Rock gardens, or rockeries, have become increasingly popular in contemporary landscaping. And with so many design options at your disposal, it’s easy to see why. Back in the 1930s, the rockery trend first took the world by storm. Generally speaking, these garden installations comprised stones, pebbles, and gravel and were complemented by small, hardy plants that require very little water, like succulents. Today, we are witnessing a resurgence in this trend – and a beautiful blend of old styles meeting new ideas.
Where traditional rock gardens rely heavily on natural-looking arrangements, modern rock gardens focus on geometric angles, square corners, straight lines, and in many cases, concrete edging. There is also significant consideration given to the context of the surrounding landscape and architecture.
25 IDEAS
In this article, we’ll share some great tips and ideas with you, and we’ll look at everything you need to know to create your own beautiful rock garden.
On this page
- 25 IDEAS
- 1. Create a Decorative Rockery Composition
- 2. Add a Uniquely-Designed Water Feature
- 3. Create Unique Garden Features with Different Color Rocks
- 4. Make Intricate Patterns with Stones
- 5. Introduce Geometric Forms
- 6. Use Flagstones for a Modern Aesthetic
- 7. Introduce Modern Minimalist Water Features
- 8. Make Wooden Fencing Modern Using Horizontal Design
- 9. Create a Minimalist Koi Pond
- 10. Construct a Front Yard Rockery Garden
- 11. Use Gabion Retaining Walls Instead of Stacked Rocks
- 12. Use Gabion Garden Edging
- 13. Add Contemporary Lighting Fixtures
- 14. Add an Unusual Contemporary Art Piece
- 15. Use Dry Grass Beds in Contrast to Lush Gardens
- 16. Create a Feature Bed Using Landscaping Rocks
- 17. Choose Succulents Over Blooming Flowers
- 18. Create Neat Garden Edging Using Poured Cement
- 19. Combine Stand-Alone Plants with Rocks and Pebbles
- 20. Use Stepping Stones in Combination with White Pebbles
- 21. Design Small Succulent Islands
- 22. Have Occasional Flowers Seeded Among the Rocks
- 23. Use Concrete Paving
- 24. Compare Traditional and Modern Design
1. Create a Decorative Rockery Composition
Construct a simple but effective rock garden by arranging large stones of different heights and shapes into a miniature mountain landscape. Incorporating small, evergreen Alpine plants adds to the overall appeal of this design. This rockery is easy to DIY and requires little to no maintenance once it is established.
2. Add a Uniquely-Designed Water Feature
Who doesn’t love a waterfall? Consider adding one to your own rock garden. Flat rock consoles are the name of the game for creating a decorative but functional water feature in your landscape. The way the water topples over the linear surface is reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous “Fallingwater” house. This is a minimalist but modern design that exudes serenity and harmony.
3. Create Unique Garden Features with Different Color Rocks
This breathtaking front yard landscaping idea is guaranteed to stop visitors in their tracks. Use different colored pebbles in definitive patterns to bring a stark but striking aesthetic to life. Adding accent features, like the large concrete globes in this example, further emphasizes the modern nature of this design.
4. Make Intricate Patterns with Stones
When we think “garden,” our minds usually go straight to plants. However, a minimalist rockery garden can be just as, if not more, effective in accentuating your existing landscape. Here, a dusky pink granite garden path is bordered by an ornamental pebble garden in different colors. Bold red paving stones cordon off the pebble beds. Ornamental stainless-steel balls serve as artistic features alongside perfectly pruned topiaries. All in all, there are very few elements at play here, but they all work together to create an awe-inspiring design.
5. Introduce Geometric Forms
Geometric shapes are more popular than ever in contemporary landscaping and architecture. Indeed, they are an essential element in the design of many modern rock gardens, like the one featured in this example. Here, the designer has made the most of a smaller space by layering large circular concrete slabs at different heights. This stepped look is an intelligent way to add depth to a landscape.
6. Use Flagstones for a Modern Aesthetic
Flagstones are pretty commonplace in gardens all over the world, but there’s a lot to be said for how you lay them out. A flagstone walkway, for example, can become a prominent feature of your rockery design, especially if edged with concrete. This design uses no less than four different types of stone to create an appealing (but practical) organic-line design.
7. Introduce Modern Minimalist Water Features
A barely-there concrete water fountain is the very pinnacle of minimalist design. This piece emanates harmony in a simple rondel shape, forming the center point of a larger rockery combining paving stones with slate and pebbles.
8. Make Wooden Fencing Modern Using Horizontal Design
Combining natural elements like wood, rock, and foliage is the holy trinity of effective landscaping. This Asian-inspired garden is punctuated by a simple cedar fence and a minimalist rock layout. However, what makes it so aesthetic is the horizontal design of the fencing, which instantly gives it a neat and modern feel. The simple way in which the rockery is laid out also complements the fence and adds depth to the scene.
9. Create a Minimalist Koi Pond
Elevate your rockery with the inclusion of a modern koi pond. This exceptional design uses perfect geometric shapes to emphasize modernity, in contrast to the organic forms of the fish and plants in and around the pond. Different materials, like tiles and slate, add to the aesthetic by creating visual interest for the viewer.
