Caryopteris softens the seatwall, Westport, CT. Austin Ganim Landscape Design, LLC
Design ideas for a contemporary backyard full sun garden for fall in Bridgeport with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Design Elements In the Garden

Laara Copley-Smith Design

Natural Timber seating design bespoke for a tiny London Courtyard garden. A corner seat made to measure with out-door cushions covered in an ivory shade.

Pots with Annuals

MTH Design Group

Photo of a contemporary garden in Phoenix.

O'Conner Waterfront, Camano Island WA

Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects

Entry arbor. Photography by Lucas Henning.
Inspiration for a contemporary front yard partial sun xeriscape for summer in Seattle with a garden path and concrete pavers.

debora carl landscape design

Design ideas for a contemporary backyard garden in San Diego.

Oakdell Residence

Assembledge

Contemporary garden in Los Angeles.

Black Mulched Flower Beds

Archer Services

Black mulched beds are home to bright green plants of varying types, including tropical varietals.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden in Houston with with flowerbed and mulch.

Living Wall & Landscape Remodel - Mid-Century Modern Home, Sausalito, CA

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Evening photos of the Living wall/vertical garden 2 months after installation. Along with finished plantings in the landscape for this mid-century modern home. Concrete pavers, polished black pebbles provide a welcoming front pathway along and low-voltage landscape lighting. A variety of grasses, lavender, yarrow, succulents and CA native plants included in the landscape remodel. The large living wall was the perfect solution to bring life to the home's large front wall just next to the entrance. A variety of succulents, grass-like plants, cascading Oxalis and Lamium, were planted in long waves in the wall offering a beautiful tapestry of flowing textures and colors.

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.

Conscious Stream Scape 2 Year Update - Silverlake

Ketti Kupper Conscious Life Design

Photo by Ketti Kupper
Inspiration for a small and desert look contemporary front yard full sun xeriscape in Los Angeles.

Mountain View, California - Wong Residence

Taproot Garden Design

Patrick & Topaze McCaffery - Taproot Garden Design & Fine Gardening "New Ipe wood fencing, raised planter boxes, and benches set the tone for this beautiful, modern back yard."

Deer Ridge

Phillips Development

Inspiration for a large contemporary side yard full sun formal garden in Salt Lake City with a vegetable garden and gravel.

Washington Park Hillside Residence

Silk Cavassa Marchetti Architecture & Interiors

Rob Perry Photography
Contemporary garden in Seattle.

Contemporary front walk

Botanical Concerns LLC

Remodel in Rollingwood with a new front entry and walk. Creek bed directs water away for house.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary front yard partial sun garden for fall in Austin with a garden path and concrete pavers.

Cross Country Greenhouses

BC Greenhouse Builders Ltd

This estate greenhouse has double glass that lets the light shine out through the night. Photo: Bob Matheson
This is an example of an expansive contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden for summer in Vancouver with with pond and natural stone pavers.

Belmont Hill Residence

Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC

The master plan for this south-facing woodland property celebrates dramatic topography, muscular canopy trees, remnant fieldstone walls, and native stone outcroppings. Sound vegetation management principles guide each phase of installation, and the true character of the woodland is revealed. Stone walls form terraces that traverse native topography, and a meticulously crafted stone staircase provides casual passage to a gently sloping lawn knoll carved from the existing hillside. Lush perennial borders and native plant stands create edges and thresholds, and a crisp palette of traditional and contemporary materials merge––building upon the surrounding topography and site geology.

Serpentine Stone

Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture

Contemporary backyard garden in San Luis Obispo.

Rustic Steel Privacy Fence with Modern Design - Salt Lake City, Utah

Pteryx

Custom steel privacy fence with natural finish.
Photo of an expansive contemporary front yard full sun garden for summer in Salt Lake City with with privacy feature and a metal fence.

Riverside Interior & Garden River Edge

Carole Berryman Design

riverine planting
This is an example of a large contemporary sloped partial sun garden in Other with gravel.

Compact Entertaining Garden

Tom Howard Garden Design and Landscaping

This is an example of a small contemporary backyard partial sun garden in London with natural stone pavers.

Contemporary Black 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.