I thought about creating a landscape of gentle berms and swales bisected by a rocky stream bed. As a garden designer and nursery owner, I had both the land and raw materials to develop a sizable garden, but you could easily make a wonderful winter display in a small area. No matter what scale you work on, the key is creating strong contrasts. It's not like gardening in summer when you can use subtle foliage effects or gentle color groupings. In winter, you have to be bold.
Shapes stand out when the leaves are gone.
Natural features, tree branches, and structures all add to the overall impression.