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Small Contemporary Garden Ideas and Designs

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Melville courtyards
Melville courtyards
Cultivart Landscape DesignCultivart Landscape Design
ron tan
Small Contemporary Garden Blackheath
Small Contemporary Garden Blackheath
Hamilton Cody Garden DesignHamilton Cody Garden Design
Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill
Emma O'Connell Garden DesignEmma O'Connell Garden Design
Bespoke cantilevered metal steps link patio to lawn with shade-loving planting and bespoke curvilinear table and bench.
Cozy Backyard Patio
Cozy Backyard Patio
SCJ Studio Landscape Architecture - MontanaSCJ Studio Landscape Architecture - Montana
A forgotten backyard space was reimagined and transformed by SCJ Studio for outdoor living, dining, entertaining, and play. A terraced approach was needed to meet up with existing grades to the alley, new concrete stairs with integrated lighting, paving, built-in benches, a turf area, and planting were carefully thought through.
Garden Design, Calton Avenue, 1
Garden Design, Calton Avenue, 1
Kate Eyre Garden DesignKate Eyre Garden Design
Kate Eyre Garden Design
Inside outside
Inside outside
Bright Green GardenBright Green Garden
Mara Vista Contemporary and Soft
Mara Vista Contemporary and Soft
Bosler Earth DesignBosler Earth Design
Fountain in the Back Yard
JARDINES VERTICALES
JARDINES VERTICALES
NIZA JARDINERIANIZA JARDINERIA
Water-Wise Fountain
Water-Wise Fountain
FormLA LandscapingFormLA Landscaping
Gurgling water from this petite fountain is audible and visible from both the interior and the outdoor dining patio. Shaded by a roof extension, little if any water is allowed to evaporate. The water that spills from its side infiltrates the ground to feed the lush, leafy greenery that surrounds it. Photo: Lesly Hall Photography
North Park Eclectic Landscape
North Park Eclectic Landscape
Revolution LandscapeRevolution Landscape
Custom IPE gate and fencing
Inside Outside
Inside Outside
Bright Green GardenBright Green Garden
This Camellia was a big blob of green at the end of the garden. We cut it back to show off its great legs and look how it flowered the following spring. © Deb Cass
Shadyside
Shadyside
The Outdoor Living StudioThe Outdoor Living Studio
Hip Modern Courtyard
Hip Modern Courtyard
Studio H Landscape ArchitectureStudio H Landscape Architecture
Photography by Studio H Landscape Architecture. Post processing by Isabella Li.
Vancouver Laneway House
Vancouver Laneway House
Frits de Vries Architect Ltd.Frits de Vries Architect Ltd.
Photo Credit: Lucas Finlay 2014 GVHBA Ovation Awards Winner - Best Custom Home: Under $750,000 2012 Georgie Award Winner
Japanese Soaking Tub
Japanese Soaking Tub
Terra Ferma LandscapesTerra Ferma Landscapes
We loved this Japanese soaking tub nestled in a bed of river rocks against the bluestone wall.
Compact Entertaining Garden
Compact Entertaining Garden
Tom Howard Garden Design and LandscapingTom Howard Garden Design and Landscaping
Garden
Garden
Lori Dennis, ASID, LEED APLori Dennis, ASID, LEED AP
Container gardens sit next to a concrete paver driveway and modern home just nextdoor.
Twin Terrace Garden
Twin Terrace Garden
Christine Wilkie Garden DesignChristine Wilkie Garden Design
This small, north-east facing garden, measuring around 100 m2, was in need of a complete transformation to bring it into line with the owner's interior style and the desire for an outdoor room experience. A series of bi-folding doors led out to a relatively small patio and raised lawn area. The objective was to create a design that would maximise the space, making it feel much larger and provide usable areas that the owners could enjoy throughout the day as the sun moves around the garden. An asymmetrical design with different focal points and material contrasts was deployed to achieve the impression of a larger, yet still harmonious, space. The overall garden style was Japanese-inspired with pared back hard landscaping materials and plants with interesting foliage and texture, such as Acers, Prunus serrula cherry tree, cloud pruned Ilex crenata, clumping bamboo and Japanese grasses featuring throughout the garden's wide borders. A new lower terrace was extended across the full width of the garden to allow the space to be fully used for morning coffee and afternoon dining. Porcelain tiles with an aged wood effect were used to clad a new retaining wall and step risers, with limestone-effect porcelain tiles used for the lower terrace. New steps were designed to create an attractive transition from the lower to the upper level where the previous lawn was completely removed in favour of a second terrace using the same low-maintenance wood effect porcelain tiles. A raised bed constructed in black timber sleepers was installed to deal with ground level changes at the upper level, while at the lower level another raised bed provides an attractive retaining edge backfilled with bamboo. New fencing was installed and painted black, a nod to the Japanese shou sugi ban method of charring wood to maintain it. Finally, a combination of carefully chosen outdoor furniture, garden statuary and bespoke planters complete the look. Discrete garden lighting set into the steps, retaining wall and house walls create a soft ambient lighting in which to sit and enjoy the garden after dark.
Decking
Decking
Natasha Nuttall Garden DesignNatasha Nuttall Garden Design
An urban oasis in East London. This space has been transformed into a lush garden perfect for indoor-outdoor living. This garden has been designed so that it is divided into 3 distinct areas, each surrounded by lush. abundant planting. closest to the house a dining patio with a large built in parasol for sunny and slightly rainy days, a second patio area with sofa and chairs offers a great space for coffee, working and drinks near the outdoor kitchen and BBQ area. The substantial built in benches at the rear of the garden offers a wonderful space for relaxing and entertaining with dappled shade from the overhead pergola and plants in summer and warmth of the fire pit on colder nights.
Earls Court Oasis
Earls Court Oasis
Harry Holding StudioHarry Holding Studio
An inner city oasis with enchanting planting using a tapestry of textures, shades of green and architectural forms to evoke the tropics of Australia. Here, ferns and geraniums spill over the granite plank paving.

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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