Low maintenance does not mean low ambition. It means putting effort where it creates the most beauty, habitat and everyday usefulness.
Start with the structure: one or two good trees, a simple route through the space and planting that repeats enough to feel calm. Repetition reduces decisions and makes seasonal care quicker.
Choose plants that enjoy the conditions you actually have. A plant that is happy in the soil will need less feeding, less rescuing and less replacing. That is the kind of saving that compounds over time.
Finally, allow a little looseness. Seed heads, fallen leaves and a soft edge are not signs of neglect; they are signs that the garden has somewhere to go next.