Zen gardens have, unsurprisingly, spent another summer fronting outdoor trends – but nowhere nails this pared-back look quite like this soothing LA farmhouse

(Image credit: Stefanie Keenan via Getty Images for Daily Front Row)

Thoughts of a Los Angeles ‘farmhouse’ may not immediately lead to a zen garden (or, more specifically, a pool area), but Jennifer Garner has just challenged our conventions.

The actress’s pared-back exterior space (architecturally designed by Steve Giannetti) makes a case for minimalist garden design – most notably thanks to its lack of planting, poolside furniture, and accessories. However, despite the absence of decoration, Garner’s pool area is anything but boring. Instead, it’s soothing, grounding, and designed so that the wood (from both the house and the decking) can take center stage.

This natural material works in harmony with the surrounding greenery and pool water to bring a sense of calmness to the area, and it’s one of the finest (and one of the most beautifully simple) examples of a zen garden we’ve observed over the reign of this ever-growing outdoor trend. Alongside Garner’s (unintentional) approval, experts say we owe the rise of zen-style gardens to their therapeutic qualities – many of which translate to spaces of all sizes (whether we have a pool or not). The key is in the simplicity, they explain.
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Compared to cottage and country garden-style gardens, this style of outdoor space is uncomplicated and paired back. It doesn’t feature a lot of different flowers, creating a sense of peace and tranquility,’ comments Marcus Eyles, the horticultural director at Dobbies. ‘The aim is to create a space with a modern feel – light and clean lines are important when it comes to establishing a sense of zen.’

In Garner’s case, she lets her wooden deck do most of the talking. This material, in all its unpainted beauty, keeps her space feeling unfussy but quietly luxurious. The wood’s unfussiness (and lack of furniture to worry about) means her space will look just as good at every point of the year since nothing will start to look weathered. However, if we are working with a smaller garden, we can tap into the zen-look with heavily curated planting.

‘When planning the space, look to create a neat, organized structure with simple planting schemes and choose neutral, natural colors, such as lush leafy greenery, white flowers, and silver, grey foliage,’ Eyles comments. ‘Tall sculptural plants will also add height and work well in groups.’

(Image credit: Jacky Hobbs)
For more ways to perfect the zen-garden trend (beyond our pool), Eyles recommends planting ornamental grasses, most specifically larger foliage types such as Miscanthus and Pampas grasses (Cortaderia).