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Small Modern Garden Ideas and Designs

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A garden bursting with life
A garden bursting with life
Georgia Lindsay Garden DesignGeorgia Lindsay Garden Design
A city garden full of life.
Small modern back garden in London.
Ridgetop Modern Makeover
Ridgetop Modern Makeover
Native Edge LandscapeNative Edge Landscape
Native Edge Landscape, LLC
Photo of a small modern back garden for summer in Austin with a living wall.
Harlem Backyard with slanted pergola
Harlem Backyard with slanted pergola
Little Miracles DesignsLittle Miracles Designs
Pergola and kitchen are focal items.
Photo of a small modern back garden in New York.
West View
West View
Seed Studio Landscape DesignSeed Studio Landscape Design
image: Travis Rhoads Photography
Inspiration for a small modern back full sun garden in San Francisco with a potted garden and decking.
Concrete water fountain
Concrete water fountain
Studio H Landscape ArchitectureStudio H Landscape Architecture
Sideyard modern water feature. The fountain is located off the living room window to enjoy from both the living area and kitchen. Concrete stepping pads extend over the fountain and into the artificial turf area in the rear yard. Succulents and grasses are planted throughout the yard.
Modern Living
Modern Living
Aspen Falls Landscape & ConstructionAspen Falls Landscape & Construction
Myles Coughran
Design ideas for a small modern back full sun garden in Denver with a water feature and concrete paving.
Contemporary in Clinton Hill
Contemporary in Clinton Hill
New Eco LandscapesNew Eco Landscapes
Photos by Anthony Crisafulli
This is an example of a small modern back partial sun garden for summer in New York with natural stone paving.
New Perennial Style
New Perennial Style
Hey Nice GardenHey Nice Garden
In Oakland we designed a small front yard that packs a lot of color. This new perennial garden is low-water and provides a lush setting in contrast to the wide open walkway to the front porch. The clean symmetry of the poured concrete path is offset by the wild display of flowering plants.
Landscape Design Queens Park NSW
Landscape Design Queens Park NSW
Vogue & Vine - Landscape Designers SydneyVogue & Vine - Landscape Designers Sydney
Landscape design Queens Park NSW. By Vogue & Vine - Landscape Designers Sydney
Photo of a small modern back garden in Sydney.
3d rendering for a landscape design project in Claremont, CA. - Modern look for
3d rendering for a landscape design project in Claremont, CA. - Modern look for
Vscape - Outdoor DesignVscape - Outdoor Design
3d rendering for a landscape design project in Claremont, CA. - A mixture of drought tolerant plants and grasses with modern look materials make this house the envy of the block
Family Gardens
Family Gardens
Earth Designs Garden and Build London and EssexEarth Designs Garden and Build London and Essex
Having recently completed a major renovation to the back of the house with new bifold doors, our clients wanted their tired and overgrown garden to become a beautiful backdrop to their new family room. They wanted a large patio to use as an extension of the existing kitchen and retain access to the large shed space the bottom of the garden. They wanted to revamp the planting and the unsightly fence. The new design will twisted the layout of the garden on an angle to create the illusion of a much bigger space Next to the house a porcelain tile patio laid in a stretched pattern at 45 degrees to pushes out the boundaries to make it seem wider. Features include a wide fibreglass trough planter with 'floating' timber bench, framed by a sheet of grey Perspex Naturals attached to the existing fence to give a contemporary finish. The centre of the garden features an artificial lawn running at an angle, bisected by two rectangular railway sleeper raised beds to break up the space. An the existing bamboo relocated to provide privacy to the seating area and screen-off the children's trampoline. At the rear of the garden is a smaller porcelain patio for morning coffee or afternoon cocktails. Details include a section in the patio laid with wood effect porcelain tiles to create contrast. Fences painted in dark grey Cuprinol Garden Shades and textured planting with a mixture of shades of greens to give the garden year round interest.
Rinconcitos
Rinconcitos
queiruga Paisajistasqueiruga Paisajistas
Design ideas for a small modern front driveway fully shaded garden in Madrid with a pathway and gravel.
Modern Side Yard Gate
Modern Side Yard Gate
Conscious Environments Inc.Conscious Environments Inc.
A modern horizontal steel (wrought iron) gate closes off the backyard. The double gate design allows for wide access.
Small modern back xeriscape full sun garden fence for summer in Los Angeles with concrete paving and a metal fence.
Stone & Hardwood Timber Courtyard Makeover
Stone & Hardwood Timber Courtyard Makeover
FCG LandscapingFCG Landscaping
Small inner city courtyard transformed into a lush green and inviting area for both kids and parents using natural materials and low maintenance artificial turf and plantings to help this busy small family enjoy their courtyard space
Modern stainless steel water fountain and Garden
Modern stainless steel water fountain and Garden
Exterior Worlds Landscaping & DesignExterior Worlds Landscaping & Design
Design ideas for a small modern courtyard full sun garden in Houston with a water feature.
Modern Front Landscaping Project, Elmhurst, IL.
Modern Front Landscaping Project, Elmhurst, IL.
Ross and Jack's Landscaping Inc.Ross and Jack's Landscaping Inc.
Photo of a small modern front formal full sun garden for summer in Chicago with a garden path and natural stone paving.
Brentwood Plunge Courtyard
Brentwood Plunge Courtyard
Native Edge LandscapeNative Edge Landscape
This project is another example of how to maximize small spaces. This customer’s small Brentwood yard was centered around their new plunge pool. However, the existing pavers and layout left much to be desired. We reworked the pavers to create usable spaces and clean lines, and a vines and lighting work with the custom pergola to increase the privacy and add a soft vertical element to encourage the intimate feel of the space. Two other structures block the pool equipment and AC compressor from sight. This reduces the visual weight of these areas and allows the eye to focus on the crown jewel of the space… the pool.
Private Modern Garden
Private Modern Garden
Outside CollectiveOutside Collective
Christel Leung
Small modern back formal full sun garden in San Francisco with a garden path and concrete paving.
Sculpture House Oakland
Sculpture House Oakland
Dodie ShoemakerDodie Shoemaker
California living indoor outdoor modern yard
Photo of a small modern back xeriscape full sun garden for summer in San Francisco with a water feature and concrete paving.
Modern Fountains and Landscaping for Entry
Modern Fountains and Landscaping for Entry
Eileen G DesignsEileen G Designs
This is an example of a small modern front partial sun garden in Miami with a water feature and decking.

Small Modern Garden Ideas and Designs

A beautifully designed modern 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 modern 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 modern front garden design.

How should I design my modern 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 modern 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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