Kitchens Are Stepping Outside

Chelsea Flower Show 2025

This year’s Chelsea Flower Show has prompted a rethink of boundaries — or how to remove them. More and more projects are bringing the kitchen directly into the garden. This often means installing large folding doors — sometimes two sets at a corner — that open fully, eliminating the barrier between inside and outside. Planters sit right up against the threshold, with herbs just steps away. When the doors are open and birdsong fills the air, it becomes hard to tell where the kitchen ends and the garden begins.

The Garden Kitchen

Even further than gardens this year, designers are exploring standalone garden kitchens—small, purpose-built structures with folding glass walls that open up to the outdoors. These enclosed garden spaces feature fitted kitchen cabinetry, spit roasts, and fridges designed to add an extra dimension to the main home. They blend outdoor living with mindfulness, creating a tranquil retreat that feels like a little overseas escape—good for the soul and perfect as a fresh, new space to reflect and unwind. Outdoor cooking is handled by barbecues and pizza ovens, ideal for summer gatherings. In colder months, the glass doors close, a fire is lit and the space transforms into a warm, ski chalet-style sanctuary.

Materials

Materials were a key feature this year, with rusted metal making a strong comeback. One garden took it further by using wood coated with a special paint containing metal filings, allowing the timber to weather into a soft rust—a striking effect that could be fascinating to incorporate into outdoor cabinetry. Others showcased charred woods or limewashed areas that glowed gently at dusk, adding subtle texture and warmth.

Since bright flowers already take centre stage, introducing varied textures like these becomes even more important to create a balanced and engaging garden.

In smaller garden kitchens, materials extend to practical elements like planters. Just two simple pots on either side of the doors provided enough space to grow a handful of mint or thyme, keeping fresh herbs close at hand. Window boxes, ideal for tighter spaces, allow easy access to herbs straight from an open window. At Chelsea, these compact planters, crafted from a variety of textures, proved so popular that they sold out within days.

Lighting

Lighting played an important role in shaping atmosphere and extending garden use into the evening. Low-level lights were used to gently outline paths, borders, and key planting areas—providing just enough illumination to guide the way. Overhead, strings of festoon bulbs introduced a warmer, more inviting glow—ideal for informal seating areas or outdoor kitchens. The effect is understated but effective, offering enough light to relax, dine, or entertain, while keeping the overall mood relaxed and intimate.

Outdoor cooking has firmly captured the attention of kitchen designers and is set to become the next big trend for anyone with the space to embrace it. No longer reserved for villas overseas, outdoor kitchens are being thoughtfully reimagined to suit the British climate. At Chelsea this year, the message was clear: this could soon become the next essential living space. With a few smart touches, an ordinary evening can easily shift from “let’s pop out for supper” to “let’s stay in for the night.”