Contemporary Garden Ideas and Designs
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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Garden landscaping in Putney:
http://www.positivegarden.com/portfolio/garden-landscaping-in-putney/
Stone: Jura Beige Limestone from London Stone;
Arches: untreated green oak;
Kitchen area with slate worktop and shelf beneath: pewter gray render, red cedar, Brazilian black slate;
Lawn: Tillers Arena turf;
Lighting: Hunza Wall Twin lights in copper, stainless steel small eyelid lights.
Designer: Philippa O'Brien
www.pipobriengardendesign.com
Positive Garden Ltd
Akhane bosha Jabe na... - dreza123
Photo: Chris Snook © 2016 Houzz
Inspiration for a large contemporary formal garden in London with a potted garden.
The box top trees and topiary steps - may_nel
This is an example of a medium sized contemporary back full sun garden in London.
Garden - webuser_252957398
Michael Pilkington
Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary back garden in London with a potted garden and concrete paving.
Barnes Walker Ltd
Design ideas for a contemporary garden in Manchester.
sandstone/decking/grass/shrubs/trees - webuser_945219288
Small garden in Brixton designed for young children and sophisticated enough to link in style with the new kitchen extension/remodelled house.
Artificial grass was combined with scented Lavender and Trachleospermum with year round structure from standard Olea (Olive) trees and Magnolia Grandiflora.
Cedar slats were used for the fencing to give a clean and modern line.
A lovely low maintenance garden!
Like full planting around seating area - webuser_166285939
Popular Filters to Try:
A very specific brief was given with the space to be a very contemporary entertainment area that both complemented the existing garden and house.
Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary back partial sun garden in London.
Love this open & bright space for a family room & kitchen - nicolecooper100
Luciana
Design ideas for a small contemporary back garden in Cardiff with a potted garden and natural stone paving.
Slate slabs set into gravel/stones - g_fraser75
Photo of a contemporary garden in London.
path to trampoline and football goals - gordana_donnachie
John Davies
Design ideas for a contemporary garden in London with a water feature.
Davies provided evergreen structure to the planting with three Japanese mock orange (Pittosporum tobira ‘Nanum’) shrubs, which naturally grow in a low dome shape. “They are crucial because they form punctuation marks and ground the garden,” says Davies. “Their diagonal positioning moves your eye naturally around the space.” - brissarthe
Contemporary back garden in Other.
herb bed raised to mark end of patio/pergola - sara_rawlo
Denise Wright of Janine Pattison Studios
This is an example of a large contemporary back driveway partial sun garden for summer in Other.
Angle lighting on driveway? - jack2010
Design ideas for a contemporary garden in London.
Nice Corner Seating. Either Pavers/Tiles With Cushions OR Merbau. - robert_cummins51
Jane Shankster/Arthur Road Landscapes
Photo of a small contemporary back partial sun garden in London with brick paving.
Plenty of room for soft planting even in a narrow garden. - northleedsgardendesign
Simple but stylish garden with a seating area for relaxing and for outdoor eating.
Photo of a contemporary garden in London.
i like the grey of these outdoor stone tiles - webuser_18315378
Stainless steel slide set into terraced landscape of triangular cedar clad planters and steps, with children's sandpit.
Photography: Lyndon Douglas
Design ideas for a contemporary garden in London with a climbing frame.
Nice way of incorporating a slide in a garden space - karen_sexton35
Photo of a medium sized contemporary back formal garden in Other with a garden path and concrete paving.
Rendered wall would be nice and contemporary - howgatemouth
Contemporary garden in London.
Like planter in corner of seating - webuser_166285939