Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard partial sun garden for winter in San Francisco with natural stone pavers and a retaining wall.

Narrow Sausalito, CA Landscape Transformed For Outdoor Enjoyment & Usable Space

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

A variety of succulents to include Aeonium canarienses and Aeonium 'Sunburst' line the walkways. To gain more usable space in this narrow landscape and update the hardscaping and overgrown garden, my design reconfigured the pathway with poured-in-place concrete pavers accented by Mexican pebbles and a stunning variety of succulents and other site-appropriate plantings that thrive in shade and part sun. We removed the tree to create a patio area large enough to fit a table and chairs for a small group. Non-invasive/clumping Bamboo was added to help screen the patio and provide privacy. Other shade to part-shade plants were included that provide a variety of textures and colors throughout the seasons. Low-voltage lighting was installed for safety and ambiance. Design and Photos: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Pergola Garden

Fenton Roberts Garden Design

Jo Fenton
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary backyard partial sun garden for winter in London with gravel.

Modern Landscape in Santa Monica

Prime Gardens Inc

Turf Stone Driveway and Artificial Turf Driveway
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun xeriscape for winter in Los Angeles with a garden path and brick pavers.

Entry Garden

Borealis Landscape & Design DBA Skipley Farm

no and low maintenance gardens with a flair and four season interest. photo by Gil Schieber, Borealis Landscape & Design
Design ideas for a small contemporary front yard partial sun xeriscape for winter in Seattle with a retaining wall and concrete pavers.

Palo Alto garden

Sycamore Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun garden for winter in San Francisco with mulch.

Fences and Gates

G Brown Design

Photo taken by Michael Wonenberg at G Brown Design
Photo of a small contemporary front yard full sun garden for winter in Salt Lake City with a retaining wall and decking.

Beith

Aesthetic Pools and Landscapes

Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard full sun garden for winter in Brisbane with a fire feature and decking.

Orinda Landscape

FDC Design Build

Inspiration for a small contemporary backyard partial sun xeriscape for winter in San Francisco with a retaining wall and decking.

Naturescape

Rachel's Landscape Design

During a cleanup you often find hidden treasures. This backyard had mossy boulders that just needed some Sword Ferns to make you feel like you were in the middle of the forest.

Side Yard Transformation

West Winds Nursery LLC

Complete outdoor living space allowing for relaxation in the garden.
Photo of a contemporary side yard shaded garden for winter in DC Metro with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Custom mailbox with house numbers

Bradford Associates, LLC

A custom mailbox with laser cut house numbers compliments the custom address sign at the front walkway.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary front yard partial sun driveway for winter in Providence with concrete pavers.

Hook Mountain Eco Contemporary

Design Farm Group

Inspiration for a large contemporary front yard partial sun xeriscape for winter in New York with with rock feature and river rock.

АРИСТОВО

Patricia

Small contemporary courtyard full sun formal garden in Moscow with with flowerbed and decking for winter.

Orinda Landscape

FDC Design Build

Small contemporary backyard partial sun xeriscape in San Francisco with a retaining wall and decking for winter.

Outdoor Living -- Moss Landscaping

Mountain Moss Enterprises

Experience the cool green of a moss retreat. Outdoor living at the very best featuring various moss species, moss and stone patio and paths as well as rustic benches and boulders for seating. Photo by Annie Martin, www.mountainmoss.com

Modern Contemporary

LaBlonde Development

Thompson Photographic
Small contemporary side yard partial sun xeriscape in Phoenix with a vertical garden and natural stone pavers for winter.

Haus R - Wächtersbach

Architekturbüro Next Habitat

Haus R wurde als quadratischer Wohnkörper konzipert, welcher sich zur Erschließungsseite differenziert. Mit seinen großzügigen Wohnbereichen öffnet sich das ebenerdige Gebäude zu den rückwärtigen Freiflächen und fließt in den weitläufigen Außenraum. Eine gestaltprägende Holzverschalung im Außenbereich, akzentuierte Materialien im Innenraum, sowie die Kombination mit großformatigen Verglasungen setzen das Gebäude bewußt in Szene.

Wildlife View House

Landscape Design West, LLC

Winter sunset.
Photo of a mid-sized and desert look contemporary front yard full sun xeriscape for winter in Phoenix with concrete pavers and a metal fence.

Container Gardens

High Desert Designs, llc

Photo of a small contemporary courtyard full sun formal garden for winter in Denver with a container garden.

Contemporary Garden Design Ideas for Winter

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.