Transforming a small, steeply sloped back garden into a functional and inviting space came with its own set of unique challenges. Careful terracing was required to create a balanced, accessible layout, while the design needed to maximise usable space by incorporating multiple sitting areas. The result is a stunning garden oasis that feels expansive and harmonious. To achieve this, the design team employed a diagonal layout grid, where each partition sits at a different level, creating a dynamic sense of depth and openness. The largest sitting area, located at the bottom of the slope, is a porcelain-paved patio seamlessly connected to the back entrance of the house. Midway up the terrace, a cosy lounging area offers a more secluded retreat, while the top level features a practical utility drying area. These levels are connected by sculptural steps crafted from staggered hardwood and metal mesh platforms, blending functionality with artistic flair. Lush evergreen planting adds softness to the structured design, creating an almost tropical atmosphere. The planting scheme enhances the garden's year-round appeal, providing a vibrant and tranquil backdrop that contrasts beautifully with the clean lines of the hardscaping. This thoughtfully designed garden demonstrates how even challenging terrain can be transformed into a versatile and aesthetically pleasing outdoor space.

Iconic is the word

Epoch Garden Design

Design ideas for a contemporary garden in London.

Mattison Rd Project

IMAGO GARDEN DESIGN AND LANDSCAPING

This luxurious urban garden transformation reimagines a once-blank canvas into a striking private retreat, rich in detail and layered with design complexity. Positioned in the heart of the city, the garden now offers a serene, high-end escape—thoughtfully crafted to deliver visual impact from every angle, whether viewed from inside the home or experienced within the space itself. Though the original plot was level, we introduced the illusion of depth and dimension through elevated design elements, including Schellevis floating steps, which lend an architectural elegance and subtly define spatial zones without disrupting the garden’s flow. Strategic planting anchors the layout, with four distinctive specimen trees—two Dicksonia antarctica, one Feijoa, and one Trachycarpus fortunei—each contributing to carefully curated focal points that guide the eye and enhance the sense of scale. The rear shed is artfully concealed using vertical timber posts, positioned behind the Feijoa to maintain natural beauty without visual distraction. A custom bespoke metal pergola adds verticality and contemporary flair, creating a sculptural frame that draws the eye upward and balances the garden’s horizontal lines. Together, these elements work harmoniously to create a garden that feels expansive, immersive, and deeply refined.

Find the right local pro for your project

Find top design and renovation professionals on Houzz

Maple Lodge

Kathryn Cox Garden Design Studio

Contemporary garden in Hertfordshire.

Richmond Garden

Peter Reader Landscapes

Stepping stones lead through this garden of raised seating and dining areas, combined with lush planting and sculpture.
Contemporary back partial sun garden in London with natural stone paving and a wood fence.

Tsubo House

FRAHER Architects

Photo of a contemporary garden in London.

Coastal family garden

Joanna Lowe Garden Design

Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary garden in Edinburgh.

Wandsworth Water Feature

Emma O'Connell Garden Design

Modern urban garden incorporating planted gravel path, water feature and feature wall and a fabulous colour palette of greens, yellows and whites.
Inspiration for a small contemporary back formal raised pond in London with gravel.

Notting Hill Penthouse

PPG Interiors Limited

Photo of a contemporary garden in London.

Miners Memorial Garden in Derbyshire

Plantology Ltd

This is an example of a contemporary garden in West Midlands.

Naturalistic Wildlife Courtyard Garden

Kathryn Cox Garden Design Studio

Contemporary garden in London.

Twin Terrace Garden

Christine 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.

Eaton

Sarah Jordan Gardens

This is an example of a small contemporary garden in Other with a pathway, natural stone paving and a wood fence.

Southfields Garden

Tom Howard Garden Design and Landscaping

Medium sized contemporary back formal full sun garden for summer in London with a pond and natural stone paving.

The Seating Area

Georgia Lindsay Garden Design

Porcelain paving with a tile inlay to zone the comfortable seating area.
Small contemporary garden in London with a potted garden.

CHALET MORALEJA

NIZA JARDINERIA

Contemporary back partial sun garden in Madrid with lawn edging.

Townhouse garden

Neil Jones Design

Using a refined palette of quality materials set within a striking and elegant design, the space provides a restful and sophisticated urban garden for a professional couple to be enjoyed both in the daytime and after dark. The use of corten is complimented by the bold treatment of black in the decking, bespoke screen and pergola.

Floating Bench garden

Living Colour Gardens

This is an example of a small contemporary back full sun garden for summer in London with natural stone paving and a potted garden.

Carindale

Utopia Landscape Design

photo Tony Quinn-Jones
This is an example of a large contemporary back garden in Brisbane with a water feature.

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.

Whether you want inspiration for planning a contemporary garden renovation or are building a designer garden from scratch, Houzz has 62,228 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Joanna Lowe Garden Design and PPG Interiors Limited. Look through garden photos in different colours and styles and when you find a contemporary garden design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful contemporary garden ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.

London Sanctuary Garden

Fi Boyle

Inspiration for a small contemporary back private partial sun garden in London with gravel.