If you’re starting a new garden or redoing a corner of your existing one, you might want to consider adding some soothing Japanese garden elements. This style of garden is very clean, calm and simple, and looks stunning with more contemporary or mid-century modern homes. The elements are few, but sure to add a distinctive style to your garden:

Water: Ponds, waterfalls, and simple fountains are a must in the Japanese garden. If you have room for a pond, consider adding koi fish or aquatic turtles and a simple bridge spanning the water. If you’re short on space, try a simple water feature in a glazed pot—even balcony gardeners have room for that.

Rock: Mossy boulders, fist-sized smooth river rock, flagstone stepping stones and crunchy gravel are all hallmarks of these gardens. One large boulder surrounded by evergreen groundcover can be striking, as well as gravel paths and landscape beds lined with chunky river rock.

Statuary: Buddha statues are a hallmark of the Japanese garden, as are pagodas and Japanese lanterns. There are traditional as well as more modern and stream-lined forms of each of these pieces; take your time and look around for the perfect accent to your garden.

Plants: While there are some flowering plants in the Japanese garden, the emphasis is clearly on plants with more evergreen forms. Low mounding shrubs, spreading groundcovers, lacey ferns and structural bamboo are all plants to look for. Try azaleas, mondo grass, Japanese maples, junipers, non-invasive bamboo, and colorful nandinas.