These 10 Trends Will Define Outdoor Design in 2023

Mandi Keighran
·3 min read

Take your garden to the next level with this year’s biggest trends—from elegant ombre paving and textured tiles, to boldly geometric garden features and native plants.

The sprawling Californian landscape and the wildness of the surrounding vegetation is perfectly offset by the geometric pattern of the tiles in shades of gray. The main patio is tiled using Techo-Bloc Diamond pavers in contrasting Smooth and Granitex textures, with a border of rectilinear Para slab and Raffinato cap around the pool. The Greyed Nickel color visually unites the variety of shapes to create a refined finish—add comfy chairs and a firepit and you’ve got a dreamy spot to watch the sunset.

Outdoor spaces are where we come together with friends and family, immerse ourselves in nature, and escape the everyday—so the design of your garden is just as important as your indoor living spaces. This year, design trends for outdoor spaces are taking cues from interiors, with bold graphic elements, Art Deco flair, and maximalism in the spotlight.

To discover more about the trends that will define our outdoor spaces this year, we spoke with the team at Techo-Bloc, a leader in creative pavers and slabs. "The outdoor industry has just exploded in the last few years and once you’ve tasted having an outdoor space that’s enjoyable, it’s really hard to go back," says Jessica Ciccarello, Director of Branding and Communications at Techo-Bloc. "Outdoor spaces have gained in popularity and importance for homeowners, and it’s become a more important requirement for many home buyers."

To help you take your garden from ordinary to inspiring, here are 10 of the hottest design trends that will be defining outdoor spaces this year.

Fade-to-Fabulous

Ombre has been a trend in interiors for some time—and now it’s migrating to outdoor spaces. Graduating shades of the same hue create elegant impact and visual interest, whether you choose cooler tones of gray and charcoal, or warmer browns and reds. "We’ve been seeing gradients being used in area rugs for a few years but now we’re seeing it in outdoor pavements," says Ciccarello.

A subtle ombre effect has been created around the pool using the Techo-Bloc Squadra paver in Chestnut Brown with Merlot scattered throughout. The edge of the pool is graphically defined using the Blu Grande slab in Beige Cream to create a striking and sophisticated composition.
A subtle ombre effect has been created around the pool using the Techo-Bloc Squadra paver in Chestnut Brown with Merlot scattered throughout. The edge of the pool is graphically defined using the Blu Grande slab in Beige Cream to create a striking and sophisticated composition.

Flower Power

Maximalism is a trend well-suited to the open expanses of outdoor spaces—think intricate patterns, textured floral designs, and graphic layouts that make an impactful statement even in the smallest of gardens. Techo-Bloc’s new Flora tiles bring a touch of contemporary European elegance to the outdoors, with bold floral patterns textured into a durable concrete surface. Add colorful furnishings and lush plants for a tropical vibe, or go tone-on-tone for a more subtle effect.

Flora is a new Techo-Bloc product created with a new manufacturing technique that gives concrete the appearance of European ceramics with the same durability and freeze-thaw attributes of all Techo-Bloc pavers and patio slabs—and it can be laid in over 460 different pattern combinations.
Flora is a new Techo-Bloc product created with a new manufacturing technique that gives concrete the appearance of European ceramics with the same durability and freeze-thaw attributes of all Techo-Bloc pavers and patio slabs—and it can be laid in over 460 different pattern combinations.


Lead With Maximalism

In recent years, pared-back minimalist design has dominated design trends—but maximalism is making a comeback. "If we look at history, maximalist aesthetics and trends have been very much related to periods of celebration," explains Ciccarello. "Turning the page on the pandemic, people are ready to see new things, to live life to the fullest, to take chances. It’s no surprise that maximalism’s philosophy of indulgence, boldness and somewhat fearlessness are striking a chord with many of us."

This home is elevated by the dramatic outdoor space, which uses large-scale Techo-Bloc Para tiles as a starting canvas. A scattering of Techo-Bloc Diamond pavers in colors that echo the home’s exterior palette create a dynamic abstract composition that connects the outdoor kitchen to the fire pit and stone bench.
This home is elevated by the dramatic outdoor space, which uses large-scale Techo-Bloc Para tiles as a starting canvas. A scattering of Techo-Bloc Diamond pavers in colors that echo the home’s exterior palette create a dynamic abstract composition that connects the outdoor kitchen to the fire pit and stone bench.

See the full story on Dwell.com: These 10 Trends Will Define Outdoor Design in 2023
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