Your Favourite Outdoor Photos From Around the World
With warmer weather approaching, get inspired by Houzz users' most saved garden and outdoor photos from last year
The weather is beginning to warm, the birds are chirping, and Houzz users are thinking about their gardens. Winter is not yet a memory, but as spring approaches we’ve turned to some of last year’s most inspiring outdoor projects to get our creative alfresco juices flowing.
Shown here are the most saved garden and outdoor photos by country, uploaded to Houzz and saved by users around the world between 1 January 2021 and 28 February 2022, which capture your summer favourites from both the northern and southern hemispheres.
Shown here are the most saved garden and outdoor photos by country, uploaded to Houzz and saved by users around the world between 1 January 2021 and 28 February 2022, which capture your summer favourites from both the northern and southern hemispheres.
New Zealand
A hardwood deck is considered an essential in the land of the long white cloud. This vast platform, which wraps around a contemporary home in this Point Wells project from Designpoint Architecture, creates many opportunities for relaxing outdoors with family meals, chatting and reading, or undertaking some repotting.
Is your outdoor space calling for a makeover? Find a landscape architect or designer near you, browse images of their projects and read reviews from previous clients
A hardwood deck is considered an essential in the land of the long white cloud. This vast platform, which wraps around a contemporary home in this Point Wells project from Designpoint Architecture, creates many opportunities for relaxing outdoors with family meals, chatting and reading, or undertaking some repotting.
Is your outdoor space calling for a makeover? Find a landscape architect or designer near you, browse images of their projects and read reviews from previous clients
United States
Indoor-outdoor features are popular in Californian homes, as residents relish the region’s mostly pleasant weather and look for ways to make the most of their living spaces. This San Francisco-area home designed by Libby Raab Architecture and built by Supple Homes takes the experience one step further with an outdoor shower, which the homeowners wanted for showering under the stars and rinsing off after dips in their backyard hot tub.
The landscape design by Elements Landscape addresses the region’s warm, dry climate with low-water grasses and permeable gravel that contribute to a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant yard. Pre-cast hexagonal concrete pavers lead to a backyard patio designed for dining, relaxing and barbecuing.
Indoor-outdoor features are popular in Californian homes, as residents relish the region’s mostly pleasant weather and look for ways to make the most of their living spaces. This San Francisco-area home designed by Libby Raab Architecture and built by Supple Homes takes the experience one step further with an outdoor shower, which the homeowners wanted for showering under the stars and rinsing off after dips in their backyard hot tub.
The landscape design by Elements Landscape addresses the region’s warm, dry climate with low-water grasses and permeable gravel that contribute to a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant yard. Pre-cast hexagonal concrete pavers lead to a backyard patio designed for dining, relaxing and barbecuing.
United Kingdom
This contemporary courtyard by Zulufish is tucked away on the lower-ground floor of a Victorian terrace house in London.
The petite space makes clever use of the exterior walls by integrating a bench seat into the raised planting beds. Vertical timber cladding creates privacy, while a light colour palette ensures the small space feels bright and inviting. Accessed via sliding glass doors from the dining room, the space feels like a seamless extension of the interior.
This contemporary courtyard by Zulufish is tucked away on the lower-ground floor of a Victorian terrace house in London.
The petite space makes clever use of the exterior walls by integrating a bench seat into the raised planting beds. Vertical timber cladding creates privacy, while a light colour palette ensures the small space feels bright and inviting. Accessed via sliding glass doors from the dining room, the space feels like a seamless extension of the interior.
Austria
Biotop Landschaftsgestaltung specialises in natural swimming pools and created this dreamy set-up for a home in the state of Styria, Austria. The timber terrace offers a view of the water cascading down to a small wood reading hut. For even more of a holiday feel, there is a little sunbathing island in the middle of this 300-square-metre lake. The water is cleaned biologically, with no added chemicals.
Biotop Landschaftsgestaltung specialises in natural swimming pools and created this dreamy set-up for a home in the state of Styria, Austria. The timber terrace offers a view of the water cascading down to a small wood reading hut. For even more of a holiday feel, there is a little sunbathing island in the middle of this 300-square-metre lake. The water is cleaned biologically, with no added chemicals.
France
Homes in the south of France are always loved by Houzz users. This stunning garden belongs to a guest house in Vaison-la-Romaine, Provence. Standout features include its beautiful swimming pool and gorgeous view of the vineyard below.
Browse stunning Australian swimming pools for inspiration
Homes in the south of France are always loved by Houzz users. This stunning garden belongs to a guest house in Vaison-la-Romaine, Provence. Standout features include its beautiful swimming pool and gorgeous view of the vineyard below.
