Chelsea Flower Show Garden Paving Trends 2025

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 has once again delivered a breathtaking spectacle of horticultural innovation and design mastery, offering a compelling glimpse into the future of our outdoor spaces. Here at Westminster Stone, we believe your garden should be an extension of your home, a place of beauty, peace, and enduring quality. This year's Chelsea has resonated deeply with our philosophy, showcasing trends that champion natural materials, thoughtful design, and a harmonious blend of aesthetics and ecology. Join us as we explore the most captivating garden and garden paving trends from Chelsea 2025, and discover how Westminster Stone's exquisite collections can help you bring these award-winning ideas to life.

The Enduring Appeal of Brick Pavers

Brick pavers, with their rich history and warm, earthy tones, made a strong statement at Chelsea 2025. This wasn't just about traditional terracotta; designers explored a diverse palette, from deep, antique hues to lighter, more contemporary shades, often blending different colours to create unique and characterful pathways and terraces. The beauty of brick lies in its versatility and its ability to ground a design, offering a sense of permanence and classic charm.

The Hospitalfield Arts Garden showcased a particularly captivating use of clay pavers, featuring a bespoke colourway of, creating a path that harmoniously led to a bothy and blended seamlessly with rusted metal elements. Similarly, The London Square Chelsea Pensioners Garden employed reclaimed brick paving, highlighting the desire for materials that tell a story and created a sense of history and lived-in charm.

For those looking to infuse their garden with warmth and character, Our Traditional Brick Pavers and block paving comes in rich colour variations and materials, perfect for creating inviting driveways, charming garden paths, or beautifully detailed edgings. Choose from traditional terracotta Brick pavers such as our Jacobean Brick Paving, warm neutral tones with Antique Fieldmoor Slimsett Block Paving or a more contemporary look with Mountain Grey Slimsett Block Paving. Creating a sense of timeless elegance that will only grow more beautiful with age, developing a unique patina that speaks of enduring quality. Whether you prefer a uniform, classic pattern or a more eclectic, blended approach, our brick pavers provide the perfect foundation for any garden space.

The Unparalleled Beauty of Natural Stone Garden Paving

Natural stone paving continues to reign supreme at Chelsea, a testament to its timeless beauty, durability, and inherent connection to the landscape. This year, we saw a celebration of stone in all its glorious forms – from rugged, textured flagstones to finely cut, smooth slabs that exude contemporary sophistication. The emphasis was on allowing the natural variations in colour and texture to shine through, creating surfaces that are not just practical but also visually captivating. Several gardens at Chelsea 2025 were veritable showcases for the exquisite use of natural stone:

The Seawilding Garden, designed by Ryan McMahon, drew its inspiration directly from the rugged beauty of Loch Craignish in Scotland. This breathtaking garden featured extensive sandstone paving, specifically utilising Sandstone throughout its design. This natural stone, with its inherent character and earthy tones, provided the perfect foundation for a space that celebrated marine rewilding, including the groundbreaking inclusion of seagrass – the ocean's only flowering plant – for the first time in the show's history. The raw, authentic feel of the sandstone slabs perfectly echoed the wild, untamed coastal landscapes that inspired the design.

The London Square Chelsea Pensioners Garden, designed by Dave Green, deeply embraced the authentic character of aged Yorkshire stone. This reclaimed natural stone, used for its pathways and key features, perfectly suited the garden's woodland-style layout, providing a sense of historical depth and a truly rustic charm that resonated with the Royal Hospital's heritage.

Catherine MacDonald's The Boodles Raindance Garden presented a truly luxurious vision, where the hardscaping mirrored the precious materials of fine jewellery. Here, grey slate paving was chosen to represent platinum, offering a sophisticated and sleek surface. This was beautifully contrasted with touches of limestone, carefully placed to evoke the delicate sparkle of diamonds. This innovative use of natural stone highlighted its versatility in conveying specific design concepts and creating a high-end, bespoke finish.

At Westminster Stone, natural stone is at the very heart of what we do. Our extensive collection, including our renowned Indian Sandstone, timeless Limestone paving, and classic Yorkstone, offers an unparalleled choice for any garden design. Our commitment to sourcing the highest quality natural stone means you can create a garden that is not only beautiful but also built to last, a true investment in your outdoor living experience.

