Photos By; Nate Grant
Photo of a contemporary side yard garden in Portland with a wood fence.

Private Residence

Stepstone, Inc.

Design ideas for a contemporary backyard garden in Orange County with concrete pavers and with privacy feature.

THE MIDCENTURY HOUSE, BATTERSEA

NOTO Architects

Design ideas for a contemporary backyard full sun garden in London.

Small town garden no lawn

Amanda Shipman

Amanda Shipman
Inspiration for a small contemporary backyard partial sun garden for summer in Hertfordshire with brick pavers.

Fence at Suburban Oasis

Princeton Design Collaborative

Garden allee path with copper pipe trellis Photo by: Jeffrey Edward Tryon of PDC
Design ideas for a small contemporary courtyard shaded formal garden for summer in Philadelphia with gravel.

Green Wall

Amelia B. Lima & Associates, INC.

A 4o feet long green wall creates a living colorful mural on a side yard. Amelia B. Lima
This is an example of a contemporary side yard garden in San Diego with gravel.

Victorian Town House

Oliver Steer Interior Design

Inspiration for a contemporary garden in Other.

Contemporary Garden Leicester

Apt Studios

This was a brand new contemporary building on a grand street of houses requiring a garden that would complement the modern design but also meet the clients brief for a low maintenance garden. Brief – The garden needed to look stunning all year round as all main living rooms overlooked the space. The client required a large area for entertaining family and friends, with a large lawn to give space for a marquee for special occasions. Design – Due to the sloping site, this Formal garden was designed with several different levels to create various rooms for entertaining and relaxing. The design consists of three lawns and stunning porcelain paving and steps down to the house. Pleached trees line the large lawn area whilst stepped hedging frame the garden with a variety of hedge to give different shades of green in the summer. Hornbeam hedging was used to create contrast in the winter months with its golden leaves. A sunken area housing an outdoor kitchen and dining area, to include a tandoor oven, bbq, pizza oven and washing facilities will ultimately be covered with a green roof. A bespoke water feature cascading down one side of the garden. Rendered white washed walls tie in with the finish of the house and create drama. The focal point of the garden will ultimately be a large spherical sculpture with a rendered wall as the back drop.

Contemporary Symmetrical Garden

Mike Long Garden Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard formal garden in Other.

Penny Lane

Design Focus International

Photo Credit: Laurendevon.com
This is an example of a contemporary courtyard full sun formal garden in San Francisco with with raised garden bed and concrete pavers.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show Garden 2

Chris Snook

Photo: Chris Snook © 2016 Houzz
Inspiration for a large contemporary formal garden in London with a container garden.

Newton, MA front yard renovation

Sallie Hill Design, Landscape Architect

Newton, MA front yard renovation. - Redesigned, and replanted, steep hillside with plantings and grasses that tolerate shade and partial sun. Added repurposed, reclaimed granite steps for access to lower lawn. - Sallie Hill Design | Landscape Architecture | 339-970-9058 | salliehilldesign.com | photo ©2013 Brian Hill

Edgewater

Aleck Wilson Architects

Matthew Millman
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary front yard full sun garden in San Francisco with natural stone pavers.

Child-Safe Backyard Extends Chic Indoor Entertainment Area

Mediterrasian Landscapes

Patios made of concrete squares can be chic, but ther spaces between the squares can present problems like tipsy tables, wobbly chairs, and even twisted ankles and trip hazards. This couple wanted the low maintenance requirements of artificial turf and the modern look of concrete squares, but they also wanted a safe space for their young children. So instead of the river rocks that were formally in the patio joints which created uneven levels and trip hazards, they asked if we could remove some squares and install turf between the remaining ones. We used a special technique of installing 2 inch firm turf pads in the joints first and then gluing the turf strips to the pads. This makes the turf level with the concrete squares and will keep the narrow turf strips from lifting, as they would if we had used the conventional turf fasteners here.

Renovation and Rear Extension Transforms Victorian Terrace

Hestia Trustins LTD

Design ideas for a contemporary garden in Hampshire.

Garden Dublin 4

Amazon Landscaping and Garden Design

Gold Granite Patio and Lollipop Bay Trees and Fern planting in urban Garden Design 014060004 Amazonlandscaping.ie
Small contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden in Dublin with a garden path, natural stone pavers and a wood fence for summer.

The Great Canadian Landscaping Company

The Great Canadian Landscaping Company Ltd.

Photo Credit: Chris O'Donohue
Photo of a large contemporary backyard partial sun garden in Vancouver with concrete pavers.

Cupertino 2

Envision Landscape Studio

Design ideas for a contemporary garden in San Francisco.

Barnes House

David Joseph Consulting

Contemporary garden in London.

Ranches

Hortus Grass-Artificial Turf Solutions in Dubai

Nadeem
Design ideas for a small contemporary side yard formal garden in Other with concrete pavers.

Contemporary Beige Garden Design Ideas

Get Inspired by Contemporary Gardens on Houzz

A lot of the time when you get home from a long day at work, all you want to do is wind down. Where better to do this than in your very own contemporary garden at home? If you do it right, a great garden design can send you right into holiday mode. But where to start? There’s so many styles to choose from when it comes to garden design. Whether you want to create a tropical, modern, contemporary, beach style or country garden - or something else entirely - the large garden image gallery on Houzz has got you covered. Get inspired and collect your ideas to narrow down your desired garden style and features.

How to Create a Contemporary Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a contemporary garden and if it’s appropriate for your climate. You may want to consider adding a deck or other landscaping features, but the plants you choose will mostly dictate your style and what kind of ongoing maintenance is required. Don’t worry if your backyard isn’t very spacious - there are many plants that can thrive even in a small space and allow you to turn your space into a little paradise of your own, regardless of size.

Decide which plants to use

The greenery you choose is critical to your look. For example, if you’re trying to create a tropical garden palm trees and bamboo are your go-to options. Other popular options are golden cane palm trees and fern for ground cover. From there you can add some colour with bright flowers like frangipani, hibiscus or bromeliads. All these are actually quite hardy plants, so once established, your tropical garden is actually quite easy to maintain. Use this structure and apply it to your style. Research which plants you need to set your base for a contemporary garden and go from there.

Add some decor

If the plants don’t quite do it for you yet, or if you want to add some extra wow-factor, consider adding some extra features. Even if you can’t accommodate a swimming pool, hot tub or pond, you could look at smaller water features. Simple rocks can also have a great effect, while statues and gnomes will add some extra character. Don’t forget to add some furniture so you have a nice place to sit and enjoy your garden!

Need some help?

Once you know what you want your garden to look like, it may be hard to make it a reality on your own. If that is the case for you, consider consulting a professional to help you with your contemporary garden design. Every photo you find on Houzz will lead you to the local pro that did the job, so you won’t have a problem picking the perfect person to help! Whether you need a gardener in Brisbane, a landscape architect in Melbourne or a fireplace installer in Sydney, you can be sure to find one on Houzz.