What Is the 'European Garden' Trend, and How to Build Your Own This Summer
A European summer doesn't necessarily have to mean a weeks-long trip through the best addresses in France or Italy. Soaking up the essence of l'art de vivre can be as easy as curating a cozy and romantic space at home, whether that's by lingering over a good bottle of wine on the patio or creating the perfect Versailles-inspired garden in the backyard.
In fact, according to the 2026 Houzz Emerging Summer Trends Report, more and more homeowners are looking across the pond for landscaping inspiration this year. The report shows that searches for "French courtyards" are up 6x this year, while "cottage patios" and "English cottage patios" are up 204% and 131%, respectively.
Learn more about the European garden trend and how to work it into your outdoor space.
What Is the European Garden Trend?
"The ‘European garden' aesthetic is mainly a mix of traditional French and English garden design," explains Paris-based landscape architect Sébastien Folscheid. "French gardens bring structure, proportion and visual clarity, while English gardens soften the space with freer planting and layered vegetation that gives a slightly wild, romantic atmosphere."
"That balance between order and freedom/spontaneity is what gives the style its charm, and I believe the trend is popular because people are looking for outdoor spaces that feel natural, romantic, with a beauty that is, of course, visual but based on charm and authenticity," adds Folscheid.
How to Create Your Own European Garden
The essence of the ‘‘European garden'' trend is simple. According to Folscheild, typical materials associated with the trend are gravel, natural stones, terracotta pots, Mediterranean-style ceramics, natural wood and wrought iron, while popular plants include lavender, climbing roses, hydrangeas, rosemary, thyme, olive trees, ivy, wisteria and ornamental grasses.
Here's a breakdown of exactly how to execute the trend in your own space, according to landscaping experts.
1. Layer Foliage
"This particular trend is definitely a combination of quite a few things. I would argue there is an Italian influence as well, and in general it's a bit of a combination of whimsical, romantic, elegant, lush and clean styles," says Steve Cocoran, CEO, Lawn Love.
"I think that for a lot of people, it finds the perfect middle ground for creating a yard that is simultaneously chic and expensive-looking and also charming and home-y. A big part of achieving this look is having a lot of greenery. Layered plants and a lot of foliage in general really tie it all together."
2. Don't Forget the Candles
The European garden trend does not end when the sun goes down; it takes on a new life as the evening progresses. "Candles play a central role in setting core ambiance and creating this celebrated trend," says Mary Winkenwerder, BON LIFE. "By placing candles in lanterns in centralized meeting points such as walkways, sitting areas, dining tables and garden areas, they take on a unique facade."
Winkenwerder points out that placing scented candles like jasmine and rose into outdoor lanterns illuminates light and fills the surrounding air with coveted summer scents. "Burning citronella candles in high-traffic garden areas provides light while controlling bug populations," she adds.
3. Invest in Landscape Pavers
"You do not need a sprawling estate to achieve this look; you can easily anchor a small patio from the ground up," says Wojciech Chrzanowski, Euro Paving. "Utilizing Unilock brick pavers in a classic herringbone or basketweave pattern instantly channels the romantic, weathered feel of an English cottage or French courtyard."
4. Add Unstructured Potted Plants
"For a recent project in the Chicago area, we achieved this aesthetic by pairing detailed brick paving patterns with overflowing, unstructured potted plantings," adds Chrzanowski. "This contrast between structured, patterned brickwork and wild greenery is the exact secret to that lived-in European elegance."
5. Choose "Romantic Species"
According to Steve Sylva, landscaper and owner of Steve's Services, the plant selection is where most people get the ‘European garden' aesthetic wrong. "For that French-English hybrid feel, you want soft, romantic species-lavender, ornamental grasses, climbing roses and foxglove give you that layered, slightly untamed look that's core to this aesthetic," says Sylva.
6. Contrast Between Geometry and Loose Plantings
"For small patios specifically, I'd lean into a mix of formal structure with loose plantings inside it-think a defined border or low hedge line framing containers with billowing, airy plants like salvia or catmint spilling over the edges," suggests Sylva. "That contrast between structured geometry and soft planting is exactly what reads as ‘European countryside.'"
7. Choose Natural Materials
According to Sylva, the material palette matters too. "Natural stone over concrete, aged terracotta over plastic, wrought iron over aluminum-these material choices signal the aesthetic immediately, even in a 10x10 patio space," he explains.
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This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 8:45 AM.