Flowers don't last the way leaves do. So the foliage will be in the garden all season long. So use it to create form and structure in the beds.
Think of the bed as a gigantic vase. What form do you want your arrangement to take? Do you want something tall in the center? Something that cascades toward the front? You can use shrubs at the back of the border, or tall ornamental grasses. In shady areas you can use some of the larger ferns for height. I like to start at the center - my midpoint - and work outward, so I find a few good plants with contrasting foliage to plant dead center and descending from there to slightly lower plants at the back right and left sides.
Think not just height but texture. Most ferns or grasses have relatively fine foliage, but their shapes are different enough to create a pleasing contrast. Then you may want to look for a couple of plants with big, bold leaves to create structural interest.
Some leaves are very intricate - like most ferns. Some are quite simple, like the oval, slightly pointed leaves of the dogwood. Some are huge and bold - think of hostas, Rheum palmatum (ornamental rhubarb) or colocasia - elephant ears. Others are tiny and quite dainty - like the many nepetas and campanulas, or Veronica peduncularis 'Georgia Blue'. Then you have the spiky ones - yuccas, bearded irises and kniphofia to name a few.
And of course some leaves are smooth ands shiny, such as the foliage on most roses, while others are practically corrugated (some of the more interesting hostas do this) and others, like Stachy byzantina are quite fuzzy.
Think shape. Many grasses grow erectly, but others flow outward in a graceful vase or fountain shape. Some form perfectly rounded mounds. A few, like hakonechloa cascade forward almost like waves crashing on the shore. Many bulbs, such as bearded irises and daylilies will give you a fan shape, like a row of broad and slightly tipsy exclamation points.
The dissectum type of Japanese maples also have that weeping, forward flowing form along with a very lacy texture. Both are perfect for hiding the yellowing foliage of spring bulbs, too, as they won't really get growing until the bulbs are done.
Finally, think color There are a few areas of my own garden that are colorful enough that no one ever notices that there are no flowers in it. Foliage in itself can be incredibly colorful, even if you stick to cold hardy perennials. Many, many plants have silver foliage, or gold, and there are also plenty of purple plants out there. Some leaves are variegated and show streaks, stripes or dots of pink and white, orange and gold - sometimes all at once! A few plants have leaves that are golden brown (which makes it quite hard to figure out if they are actually alive). And of course, foliage comes in too many shades of green to try to count.
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