How to design a contemporary garden

The great thing about contemporary gardens is that they are elegant, comfortable and create a strong visual statement all at once. We've put together our best design ideas to help you pick out the plants, decorative pieces and garden furniture you need to create a flawless, modern garden that is easy to maintain and a pleasure to spend time in. Ready to pick up your tools and get stuck in to garden design? Here are a few ideas to help you create a contemporary garden that works for you.

Contemporary design often comes down to structure. In the garden, you can create strong visual lines with features like borders. The idea is to mark out an area, which can be round or feature right angles, where the majority of your plants will thrive. The rest of the surface can be covered with lawn. Alternatively, you can lay paving slabs or gravel if you want to do away with the task of watering — bliss! Already have a paved area? Great! You just need to arrange some stone or metal planters in a way that guides the eye and adds structure to your space.

Shrubs and other plants look great in a contemporary-style garden — but that's not all they do. Plants can be used to add volume, create vertical lines or even a sense of symmetry:

• To add height, go for plants like bamboo, clematis, willow or wysteria.

• For geometrical design, opt for trees like spindle trees which are really easy to prune into unique shapes.

• To add movement, plant perennial grasses like Mexican feathergrass to sway in the wind.

• A bed of guelder rose will add volume to your space. On a smaller scale, a vase of hydrangeas will have the same effect on a patio.

Don't forget to space out your borders to ensure the air can circulate between your plants easily. This also makes your garden easier to maintain. Prefer to alternate colour and volume? No problem. You can always add a parterre of brightly coloured flowers in an avenue of dark green shrubs.

Another great tip is to play around with contrast. Concrete, stone and metal form the bulk of materials in modern gardens. But bear in mind that these materials can easily be used together as well as in combination with all sorts of plants. With this in mind, consider pairing metal garden furniture with a plant wall or setting a polished concrete patio off with a green wall. Using plants to create clean lines in this way can also help to draw attention to a striking centrepiece like a garden statue or fountain.

When it comes to picking out furniture for your contemporary garden, turn your attention to modern materials and clean lines. An aluminium garden dining set, for example, or a minimalist glass garden table will work really well. In terms of colour, why not go for charcoal grey, black or a range of neutral tones? From that point, there's nothing stopping you from adding a splash of colour with tableware or with a few outdoor cushions. The advantage of a stripped-back exterior is that you can really draw the eye towards a few carefully chosen pieces.

If you need a garden shed to overwinter your outdoor furniture, a metal shed will do the job nicely and keep your garden on theme all year round.

A wide range of decorative objects and ornaments can be used to make your outdoor space truly your own. Modern metal pendant lamps, streamlined fire pits, dark stone planters, stone sun dials or garden mirrors to add a touch of mystery... there are plenty of options to really personalise your garden. You can choose to go purely minimalist or add contrast with a few wicker pieces. When it comes to décor, you're the boss — you just need to trust yourself. And we believe in you!

With a little patience, a whisper of inspiration and, let's face it, a bit of hard work, anyone can create a relaxing, modern outdoor space. All that's left to do is to get stuck in and trust the process. And trust us when we say that garden design is easy...!