Charming Gardens & Welcoming Outdoor Spaces Trending For 2025, Pros Say
It’s hard to believe we’re settling into the last few months of the year. And as the leaves begin to fall, it’s actually the perfect time to start thinking about your 2025 garden. Here's what the pros from our Garden & Grace directory suggest.
It’s hard to believe we’re settling into the last few months of the year. And as the leaves begin to fall, it’s actually the perfect time to start thinking about your 2025 garden. To get inspired, we reached out to landscape designers from our Garden & Grace directory.
Jeff Boyum is the senior landscape architect at From The Ground Up, a Dallas-based company that typically works in zones 7A-8B. Adam Millhouse and Will Howell are the owners of Millhouse Howell Landscape Co. in Mountain Brook, Alabama. They typically work in zones 8A and 7B
Here’s what they shared with us.
What are the top features your clients are requesting right now?
Jeff: There is a growing demand for social front yards and courtyards at the front of homes and provide a more interaction with neighbors and guests. These areas often include seating, fire pits, and even small garden spaces to create a welcoming vibe.
In addition, Nantucket-inspired gardens remain popular for their charm and romantic appeal, often featuring curated plantings, meandering pathways, and cozy nooks.
Adam: The request for good design is inevitable, but also in conjunction with delivering a landscape that is practical to maintain. Clients often take inspiration from English-inspired gardens. To achieve such a look we'll suggest climbing roses to soften walls, perennial plantings contrasting against a clipped hedge, and container groupings that feel as if they have been a part of the home for years.
For 2025, what landscaping trends do you expect or hope to see more of?
Jeff: For 2025, I expect to see an increased focus on multi-functional outdoor spaces that cater to both relaxation and social interaction.
Adam: During the peak of COVID pools and outdoor places to entertain small groups quickly became priorities. Moving into 2025, we believe — and hope — this trend continues. Creating functional outdoor spaces has proven to increase property value, and our favorite feedback is when clients tell us how much more time they are spending outside.
Is there anything people should do now to prepare their yards for spring? Is fall a good time to start thinking about your 2025 landscaping?
Jeff: Late fall and winter are actually the best times to plant new shrubs and trees. Start thinking about your 2025 yard now.
Adam: The fall and winter months are a great time to begin conversations about landscape opportunities for the upcoming year. It is not uncommon to underestimate how much time can go into the planning process, and starting early helps navigate potential challenges on the front end.
In regards to existing landscapes, our maintenance crews are applying pre-emergent to lawns to prevent winter weeds, performing very light pruning to shape plants before the winter months, and preparing to change out seasonal plantings for the upcoming season.
What are some landscaping features that never go out of style?
Jeff: Outdoor features like pergolas and arbors provide shade and add interest to any garden. Fountains, which create a tranquil environment and drown out surrounding noises, never lose their appeal. Fire pits and fireplaces complement any outdoor setting.
Plant wise, boxwood hedges are timeless for creating clean, structured borders. Their evergreen foliage adds year-round greenery and can be trimmed into formal shapes. Hydrangeas have large, showy blooms and thrive in various climates. Their ability to shift between pink, blue and purple hues depending on soil pH adds beauty to any garden.
Adam: Natural stone such as moss rock, bluestone, flagstone, and pea gravel are hardscape materials that evoke a timelessness to the environment.
Plant pallets that incorporate boxwoods, hydrangeas, azaleas, ferns, and a mix of understory and hardwood trees are always in style. To add seasonal interest to the landscape, we encourage the use of garden containers to create fun arrangements; this provides a big punch and is practical to maintain.
See Inside: A Restored Isle of Hope Estate
Once a humble house used as a respite from sweltering Savannah summers, this Isle of Hope estate was recently transformed into a full-time family home.
Once a humble house used as a respite from sweltering Savannah summers, this Isle of Hope estate was recently transformed into a full-time family home. With so much to share, we dedicated an entire blog post to soaking in the curb appeal. Today we're finally taking you inside! We think you'll find it was worth the wait.
This home originally appeared in Veranda, and additional photos (all taken by Emily Followill Photography) have been shared with Garden & Grace by interior design firm Webb Marsteller.
The design team paid homage to the home's original old-world architecture, but nearly every room was repurposed—and totally reimagined. In this corner alone you can see the stately columns with ornate capitals, made much more whimsical with Chinoiserie wallpaper and a bullion fringe corner seat.
We love the strong finishes and bold design choices throughout, especially in the kitchen where the kitchen slab is brought all the way up to the ceiling. The green lower cabinets and wood-toned island make the space feel equally grounded and elegant.
The spiral staircase is one of the home's hero features. The steps are covered in a neutral rug that graciously lets the architecture shine.
It should be no surprise we love the calming, classic blue and white color scheme used throughout the primary suite. A seating area and private balcony make it even more special.
There's so much more to love, so take your time exploring the rest of this beautiful home.
The design team includes: Webb Marsteller and Mary Allison Buzzell (Interior Design), Norman Davenport Askins (Architect), Esposito Construction Inc. (Builder), Reddin Construction (Builder), Witmer Jones Keefer (Landscape Designer) and Milling Land Design (Landscape Installer/Maintenance). All photos are by Emily Followill Photography.
In case you missed it: Tour The Grounds of This Idyllic Estate.
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Tour The Grounds of This Idyllic Isle of Hope Estate
Once a humble house used as a respite from sweltering Savannah summers, this Isle of Hope estate was recently transformed into a full-time family home.
Once a humble house used as a respite from sweltering Savannah summers, this Isle of Hope estate was recently transformed into a full-time family home. The restoration was a labor of love spanning four years, with the exceptional expertise of a trusted design team.
This home originally appeared in Veranda, and additional photos (all taken by Emily Followill Photography) have been shared with Garden & Grace by interior design firm Webb Marsteller. With so much to share, we're spending today admiring the curb appeal and views before taking you inside later this week. Don't miss out! Sign up for our weekly emails to be the first to see inside.
A gracious covered front porch—that was once falling apart, if you can believe it–waves you up and greets you with the prettiest blue front door. It's aptly accessorized with Greek key details and bespoke brass knobs by Wilmette Hardware. The front door color is Benjamin Moore Gentleman's Grey and the exterior color is Glacier White.
The design team wanted to honor the home's historic roots, while evolving it to meet its new family's needs. You'll find nods to Greek and 19th century architecture throughout blended with modern comforts to create a classic yet comfortable home.
The years-long renovation involved restoring the original main house, and a significant expansion—including the addition of outdoor living areas, a pool and pool house.
The pool house is bright and clean with playful pops of color and pattern, from blue kitchen cabinets to a skirted bathroom sink paired with a sweet scalloped mirror.
With low country views like this, it's no wonder this Isle of Hope home has welcoming outdoor spaces that invite you to stay a while.
Sign up for our weekly email to be the first to see inside this show-stopping Georgia home on Thursday.
The design team includes: Webb Marsteller and Mary Allison Buzzell (Interior Design), Norman Davenport Askins (Architect), Esposito Construction Inc. (Builder), Reddin Construction (Builder), Witmer Jones Keefer (Landscape Designer) and Milling Land Design (Landscape Installer/Maintenance). All photos are by Emily Followill Photography.
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