Hexagon Everywhere: From Grand Statements to Subtle Accents

One of the most striking and prevalent trends at this year's Chelsea Flower Show was the undeniable presence of the hexagon. This versatile geometric shape was embraced in myriad ways, proving its adaptability for both expansive statements and intricate details. We saw it in colossal paving blocks forming dramatic pathways, drawing the eye and guiding visitors through meticulously designed landscapes. But its influence didn't stop there; tiny hexagonal tiles emerged as delicate accents, subtly enriching borders or creating captivating patterns within larger paved areas. Some designers even ingeniously incorporated hexagonal forms into vertical elements, transforming garden walls into works of art.

The beauty of the hexagon lies in its inherent tessellating nature, allowing for seamless, organic-looking transitions and dynamic visual interest. This year, the British Red Cross - Here For Humanity Garden, designed by John Warland and Tom Bannister, masterfully showcased the hexagon. Inspired by the natural formations of the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, the garden featured striking interlocking hexagonal columnar stone jointing, with columns of unique sizes fitting together seamlessly. These hexagonal elements extended to form paving, stepping stones, and even appeared to continue under the water, creating a cohesive and deeply symbolic representation of the global Red Cross network. Similarly, Manoj Malde's Tackle HIV Challenging Stigma Garden made bold use of hexagonal shapes. Here, hexagonal paving was central to the design, reflecting the molecular structure found within many HIV medications. Even in the container gardening category, smaller hexagonal block paving was set into gravel and continued up walls onto lit panels, demonstrating the shape's versatility across different scales of design.

Beyond expansive paving, is the crucial role of garden accessories like garden path edging and stepping stones in adding refined detail and accents to any outdoor space. These often-overlooked elements can be instrumental in enhancing geometric themes or providing subtle visual pathways. Imagine using our Victorian Rope Top Edgings to frame a hexagonal patio, providing a classic border that defines the space with elegant curvature. Alternatively, for a more modern or naturalistic approach, our stepping stones – available in various natural stone finishes – can be laid in an irregular yet intentional pattern, perhaps leading to a secluded hexagonal seating area, or creating intriguing pathways through lush planting. These smaller details offer the perfect opportunity to introduce contrasting textures, colours, or even echoes of the hexagonal theme, guiding the eye and adding a touch of discovery to your garden design.

The Art of Blending: Natural Stone and Brick Pavers in Harmony

While natural stone and brick pavers each hold their own distinct charm, a truly captivating trend at Chelsea 2025 was the artful integration of both materials within a single design. This fusion creates dynamic visual interest, defines different zones within a garden, and often adds layers of historical context and texture. The interplay of the smooth, robust qualities of stone with the warmer, more intimate feel of brick demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of hardscaping.

A prime example was The London Square Chelsea Pensioners Garden, where designer Dave Green masterfully wove together reclaimed brick paving and aged Yorkshire stone. This combination created a "lived-in" hardscape, evoking a sense of enduring heritage and seamlessly blending modern design with historical echoes. Similarly, The Pathway Garden by Robert Beaudin and Allon Hoskin, focused on a journey of reflection and healing, featuring both textured reclaimed pavers (bricks) and reclaimed stone slabs. These materials shifted in texture and pattern, mirroring the non-linear journey of recovery and adding profound depth to the garden's narrative.

Adding to this display of material harmony, our collaboration with Alitex this year at Chelsea also prominently featured our National Trust Rainham Hall Limestone Paving and National Trust Collection Rainham Hall Cobbles. These elegant, mid-grey limestone flagstones and characterful cobbles were meticulously laid on the stand, demonstrating their own versatility. The cobbles broke up the vast expanse of paving, adding interest and creating a seamless pathway to the greenhouse. See more of this 5 star winning stand.

Secluded Natural Seating: Embracing Intimacy and Reflection

Chelsea 2025 highlighted a growing desire for intimate and secluded seating areas within the garden – spaces designed for quiet contemplation, intimate conversations, or simply unwinding amidst nature's embrace. These weren't grand outdoor dining sets, but rather thoughtfully integrated nooks, often nestled within lush planting or defined by natural elements like stone walls or mature trees. The paving in these areas often contributed to the sense of enclosure and comfort, using materials that felt soft underfoot or offered subtle textures. The choice of paving in these secluded spots was crucial, creating an inviting and comfortable surface that encouraged lingering.

