Contemporary Style
Combining modernist elements with newer materials and simpler planting schemes to create calming spaces
What is this Style?
This style combines strong, simple lines with bold material choices but a limited plant selection. This style is dramatic, so embrace it!
However, the dramatic aesthetic doesn’t come from bright colours. Contrast is the important thing here; concrete next to rich wood emphasizes the beauty of each material. Straight lines and simple lay-outs deliver zoning of spaces for different functions. These ‘rooms’ are given strong identities like living or dining. The style of furniture, material and colour palette should complement your interiors and give an indoor/outdoor aesthetic.
Architectual, evergreen plants and grasses feature heavily in this style, with flowers generally not prioritised within the design. This ensures the garden looks similar all year round
Who Does this Style Suit?
This style works best when your living spaces have a great connection to your garden, like large windows or Bi-fold doors. It should also match your general taste as it may look out of place if your interior and exterior don’t complement each other.
It’s also for those with a taste for quiet luxury as the materials aren’t usually the cheapest. Stone, hard wood or porcelain create great patios and poured concrete or block and render are perfect for creating raised beds or zoning spaces. .
Added Extras
This is another low maintenance garden style for those without much time as planting can be minimised. It can also be used to make your living space feel bigger as extra ‘rooms’ can be added to your house; like a separate dining space if you don’t have one inside.
This style can create incredibly relaxing environments that are perfect for switching off after a busy day, due to the intentional minimalism of this style.
Cons
This style is rarely cheap as the materials alone tend to be towards the more expensive end of the market. There are ways to reduce costs but it’s never going to be a cheap garden style, so those on a budget may want to steer clear. Another potential negative is the garden doesn’t tend to change much across the seasons due to the relative lack of flowers.
Designer’s Tips
If this is the style for you but your budget is limited then I would invest that in a quality patio and concentrate planting around this to create a great entertaining space. Then sow a thick, dense lawn around it and keep it trimmed short
Paint your boundaries black or dark grey to showcase plants within the space as green really pops against the dark backdrop. It also makes a space feel bigger by making boundaries recede and can unify different fences/walls
If you like the clean lines of the hard landscaping, but not the incredibly minimalist planting then pick your favorite colour and plant flowers in only that colour alongside the grasses and shrubs. To create a calm space choose white and to create an invigorating garden I would choose red