One way to add warmth and personality to your backyard is with a fire pit, and this modern fire pit with blue rocks gives a pop of color and a focal point for the space.

MODERN OASIS

C&H Landscaping

Panorama Residence

Promise Path Landscaping Inc

Small backyard with block planters that got face with tiles. Wood pergola with sail shades, and stainless steel wire Fire pit with decomposed granite patio, and low voltage lights. Photos by Zack Benson Photography.

Two Patios Are Better Than One – Petite and Shady Swimming Pool

Southview Design

Why have two patios instead of one? While it is possible to create a single large patio with space for a dining room table, fire pit, and the kitchen sink – separating spaces by use gives each area a stronger sense of place and character. In this two patio design, a dedicated patio surrounding the fire pit gives everyone a front row seat to enjoy the flames and views of the lake. The dining patio closer is located to the house makes it much more likely that it will actually get used.

Rockville Backyard Retreat

Land & Water Design

This outdoor living space includes; a rectangular swimming pool, putting green, and Hot Springs spa. The patio is Techo-Bloc Blu pavers with natural fieldstone walls. Landscaping and boulders complement the space and a wood burning fire pit serves as a focal point. A Fiberon Ipe spa deck, next to the outdoor grille station and buffet stone counter for entertaining and relaxing. Photo by: George Brown Photography

Fire

Yard Art, Inc

Stay warm and cozy on cool fall nights or during the winter by snuggling up by this modern fire pit.

Modern Fire Pit + Patio

Lotus Gardenscapes & Bloom Garden Center

This backyard is designed to host various types of parties, whether its a 8-person dinner party or a 75-person summer party. Photo Credit: Jeeheon Photography

Bedford Park

Karen Rogers at KR Garden Design

Caroline Mardon

Entertainers' Paradise

Urban Oasis Landscape Design

The front yard is simple and easy to maintain with a beautiful Crape Myrtle tree.

Kinsgate House

Express Bi-folding Doors

Seattle Fire Pit and Sod

Sunny Seattle Construction

UA Project

Gardens By Monette, LLC

Patio / Sitting Wall / Fire Pit

Dean Bjorkstrand, Inc.

Grace Design Associates

Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

Naturalist ocean view landscape with camp fire and Adirondack chair makes for a great outdoor living space. Holly Lepere

Outdoor living in Santa Luz

Jesse York, Landscape Designer

Upon purchasing their new home, the homeowners were faced with a backyard that was entirely overgrown and not fit for use. With aspirations of extending their indoor living to the outdoors, they envisioned adding a pool to cater to their family's love for swimming and their fondness for hosting gatherings. The final design transformed the space into a highly functional and fashionable outdoor oasis, featuring a pool and spa complemented by a natural rock water feature, a Trex sun deck, a cozy fire pit with ample seating, a BBQ island complete with a bar top for outdoor dining, and a spacious covered patio attached to the back of the house.

Garden landscaping in Ealing, London

Positive Garden Ltd

Garden landscaping in Ealing, London http://www.positivegarden.com/portfolio/garden-landscaping-in-ealing/ Corten steel planters/ raised beds, oak benches, self-binding gravel, veg patch, Collingwood lights and corten steel fire pit. Turf: Tillers turf Stone: Raj Sandstone Designer: Emma Griffin http://www.emmagriffingardens.com/ Postive Garden Ltd

Lake Elmo Sanctuary

DreamScapes Landscaping & Design, Inc.

Contemporary Country Garden Essex by Aralia

Aralia: Innovation in Landscape Design

John Glover

Mountain Arcadia

Living Green Designs

In this backyard space, the design challenge was to bring the essence of the California Mountains to Redondo Beach. As this client is an avid outdoorsman, he wanted to bring the a feel of the Sierra Nevada mountains, his happy place, home to create his very own backyard mountain retreat. Our team sourced materials that one would find in the mountains of California whilst keeping a lounge feel in mind for the secondary design criteria, a retreat. In this retreat, we created four distinct areas: the lounging area with covered pergola, fire pit area with built-in seating bench and overhead trellis complete with carnival lighting, central waterfall, and barbeque area with picnic table and overhead carnival lighting. We built a 10” x 10” rugged pergola was built out of sustainably sourced pine. The massive posts feel as though large pine trees were harvested right out of the California Mountains and crafted right on-site. The pergola was built with a retractable shade cloth so the sun can be let in for warmth in open during the colder months. The pergola and the other hard-scaped areas in the backyard were covered with a mix of gray granite and charcoal pavers. This color selection is reminiscent of the colors in California granite. Walking north from the pergola toward the fire pit area there is a mass planting of deer grasses, assortment of ferns and California coffee berries planted to mimic California Chaparral. At the other edge of this chaparral garden, sits the Cresta Boulder fire pit. Boulders were used to create this fire pit to harness the feeling of being outdoors in the wilderness. The boulders were locally sourced out of the Sierra Nevada mountain range for authenticity. In order to frame the space we installed a trellis and off the trellis runs carnival lights for night time parties. Just beyond the fire pit sits a granite boulder water fall. The waterfall is placed so that wherever you are in the yard you can see and hear the tranquil sounds of the babbling water as it circulates and recycles. The barbeque area is nestled against the backdrop of a dark green fernleaf podocarpus hedge. During the day, birds and butterflies traverse the native foliage and at night the sounds of the fire pit dance in harmony with the gentle sounds of water falling down granite pebbles making this backyard a true retreat from the chaotic noise of the city.

Dannemora

Fusion Landscape Design Limited

Tropical planting to soften the parking area and screens that provide privacy to the large pool, spa, outdoor kitchen and entertainment area behind.

Mid-sized Garden Design Ideas with a Fire Feature

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.