A Partnership Rooted in Success
Each May, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show transforms the heart of London into a vibrant tapestry of colour, texture, innovation, and inspiration—and 2025 has been no exception. For Millboard, this iconic celebration of garden design and horticultural creativity is more than just a calendar highlight. It’s a chance to collaborate, inspire, and showcase how thoughtful materials can transform outdoor spaces into something extraordinary.
This year, we’re proud to have once again partnered with the talented team at Garden House Design, whose exceptional Main Avenue stand has just earned a coveted five-star award. Known for their imaginative, lifestyle-focused approach, Garden House Design brings a deeply personal and practical sensibility to every project—designing spaces not just to admire, but to truly live in. From full garden builds to expert outdoor styling, they specialise in creating elegant environments that reflect how people want to enjoy their gardens today.
Showcasing Millboard Decking and Cladding: A Chelsea Statement in Texture and Tone
This year’s 5* award-winning stand featured Millboard’s Modello decking and Shadow Line+ cladding in Coppered Oak—premium materials that played a key role in shaping both the atmosphere and structure of the space. The Coppered Oak tone proved to be a perfect complement to the broader Chelsea 2025 aesthetic theme, with its warm, bronzed hues and tactile texture aligning beautifully with the show’s earthy, nature-inspired palette.
The Shadow Line+ cladding added architectural depth and contrast, while the Modello Contour decking featured in the stand’s 'secret garden' retreat, creating a serene haven that invited exploration and reflection. Its rich, warm hues provided the perfect contrast to the surrounding lush, green planting—enhancing the sense of depth and tranquillity throughout the space.
Each Millboard board is hand-moulded from the finest oak timbers and coloured by hand to authentically capture the intricate grain detail, tone, and natural beauty of real wood—providing the look of timber without the need for regular sanding, staining, or sealing.
Durable, low-maintenance, and made to withstand the elements, our resin mineral composite decking and cladding offer the perfect foundation for luxurious yet practical outdoor living.
The Chelsea 2025 Colour & Design Landscape
This year’s show revealed a richer, more immersive approach to planting and colour. Gardens were layered, naturalistic, and full of sensory texture—bringing emotion and ecology into perfect harmony.
Key Colour Trends Seen Across the Show:
- Deep Reds & Muted Pinks – Creating romantic, immersive zones in sensory garden displays.
- Purples & Lavenders – With Salvia caradonna and lupins adding elegant verticality and calm.
- Pale Yellows & Soft Golds – Trollius x cultorum ‘Cheddar’ and similar plants provided gentle highlights.
- Vibrant Oranges – Geums lit up borders with energy and contrast.
- Lush Greens – Foliage took centre stage, with textured layers, multi-branched trees, and structural planting defining many schemes.
Millboard’s naturally inspired finishes—especially in tones like Coppered Oak, Burnt Cedar, and Driftwood—fit seamlessly into these evolving palettes, supporting designers in creating spaces that feel both grounded and uplifting.
Design Themes: Natural, Resilient, and Emotionally Responsive
While the planting impressed, what stood out even more was the intentionality behind each garden. Chelsea 2025 revealed a strong shift towards gardens that are as emotionally enriching and sustainable as they are beautiful.
Emerging Garden Design Themes:
- Naturalistic Planting – Layered and loose, evoking wildflower meadows and forest edges.
- Climate-Resilient Choices – Mediterranean species like rosemary, cistus, and artemisia featured prominently for their drought tolerance.
- Coastal Inspirations – Dune grasses and hardy planting reflected windswept coastal beauty.
- Japanese Influence – Tranquil, structured schemes focused on balance, clean lines, and serenity.
- Therapeutic Gardens – Spaces designed for wellbeing and accessibility, using fragrance, texture, and soft movement.
- Urban Forests – Tree-rich planting schemes designed to improve air quality and urban resilience.
These themes reflect a wider ambition within the industry—to create gardens that give back, whether through biodiversity, emotional wellbeing, or climate-conscious design.
The Rise of the Outdoor Lifestyle
The evolution of gardens into full outdoor living spaces has never been more evident. At RHS Chelsea 2025, designers moved far beyond ornamental borders, presenting gardens as extensions of the home—spaces to cook, gather, rest, and restore.
Key Outdoor Living Trends:
- Sanctuary Spaces – Fire pits, lounge zones, and secluded nooks featured heavily, turning gardens into private retreats.
- Multifunctional Features – Outdoor kitchens, built-in seating, and layered pergolas reflect how families use their spaces throughout the year.
- Sustainable Materials – Designers incorporated reclaimed elements and products containing recycled materials.
- Technology in Gardens – AI-powered monitoring of tree health and smart irrigation systems hinted at the gardens of tomorrow.
- Biodiversity & Wildlife Integration – Insect hotels, nesting boxes, and pollinator-friendly plants encouraged wildlife into even the most structured spaces.
This shift—from ornamental to experiential—is perfectly aligned with Millboard’s mission: helping people to Live. Life. Outside in spaces that are designed with longevity, beauty, and sustainability in mind.
Feeling Inspired? Bring RHS Chelsea 2025 Home - How You Can Recreate the Look
- You don’t need a Main Avenue plot at Chelsea to bring these ideas home. Here are a few ways to recreate the magic in your own outdoor space:
- Create Immersive Planting Zones – Mix textures, heights, and tones to mimic wild yet intentional planting schemes.
- Choose Resilient Plants – Look for varieties that thrive in dry conditions, such as lavender, geums, and artemisia.
- Use Natural-Style Materials – Whether it’s our Enhanced Grain decking or a reclaimed timber bench, choose finishes that feel at home in the landscape.
- Design a Place to Pause – Add a small seating area, a water feature, or a canopy to carve out moments of calm.
- Support Local Wildlife – Use bird-friendly planting, insect shelters, and shallow water dishes to create a biodiversity hub.
- Channel a Japanese Feel – Incorporate symmetry, soft gravel paths, and evergreen structure to evoke peace and simplicity.
Millboard Decking and Cladding: The Perfect Foundation for Outdoor Design
At Millboard, we’re proud to support visionary designers like Garden House Design who continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the garden. Whether you’re creating a chic urban courtyard, a welcoming family garden, or a peaceful retreat, our products offer the beauty, versatility, and durability to bring those ideas to life.
Proudly designed and manufactured in the UK by our family-owned business in Warwickshire, Millboard products blend traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation. Each board is hand-moulded from carefully selected oak timbers and individually hand-coloured to capture the natural beauty of real wood.
From the lifelike grain patterns in our hand-moulded boards to the precision of our cladding profiles, it’s the attention to detail that sets Millboard apart. Every contour, texture, and tone is thoughtfully designed to offer the authentic look of timber without the drawbacks—ensuring a refined finish that performs beautifully in any environment. Built to withstand the elements with minimal upkeep, Millboard products help transform any outdoor space into a beautiful, lasting haven for you and your loved ones to enjoy—season after season, year after year.
“The journey to creating an outdoor lifestyle space is made easier with trusted materials, expert styling, and visionary design.”
Why not order a selection of free samples and experience the beauty, texture, and quality of Millboard decking and cladding for yourself? It’s the perfect first step in bringing your RHS Chelsea-inspired outdoor space to life.
