Your garden will have it made in the shade
A surprisingly large number plants thrive in shady areas and no matter what the conditions are you can find some to make your garden stand out.
If your planting under a tree go with a liriopr, vinca minor, lungwort, or Beacon Silver. You’ll find in many cases these will actually require less work to maintain than your lawn.
Another hardy plant that loves the shade is a fern. Ferns can add nice contrast and texture to your garden or landscape design.
Another option is to take a pruning shears to the tree that’s blocking the sun. By letting some sun shine through you’re going going to have an area that’s able to support a wider variety of plants.
Another way to liven up that shady area is to plant some perennials like violets, bunchberry, or Dutchman’s breeches. These wildflowers last for some time, they look nice, and need very little watering.
With a little creativity, your “made in the shade garden” will be every bit as spectacular as any sun-privileged garden.