If your New Year goals for 2026 include slowing down, feeling calmer, reconnecting with nature, or generally just relaxing a bit more, then we think our gardens and patios are the place to start.
A wellness garden isn’t just the latest trend, buzz words, or gimmick too; it’s a design-led, intentional outdoor space that we shape to support our minds, bodies, routines and daily wellbeing.
With a few thoughtful touches, your patio furniture, garden layout and planting schemes can all work together to create a sanctuary that genuinely helps you feel that little bit more zen.
The idea is simple: nature heals. And there’s science to back it up too.
A major UK survey of 2,000 adults found that 80% said time in nature boosts their happiness, 74% said it reduces stress, and 71% said it improves their mood — strong proof that even small, everyday moments in our gardens can make a big difference.
Experts from the Royal Horticultural Society also emphasise that:
"Being surrounded by the right elements of nature can help you be in the present, easing stress and grounding the mind"
It’s a reminder that thoughtful patio and garden design can do far more than enhance the look of our homes; it can actively support our wellbeing, too. This is where the idea of a wellness garden truly comes into its own.
Designed to encourage positive habits, our outside spaces can make it easier to slow down, breathe, stretch, sip tea in the morning sun, or restore our focus after a demanding week.
And as we look ahead to 2026, the role our outdoor spaces play in how we live, work and recharge has never been more important.
Why a Wellness Garden Matters in 2026
Modern life has a habit of pulling us in every direction at once. Between busy workdays, constant notifications and full calendars, it’s easy to feel switched on all the time and properly switched off very little. That’s where our outside spaces can quietly step in.
A garden offers something increasingly rare; a chance for us to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with the natural world, even if only for a few minutes a day. It doesn’t have to be large or perfectly styled either, what matters is how it makes you feel when you step into it.
Whether you’re creating a space just for yourself, somewhere your family can unwind together, or a welcoming setting for friends to gather, a wellness-focused garden goes beyond good looks.
Thoughtfully designed, it can support our long-term mental health, encourage calmer routines, and make everyday moments feel more balanced and restorative.
And the good news is, achieving that sense of calm doesn’t require a complete overhaul too. With a few considered choices, your garden can become a space that genuinely supports your wellbeing — and here’s how we would tackle it in 2026:
1. Start with the senses: A Wellness Garden engages all the senses
A truly calming wellbeing garden works on all the senses — scent, sound, touch, sight, and even taste.
Fragrant plants to lift your mood
Plants like lavender, rosemary, jasmine, mint and scented geraniums bring a relaxing scent profile to your patio or seating area. Lavender, in particular, is repeatedly linked with lowering stress and supporting better sleep.
A UK gardening study reported that people who gardened two to three times a week had 6.6% higher wellbeing scoresand 4.2% lower stress levels, showing how simple sensory interactions with plants can reshape our day.
Lazy Magazine Tip: Cluster fragrant plants around or even on your favourite Lazy Susan table or beside a cosy garden bench for some calming scent therapy.
Natural textures
Fuzzy lamb’s ear leaves, soft mosses, tactile grasses and warm timber decking all add grounding layers that calm the nervous system and reconnect you to natural textures.
Soothing sounds
A recent systematic review article concluded that exposure to natural environments (including our gardens) reduces stress, improves cognition, lowers blood pressure and boosts mood. Wind chimes, gentle rustling grasses, the flap of birds’ wings or a small bubbling water feature can create a sound environment that instantly slows our breathing and thoughts.
2. Create calming focal points
Every wellness garden needs visual anchors. The places where your eyes can settle and your mind can exhale. Some of our fave design elements include:
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A fire bowl or chiminea for evening warmth
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A sculpture, a large planter or a seating area as a central feature
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A curved winding path that invites slow movement
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Raised beds filled with herbs or pollinator-friendly plants
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A bistro set positioned for the morning sun
- A reading nook with bench
A focal point doesn't have to be dramatic. It simply needs to create a visual pause; a moment of stillness in the overall design. And this all aligns beautifully with wellness-led garden designers like Matt Keightley, known for his calm, sensory-rich spaces that encourage connection and reflection.
3. Let your patio furniture shape your wellbeing routine
Your garden furniture isn't just decoration, it’s the foundation of your outdoor habits:
A seating area for daily rituals
Place a small table and two chairs where the morning sun hits. This can become your daily reset point: morning coffee, five minutes of breathing, a journal session, or a mindful start to the day.
