Jennifer Aniston's Japanese-inspired garden has a simple lesson: 7 budget-friendly ways to recreate the aesthetics in your home

You don't need a sprawling celebrity estate to bring a sense of calm to your garden. Jennifer Aniston's Japanese-inspired outdoor space offers plenty of ideas that can be adapted to a smaller yard, patio or balcony without copying the entire landscape. Her garden, designed by Marcello Villano, combines layered greenery, natural stone, restrained colours, pathways and water to create a peaceful setting. The good news is that several of these Japanese garden elements can be recreated affordably with thoughtful planting and simple materials.

What makes Jennifer Aniston's garden look so serene?

Aniston's Los Angeles garden takes inspiration from Japanese landscaping, with an emphasis on greenery, texture, clean lines and tranquillity rather than filling the space with colourful flowers. Homes and Gardens reports that the garden uses plants including Japanese maples, ornamental cherries and rhododendrons, while foliage and greenery dominate the colour palette. Ferns, moss and other plants add layers and texture.

The garden also incorporates natural stone, bamboo and a koi pond, creating a space that feels more like a private retreat than a conventional backyard. Better Homes & Gardens similarly describes the garden as featuring bamboo, stone paths, layered greenery and a koi pond. You don't need to reproduce all of these features to capture the same mood.

Start with layers of greenery

One of the easiest ways to get the Japanese-inspired look is to think vertically. Instead of buying dozens of different flowering plants, choose a few plants with different heights and textures. Place a taller shrub or small tree at the back, medium-height plants in the middle and low-growing groundcovers towards the front. This layered approach is one of the defining features highlighted in coverage of Aniston's garden.

Budget idea: Use smaller nursery plants rather than mature specimens. They cost less and can gradually fill out the space.

For a smaller garden, look for compact varieties suited to your climate rather than trying to replicate every plant in Aniston's California landscape.

Keep the colour palette simple

A Japanese-inspired garden doesn't have to be a sea of flowers. Jennifer Aniston's garden places greater emphasis on different shades of green, with seasonal bursts of colour used more selectively. You can recreate this without spending much by grouping plants with different leaf shapes and shades of green.

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Budget idea: Think ferns, grasses, shrubs and other foliage plants. Add just one or two flowering plants as focal points instead of buying several varieties. The result can feel calmer and more intentional.

Add natural stone instead of expensive landscaping

Natural stone is another useful element if you want to bring Japanese-inspired character to a garden. You don't need to construct an elaborate stone pathway. A few flat stones placed strategically can create a simple stepping-stone effect.

Budget idea: You can also use locally available stones or repurpose suitable stones already in your garden rather than purchasing expensive decorative landscaping materials. The goal is to create a natural-looking transition through the space rather than a perfectly symmetrical walkway.

Try a small water feature

Water is one of the most recognisable features of Aniston's garden. Her Japanese-inspired landscape includes a koi pond, while Homes & Gardens describes water as an important element that adds movement, reflection and tranquillity. But you don't need a koi pond to borrow the idea.

Budget idea: A small ceramic water bowl, tabletop fountain or compact recirculating water feature can create a similar focal point for a fraction of the cost and with much less maintenance.

If you're working with a balcony or tiny patio, even a small water feature can become the centre of your garden arrangement.

Use bamboo for structure and privacy

Bamboo can add height and an instantly recognisable Japanese-inspired feel. Better Homes and Gardens lists bamboo among the elements in Aniston's garden.

Budget idea: For a budget-friendly approach, consider using potted bamboo or another locally suitable screening plant rather than installing an expensive privacy wall.

If you choose bamboo, check whether the variety is appropriate for your climate and whether it is clumping or running bamboo. Some types can spread aggressively, so containers may be the safer choice for smaller spaces.

Don't overcrowd the garden

Perhaps the most affordable lesson from Aniston's garden is also the simplest: you don't have to fill every empty space. Japanese-inspired landscapes often rely on restraint. The design is as much about the spaces between elements as the plants themselves.

Budget idea: Instead of buying another plant every time you see an empty corner, leave some open ground, gravel or mulch. This can make a small garden feel more spacious while also allowing individual plants, stones or water features to stand out.

Create one calm focal point

Rather than attempting a complete garden makeover, choose one area and make it your Japanese-inspired corner. It could be:

- A small water feature surrounded by stones
- A potted Japanese maple or another suitable ornamental tree
- A bamboo privacy screen with a simple bench
- A pathway made from stepping stones
- A cluster of ferns, moss and textured foliage

For a smaller budget, recreating one composition is much more realistic than trying to replicate an entire celebrity landscape.

The Jennifer Aniston garden lesson: less can do more

Jennifer Aniston's Japanese-inspired garden is undeniably high-end, but the ideas behind it don't have to be expensive. Layered greenery, natural materials, restrained colours, a small water feature and a thoughtfully chosen focal point can transform an ordinary outdoor space.

The key is not to copy the garden plant-for-plant. Instead, borrow its design principles and adapt them to the space, climate and budget you actually have.