A beautifully designed contemporary garden is just as important as the interior of your home. Your front yard, especially, will contribute to the first impression people have of your home, and therefore deserves the same attention to detail as any room in your house. Plants and landscaping can add colour, texture and even fragrance to gardens, and can be as elaborate or or low maintenance as your lifestyle and preferences permit. You may not have much space for greenery, but even a contemporary balcony garden can make for a peaceful oasis in a concrete jungle. Whether it’s a manicured front lawn, paved pathway or intricate garden design, this space should complement your home’s landscape, architecture and design, suit the local climate, and reflect your household.
What plants should I add to my front garden?
Begin by considering the area immediately around and leading up to your front door, and choose a garden design that blends in well with the style of your home – for example, abundant foliage and flowering plants will perfectly complement a period property, whereas man-made materials, geometric shapes and contrasting textures are great ideas for a contemporary garden design. If maintenance is an issue, opt for succulents, bushes or neatly-pruned hedges; and if you don't have a green thumb, stick with grass and use a gravel pathway, water feature, timber fence or stone wall for variation. If you have a balcony garden, get creative with hanging plants, living walls, and potted plants with underplanting. What garden features should I add to my backyard?
The backyard is for entertaining and playtime, so incorporate seating, dining areas, play spaces and sunny relaxation spots. Vegetable gardens and rose gardens are popular yard additions, especially when combined with a pergola, arbour, raised bed, border, walkway or fence. You can even add fun accessories like birdbaths and feeders to aid with birdwatching. For the ultimate party house, incorporate a pool and patio or deck with a fire pit, outdoor fireplace, barbecue and outdoor kitchen. If you're an active, sports-loving family, add a basketball court, volleyball court, bocce ball or croquet. And don't forget about outdoor furniture! A bench in a garden makes a great reading or meditation spot, while a weatherproof chaise lounge, sofa and chair are nice for taking in sunny days.
Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates
Emma O'Connell Garden Design
Lori Dennis, ASID, LEED AP
Simon Orchard Garden Design