While most home styles come and go, minimalism is a timeless trend classic that’s been top of style trend lists for years. Centring around the idea of decluttering using decor that does more with less, white walls, bare floorboards, and stark accessories have certainly long been house-based go-to’s for many.

Yet, surprisingly few of us realise that a minimalist outlook can work equally well when we take it outside. While you might not be able to approach this style choice in the same way given that this is such a different setting, there’s certainly a lot to be said for stripped-back outdoor spaces that improve curb appeal without overwhelming. 

Image by Cameron Smith: CC0 Licence

The question is, how exactly can you translate a minimalist outlook onto an otherwise unruly outdoor space?

Limit your colour palette

Just as minimalism in the home is all about stark colours like white offset by perhaps one or two bright accessories, limited colour palettes are a mainstay of garden minimalism, and should be your first port of call for getting this right. Given that this is outdoors, green is often used in place of the traditional indoor minimalist whites, with green shrubbery or even green plants like green hellebores or cymbidium orchids often replacing otherwise colourful but unruly flower displays. Much as you might compliment white walls with orange cushions indoors, you can then complement this green palette with brown or white garden furniture, or even wooden decking areas.

Keep materials minimal

Adding texture to your garden can be great, but just as colours can complicate things, too many materials in one space can create a confusing feel that takes you away from your minimalist goals. Hence why, even within your chosen colour palette, it’s worth minimising materials wherever you can. By this, we don’t mean that your lawn needs to consist entirely of grass or paving alone, but rather that avoiding too many materials is often best. Simplify by working with blocks of lawn, and perhaps just one patio area with clear boundaries. By then taking steps to install additions like garden furniture or blinds and awnings that you can retract or remove when not in use, you ensure a functional space that still looks great. All with just one or two key materials overall. 

Make the most of container gardening

Houseplants have become a regular feature for adding interest to minimalist interiors, and container gardening offers a very similar appeal to a minimalist outdoors. You’re going to want to keep this on theme with your colours and materials of choice, but the crisp lines and clear separation offered by well-chosen containers and plants can provide a great outlet for offerings something a little different. Whether you take this chance to introduce that famed minimalist splash of colour, or simply the textures that you’ve omitted elsewhere, you can certainly bet that these efforts become your centrepieces without compromising on the impact you’ve created elsewhere. 

Minimalism might have been making ripples in your home decor for years, but are you ready to stretch this stripped-back outlook to your outdoor space?