There was a time when gardens tended to be unkempt forgotten expanses of scruffy old grass at the back of the house but these days 'the room outside' is undergoing something of a renaissance with more attention being lavished on it than ever before. And whatever ideas the designers come up with, you can be sure that pretty soon high street retailers will follow suit making the latest trends, colours, products, materials and plants readily available at affordable prices.

According to John Wyer of Bowles and Wyer garden design, the lush planting, gushing water features and warm terracotta colours of the Mediterranean which were popular five years ago, have been more recently phased out in favour of bleached out colours and natural materials such as timber and stone. But now it looks like colour could be splashing back into fashion with plum, aubergine and even chocolate and orange getting a high ranking in the style stakes and being used to accentuate focal points.

Budding gardeners are also investing more money in fewer items, buying a few accessories, pots and distinctive plants that make a huge impact, rather than spreading the cash around on lots of smaller things. This is largely due to a more minimalist approach which has come about thanks to a certain fascination with all things oriental. "The past couple of years has seen the Japanese influence become really big," notes John. "But things are moving away from being very mannered and stylised towards more of an east meets west approach."

Accessories, sculptures, lighting and water features have all become much more contemporary with many gardens having a real sense of drama and creating a feast for the eyes -- and ears. Water flowing over sleek, modern, sculpted centrepieces and lit in true 'look at me' style is a trend that's really catching on and bold sculptural plants are used to add to the effect.

"Many are choosing to make the very most of their gardens and love entertaining friends outdoors all year round and well into the evening," says John. "Therefore lighting is not only a necessity in this respect, it's also something really atmospheric to look at and creates exciting effects as it lights up the plants and makes shadows." On top of this, lighting provides added household security and suppliers are increasingly blending classy design with functionality.

There is more of an emphasis on larger, individual plants rather than lots of small ones and leaf texture and shape are important too.For example bamboo and tropical plants with attention-grabbing foliage are popular because they provide interest and texture. Keep your eyes peeled for things like the Chinese larch 'Pseudolarix' which has an unusual colour and shape.

To allow you to sit back and enjoy the garden, rest your derriere and place your soup on some outdoor furniture. Some fantastic ranges have emerged on the market and John says sets that incorporate both wood and metal are really sought after. And as for fears of getting hypothermia as you admire your glorious water sculpture, amazing plants and brilliant light show, banish them now because outdoor garden heaters or burners are readily available and won't necessarily break the bank.

Taking on a complete overhaul of your garden single-handedly can be very stressful and takes lots of time and energy so it's best to consult the professionals.But making a few simple additions or changes to your garden can give it a real lift and be really good value for money. Either way, visit as many gardens, centres, shows and websites as you can to get inspiration and ideas for the look you want and make sure you shop around for the best bargains.

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