If you are lucky enough to have a green area of your own, no matter what size, you should take care of it just like you do your home.
Do you have a passion for contemporary style? Then choose materials and lines that complement the inspiration of the interior:
in our practical guide we explain how to create a highly effective makeover thanks to 7 ideas for the modern garden .
From lighting to furnishings, through all those small details that make the difference, discover how to create a dream green oasis.
1. Plan the different areas from the beginning
Let’s start from the basics: if you have to design a garden from scratch, we suggest immediately dividing the different green areas and walkable areas.
This way you can have a clearer picture of the final result you intend to achieve. Before starting, take a notebook and colored pencils to make a sketch and note the reference dimensions.
If you have enough space, try to imagine a mix of different areas, to be separated thanks to tall planters or simply stones .
Treat yourself to a lawn area, to be completed with plants and flowers, and a corner dedicated to conviviality, which you can possibly integrate with a pergola.
For a small dream garden , however, focus on how you want to experience your outdoor space in everyday life.
Perhaps you prefer to have lots of planters and a bit of lawn at your disposal to dedicate to gardening, or you are thinking of treating yourself to a purely convivial area with a large table and a barbecue .
In any case, make sure that your green oasis faithfully reflects you.
2. Materials for a modern garden
After identifying the areas into which you want to divide the exterior, start selecting the main textures .
In this case, the reference materials for outdoor furniture , floors and planters are essentially:
- Painted metal or stainless steel
- Dark teak-type wood, treated to resist bad weather
- Cement , the typical finish of the modern style
Going into the details of ideas for modern gardens, we cannot forget fabrics.
Used for sofa coverings, cushions, curtains and outdoor rugs, they are preferable in solid colors or graphic and striped patterns .
3. Ideas for a small modern garden
Do you only have a small patch of garden? No problem: the important thing is to divide it well and create small thematic areas, as we have already mentioned.
Plus, get help from space-saving furnishings , which will allow you to save precious centimeters.
For example, if you love eating outdoors and inviting friends, buy an extendable or folding table, combined with stackable or folding chairs.
Do you prefer to set up a relaxation corner in which to recover your energy during your free time? Choose a hammock, or go classic with deckchairs and a table.
To guarantee the right amount of privacy with the neighboring garden , simply place a folding umbrella.
If there is very little space, opt for floor cushions and poufs that take up less surface area than the furniture, but are still comfortable and beautiful to look at.
As the icing on the cake, use flowerbeds and planters to better delimit the entire perimeter.
4. Create a fireplace corner
Don’t limit yourself to an outdoor space that can only be used during the warmer months. Among the many ideas for the modern garden, let yourself be tempted by a corner with a fireplace .
Close your eyes and imagine an autumn evening under the stars: throws, hot chocolate and a crackling fire. Beautiful, is not it? Moreover, making such a corner is much easier than you might think.
For example, you could delimit an area surrounded by a low wall by simply using outdoor pebbles.
Add corner lounge furniture and a fireplace or brazier in the center: in just a few gestures, you will have created your new favorite place in the house.
5. Choose minimal furnishings
To enhance the essential inspiration of a contemporary home, focus on minimalist furniture.
As well as being an excellent idea for small modern gardens, as they don’t overcrowd, linear furnishings help create an elegant environment.
Thanks to a few key pieces, your minimal garden will shine with its own light, without the need for too many frills and decorations.
6. Furnish an outdoor living room
How much we love chatting in the open air, together with friends and loved ones! To feel at ease, however, we need comfortable and beautiful furnishings just like the living room at home.
Make room for an outdoor sofa , which can be paired with armchairs, a coffee table and a matching rug, ideal for relaxing en plein air.
The aim is to set up a cozy outdoor living room , but at the same time with design. Our extra tip? Use planters or tall bushes to create a welcoming island.
7. How to illuminate a modern garden
Finally, we couldn’t forget an excursus on lighting for the modern garden . Light can be your best ally:
carefully choose the different lamps, wall lights and lanterns to shape a masterful symphony of lights.
- Floor lamps : to be placed next to the table, deckchairs or sofa, they offer all the light you need for dining or chatting. Choose a dimmable version to adjust the light intensity according to your needs.
- Outdoor LED wall light : if you have a wall available, consider installing a practical and discreet light point that accompanies the transition from inside to outside, enhancing the entire green area.
- Modern lanterns : thanks to contemporary shapes and simple materials, these ancient light sources become objects of desire today. They are especially perfect for highlighting festive occasions and evenings with friends.
- Portable lamps : to be placed on the table or on the floor, cordless lamps are brilliant for all those moments when you need to move the light where you need it most. You can also use them as a centerpiece for a dinner under the stars.
- Luminous spheres : to draw attention to your flowerbeds or make the swimming pool suggestive during the evening hours, simple LED solar spheres cannot be missing.
- Thanks to the twilight sensor, they will turn on automatically after sunset, dressing your garden in magic.
