new build house, small garden, what do I do?

[whitetulips]

I am buying a new build with a south facing garden, which is very small. When I buy the house I will get a few slabs right by the patio doors, and a path leading to back gate.
So what do I do with the rest?
I do not want lawn, and really don't want to do a lot of 'gardening', but how can I make it look like a garden, not a yard?
How do I find someone to do it, will it cost a fortune if I call a landscaper?

Most decent landscapers will quote for free. Get a few round.

I have a new build but the plot is quite large, so mainly laid it to lawn.

Can't remeber what it's called but you can get an online garden planner (maybe google that) and then you can add gravel areas/bark/grass if you choose etc. It shows you in pictoral form from a birds eye view rather than trying to look at the space front on. You can put in measurements etc. We did it for a small garden we had and basically we decided upon basic border at the side to elongate and a japanese willow offset and about 3/4 of the way down the garden to break it up and make it look longer. It seemed to work but there's loads of stuff you could do with a tiny garden; especially as your'r is south facing.

I will do that to get some ideas, as I am bit clueless. I know I want a nice place to sit, and I don't want to have to work too hard to have an enjoyable space!

Put a hot tub in the middle of it.

Simples.