Thinking about summer already? We are too. As soon as Christmas and New Year are firmly in the rear-view mirror, we’re counting down the days until summer is officially here. Sunny days may be a little way off yet, but that makes now the perfect time to get your garden prepped for the months ahead.

Your garden is the easiest way to connect with nature – and with a little TLC, it can be the perfect sanctuary. Spending time in your garden is great for your mental health too, with over three million Brits noticing an improvement in their mental health once they moved out of an urban area and into a home with a garden or outdoor space.

Levelling up your garden doesn’t have to be as daunting as it sounds and outdoor tiling is proving incredibly popular, with over 8,000 Brits googling “garden tiling” each month. We caught up with the tiling experts at Instarmac to find out the best ways to transform your garden with outdoor tiling.

How popular are garden renovations right now?

Gardens have been a key area of focus for Brits looking to upgrade their homes ever since the pandemic – during 2022, the garden was the second-most popular area of the home to renovate. It’s hardly surprising, given that we weren’t allowed outside, but garden renovations have remained popular ever since. In fact, 51% of Brits spent time upgrading their garden in 2023.

During 2023, patio or terrace renovations were the second-most popular garden renovation amongst Brits, so expect outdoor tiling to remain trendy throughout 2024. And, with early predictions reckoning 2024 could be the hottest year on record, it’s little surprise that Brits are planning to use outdoor tiling to level up their garden. But how can you make sure your tiling looks professional?

Choosing the right material

Porcelain is becoming a major player in the world of outdoor tiling, with garden enthusiasts increasingly preferring it over pricier materials like natural stone. Porcelain tiling is long-lasting, lightweight, and incredibly easy to clean, making it a garden owner’s dream.

9,900 Brits are searching for “porcelain paving” each month, a 22% increase compared to this time last year. So, if you want to get ahead of the game, think about using porcelain for your garden renovation this year.

Josh Jinks, UltraTile Brand Manager at Instarmac says: “Porcelain might be a little more expensive than ceramic, but it’s more resistant to cracks and better protected against the elements. So, if you want a build that lasts, porcelain could be a great selection.”

Mosaic magic

Mosaics are hardly a new trend, but you can expect mosaic tiling to be a big player in 2024! Commonly used in kitchens and bathrooms, mosaic tiling uses small, irregular shards of coloured glass, ceramics or other materials to create a stunning visual feature.

Josh comments: “When used in your garden, mosaics do a fantastic job of catching the eye. Try using them sparingly alongside more traditional forms of tiling to create attention-grabbing features and emphasise your favourite areas of your garden.”

Mosaic tiling is one of the most commonly searched-for forms of tiling on Google. Over 18,000 Brits are searching for “mosaic tiling” each month, indicating just how popular mosaics are shaping up to be in 2024.

Building an al fresco kitchen

If you’re lucky enough to have a vast garden with plenty of space to play with, outdoor kitchens are likely to remain popular as Brits chase the continental al fresco dining experience. The versatility offered by a modular outdoor kitchen is proving popular, giving you more flexibility over the layout of your outdoor cooking area.

Google searches for “modular outdoor kitchen” are up 24% year-on-year. Your first step towards the perfect outdoor kitchen, however, is setting the perfect base. Tiling offers a safer and more permanent base than wooden decking, given that you’re likely to be barbecuing out there. You can also trust your tiling to handle the weight of your heavy new kitchen equipment with more ease than wood.

Josh comments: “Try larger tiles in neutral colours for your floor and keep grout thin to ensure easy movement of your kitchen equipment. Smaller, more detailed tiling provides the perfect foil when used for your kitchen’s splashback tiles!”

Finding the perfect match for your home

As well as creating endless possibilities for your outdoor space, an external tiling installation can add up to 20% to your home’s property value. So, if you’re thinking about selling up in the future, investing in a tiled area could be a great idea.

But, in order to maximise your profits, you’ll want to make sure your new tiling matches your home’s aesthetic. If you’re the owner of a sleek, modern home, try a minimalist approach. Go for neutral tones, and accentuate your tiles with gravel features for the ultimate classy look.

If you own a heritage home, don’t be afraid to make a big statement with loud, Victorian-style geometric tiles. Combine with plain tiles to create focal points in your garden or go big and bold with an entirely patterned patio!

Putting sustainability first

If you’re looking to level up your garden with some hard landscaping – also known as hardscaping – in 2024, be sure to consider whether you’re opting for permeable or non-permeable tile paving. Traditional patios tend to be non-permeable, meaning that rainfall runs off into your gutters or drains and potentially causing issues.

A permeable outdoor tiling or paving setup absorbs rainwater back into the ground without compromising the integrity of your install. This form of installation also makes sure that the ground beneath can get all the nutrients it needs. If you’re looking to improve the sustainability credentials of your garden features, this is a fantastic way to do so.

Thinking in 3D

When you’re planning your garden tiling installation, don’t feel like you have to limit yourself to the floor alone. Existing garden structures, like planters, sheds and garages, are a great opportunity to add some vertical points of interest to your garden design.

This can also be a great way of upcycling existing structures and breathing new life into tired sheds or garages. If your plan is to upgrade your home and garden gradually, this is the perfect way to combine the old and the new without breaking the bank.

So, if you’re thinking about making some improvements to your garden, a new tiling installation could be the perfect way to do it. With a wide range of different styles and applications at your disposal, the world’s your oyster when it comes to your garden.