RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026: Key Garden Trends and How to Recreate at Home
Japanese-inspired gardens were a key trend from the show, supported by search interest on Pinterest surging 300% this year
This month, the gardening world has been captivated by the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, an annual event showcasing everything from rare plants to statement displays, and this year’s show was no exception, with boundary-pushing displays, social statements and a focus on ecology. However, while the displays are undeniably inspiring, they can feel unattainable for everyday gardens, despite many being in the market for an upgrade.
To help garden enthusiasts recreate the magic at home, we teamed up with Ronseal and their Senior Brand Manager, Jimmy Englezos, to highlight his favourite trends that homeowners can draw inspiration from for their own outdoor spaces, from sustainable swaps to serene Japanese garden design.
Alongside his insights from the show, Jimmy has also revealed the best fence colours to complement everything from wild garden arrangements and colourful flowers to leafy plants and foliage.
Sustainability
Jimmy Englezos says, “Sustainability has been a growing trend for several years now and was a big focus at this year’s show. Gardening by default has sustainability at its core, whether it’s growing your own vegetables, composting to avoid food waste, or promoting biodiversity. This year, the focus moved away from sustainable planting choices, towards considerate materials, reclaimed paving stones and gardens built to last.”
He continues, “There are several ways to make more sustainable choices when it comes to your garden. Collecting rainwater to water plants and the lawn is a simple way to reduce water usage. Simply install a rain barrel that collects and stores rainwater from a downpipe, and make sure to water your garden either early in the morning or late at night during the summer to avoid evaporation.”
“Another eco-friendly option is to build or restore furniture and garden features out of items and materials you already own.” Jimmy says. “If you’ve done any renovation work on your home, it’s likely you’ll have wooden pallets lying around. The good news is that the options are limitless on what you can reuse them for – think vertical planters, raised garden beds, or even an outdoor seating bench. If you have any fence paint lying around, you can apply this to the wood to create a cohesive look throughout your garden and protect the pallet from the elements.”
Japanese-inspired design
Japanese-inspired interiors and garden design have been a big trend already this year, with Pinterest searches for ‘Japanese garden ideas’ up 300% this year.
Jimmy tells us, “Japanese gardens are heavily influenced by nature, spirituality and long-standing traditions. The result is a calming space where the natural world is celebrated, and different zones are given the space to breathe. Japanese influences could be spotted everywhere at this year’s show, especially being used as a way to bring calm and reduce clutter in smaller gardens.
“These principles can be easily recreated at home. Instead of choosing a bright decking colour, opt for a decking stain or oil that will protect the wood whilst highlighting its natural grain and texture. Celebrate asymmetry and create open spaces, Japanese gardens often centre around a focal point like a large tree, rockery or path.”
Jewel colours and pastels
Jimmy says, “Deep reds and purple tones have emerged as one of the biggest trends in interiors, and this year’s show demonstrates the trend moving into the gardening world. Similar to interiors, the effect is moody, romantic and dramatic. If you have already completed your planting for the year, opting for a soft purple shade on any woodwork or furniture is a good way to embrace the trend. Purple is also one of the most bee-friendly colours, so you’ll have the bonus of a well-pollinated garden.”
“On the opposite end of the spectrum, softer shades and pastels also dominated colour palettes, in particular butter yellows and honey tones. Yellow has taken centre stage over the past couple of years, not just in homes but also in fashion. Apply a butter yellow garden furniture paint to any outdoor furniture in need of a little TLC to inject some playfulness into your garden.”
Flower-friendly fence colour ideas
Chaos gardening and whimsical outdoor spaces are two of the biggest trends for the summer, both of which put wild flowers and plants at the centre. With that in mind, Jimmy has shared some inspiration on the best fence paint colours to pair with a blooming flower garden.
Pale blue
“Light blue and chocolate brown is one of the most popular colour pairings in interiors this year, with the vibrant blue balancing out the deep brown.” Jimmy tells YCB. “The same principle applies to gardens, as the blue fence colour complements any nearby soil, pots, trees and oak decking. Complete with an array of colourful flowers to tie everything together.”
Warm stone
“Stone tones are often calming, warm and can be paired with most colours. Warm stone can be a great backdrop to colourful flowers as it allows them to stand out without appearing too stark, unlike white. The best flower varieties for a warm stone fence would be pink and orange-toned, like tulips or peonies.”
Black
“Black may not seem like an obvious choice to pair with plants and flowers; however, it works extremely well. Opting for a super dark shade allows the flowers to really pop, especially if they’re red or white flowers, or even just leafy plants and bushes.”
Sage green
According to Jimmy, “A green fence can make a garden instantly appear lush and full of plants. Sage strikes the balance between blending with nearby greenery whilst allowing flowers to stand out.
“Purple flowers could be seen everywhere at the Chelsea Flower Show this year and would pair perfectly with sage woodwork.”
Natural stain
“Wood is a natural material, and each piece is completely different and should be embraced. Opting for a wood preserver over a solid paint colour enhances the fence’s natural grain and creates a garden space that feels rustic and woodland-inspired.” Jimmy says.
For more inspiration on garden fence colours or other garden improvement projects, visit the Ronseal website.