Central courtyard forms the main secluded space, capturing northern sun while protecting from the south westerly windows off the ocean. Large sliding doors create visual links through the study and dining spaces from front to rear.

Paradise House

Shane Marsh Architects

Lagom Residence

CB Architecture + Design

Eric Rorer

Bayside Zen Garden | Bayside, WI

LandCrafters, LLC

Behind the Tea House is a traditional Japanese raked garden. After much research we used bagged poultry grit in the raked garden. It had the perfect texture for raking. Gray granite cobbles and fashionettes were used for the border. A custom designed bamboo fence encloses the rear yard.

Contemporary Fountain w/ Cobble

Conscious Environments Inc.

This fountain is a great addition to a front yard entry. Clean and simple with a subtle water noise for visual and auditory interest. The fountain is surrounded by boxwood hedges, Mexican Beach cobble, and white precast concrete.

Privacy Fence installed

The Garden District

The Valero Family wanted a new area where they could have foliage growing and covering an area that faced the neighbors for more privacy and also to enhance the look of their backyard. Privacy fence, new landscaping , palm trees and beach pebbles were installed in this area,

Contemporary New Home Landscape - Caledonia

Ginkgo Leaf Studio

A dry creek bed snakes through the planted area and is functional - taking rainwater from the front yard and funneling it under the driveway. Renn Kuhnen Photography

Seneca Residence

Verdance Landscape Architecture

A stepping stone path meanders through drought-tolerant plantings including Dymondia, Rosemary 'Barbeque', and Euryops. The owner's favorite roses are integrated with Penstemon 'Apple Blossom' and variegated Tulbaghia 'Silver Lace' to provide color and contrast. Photo © Jude Parkinson-Morgan.

Steps and Junipers 3 Years Later in the Fall

Zone4 Landscapes Ltd.

The golden junipers have grown into the point where their graceful arms are almost touching and starting to create the desired effect.

Rhino Full Basketball Court Gallery

Bay Area Rhino Court

My Houzz: Garage Sale Meets Glam in Ohio

Adrienne DeRosa

Adrienne DeRosa © 2014 Houzz Inc. Set for an afternoon gathering, the Ciacchis' picnic table is nothing less than effortlessly elegant. Pulling from her inspirations toward southern charm and hospitality, Jennifer combines treasures from her "junking" adventures with vintage Eva Zeisel china to create a mood befitting of the most perfect summer day. The 12-foot table was hand made from barn siding. Jennifer picked the chairs from a dumpster, later realizing that each one had a name on it. "Because on the back of each one is a name of the person's chair, it makes it fun for parties because everyone gets a new name at dinner!" she says. Woven votives hang overhead, ready to create evening ambiance. Adrienne DeRosa © 2014 Houzz

Rock garden

Maher & Greenwald Fine Gardens

Modern Driveway and Front Yard Danville, CA

DPG Pavers and Design

Paver driveway, drought tolerant planting, black mulch. Paver color and style selected to compliment paint and roof color.

Modern Remodel

TOPOS Architects, Inc

We completely renovated a simple low-lying house for a university family by opening the back side with large windows and a wrap-around patio. The kitchen counter extends to the exterior, enhancing the sense of openness to the outside. Large overhanging soffits and horizontal cedar siding keep the house from overpowering the view and help it settle into the landscape. An expansive maple floor and white ceiling reinforce the horizontal sense of space. Phil Bond Photography

Beautiful Gardens

Elise Landscapes & Nursery, LLC

Modern Tranquility

Campion Walker Landscapes

To anchor a modern house, designed by Frederick Fisher & Partners, Campion Walker brought in a mature oak grove that at first frames the home and then invites the visitor to explore the grounds including an intimate culinary garden and stone fruit orchard. The neglected hillside on the back of the property once overgrown with ivy was transformed into a California native oak woodland, with under-planting of ceanothus and manzanitas. We used recycled water to create a dramatic water feature cut directly into the limestone entranceway framed by a cacti and succulent garden.

English Jewel Box

Mariani Landscape

A view through the garden rooms, a gravel path leads through to the many spaces. The path is lined with cushwa brick outlining the spaces. Terra cotta containers are filled with boxwood and petunia; pachysandra and bugleweed ground cover fill the flanking and center beds. A cast iron bench offers an opportunity to sit and enjoy the space, with the fountain creating a pleasant sound. The wall is graced with two standard form lilacs. Photo Credit: Linda Oyama Bryan

Pacific Palisades Estate

Leyva & Wilde, Inc.

The Lachman Residence

Studio H2O

Basketball and Tennis Court in Weston

Sport Court of Massachusetts

Weston Custom Multi-sport backyard basketball court, with lighting, tennis net and tennis hit board

Mid-sized and Large Garden Design Ideas

Get Inspired by Gardens on Houzz

A lot of the time when you get home from a long day at work, all you want to do is wind down. Where better to do this than in your very own garden at home? If you do it right, a great garden design can send you right into holiday mode. But where to start? There’s so many styles to choose from when it comes to garden design. Whether you want to create a tropical, modern, contemporary, beach style or country garden - or something else entirely - the large garden image gallery on Houzz has got you covered. Get inspired and collect your ideas to narrow down your desired garden style and features.

How to Create a Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a garden and if it’s appropriate for your climate. You may want to consider adding a deck or other landscaping features, but the plants you choose will mostly dictate your style and what kind of ongoing maintenance is required. Don’t worry if your backyard isn’t very spacious - there are many plants that can thrive even in a small space and allow you to turn your space into a little paradise of your own, regardless of size.

Decide which plants to use

The greenery you choose is critical to your look. For example, if you’re trying to create a tropical garden palm trees and bamboo are your go-to options. Other popular options are golden cane palm trees and fern for ground cover. From there you can add some colour with bright flowers like frangipani, hibiscus or bromeliads. All these are actually quite hardy plants, so once established, your tropical garden is actually quite easy to maintain. Use this structure and apply it to your style. Research which plants you need to set your base for a garden and go from there.

Add some decor

If the plants don’t quite do it for you yet, or if you want to add some extra wow-factor, consider adding some extra features. Even if you can’t accommodate a swimming pool, hot tub or pond, you could look at smaller water features. Simple rocks can also have a great effect, while statues and gnomes will add some extra character. Don’t forget to add some furniture so you have a nice place to sit and enjoy your garden!

Need some help?

Once you know what you want your garden to look like, it may be hard to make it a reality on your own. If that is the case for you, consider consulting a professional to help you with your garden design. Every photo you find on Houzz will lead you to the local pro that did the job, so you won’t have a problem picking the perfect person to help! Whether you need a gardener in Brisbane, a landscape architect in Melbourne or a fireplace installer in Sydney, you can be sure to find one on Houzz.