A reading or reflection corner
A comfortable outdoor lounge chair or garden bench tucked near a hedge or shaded by a parasol creates a private nook for unwinding, reading or meditation.
Dining spaces for connection
A wellness garden isn’t only about solitude; it’s about feeling good with others too. Use a larger table like our extending sets to encourage slow dining, simple meals and meaningful conversation with loved ones.
Movement-friendly layouts
A wellness space doesn’t need to include high-energy workouts. Gentle movement such as stretching, tai chi, yoga, even gardening all count. A clear patch of flat patio gives room for yoga mats or quiet exercise in fresh air.
According to research by Scientific American, time spent in nature restores the mental resources we lose to constant digital noise. It improves focus, reduces negativity, and offers a mood boost. For us, this is the perfect reason to design a patio seating area that encourages sitting outside as often as the UK weather will allow!
4. Nature as therapy: Create moments of mindfulness
In a Wellness Garden, every element becomes an invitation for us to slow down:
Take mindful pauses
A bench under a tree encourages small reflective moments. Bird feeders draw wildlife that brings joy and makes your garden feel alive.
Planting for well-being
Plant shrubs and trees that:
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Provide shade and sanctuary
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Frame views of the sky
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Move beautifully in the breeze
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Offer seasonal colour and interest
Lazy Magazine Tip: Plants don’t need to be exotic. Keept it simple. Greenery like ferns, grasses and evergreen shrubs are low cost and help you feel surrounded, grounded and calmer.
Nurturing improves wellbeing
Growing and tending to plants doesn't just beautify your garden, it lowers stress levels and promotes a sense of achievement. Even 20 minutes of light gardening is shown to reduce cortisol and improve our mood.
5. Pathways, flow and accessibility
A calming wellness garden shouldn't overwhelm the senses, it should guide them.
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Use pathways to create a gentle flow to "destinations".
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Keep routes accessible and uncluttered.
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Allow space between seating areas, plants and focal points so your garden feels open and breathable.
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Use natural materials like stone, gravel, slate or timber to bring harmony and grounding.
Not everyone has a large garden like our customer above, but even compact patios can create a sense of journey and discovery with thoughtful layout and movement.
6. Night-time wellbeing
Summer evenings outside are some of the most restorative moments of all, especially after a long day.
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Soft lighting around seating areas
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Lanterns, solar path lights or candles for atmosphere
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Fire pits for warmth and conversation
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Cushions and throws for comfort
These small details can turn our patios into an all-day retreat; a place to breathe, stretch, sip something warm or simply look up at the sky.
7. Why garden furniture matters more than ever this year
A wellness garden is only as effective as the spaces it invites you to use, and that’s where good patio furniture plays a defining role. In 2026, our outdoor areas are no longer occasional extras; they’re everyday extensions of how we rest, connect and reset.
The right furniture doesn’t just fill a patio, it shapes behaviour. A well-placed table encourages morning rituals. Comfortable, supportive seating invites longer moments of rest. A generous dining set makes slow meals and meaningful conversations more likely.
When outdoor furniture is thoughtfully designed and built to last, it removes friction and makes spending time outside feel effortless.
At Lazy Susan, we believe great garden furniture should support us. That means designs that are practical, adaptable and comfortable, while still being beautiful enough to draw you outdoors again and again.
Whether it’s a compact bistro set for quiet reflection or an extending table for shared moments, furniture becomes the framework that turns intention into habit. And that’s what a wellness garden is really about in 2026; creating outdoor spaces that don’t just look good, but help us live better, every single day.
Wellness starts right in your outside space
A Wellness Garden doesn’t require sweeping redesigns or major expense. It’s about designing thoughtfully, choosing elements that calm the senses, and creating outdoor spaces that work on a personal level.
With the right furniture, a few mindful habits, and some subtle design choices that prioritise calm and comfort, your garden becomes more than an outdoor space, it becomes part of your day, your wellbeing, and your lifestyle.
Before you head back inside, we’d love to see how you’re bringing wellness into your outdoor space.
Share your garden moments with us on Instagram or Facebook by tagging @LazySusanFurniture for our Do Some Good campaign. Every photo not only inspires others, it also helps us support some incredible causes throughout the year.
All the best for 2026 from the Lazy Susan team.
