Help me plan my hard landscaping!

[FolornLawn]

I have a small garden (about 10m x 9m) and I'm trying to decide on materials.

I love the look of lush gardens with little places to sit amongst plants. I like hardwood decking, stepping stones in gravel and stepping stones in grass. I have two sets of 4 steps coming down to the garden.

I have a shady corner that I want to put a bench in, with ferns. What's the best idea for shade? Gravel? Composite deck? Large flags in gravel? It's under a tree, so will leaf fall be annoying on gravel? Will pavers go slimy?

In a sunny area I'm thinking decking (composite hardwood lookey-likey if we can afford it).

Is it best to go for pavers for the steps? The house is red brick.

I want it all to tie together nicely and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by choice!

Pictures of gardens that make me happy!

It would help to see a diagram of what it currently looks like, where the shade and sun are in relationship to the route by which you come out of the house, whether it's flat or sloping etc. You mention two sets of four steps coming down to the garden -- is this from the back of the house? Is there a raised patio area set above the rest of the garden?

Thanks for replying. There is currently a manky paved patio about a foot off the ground, at the bottom of one of the sets of steps. I’m redesigning the layout completely as I think there is much more potential than we’re currently getting.
Yes, steps are at the back of the house.
The garden is pretty much square, facing due West. The shady corner is top left and I’m thinking the deck could go top right. We have a tree there and I love a deck with a tree coming up through it.
I’m not bothered about having the eating area right by the house, the garden is so small it’s no hardship to walk across it!

Garden is pretty much flat, it drops away slightly in the top right corner, which to me means the deck going there is a good idea, rather than building a retaining wall and bringing in soil.

I'd avoid gravel under a tree, it's a nuisance with fallen leaves.

Yes, I was thinking that could be a problem. Shame, I do like the whole lush Asian garden thing.