Since I was last at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2018, the world has of course become a very different place. To say that plants and flowers have become a huge trend for interior decoration is perhaps an understatement. From small scale print designs to grand scale florals, the health benefits of plants and flowers and how we garden for the planet is now key.

*Garden rooms

With the relationship between home and garden more connected than ever, the idea of an indoor ‘garden room’ is growing as a focus for interior design. In Victorian times, a garden room would have been a conservatory and after the First World War they were styled as ‘sun rooms’, often for health reasons. They were nonetheless glamorous interior designed spaces with whimsical trellis walls, murals and tromp l’oeil as espoused by interior designers such as Madeleine Castaing (1894 -1992).

A garden room today takes many forms, from the more egalitarian idea of small spaces such as balconies and bathrooms turned into plant jungles to interior designed garden rooms with chic trellis lined walls. So I was not only on the lookout for sustainable garden design ideas at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show but for furniture and accessories that could create life-affirming garden rooms for my *magazine and Styling Box clients.

Highlights from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022

But before I take you down the rather gloriously endless rabbit hole that is the ‘garden room’, here are just a few of the ideas and gardens I admired today at the RHS Chelsea Flower Press Show 2022 (sponsored by The Newt in Somerset). And in no particular order, a Gold Medal Blog Award has been given to!:

*Garden room designs are growing

For more in-depth garden room design ideas, you might like to take a look at a four-page feature I have written in Saga magazine’s June 2022 issue (out 25th May).

And, if you are looking to source stylish vintage and antique pieces for a garden room, you might like to put The White Door Brocante’s next show in your diary. In its third year, The White Door Brocante is bigger than ever, and will be taking place on 9th June 2022 (10.30am to 3.30 pm) at The Barn, Goosecroft Lane, Purley-on-Thames, West Berkshire, RG8 8BW (Google Maps) or RG8 8DER (car sat nav). £5 tickets are available online or on the door with a cafe and free parking available.

Garden rooms at Wow House!

Finally, there hasn’t been an interior design showhouse in the UK for 30 years, so this is a great opportunity to experience room set designs by some of the UK’s top interior designers. Amongst others, Wow House! at The Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, from 1st June – 1st July 2022 will showcase the work of interior design practice Campbell-Rey with their garden room and Rita Konig with her botanical inspired morning room design.

Thank you

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you are well and enjoying what I think is the most beautiful time of the year, especially in the garden.

With best wishes,

Charis x