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Small Contemporary Garden Ideas and Designs

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Vibrant Color
Vibrant Color
Ecoscape Environmental DesignEcoscape Environmental Design
Native perennials and ornamental grasses means less maintenance and lower water consumption. Large rocks and the peaceful sculpture nestled among the plants suggests balance and harmony. The color palette is vibrant and modern, giving it a warm but contemporary look.
Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill
Emma O'Connell Garden DesignEmma O'Connell Garden Design
Detail of curved cantilevered steps within retaining wall with shade-loving planting.
Contemporary urban garden - Small - Barnes, SW London
Contemporary urban garden - Small - Barnes, SW London
Anna Helps Garden DesignAnna Helps Garden Design
Rendered raised beds, with sawn sandstone coping stones. Prunus lusitanica trees for screening, with mixed planting offering AYR interest.
Twickenham dark, sophisticated, wildlife retreat
Twickenham dark, sophisticated, wildlife retreat
Melanie Hick Garden DesignMelanie Hick Garden Design
This garden takes a blank canvas covered in astroturf and delivers a dark, sophisticated garden requested by the client. Bespoke art work is nestled amongst the dark gravel and dark clay pavers.
Mission Hills Contemporary
Mission Hills Contemporary
Torrey Pines Landscape Co., IncTorrey Pines Landscape Co., Inc
water feature, copper scuppers, cast concrete basin
Annie Street Garden
Annie Street Garden
My VerandahMy Verandah
A small inner city garden gets a makeover. Front entry garden
Tribeca Courtyard Garden
Tribeca Courtyard Garden
Birch and Basil DesignBirch and Basil Design
We created this tranquil garden space by first installing stone flooring and repurposing the pea gravel that formerly filled the entire space. We then added new planters with bamboo and three kinds of Japanese maples in oversize pots. The stone, bamboo, stepping stones and gravel give it a very modern zen feel.
E8 Urban Sanctuary Garden
E8 Urban Sanctuary Garden
Sarah Kay Garden DesignSarah Kay Garden Design
This East London urban courtyard has been transformed into a nature attracting sanctuary of calm
Contemporary back garden, Wimbledon, 6
Contemporary back garden, Wimbledon, 6
Kate Eyre Garden DesignKate Eyre Garden Design
Eaton
Eaton
Sarah Jordan GardensSarah Jordan Gardens
waterfall detail, west boulder 2021.jpg
waterfall detail, west boulder 2021.jpg
The Land MechanicThe Land Mechanic
Manor Farm Barn - my own Cotswold courtyard garden
Manor Farm Barn - my own Cotswold courtyard garden
Joanne Alderson DesignJoanne Alderson Design
My own Cotswold courtyard garden here in Hardwick. I used porcelain flags, a large reflection pool, mature trees & fabulous lighting to achieve this simple understated look
Border Garden
Border Garden
Schumacher AssociatesSchumacher Associates
Two great spring-flowering native plants are on display here - Baptisia 'Moonlight' and Amsonia 'Blue Ice'.
Allergic to Bees Fence
Allergic to Bees Fence
Winston Fayer Landscape DesignWinston Fayer Landscape Design
The backyard was small and uninviting until we transformed it into a comfortable and functional area for entertaining. The front yard was leveled and converted into a play area for two small children and two large dogs. The client is very allergic to bees, so plants were selected with great care.
Mara Vista Contemporary and Soft
Mara Vista Contemporary and Soft
Bosler Earth DesignBosler Earth Design
Front Pathway and Entrance
His and Her House
His and Her House
FMD ArchitectsFMD Architects
To address the narrow site and limited northern access a lush courtyard is thoughtfully brought to the heart of the house, establishing a sunlit centre around which daily activities can intuitively occur. Hugging the boundaries of the block, there is little presence to the house’s exterior form creating a house that is almost completely experienced from the interior, creating a place of respite & tranquility.
Малый сад на Анкудиновском шоссе
Малый сад на Анкудиновском шоссе
Максим ШкиревМаксим Шкирев
Outdoor Entertaining, Kensington Courtyard
Outdoor Entertaining, Kensington Courtyard
The Bloomsbury GardenerThe Bloomsbury Gardener
Giant Chain Fern
Giant Chain Fern
FormLA LandscapingFormLA Landscaping
The area is so deeply shaded by tree cover, the elevated garden supports shade-loving plants like this Giant Chain Fern (Woodwardia fimbriata) and nearby Alumroot. Photo: Lesly Hall Photography
CALIFORNIA ROLL
CALIFORNIA ROLL
SimbiosiSimbiosi
Gallardo Photo

