The lush jungle-like foliage is seemingly held at bay by hard materials of brick retaining wall and metal steps.
Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard shaded garden in London with a retaining wall and brick pavers.

Barnes Garden & Outdoor Kitchen

Olea Landscapes Ltd

cedar fencing, garden lighting, porcelain paving with bullnose steps. outdoor kitchen with granite worktop, cedar gate and bin store
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun garden for spring in London with a wood fence.

The front pathway.

Jay Sifford Garden Design

An aluminum portal at the beginning of the front pathway signals that you are entering into a special garden.
Contemporary garden in Charlotte.

Find the right local pro for your project

Find top design and renovation professionals on Houzz

Not Just a Side Yard

Wildflower Landscape Design at K&D Landscaping

This is an example of a small contemporary side yard partial sun xeriscape in San Francisco with with flowerbed.

The Sango Kaku Garden

Simon Orchard Garden Design

Contemporary garden in Surrey.

Fuehrer Property 2020

Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design

New home backyard landscaping, outdoor living design, hardscaping, outdoor hot tub, long bar with barstools, double-sided fireplace, outdoor TV, outdoor kitchen, grill station, kamoda green egg smoker, dining area, outdoor furnishings, outdoor rugs, design plan, privacy screen, lighting, heat-lamps Photographer: Bill Burk

Sidonia

Brookside Landscape Design

Large contemporary backyard garden in San Diego with decking.

Contemporary 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.

Allergic to Bees Detail

Winston Fayer Landscape Design

The backyard was small and uninviting until we transformed it into a comfortable and functional area for entertaining. The front yard was leveled and converted into a play area for two small children and two large dogs. The client is very allergic to bees, so plants were selected with great care.

West Norwood Family Garden

Tracey Parker Landscape Design Ltd

This family garden was redesigned to gives a sense of space for both adults and children at the same time the clients were extending their home. The view of the garden was enhanced by an oversized picture window from the kitchen onto the garden. This informed the design of the iroko pergola which has a BBQ area to catch the evening sun. The wood was stained to match the picture window allowing continuity between the house and garden. Existing roses were relocated to climb the uprights and a Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Charles Lamont’ was planted immediately outside the window to give floral impact during the winter months which it did beautifully in its first year. The Kiwi clients desired a lot of evergreen structure which helped to define areas. Designboard ‘Greenwich’ was specified to lighten the shaded terrace and provide a long-lasting, low-maintenance surface. The front garden was also reorganised to give it some clarity of design with a Kiwi sense of welcome. The kitchen was featured in Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine, March 2019, if you would like to see more.

Interior Spaces Designed by Customers

BC Greenhouse Builders Ltd

Interior Greenhouse Photos Provided by BC Greenhouse Builders
Photo of a contemporary garden in San Diego.