In Seattle's Fremont neighborhood SCJ Studio designed a new landscape to surround and set off a contemporary home by Coates Design Architects. The narrow spaces around the tall home needed structure and organization, and a thoughtful approach to layout and space programming. A concrete patio was installed with a Paloform Bento gas fire feature surrounded by lush, northwest planting. A horizontal board cedar fence provides privacy from the street and creates the cozy feeling of an outdoor room among the trees. LED low-voltage lighting by Kichler Lighting adds night-time warmth . Photography by: Miranda Estes Photography

Lyneham House

Light House Architecture & Science

Ben Wrigley
Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard garden in Canberra - Queanbeyan with a water feature and decking.

Extension, loft conversion & renovation - Russell Road

MAC Building Solutions Ltd

Nathalie Priem
This is an example of a small contemporary backyard garden in London with a container garden and concrete pavers.

Floating Bench garden

Living Colour Gardens

This is an example of a small contemporary backyard full sun garden for summer in London with natural stone pavers and a container garden.

Beach Contemporary

Living Gardens Landscape Design

Succulent wall
Small contemporary backyard garden in Orange County with a vertical garden.

Decking level with inside the house - Surbiton

Bright Green Garden

Low light reflecting off the house.
Inspiration for a small contemporary garden in Surrey.

Outdoor Kitchen

Natasha Nuttall Garden Design

An urban oasis in East London. This space has been transformed into a lush garden perfect for indoor-outdoor living. This garden has been designed so that it is divided into 3 distinct areas, each surrounded by lush. abundant planting. closest to the house a dining patio with a large built in parasol for sunny and slightly rainy days, a second patio area with sofa and chairs offers a great space for coffee, working and drinks near the outdoor kitchen and BBQ area. The substantial built in benches at the rear of the garden offers a wonderful space for relaxing and entertaining with dappled shade from the overhead pergola and plants in summer and warmth of the fire pit on colder nights.

Stylish City Refuge

Hufnagel Landscape Design & Construction Group

Small contemporary backyard garden in New York with a container garden and natural stone pavers.

Townhouse garden

Neil Jones Design

Using a refined palette of quality materials set within a striking and elegant design, the space provides a restful and sophisticated urban garden for a professional couple to be enjoyed both in the daytime and after dark. The use of corten is complimented by the bold treatment of black in the decking, bespoke screen and pergola.

London town garden

Arthur Road Landscapes

Jane Shankster/Arthur Road Landscapes
Photo of a small contemporary backyard partial sun garden in London with brick pavers.

Modern San Francisco Living

Boxleaf Design, Inc.

Small residential garden to suite a modern house and active children. -kwmla-
Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard garden in San Francisco.

Primrose Hill

Emma O'Connell Garden Design

Bird's eye view of lush jungle-like foliage and bespoke circular bench and table.
This is an example of a small contemporary backyard shaded garden in London.

Contemporary Outdoor Living Cabinteely

LandArt

This garden showcases the amazing results you can achieve if you design your kitchen extension and garden together at the same time, especially if you will have large glass sliders looking at into the garden. This garden’s transformation started as bare bones block-wall & dilapidated fence. Designed for a young family in Cabinteely. The small footprint is tasked with serving multiple roles: from kids play areas to evening entertainment space, storage shed, privacy buffer to the surrounding houses as well as being the aesthetic backdrop to a new glass-wall extension. Bearing in mind the compact area the privacy screening is selected as slimline evergreen Espaliers along the back wall, effectively blocking out all onlooking windows to the rear. This drastically improves the privacy of not just the garden but also the client’s kitchen & family area. Living with kids through the Irish seasons means that the lawn is not just essential to keep in place for play but to also ensuring it is usable throughout the year. A space like this justifies the use of artificial lawn so come rain, hail or shine the garden is never off limits. To achieve multiple uses within the garden we have carefully set the size of the terrace. The terrace protrudes into the lawn just enough to feel generous without compromising the overall balance. By keeping the levels of the lawn & terrace flush with one another allows them be treated as one continuous surface. A limestone border draws the eyeline around the overall perimeter of this compact space. To ensure that the hard landscaping does not dominate we have foliage between each surface, slim flower beds in front of the shed & freestanding pots of luscious evergreens by the floor-to-ceiling windows. This ensures a lush view onto the garden throughout the year.

The Seating Area

Georgia Lindsay Garden Design

Porcelain paving with a tile inlay to zone the comfortable seating area.
Small contemporary garden in London with a container garden.

Sofronas Residence

Altera Landscape

Landscape Design: AMS Landscape Design Studios, Inc. / Photography: Jeri Koegel
Small contemporary side yard partial sun garden in Orange County with natural stone pavers.

The edible garden / Garden for a London chef

Barbara Samitier Gardens

Anna Batchelor
Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard full sun xeriscape for spring in London with a vegetable garden and natural stone pavers.

Los Altos Hills

April Philips Design Works

The Spa, spa deck, water feature and greenwall.
Inspiration for a small contemporary backyard full sun garden in San Francisco with a vertical garden and decking.

Brixton Garden

The London Gardener Ltd

Small garden in Brixton designed for young children and sophisticated enough to link in style with the new kitchen extension/remodelled house. Artificial grass was combined with scented Lavender and Trachleospermum with year round structure from standard Olea (Olive) trees and Magnolia Grandiflora. Cedar slats were used for the fencing to give a clean and modern line. A lovely low maintenance garden!

Lincoln Park Herb Wall

Brent Riechers Landscape (BRL LANDesign)

Brent A. Riechers
Inspiration for a small contemporary rooftop full sun garden in Chicago with a vegetable garden.

Primrose Hill

Emma O'Connell Garden Design

Bespoke cantilevered metal steps within retaining wall with shade-loving planting including acer.
Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard garden in London.

Small 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.