Cottage gardens may have had their start as the practical mix of vegetables, fruits, and herbs, but they've since evolved into a riotous combination of flowering perennials, shrubs, and trees.

Perhaps the most dominant feature of a cottage garden is its lack of structure. Plants don't seem to have been set in place with any precise plan, and they often spill out into other areas of the garden.

Although this style is traditionally paired with a "cottage" style of architecture, it is surprisingly adaptable. For more traditional homes, confine the plants to garden beds and surround them with more-formal features, such as lawns or hardscape.

To compliment contemporary architecture, choose plants with strong structures and add ornamental grasses for softness.