Modern Garden Design

Characterized

Modern landscaping is mainly characterized by sleek sophisticated styles and streamlined aesthetics which make the garden look organized and controlled. A typical modern garden focuses more on structures and the landscape rather than the plant itself. The plants are greener and are selected based on their shape and texture. To add to their beauty, pops of color, planters or wall paintings as well as furniture cushions are normally added.

Popular materials

The most popular materials that are used in modern style landscaping include; wood, concrete and metal. Most designers prefer to leave concrete surfaces with their natural grey appearance, although it can be altered by staining it with a range of colors. Weathered steel is the most common metal accent that is used in these gardens. The metal can be used for making planters, privacy screens or small retaining walls. In modern yards, wood is mainly used for decking. The most common type of wood that is used is Ipe, which is a Brazilian hardwood that is rich in color.

Concrete walls

One of the design principles of the modern garden design is to skillfully create contrast. For instance, ornamental grass will pop out against grey concrete walls, while orange cushions will definitely draw your attention when placed on a simple patio furniture. It is therefore important to be keen while creating the contrast as too much of it can be overwhelming, making the entire space seem quite disjointed. Always peek two or three spots in the yard and concentrate on contrasting elements for each.

Landscape

The modern landscape design is mainly characterized by paved areas that are planted with greenery. The paving can be done using either paving stones or concrete. Apart from using grid to achieve a modern look, using architectural plants with interesting textures as well as containers can be used to achieve such a modern look. If you are interested in modern style landscaping, these design principles will be quite instrumental in helping you design a beautiful and well balanced modern garden.