Blank canvas - need inspiration

[QforCucumber]

Lived in our house for 2 years now. New build so usual plain turf garden. I want to make it a nice area to relax, also have a new baby so would like him to be able to play in it when he's older.
Looked at pinterest but everything seems so elaborate. I'll be doing it myself with a bit of a budget thanks to maternity leave. I have very very little gardening experience so thought I'd ask for your wisdom and ideas please. Anything a newbie like me can do to make it look more welcoming and attractive? There will be a shed against the back fence in the corner where the wall is. Garden is approx 13m long and 8m wide.

[DiamondInTheRuff]

Do you know what the soil is like? Most gardens on new builds seem to have a thin layer of top soil laid over rubble and builders rubbish unfortunately so raised beds might be better.

What do you want out of it? Space for veggies? Flowers? Seating for BBQs?

I'd make an area for your DS to play, most children love their own space to dig and make mud pies!

Wildlife area?

[QforCucumber]

When dp dug out the left side for the stones border he found bricks, plastic and bits of glass it wasn't turfed when we moved in and the day they laid the turf the were done in about 3 hours so we don't think it was rotivated at all, just turf rolled out onto what was already there.
Dp is extending the flagged area across the back of the house as a seating area, I just think it's boring to look at the plain turf, so flowers, plants, maybe some height if possible?

[sashh]

At almost 40 I got my first garden and due to limited mobility and a few other things couldn't do a lot.

With a baby I would only buy plants that were non toxic.

One thing that can look really effective is to just plant one colour (obviously + green).

I have some honeysuckle that ndn gave me a cutting of and it has slowly grown round the fence, the back fence has hawthorn - planted by landlord - effective to stop people coming in but you might want to think twice with a baby. But I digress, my garden now has green with purple and white flowers depending on the time of year covering all fences/walls.

I have a pear tree - nice to eat your own fruit and takes no care.

I also have a tree in the front that the landlord planted as a sapling that (15 yrs +) looks as though it is made for climbing or a swing coming of a branch - could be a bonus or not depending on your idea of child safety.

[DiamondInTheRuff]

I'm not surprised unfortunately.

I would go for raised beds I think, or some nice big pots. Honeysuckle as saash says is lovely. I've got some cordon apple trees which don't take up much space but are lovely. Thornless blackberry might be nice, too.

[JT05]

Clematis Montana would look lovely climbing alongside the garage and back fence. It flowers around May time, is easy to look after and can be pruned after flowering.

I'd also plant a small tree to block out the view of other houses, a fruit tree, perhaps.

With a family you would probably want to keep most of the lawn. Hard wearing shrubs around the edge would be easily maintained. Your local nursery or garden centre will be able to tell you what grows well in your area.

[QforCucumber]

These are great ideas thankyou, gives me a starting point to look into.
I love honeysuckle and that clematis looks beautiful jt05
I also very much like the idea of a pear tree, was thinking of a tree towards the back in between where the shed will be and the right hand fence and then keeping the main garden as all turf but wouldn't have known where to even begin with ideas.