Small Contemporary Garden Ideas and Designs

A beautifully designed contemporary garden is as important as the emphasis we place on the designs of our interiors. After all, our grounds (however modest) frame our homes and contribute to first impressions not only of our houses, but also of the households within. Options for garden designs can be as elaborate or low maintenance as your lifestyle and preferences permit – consider both your aspirations for how it should look and how much time you can invest in garden maintenance. Consulting a gardener or landscape designer will ensure you have a garden that suits your lifestyle, the local climate and soil conditions. But don’t forget that with Houzz your first stop can be collecting images of garden ideas and designs you love in order to inspire your garden plans and potentially share them with a landscape gardening professional.

How do I come up with a contemporary front garden design?

The priority for a front garden is kerb appeal. Begin by considering the area immediately around and leading up to your front door. You may want to opt for front garden designs that blend well with the style of your home – for example, abundant foliage and flowerbeds will perfectly complement a period property, whereas man-made materials, geometric shapes and contrasting textures are great ideas for a contemporary garden design. Even if your front garden is a small space, keep it tidy – if you have more space, make the most of it with garden ideas and features such as a manicured lawn, gravel driveway, water feature or garden fencing. If you don’t have the time or commitment to devote to gardening, then neatly pruned hedges, statement paving, hanging baskets, garden benches and outdoor lighting are all decorative, low maintenance garden ideas for your contemporary front garden design.

How should I design my contemporary back garden?

Back gardens typically offer more space than front garden designs and serve a more recreational purpose, so it’s important to know how you want to spend time in your garden before you design it in order to build in the features that you will enjoy. If you love relaxing in the garden and dining al fresco, think about patios, decking, garden furniture and BBQs. For the more horticulturally-inclined, incorporate flower beds, greenhouses or vegetable garden designs. Your landscape gardening professional can help you install structures such as sheds, pergolas and gazebos that complement your garden design, and artfully-placed garden ideas such as lawn edging and lighting will add definition to your chosen design.

How do I create a low maintenance garden?

The great news is, gardens aren’t exclusively for the green-fingered. Whether you’re not horticulturally-inclined or simply don’t have the time for a bit of landscape gardening, you can still have a contemporary garden design that looks the way you want by making some smart design choices. While many of us favour low maintenance gardens like urban gardens, roof terraces and patio gardens, lovers of greenery don’t need to sacrifice grass for paving slabs. Whatever you want from your garden, there are a variety of gardening solutions that can be built in to make life easier. For example, labour intensive features such as vegetable patches, greenhouses and flower beds can be optimised with an automatic irrigation system. These can be offset with fuss-free garden ideas such as hard landscaping, including gravel, paving or decking, and hard-wearing evergreens that require minimal upkeep. You might even consider replacing your garden fencing with slow growing hedging, which can be maintained less regularly than wooden fence panels. If having a lawn is important, there are different types of grasses in varying degrees of durability and maintenance. You may choose to take a more relaxed approach to your lawn – “wild” garden designs can have great charm if the grasses and flowers are chosen carefully. If you prefer a manicured lawn, it’s a good idea to invest in a “mulching” lawn mower that will recycle clippings and remove the need for cleaning up. Finally, there isn’t a more low maintenance garden lawn than artificial grass which can look highly realistic and keep your garden looking green. Garden ornaments are a great way to add interest to your low maintenance garden design – go for smart garden ideas such as solar garden lights which are both decorative and functional. Find some of the most popular design ideas on Houzz.
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