The Flower Bed Trend You'll Start Seeing Everywhere In 2026

Gardens are the perfect place to experiment and have fun with colors. There are so many amazing ideas for a stunning flower garden that it can be overwhelming to pick something you actually want. You could go with contrasting colors, or perhaps simply plant all of your favorite wildflowers, but it can create a chaotic look if it isn't done right. If you want something a little more harmonious that still provides visual appeal and attracts wildlife, there is another option. 

In 2026, monochromatic garden flower beds are set to be a big trend. As the name suggests, this involves choosing flowers and plants that all have the same color. At first, it may sound a little boring, but it can create a stunning visual if done well. It creates a dynamic look to catch the eye and highlights structural elements in your yard that might otherwise be overlooked, such as walls, borders, or even hedges. You've likely seen this type of garden before, with spaces focusing on shrubs, bushes, and grasses in various shades of green. However, you can also use flowers to create a similar look in other colors.

Though you want to focus on choosing one color for your monochromatic garden, you do not have to hunt for the same shade. Say you choose pink — you can pick flowers ranging from pastel baby pink to something so deep and rich it is almost red. If you aren't sure what color you want to go with, there are several ways to narrow down your choices.

Of course, to try out this flower bed trend, you have to pick the color you want. It isn't always easy, as there are so many great choices. To make it easier, first choose between warm and cool colors. Cooler shades can help your garden feel larger and bring a sense of peace. This includes blue, green, and purple. Warmer tones make a space feel a little smaller or shorter but bring a sense of excitement. Oranges, reds, and yellows are examples of these kinds of colors. 

Once you pick the one that will look best in your garden and give you the visual effect you want, it's time to find the flowers that work best for your needs. For example, if you decide to go with orange, plants like marigolds (Tagetes), nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus), lantanas (Lantana camara), and impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) are all great choices. However, you can't just pick any flowers that match the color you need. You also should consider their growing times, as you want your plants to have the same or heavily overlapping blooming seasons. 

You may also want to choose varied flower sizes, heights, and shapes. Some, like lavender, grow smallish clusters of flowers on tall stalks. Other ones, such as dahlias, produce big and bold blooms with large petals. You can also look at colorful wildflowers you can grow in your garden for a bit of diversity.

Designing the perfect monochromatic garden involves paying attention to your greenery as well. Add different plant shapes and textures to add more depth. Consider adding a few groundcovers to contrast with tall flowers, as well as heavily textured, non-flowering foliage in green. If you can find plants with foliage to match your theme, it's a great way to really add a bit of flair to your space.

To finish the look and make the area around your flower beds a place you won't want to leave, check out some DIY features to turn your backyard into a secret garden oasis. A birdbath or a bench in neutral or contrasting colors near your flower bed can draw the eye and make it feel peaceful and inviting.

Imagining how a monochromatic flower bed will look isn't always easy. However, you can play around a little with the different textures and heights. If you feel up to it, sketch out how you want the plants to look to see what you like best, or you can even take a picture of your yard, print off examples of plants you might want to add, and overlay them until you're mostly happy with the design. An easier option is to just search for other monochromatic gardens to give you a great visual.