idea of dividing a garden into "rooms" felt like something reserved for grand estates — formal spaces carved out with hedging and maintained by teams of gardeners. Beautiful, yes — but not exactly practical for most of us.
That's changed.
In recent years, and particularly since COVID, we've started to see our gardens differently. They've become extensions of our homes — places not just to look at, but to live in. Even the smallest gardens are now being asked to work harder: spaces for dining, relaxing, entertaining, and sometimes even working outdoors.
This is where the idea of garden "rooms" really comes into its own.
In my own design work, I love creating these distinct zones. In larger gardens, there's real opportunity to shape different experiences: perhaps an outdoor dining area (even better with an outdoor kitchen), a space for morning coffee, somewhere quiet to read and unwind, and a more sociable area for evening gatherings.
In one recent project, we created four such zones: a dining space, a morning seating area, a quiet retreat for reflection, and a firepit lounge for entertaining. Each area was softly enclosed with planting, giving a sense of intimacy and privacy. But just as importantly, it encouraged movement — drawing you through the garden to discover each space in turn. That sense of journey and subtle "reveal" is one of the most powerful principles in garden design.
Zoning isn't just about how a garden is used — it also helps us respond to its natural conditions.
In another project, one part of the garden was in full sun all day and prone to drying out in hotter summers. There, we introduced gravel planting and drought-tolerant species that thrive in those conditions. Elsewhere, a shaded and damp area became a stumpery, planted with ferns and hostas — turning a challenge into a feature. Taller planting between these areas created separation, while linking the overall design through colour, texture, and rhythm.
Gardens — like kitchens — need to be multifunctional. They're spaces for imagination, for connection, for rest, and for celebration. And when designed thoughtfully, dividing a garden into "rooms" doesn't make it feel smaller — it makes it richer, more usable, and far more inviting.
Perhaps most importantly, it reflects how we live today.
And that, I think, is a trend that really is here to stay.
Every project starts with
an honest conversation.
Tell us what you’re thinking. We’ll tell you honestly whether — and how — we can help.