Browse stunning Australian swimming pools for inspiration
Germany
This home’s owners asked Skandella Architektur for a minimalist and clearly structured front garden design. Grasses at varying heights, a variety of shrubs and Corten steel borders give this garden a structured feel.
This home’s owners asked Skandella Architektur for a minimalist and clearly structured front garden design. Grasses at varying heights, a variety of shrubs and Corten steel borders give this garden a structured feel.
Ireland
This contemporary outdoor space by McKiernan Architects has been designed to fit in effortlessly with this home’s new side extension. Conceptualising the two spaces as one enhances the connection between indoors and outdoors and allows for a seamless transition between the two.
A cool white-and-grey colour palette visually links the two spaces and the fuss-free green planting palette is streamlined and modern.
This contemporary outdoor space by McKiernan Architects has been designed to fit in effortlessly with this home’s new side extension. Conceptualising the two spaces as one enhances the connection between indoors and outdoors and allows for a seamless transition between the two.
A cool white-and-grey colour palette visually links the two spaces and the fuss-free green planting palette is streamlined and modern.
Italy
This garden in Florence has all the classic gems of a Tuscan landscape: gentle hills, expansive wilderness and a historical farm house that mixes traditional architecture with the feeling of balanced living. Architect Alessandra Cipriani chose to maintain and restore the classic beauty of the stone facade and the traditional interiors, keeping its historical feel alive.
This garden in Florence has all the classic gems of a Tuscan landscape: gentle hills, expansive wilderness and a historical farm house that mixes traditional architecture with the feeling of balanced living. Architect Alessandra Cipriani chose to maintain and restore the classic beauty of the stone facade and the traditional interiors, keeping its historical feel alive.
Spain
This photo revels in the wonderful warmth of earthy tones and the muted greens of the almond and fig trees that are so characteristic of the island of Formentera, where this home by Marià Castelló is located.
The ceramic latticework that defines the entrance and the transition between the social and private areas of the house lets the sun’s rays gently filter into the interior.
This house was a dream come true for its two young owners, who live here year round – but who wouldn’t fall in love with a landscape like this, and a home that respects and sits in dialogue with its natural surroundings?
This photo revels in the wonderful warmth of earthy tones and the muted greens of the almond and fig trees that are so characteristic of the island of Formentera, where this home by Marià Castelló is located.
The ceramic latticework that defines the entrance and the transition between the social and private areas of the house lets the sun’s rays gently filter into the interior.
This house was a dream come true for its two young owners, who live here year round – but who wouldn’t fall in love with a landscape like this, and a home that respects and sits in dialogue with its natural surroundings?
Japan
Thirty years ago, this ocean-side villa was designed by renowned Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa (1934-2007), one of the founders of the Metabolism movement, and constructed by a famous craftsman, Sotoji Nakamura (1906-1997).
Hannat Architects studied the thinking and techniques of these two masters when they renovated a bathroom in the house and added the modern deck overlooking the Pacific ocean. Lights under the deck and along the villa’s outer walls create a soft glow.
This home is a master class in how to preserve a traditional wooden sukiya-zukuri style house while adding modern charm and comforts.
Your turn
Which of these 11 outdoor spaces would you love to relax in? Tell us your favourites in the Comments, save the images for inspiration, like this story, and join the conversation.
More
If you found this selection of images interesting, check out The Most-Beloved Bathrooms, Country By Country, Around The World
Thirty years ago, this ocean-side villa was designed by renowned Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa (1934-2007), one of the founders of the Metabolism movement, and constructed by a famous craftsman, Sotoji Nakamura (1906-1997).
Hannat Architects studied the thinking and techniques of these two masters when they renovated a bathroom in the house and added the modern deck overlooking the Pacific ocean. Lights under the deck and along the villa’s outer walls create a soft glow.
This home is a master class in how to preserve a traditional wooden sukiya-zukuri style house while adding modern charm and comforts.
Your turn
Which of these 11 outdoor spaces would you love to relax in? Tell us your favourites in the Comments, save the images for inspiration, like this story, and join the conversation.
More
If you found this selection of images interesting, check out The Most-Beloved Bathrooms, Country By Country, Around The World
Australia has a fantastic climate for outdoor entertaining, as this design in Sydney, NSW, by Grindstone Landscapes shows. While a barbecue on a deck was once considered sufficient for cooking, full-service kitchens that include fridges, sinks, and even pizza ovens, are now gaining in popularity. With very hot summers, shade is essential: a fan to circulate air is a desirable extra. Here, travertine paving complements the contemporary colour palette of this custom-made kitchen and dining space.