Contemporary Garden Design Ideas

Contemporary garden design

The Contemporary garden style embodies current and polished with a blend of comfort and visual impact. It's one of the most sought-after outdoor design styles, transforming any space into something extraordinary.

The color palette revolves around charcoal, warm neutrals, pops of green, metallic accents, creating a cohesive and intentional look. Materials like porcelain pavers, composite decking, aluminum planters, rendered walls are the building blocks, while plants such as architectural palms, agaves, clipped hedges, tall grasses bring the design to life.

Real contemporary redesigns from the gallery

Actual spaces redesigned in the contemporary style, before and after where a before photo exists.

Before: Real contemporary redesigns from the gallery — Contemporary compact brick suburban backyard featuring a brick two-story house with wood pergola, dark grey concrete planters with ornamental grasses and agave, festoon string lights, modern light wood and metal bench, dark grey paver patio, glowing path lights, and a gravel border.

After: Real contemporary redesigns from the gallery — Contemporary compact brick suburban backyard featuring a brick two-story house with wood pergola, dark grey concrete planters with ornamental grasses and agave, festoon string lights, modern light wood and metal bench, dark grey paver patio, glowing path lights, and a gravel border.

Before

After

Real contemporary redesigns from the gallery — Contemporary compact red tile balcony featuring iron railing, dark grey concrete planters with ornamental grasses and agave, festoon string lights, modern light wood and metal bench with cushions, glowing path lights, and a classic apartment city view.

Contemporary balcony

Real contemporary redesigns from the gallery — Contemporary compact city balcony featuring dark grey concrete planters with ornamental grasses and agave, festoon string lights, modern light wood bench with cushions, slate stepping tiles, glowing path lights, and a glass railing with city skyline view.

Contemporary balcony

Real contemporary redesigns from the gallery — Contemporary white stone traditional backyard featuring a white siding two-story house with stone trim, dark grey concrete planters with ornamental grasses, festoon string lights, modern light wood and metal bench, slate paver path, gravel border, and glowing path lights.

Contemporary backyard

Real contemporary redesigns from the gallery — Contemporary wooded craftsman backyard featuring a tan two-story craftsman house, dark grey concrete planters with ornamental grasses and agave, festoon string lights, modern light wood and metal bench, slate paver path, gravel border, and glowing path lights.

Contemporary backyard

Real contemporary redesigns from the gallery — Contemporary compact backyard featuring a beige two-story house, dark grey concrete planters with ornamental grasses and agave, festoon string lights, modern light wood and metal bench, slate path, gravel border, and glowing path lights.

Contemporary backyard

→ Browse all 672 redesigns in the gallery

Key Features of a Contemporary Garden

✓Mixed material surfaces
✓Outdoor living room setup
✓Built-in seating and planters
✓Recessed lighting in walls and steps
✓Linear water channels
✓Green roof or living wall sections

Design Tip

Layer your lighting, recessed step lights, uplighting on feature plants, and warm pendants over the dining area create depth after dark.

Contemporary Garden by Space Type

This style adapts beautifully to different outdoor spaces. Explore contemporary design ideas for specific settings:

Contemporary Backyard

medium to large

Contemporary Front Yard

small to medium

Contemporary Patio

small to medium

Contemporary Balcony

compact

Contemporary Courtyard

small to medium

Contemporary Large Estate

large

Contemporary Garden

varies

Contemporary Terrace

small to medium

Contemporary Deck

small to medium

Contemporary Lawn

medium to large

Contemporary Outdoor Space

varies

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