Gardens are a vital component of any home's aesthetic, reflecting the nuances of a homeowner's personality. As a result, gardens are as varied as the people who plant them.

Most of the time, we see spectacular gardens filled with various flowers and shaped hedges. But there are those of us who prefer a more streamlined, modern look that lacks the fuss of floral or manicuring. Enter the Japanese Garden. This gardening style is a hallmark of simplicity and focuses on celebrating the elements of nature itself.

Here are 10 Japanese Garden style ideas that you can incorporate into your garden right now.

1. Go green: Japanese gardens focus on the play of various shades of green. From trees to ferns to low lying ground covers, you can find many plants to accommodate you. This is a great solution for shaded areas or gardens that are completely shade dominant. You get the soothing tones of green throughout your garden, with the visual interest coming from the height and textures of various plants themselves as opposed to floral displays. Another bonus is that there is little to no deadheading or pruning.

2. Water: A gurgling fountain is pleasing to look at and is also very soothing. This can be incredibly helpful to gardeners in noisy city locations who want to drown out some of the hustle and bustle. The constancy of the fountain's trickle helps to override the surrounding noise. Remember that a filter is very important; moving water kept clean will attract birds looking for a drink and prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

3. Paths: Japanese gardens incorporate stones that are not processed in any way. Paths can be created using stones of varying sizes carefully placed together. The idea is to use the varying sizes and shapes of the stones within the context of a formed path. Typically, however, you should stick to similarly shaped stones; round and square stones are not usually combined. You can also use stones for patio areas, creating a much more natural look than that obtained with interlocking bricks.

4. Fencing: Japanese gardens typically incorporate fencing made from bamboo. Bamboo branches can be cut in half and placed over all, or a portion of, your existing fence. You can also use a bamboo divider to hide visually unappealing storage areas. Try assembling your bamboo feature in varying patterns for visual interest.

5. Evergreens: Evergreen trees are the predominant tree in Japanese gardens. They are available in all shapes and sizes, and have the added bonus of providing some much-needed green during those long, gray winter months.

6. Lanterns: Stone lantern sculptures are the quintessential Japanese garden piece. The use of stone lanterns originated with Japanese tea ceremonies. In the summer, place small tea lights inside this beautiful ornamental piece for a soothing nighttime display. These lanterns are available at larger garden centres. Check with them to see if the one you purchase can be left outside during the winter.

7. Stone: If you are feeling creative, you can incorporate stones in a sculptural manner. Place several stones of varying widths, heights and lengths in a group for a naturalistic focal point in the garden.

8. Bridges: If you have a larger garden, you may wish to use a bridge over a small pond or river. Bridges over sand are considered purely ornamental. The bridge is typically left unpainted. Stone bridges can also be created if they are a foot or less above the ground as there are no handrails. The quality of this bridge is more meditative than functional, since the walker on the bridge has nothing to divide her from the environment.

9. Pebbles: Incorporating pebbles or small stones in the garden provides contrast with greenery. Small stones are particularly effective when placed near ponds. They also can vary the sound of a fountain. Check with your garden centre to ensure that placing pebbles on or within your fountain will not damage it, as models vary.

10. Space: Create an area in your garden that is meditative. The patio area can be used for guests or family playtime. A separate, smaller area within the garden is a soothing stress buster. Use this area for reading or quiet contemplation. Simplicity is vital, with perhaps two to four chairs or a chaise lounge. If you like, add a table on which you can place a bowl filled with stones or uniformly coloured marbles, or a small tea light lantern.