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  1. Garden & Outdoor
  2. Garden
  3. Budget: ££

Affordable Contemporary Garden Ideas and Designs

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Floating Bench garden
Floating Bench garden
Living Colour GardensLiving 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.
Stylish City Refuge
Stylish City Refuge
Hufnagel Landscape Design & Construction GroupHufnagel Landscape Design & Construction Group
Small contemporary back garden in New York with a potted garden and natural stone paving.
Seattle Cozy Patio
Seattle Cozy Patio
SCJ Studio Landscape ArchitectureSCJ Studio Landscape Architecture
In Seattle's Fremont neighborhood SCJ Studio designed a new landscape to surround and set off a contemporary home by Coates Design Architects. The narrow spaces around the tall home needed structure and organization, and a thoughtful approach to layout and space programming. A concrete patio was installed with a Paloform Bento gas fire feature surrounded by lush, northwest planting. A horizontal board cedar fence provides privacy from the street and creates the cozy feeling of an outdoor room among the trees. LED low-voltage lighting by Kichler Lighting adds night-time warmth . Photography by: Miranda Estes Photography
Low Allergy Garden
Low Allergy Garden
Bramley Apple Garden DesignBramley Apple Garden Design
My client had a severe hayfever allergy so the garden was designed with low allergen materials such as artificial grass and the plant selection was based on non-wind pollinated plants, flower shapes that reduce pollen exposure and ground cover plants to prevent weeds.
Park Slope, Brooklyn Garden Design, Wood fence, Sustainable design, Stone pavers
Park Slope, Brooklyn Garden Design, Wood fence, Sustainable design, Stone pavers
Todd Haiman Landscape DesignTodd Haiman Landscape Design
© Todd Haiman Landscape Design
Photo of a medium sized contemporary back garden in New York with concrete paving.
Our Work
Our Work
Ken Griffin LandscapeKen Griffin Landscape
Photo of a medium sized contemporary front full sun garden in Miami with gravel.
Lincoln Park Herb Wall
Lincoln Park Herb Wall
Brent Riechers Landscape (BRL LANDesign)Brent Riechers Landscape (BRL LANDesign)
Brent A. Riechers
Inspiration for a small contemporary roof full sun garden in Chicago with a vegetable patch.
3m x 2m Modern Garden Shed
3m x 2m Modern Garden Shed
Garden Affairs LtdGarden Affairs Ltd
Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary garden in Wiltshire.
Mount Waverley 2023 - Mixing it up!
Mount Waverley 2023 - Mixing it up!
Inspiring Landscape Solutions by Parveen DhaliwalInspiring Landscape Solutions by Parveen Dhaliwal
Pathway on side of house using different sized circular pavers
Design ideas for a small contemporary side fully shaded garden for spring in Melbourne with concrete paving, a wood fence and a garden path.
Electric Eclectic Tropical
Electric Eclectic Tropical
Tierra Madre Fine GardensTierra Madre Fine Gardens
Photo of a small contemporary back xeriscape partial sun garden in Other with a pathway and concrete paving.
Dana Point
Dana Point
Altera LandscapeAltera Landscape
Landscape Design: AMS Landscape Design Studios, Inc / Photography: Jeri Koegel
Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary back xeriscape full sun garden for summer in Orange County with a flowerbed and natural stone paving.
Australian Native Front Yard
Australian Native Front Yard
City BotanicsCity Botanics
Photo of a medium sized contemporary front xeriscape full sun garden in Sydney with a rockery and brick paving.
Chiswick Contemporary courtyard
Chiswick Contemporary courtyard
Nordland LandscapesNordland Landscapes
This garden was overgrown and not used at all by the property owners. The homeowners wanted a contemporary courtyard that was family friendly and modern. To achieve this, materials were chosen to match the stylish interior of the house. Also by using lighter coloured material we were able to brighten up the garden. The printed porcelain paving gave a contemporary modern feel whilst introducing added interest. Cedar batten fencing was used to clad the boundaries to minimise the oppressive feel of the high boundaries and to introduce more light into the garden. The cedar timber floating bench now provides a place to sit and entertain. It is also the perfect height for the clients’ children to use as a play bench. To brighten up the dull and dark corner by the french doors, the original steps were clad in beautiful blue and grey encaustic tiles to add much needed colour and interest in an area that had been previously neglected. This contemporary courtyard is now bright and welcoming and used by the property owners and their children on a daily basis.
25′ x 30′ Ecosystem Koi Pond | Wide Split Waterfalls
25′ x 30′ Ecosystem Koi Pond | Wide Split Waterfalls
California WaterscapesCalifornia Waterscapes
25′ x 30′ Ecosystem Koi Pond | Wide Split Waterfalls
Photo of a large contemporary back xeriscape full sun garden for summer in Los Angeles with a pond and concrete paving.
Planter Wall w/ Landscape
Planter Wall w/ Landscape
Conscious Environments Inc.Conscious Environments Inc.
Large contemporary back xeriscape full sun garden for summer in Orange County with lawn edging, concrete paving and an upvc fence.
Succulent Front Yard
Succulent Front Yard
Sarah Herman Landscape DesignSarah Herman Landscape Design
Succulents and other drought-tolerant Mediterranean climate plantings adorn this vibrant front yard in El Cerrito.
Small contemporary front xeriscape full sun garden in San Francisco with a garden path and natural stone paving.
Succulent Front Yard
Succulent Front Yard
Sarah Herman Landscape DesignSarah Herman Landscape Design
Succulents and other drought-tolerant Mediterranean climate plantings adorn this vibrant front yard in El Cerrito.
Photo of a small contemporary front xeriscape full sun garden for summer in San Francisco with a garden path and natural stone paving.
Southfields Garden
Southfields Garden
Tom Howard Garden Design and LandscapingTom Howard Garden Design and Landscaping
Medium sized contemporary back formal full sun garden for summer in London with a pond and natural stone paving.
Contemporary garden, Harpenden
Contemporary garden, Harpenden
Green Tree Garden Design LtdGreen Tree Garden Design Ltd
The small deck outside the living room doors provides a space to eat outside. Richard Brown Photography Ltd
This is an example of a medium sized contemporary garden in Cheshire.
Seattle Hilltop
Seattle Hilltop
SCJ Studio Landscape ArchitectureSCJ Studio Landscape Architecture
This newly constructed home was in need of an outdoor living space and streetscape in a matching contemporary Northwest style. Our studio composed a landscape with an improved entry sequence, balancing the need for personal privacy alongside a distinctive public face. A courtyard oasis with a new deck is enclosed by warm wooden fencing set on top of the contrasting raw texture of a gabion retaining wall that acts as a backdrop to bold streetscape plantings.

Affordable 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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