10. Construct a Front Yard Rockery Garden
Modern rockery designs are an excellent idea for front yards. Not only are they less maintenance than traditional gardens, but you can also easily create a sense of height and depth by layering rocks and plants of different sizes. Statement succulents add a dramatic feel but are blissfully easy to maintain.
11. Use Gabion Retaining Walls Instead of Stacked Rocks
In modern garden design, there’s a lot of focus on curved shapes, structure, and organization. A curved bench comprising gabions with bright red wooden seating is a minimalist design that feels infinitely contemporary. Rocks combined with metal look and feel current, especially in contrast to the randomly laid-out stone structures we usually find in old-school rock gardens. This is a functional but striking aesthetic that feels ordered and well-thought-out. It’s also extremely durable.
12. Use Gabion Garden Edging
Finish off the edges of your garden beds with gabions. Straight, finite lines make any landscape look more modern. It’s also a practical way to keep your garden in check and define your walkways. Notice how these gabion cages are filled with cement blocks instead of random rocks.
13. Add Contemporary Lighting Fixtures
In modern minimalist design, the beauty is in the details, and every feature should be well-considered. Here, an elegant paved-and-pebbled pathway is complemented by a contemporary lighting piece. The style of the light is very particular (and simple), and it neither steals the spotlight nor detracts from the clean lines of the walkway. Modern design requires that pieces work together instead of fighting each other. Notice that the light fixture is the same color as the pebbles.
14. Add an Unusual Contemporary Art Piece
Landscaping is art. So, why not turn your garden into a gallery by incorporating stand-out modern pieces like abstract stone statues? With plenty of options on the market, you’re not restricted by your decor taste. That said, make sure you find an art piece that complements the rest of your rockery.
15. Use Dry Grass Beds in Contrast to Lush Gardens
Ramp up the modernity of your landscape by mixing traditional hedging and blooming flowers with a simple dry grass bed. An edging of grey rocks amplifies the grass centerpiece, giving this front yard a contemporary look and feel.
16. Create a Feature Bed Using Landscaping Rocks
Bigger isn’t always superior. This small rock garden uses three different rock sizes in a striking feature bed, interspersed with interesting plants in various shapes, colors, and heights. The wooden walkway and concrete fence benefit the modern style of this landscape.
17. Choose Succulents Over Blooming Flowers
I cannot recommend succulents enough. They’re delightfully low maintenance and are available in dozens of shapes and sizes. This small backyard rockery is composed of variations of cacti and succulents, which lend a modern appeal. Best of all, they need very little water and thrive in full sunlight.
18. Create Neat Garden Edging Using Poured Cement
Nothing says modern architecture like poured concrete. Perfect for creating cement edging, the benefit of this design lies in how neat and precise it looks. Black pebbles tie in nicely to the modern attributes of this home and serve as a good foundation for a collection of beautiful succulents.
19. Combine Stand-Alone Plants with Rocks and Pebbles
In this contemporary rockery, black steppingstones are arranged on top of crisp white pebbles. Instead of focusing on multiple plants, the designer has chosen to make the white areas the focal point, which immediately implies a modern aesthetic. It also makes the space look bigger. Together with this, traditional curves and contours are replaced with sharp, straight lines.
20. Use Stepping Stones in Combination with White Pebbles
Here is another example of the gorgeous contrast between light pebbles and dark steppingstones. This combination always looks modern, even when you opt for curvy, organic shapes.
21. Design Small Succulent Islands
Use large rocks as makeshift planters to create beautiful succulent “islands”. The decorative houseleek (Sempervivum Pumilum) is perfect for this purpose. As a perennial plant, this type of dwarf succulent works well with a simple rock garden design and will grow to fill the space provided for it.
22. Have Occasional Flowers Seeded Among the Rocks
While traditional gardens look stunning when filled with flowers, rockeries are more appealing with a less-is-more approach. This is to ensure the focus remains on the structure. Scatter seeding flowers among your rocks, so they almost feel surprising when they bloom. Bold colors, like this blue, are exceptionally eye-catching but can be overwhelming in excess.
23. Use Concrete Paving
Concrete makes everything look more modern, and this intelligent design is a testament to that. The concrete stairs of this entranceway are bordered by pebble beds in contrasting colors and a few bright green shrubs to make it all pop. Adding planters in curvy shapes breaks any chance of monotony and ties the whole look together.
24. Compare Traditional and Modern Design
The design above really leans into the traditional way of creating rockeries. The natural stone steps are complemented by retaining walls made of rocks of different sizes and shapes. Planters add visual interest, and the landscape is completed with bright, blooming flowers. While it is neat and nicely landscaped, it’s not what I would consider a modern look.
The landscape design below, on the other hand, is ultra-contemporary. The uniformity of the granite steps, the minimalist assortment of plants, and the inclusion of natural feature rocks all work together to build simple harmony. Where traditional rockeries blend textures, shapes, and colors at random, this design relies almost solely on green, grey, and brown. Yet, not having beds full of colorful flowers doesn’t detract. Instead, it suggests meticulous planning and thought. Clear, unfussy lines and materials are the pinnacle of modern design. These are the principles to keep in mind when designing your contemporary rock garden.
