Enchanted Haven: Elevating Outdoor Living

Featuring an elegant wood decking paired with a contemporary stainless steel cable rail system. Natural stone raised garden beds infuse an organic essence, harmoniously contrasting the refined blue stone patio. Anchoring the design is a chic metal roof pavilion, lending both shade and style.

Contemporary Front Yard Meadow

Phillips Garden

David J Owen Photography

Masonry

Mary Adams Lines, LLC

Design Build: Rancho Santa Fe - Full circle

The Design Build Company

Terraced Hillside with Elegant Swaying Grasses

Art of the Land

Retaining walls form the terraced hillside providing space for an elegant array of swaying grasses in front of wooded background.

Vancouver Ocean Front Two

Fossil Project Services

Patio Table

Terra Ferma Landscapes

Closer view of the patio table and built-in bluestone bench.

Proctor Terrace Backyard

Geared for Growing Landscape Services

Primrose Hill

Emma O'Connell Garden Design

The lush jungle-like foliage is seemingly held at bay by hard materials of brick retaining wall and metal steps.

Brooklyn Backyard with Bluestone Patio and Cedar Fencing

Amber Freda Garden Design

This Gowanus, Brooklyn backyard features a contemporary design that incorporates bluestone patios with knotty cedar fencing and planters. We added a patch of sod for the client's children to play on. The plantings are mostly evergreens, with some deciduous plantings mixed in as well for seasonal interest. See more of our projects at www.amberfreda.com.

Designer Drainage Dare

Prestige Landscaping

This picture shows the usefulness of Outdoor Lighting. It both beautifies and is a practical addition to any landscape for security and safety.

Contemporary Landscape with Basalt Columns Water Feature

Accent Landscapes

This retaining wall utilizes the same manufactured stone as this homes veneer, ensuring a perfect match.

A Boulder Alternative

Mary Kirk Menefee, Landscape Designer

The boulder wall also becomes the bones of a lively garden. A mix of evergreens and perennials ensures year-round interest. Design by Mary Kirk Menefee; installation by Merrifield Garden Center. Photo: Mary Kirk Menefee

Boulder walls, bluestone patios and plantings

Perennial Landscaping

Total re-landscaping of front entrance using veined limestone boulder walls, bluestone steps and patios and plantings and resodding of the lawn.

Blau in Grün - Relaxgarten am Pool

Frank Dahl - Lebensraum Garten

Frank Dahl

Butcher Residence

eScape Landscape Architecture

The design brief was to create a landscape that was harmonious with the existing bush landscape that reflected the natural colours and textures of the property and wider landscape. The design is a contemporary native garden with a series of passive usable spaces which connect to the main alfresco area, pool & spa. Finalist in the 2012 Awards for Excellence design 250m2 - 500m2 Photography Ron Tan

Pasadena

EPTDESIGN

Jack Coyier

Driveway and courtyard

Huettl Landscape Architecture

Hillside Decks

LA-Decks Backyard and Pool Remodeling

Redwood deck with grey stain on hill with glass railing and redwood posts.

Recycled Retaining Wall

Blue Bear Landscape Construction

Complete back yard renovation. New features include recycled concrete slab retaining wall, custom privacy screen, two porcelain slab patios, fire pit, artificial turf lawn and planting.

Contemporary Garden Design Ideas with a Retaining Wall

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.