Something like silver birch trees don't take up too much room but will provide some height and interest. Personally I pick out natives, after asking local garden centres for those which are natural to my area. I've used black mondo grass across the front of my walls with purple fountain grass behind it. The fountain grass really takes the summer heat, doesn't need much water and self-seeds. It's grown slightly taller than me after a few years. I have, what I call a 'survival of the fittest' garden. Over the years, I've experimented with all sorts of plants. Eventually, only those that survive with little help, and almost no extraneous watering, get to stay. One of the key things I did when planting out my garden was to dig down into the soil and lay a mat of used, natural-blend carpet underlay (not the more synthetic types used these days). Just ask someone getting rid of their old carpet- it's easy to come across. Above the carpet underlay I added water crystals, then put the soil back on top. After the gardens have been established, I haven't need to get the hose out since. I do have lots of succulents around the place, some native plants and ornamental grasses. I hope this helps.

Fill it with pieces you love and learn to zone out what you can't change. Funnily enough we are having the opposite problem - about to move into a home we have created but still with the 'rental' stuff...it will be an adjustment. Have you seen [this[(https://www.houzz.com.au/magazine/meet-my-houzz-the-coys-stsetivw-vs~60048479) Houzz story about living in a (albeit friendly landlord) rental? Perhaps that is the key - find a great landlord...?? Good luck. I love the concept of hygge - it exactly describes the kind of space I want to create at home and I can't wait to share it with my friends and family. Thanks so much for that link :)

We're going through the same thing - have 2 side yards and a back yard, plus a pool and a gazebo, all in original condition (early 1990s) and need some updating. I called quite a few garden centers (we're in Australia) and some of them have people who would come out and do a 1-2 hour consult. We ended up having a landscaper (who also does initial consult) to come out and give us some ideas (we have zero knowledge on horticulture). If you spend on the initial consult, you may be able to get the ideas and then do the work yourself, or hire a gardner (versus a landscaper, who is going to be much more expensive), to do the work. Good luck!

I have got the sample pots and I’ve painted them on large cardboard, it’s more the benchtop I want to blend in nicely, as well as splashback. I know I won’t find the exact combinations, would be nice to see one or two of the colours to get a more visual idea. They aren’t the popular ones like lexicon and all the mainstream dulux whites. So the bricks have all been removed, and under the bench is just going to be the same as the kitchen cupboards. The brick pier has been Gyprocked. Do you think a smoky mirror splashback will look good?