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  1. Garden & Outdoor
  2. Garden
  3. Size: Compact

Small Contemporary Garden Ideas and Designs

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Brooklyn Backyard
Brooklyn Backyard
Root & Vine GardensRoot & Vine Gardens
Brooklyn Backyard Oasis. Blue stone patio, Ceder privacy fence.
Cara Cara Hollywood
Cara Cara Hollywood
OVERARCHOVERARCH
Night time photo of the shared backyard space for the bungalows
Cashmere
Cashmere
FORM garden architectureFORM garden architecture
Hampstead Small Garden
Hampstead Small Garden
Peter Reader LandscapesPeter Reader Landscapes
The view from the raised seating area across the garden.
Contemporary Landscape
Contemporary Landscape
Small outdoor room with a green wall in Kensington
Small outdoor room with a green wall in Kensington
The Garden BuildersThe Garden Builders
Pro Colour Photography
San Clemente Hummingbird Garden
San Clemente Hummingbird Garden
Living Gardens Landscape DesignLiving Gardens Landscape Design
Our homeowners wanted a garden with a natural feel. We added concrete steppers with dymondia groundcover for a new pathway to the backyard. Low water plantings with a natural feel bring hummingbirds. Drip irrigation and permeable paving. The nasturtiums are from seeds planted by the owner, the leaves are edible. Vegetable beds and fruit trees in the backyard provide a bountiful harvest.
Garden Design in Clapham, London 3
Garden Design in Clapham, London 3
Kate Eyre Garden DesignKate Eyre Garden Design
Kate Eyre Garden Design
Contemporary Courtyard Didsbury Manchester
Contemporary Courtyard Didsbury Manchester
Outside Rooms Garden DesignOutside Rooms Garden Design
Smart contemporary courtyard. K Rend walls and raised planters, Built-in Iroko hardwood seating. Infra-red outdoor heater. Evergreen planting including evergreen olive trees, box balls and ornamental grasses. Slatted timber screening for privacy
Urban Outdoor Living Art Gallery
Urban Outdoor Living Art Gallery
A Small Green SpaceA Small Green Space
Megan Maloy www.meganmaloy.com
Lincoln Park Herb Wall
Lincoln Park Herb Wall
Brent Riechers Landscape (BRL LANDesign)Brent Riechers Landscape (BRL LANDesign)
Brent A. Riechers
Edible Spaces
Edible Spaces
Outside SpaceOutside Space
Vertical herb garden over the BBQ area.
deck and patio add much needed outdoor living space
deck and patio add much needed outdoor living space
Caliper Farms Nursery and Landscape ServicesCaliper Farms Nursery and Landscape Services
Client had just completed a beautiful deck, challenge was how to use the space under the deck and how to connect the front yard with the back yard as it was a 9' elevation change. The solution was to build a natural bluestone patio under deck with large natural bluestone steps connecting the front yard to the new patio. The plantings softening all the hardscape, adding color and texture. The lighting created a warm attractive room that was comfortable to access and use.
Coastal Gray Granite - Private Residence - Stepping Stones and Retaining Walls
Coastal Gray Granite - Private Residence - Stepping Stones and Retaining Walls
Stone EventStone Event
Risers with lighting reveal, sunken stepping stones and retaining wall with fountain surround. (c) Andrea Sirois Photography
Compact & Contemporary | Dining Area
Compact & Contemporary | Dining Area
Beyond LandscapingBeyond Landscaping
This Toronto backyard may be small in space but it's big on style. We created two defined living spaces - a dining area on a raised square cut flagstone patio and a sunken living area with a fire table that will add style to any evening ambiance. This space is a perfect extension of the house. It's not only big on style but function as well and makes it perfect for this young family of five. There is a cozy bbq area with bench height stone wall and lounge area for mom or dad, long stretch of grass perfect for throwing the football and dining for the whole family (even the little ones!) When design in small spaces, creating defined rooms and keeping the unity between them can make the space feel larger and much more functional.
Coastal Gray Granite - Private Residence - Stepping Stones and Retaining Walls
Coastal Gray Granite - Private Residence - Stepping Stones and Retaining Walls
Stone EventStone Event
Sunken stepping stones and retaining wall with fountain surround. (c) Andrea Sirois Photography
Spa
Spa
Pool Environments, Inc.Pool Environments, Inc.
Randy Angell, Designer Oversized spa and water feature creates a tranquil backydrop for this stylish backyard.
May 2014
May 2014
Luciana
Entryways/ Driveways
Entryways/ Driveways
Aspen Falls Landscape & ConstructionAspen Falls Landscape & Construction
Belgard
Prospect Heights Row House
Prospect Heights Row House
Delson or Sherman Architects pcDelson or Sherman Architects pc
Hulya Kolabas

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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