The London Square Chelsea Pensioners Garden featured a central sheltered seating area, demonstrating how garden paving can work in harmony with planting to create a private, accessible space for gathering and reflection. The design carefully integrated the seating within the overall garden structure, making it feel like a natural extension of the landscape. Similarly, the Avanade 'Intelligent' Garden, while employing innovative materials beyond traditional stone, created a sheltered area for interaction and quiet contemplation with its mycelium pavilion. This structure, focused on circular economy principles, provided a unique, enclosed space that blended seamlessly into the garden's boundaries, showcasing how innovative material choices can lead to unique forms of secluded seating. Even simple carved out water bowls in natural boulders were seen, creating inviting, informal seats that encouraged a closer connection with the natural world.

Westminster Stone offers a range of paving options perfect for crafting these tranquil retreats. Our paving circles and octagons are designed to create a sense of enclosure and focus, perhaps with a beautifully crafted stone bench as a focal point. These mindful spaces are crucial for well-being, and the right paving can truly enhance their sense of calm and intimacy. The tactile quality of our natural stone flagstones creates a sensory experience that adds to the feeling of sanctuary, inviting you to relax and reconnect with nature in your own garden.

Bug Hotels: Welcoming Wildlife with Thoughtful Integration

A heartwarming and increasingly prominent trend at Chelsea was the integration of habitats for wildlife, particularly bug hotels. These beneficial insect havens, often creatively designed, are not just practical for supporting biodiversity but also serve as charming focal points within the garden. This trend underscores a broader commitment to ecological gardening and creating spaces that are not just beautiful for humans but also thriving ecosystems for nature. The careful placement of these features demonstrates a holistic approach to garden design, where every element contributes to a richer environment.

At Westminster Stone, we champion sustainable practices and the use of natural materials. While we don't produce bug hotels ourselves, we encourage their incorporation into gardens paved with our products. Consider using offcuts of our natural stone paving slabs or broken pieces of our brick pavers to create small, discreet bug hotels tucked into borders or alongside pathways. Our commitment to quality and longevity means our products are designed to last, contributing to a stable and enduring environment for both people and wildlife.

The Soothing Embrace of Natural Water Features

The calming murmur of water was a universal and deeply appreciated element throughout the Chelsea gardens this year. Far from elaborate, formal fountains, the emphasis was firmly on naturalistic water features – think gently flowing brooks, serene reflective pools, and subtle cascades that mimic the gentle sounds of a natural stream. These features weren't just decorative; they were integral to the garden's ecosystem, often designed to collect rainwater, support wildlife, and create a sense of tranquility.

Paving played a crucial role in framing and enhancing these watery sanctuaries. We observed stunning instances where irregular natural stone setts hugged the edges of meandering streams, or larger, worn flagstones seemed to float seamlessly over water, creating inviting pathways and bridges. The Cha No Niwa – Japanese Tea Garden, a worthy gold medal winner, exemplified this trend with its irregular grey setts framing larger worn slabs, creating subtle paving areas that invited pause and contemplation around its beautiful water features. The strategic placement of paving in gardens like these guided the viewer's eye, drawing them towards the calming presence of water, while ensuring safe and aesthetically pleasing passage.

Recreate the RHS Chelsea look Home with Westminster Stone

The Chelsea Flower Show 2025 has offered a wealth of inspiration, demonstrating that a beautiful garden is a harmonious blend of innovative design, sustainable practices, and quality materials. At Westminster Stone, we are passionate about providing you with the finest paving and landscaping solutions to transform your garden into a truly exceptional space.

From the bold geometry of hexagonal designs to the calming influence of natural water features, the timeless appeal of brick and natural stone, the intimate harmony of blended hardscaping, the intimacy of secluded seating, the ecological contribution of bug hotels, and the captivating colours of this year's floral stars, each trend can be beautifully recreated or enhanced with our extensive collections. We believe in creating outdoor spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional, durable, and deeply connected to nature.

Explore our website or visit one of our display centres, and let Westminster Stone guide you in crafting a garden that embodies the spirit of Chelsea 2025 – a garden that is a true testament to beauty, quality, and enduring style. Your dream outdoor sanctuary awaits.

About the Author

Sian McHugh

'Sian has been working with us at Westminster Stone for over 5 years and has developed expertise in garden design and landscaping. Her passion for nature extends to tending her own garden, teaching yoga and hiking during her free time.'