If your personal preference is one of crisp lines and symmetry rather than a more natural grow-where-you-will approach, the neat edges and traditional designs of formal gardens might be the perfect oasis. In fact, if space is at a premium in your yard, a formal garden is actually easier to plan and manage than a garden is more natural looking.
A popular choice of formal garden is called the knot garden. These do not tend to be full of colorful flowers, but rather a variety of greens, shaped to have strong lines and interwoven patterns. Back in the hey-day of the 16th-century when knot gardens (parterres in French) were enormous, they were actually designed to be seen from the upper balconies of mansions and grand country estates in addition to being a place to walk around and sit in.
The appeal of knot gardens (on a much reduced size scale) continues to be the geometric designs of the clipped hedges, as well as the restful greenery throughout. However, there's a lot of work involved first to establish and then to maintain, so a knot garden really isn't one for the "lazy gardener".
To stay true to tradition, the spaces between the hedges should be filled with stone instead of flowers. The color of the gravel itself should be used to best display the series of shaped beds: white can help brighten a small, dark garden, but black can be used to great effect in a very bright space.
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