Have you Heard of Soft Modernism? Discover the Sleek yet Soulful Garden Trend Replacing Stark Minimalism in 2026

Keeping your garden on trend is no easy feat and with the recent arrival of 2026, you may be wondering what direction garden design will take over the coming months.

One trend is the rise of ‘soft modernism’. It is softly structured, focuses on wild planting and is a move away from ultra-manicured and highly stylized outdoor spaces. Minimalist gardens are often simple, uncluttered and generally utilise a limited color palette, a minimal number of different landscaping materials and clean lines.

In some cases, though, this can lead to an almost stark and sterile environment defined by sharply cut topiary and minimal planting. In contrast, soft modernism seeks to still provide a modern feel, yet softer and less controlled. Read on to find out how you can achieve this look and which plants are a good starting point for soft minimalism garden ideas.

Structure in Soft Modernism

As with minimalist gardens, soft modernism still incorporates simple, geometric shapes and bold lines to form the framework, but is given a softer edge by the planting.

Rectangles, squares and circles are still key to the design and provided by paving, terraces, hedging and raised beds.

Modern materials such as Corten steel and concrete are still commonly used, but so is timber, which can add a more gentle appeal.

Color Palettes in Soft Modernism

When it comes to planting, minimalist garden design tends to focus on a very limited color palette, with some of the most striking examples using layers of only green shades and perhaps only one other color, if at all, such as the white garden at Sissinghurst.

An evergreen framework often consisting of low box (Buxus) hedging and repeated spheres is commonly used as it can provide continuity and rhythm, yet still incorporate clean lines.

In contrast, soft modernism seeks to produce a less harsh environment, achieved through naturalistic planting and a wider, yet still constrained choice of colors.

To achieve this, soft modernism tends to focus on loose grasses, layering and wafting ecological perennials for touches of color.

Grasses for Soft Modernism Planting

Unlike garden minimalism, soft modernism incorporates a broad variety of plants and a wider array of textures. Also grown for the movement they provide, ornamental grasses are ideal as their blades and textured seedheads can gently flop over hard edges or pathways, softening them.

Grasses such as Miscanthus and Stipa are great examples, with varieties available in a range of sizes.

Growing to a height of 4-5 feet, Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light' is perfect for providing height and structure. Its slender green and white foliage gently arches and reddish-bronze feathery plumes offer interest over the fall and winter. Suitable for growing in USDA zones 5-9, Morning Light Silver Grass is available to purchase from Nature Hills.

For a shorter grass, Stipa tenuissima, or Mexican feather grass as it is commonly referred to, delivers soft texture and graceful movement. Its thin spring foliage that turns golden in the fall reaches a final height of around 2 feet, meaning this low-maintenance perennial remains compact whatever the growing conditions.

Considered hardy in zones 6-10, this ornamental grass thrives in full sun and a well-drained soil. You can purchase Mexican Feather Grass from Garden Goods Direct.

In the case of a shaded border or pathway to edge, Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra) is a widely used option. Forming soft, textured mounds of lush green foliage that lightens to a yellow-tan in the fall, this shade-loving grass is ideal for providing ground cover or allowing to flop over border edges.

Considered hardy down to USDA zones 4, it is a great choice for a soft modernist feel in cooler parts. Japanese forest grass plants are available to purchase from Amazon.

Perennials for Soft Modernism Planting

To provide seasonal colour and a naturalistic style, billowing and free-flowing perennials are ideal. For ideas and color schemes, New York City’s High Line is a great example of what can be achieved, with beautiful examples of soft planting by designer Piet Oudolf.

Alternatively, The Gardener's Guide to Prairie Plants by Neil Diboll and Hilary Cox, available from Amazon, is a wealth of inspiration for those wanting to choose native plants.

In the gardens I have managed over my horticultural career, I have developed some favorite perennials that I know I can depend on to add interest and texture.

These include Salvia, Verbena, Perovskia and Lavandula, which are all suitable for providing seasonal color. However, to keep a modern and uncluttered feeling, the number of colors used should be limited.

Providing upright spikes of purple-violet blooms from summer onwards, Woodland sage or Balkan clary, Salvia nemorosa, is ideal for adding some contrasting upright structure to a bed or border full of sprawling or floppy plants.

Hardy in US zones 4-9, this sun-loving perennial is adored by pollinators, including hummingbirds. Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ is available to purchase from Nature Hills.

Verbena bonariensis or tall verbena as it is often known, is an ideal perennial for conveying graceful elegance and pops of vivid color.

Creating tight clusters of mauve-lilac flowers on tall slender stems up to six feet tall, it thrives in full sun and US zones 7-11.

Having stipulated Verbena bonariensis in several projects, including cottage gardens to rock gardens, I have seen firsthand how its airy, tall stems can add a naturalistic touch to any garden. Verbena bonariensis is available to purchase from Burpee.

One of the most drought-tolerant and robust perennials I have grown, Russian sage (Salvia yangii, or Perovskia atriplicifolia as it was previously classified) is a perfect match for a soft modernism garden design or a gravel garden.

Suitable for growing in US hardiness zones 4-9, this woody perennial produces fragrant silvery-grey foliage and stunning lavender-blue flowers in summer. Its wispy, informal form is perfect for contrasting against the texture of ornamental grasses.

Furthermore, by waiting to prune until early spring, its skeletal framework will add interest over the winter months. Russian sage is available to purchase from Nature Hills.

Layering in Soft Modernism

When combined with geometric hardscaping, soft planting in layers and levels can not only help achieve a naturalistic look but can also create depth and support its ecological function.

Using a matrix ground cover layer, taller perennials and grasses and anchoring trees or hedges, in defined areas or even when gently blended, will help add height and interest and temper any hard landscaped edges.

If you are inspired by the natural environment, you may want to discover more about naturalistic planting.

You can find out more about the best plants to use and how carefully designed drifts of plants can help you achieve this soft and pleasing garden style in our specialist feature on naturalistic planting design.