An unused area of lawn has been repurposed as a meditation garden. The meandering path of limestone step stones weaves through a birch grove. The matrix planting of carex grasses is interspersed with flowering natives throughout the season. Fall is spectacular with the blooming of aromatic asters.

Tiny But Tranquil: A Re-Imagined Urban Small Space

Garden of Ease Landscaping & Design

Small and tranquil, this urban space makes use of the limited area to create a spa-like flow.

Small modern garden landscaping in Clapham

Positive Garden Ltd

Small modern garden landscaping in Clapham. Porcelain tiles, drainage, painting, lighting. Water feature wall cladded with multi slate panels. Raised beds constructed from hollow/solid dense concrete blocks, rendered and painted. Designer: Honor Holmes Garden Design Positive Garden Ltd

Elegant Raised Vegetable Gardens

Nature's Perspective Landscaping

A space for growing vegetables and potting plants is made more aesthetically pleasing, with a geometric planter design, a large bubbling urn and natural clay pavers and bluestone slabs. A drip irrigation system keeps plants lush and thriving.

Courtyard Landscape Design Gresham Oregon

Ross NW Watergardens

Baker Blue granite boulders were used to add a sense of age and permanence to the garden. Landscape Design and pictures by Ben Bowen of Ross NW Watergardens

Wildlife Friendly Front Garden

Fenton Roberts Garden Design

Jo Fenton

Mid Century Courtyard Remodel

Mark S. Garff, Landscape Architect

Already partially enclosed by an ipe fence and concrete wall, our client had a vision of an outdoor courtyard for entertaining on warm summer evenings since the space would be shaded by the house in the afternoon. He imagined the space with a water feature, lighting and paving surrounded by plants. With our marching orders in place, we drew up a schematic plan quickly and met to review two options for the space. These options quickly coalesced and combined into a single vision for the space. A thick, 60” tall concrete wall would enclose the opening to the street – creating privacy and security, and making a bold statement. We knew the gate had to be interesting enough to stand up to the large concrete walls on either side, so we designed and had custom fabricated by Dennis Schleder (www.dennisschleder.com) a beautiful, visually dynamic metal gate. Other touches include drought tolerant planting, bluestone paving with pebble accents, crushed granite paving, LED accent lighting, and outdoor furniture. Both existing trees were retained and are thriving with their new soil. Photography by: http://www.coreenschmidt.com/

Contemporary Outdoor Living Cabinteely

LandArt

This garden showcases the amazing results you can achieve if you design your kitchen extension and garden together at the same time, especially if you will have large glass sliders looking at into the garden. This garden’s transformation started as bare bones block-wall & dilapidated fence. Designed for a young family in Cabinteely. The small footprint is tasked with serving multiple roles: from kids play areas to evening entertainment space, storage shed, privacy buffer to the surrounding houses as well as being the aesthetic backdrop to a new glass-wall extension. Bearing in mind the compact area the privacy screening is selected as slimline evergreen Espaliers along the back wall, effectively blocking out all onlooking windows to the rear. This drastically improves the privacy of not just the garden but also the client’s kitchen & family area. Living with kids through the Irish seasons means that the lawn is not just essential to keep in place for play but to also ensuring it is usable throughout the year. A space like this justifies the use of artificial lawn so come rain, hail or shine the garden is never off limits. To achieve multiple uses within the garden we have carefully set the size of the terrace. The terrace protrudes into the lawn just enough to feel generous without compromising the overall balance. By keeping the levels of the lawn & terrace flush with one another allows them be treated as one continuous surface. A limestone border draws the eyeline around the overall perimeter of this compact space. To ensure that the hard landscaping does not dominate we have foliage between each surface, slim flower beds in front of the shed & freestanding pots of luscious evergreens by the floor-to-ceiling windows. This ensures a lush view onto the garden throughout the year.

New build garden - Olympic park Stratford

Melanie Hick Garden Design

This blank canvas space in a new build in London's Olympic park had a bespoke transformation without digging down into soil. The entire design sits on a suspended patio above a carpark and includes bespoke features like a pergola, seating, bug hotel, irrigated planters and green climbers. The garden is a haven for a young family who love to bring their natural finds back home after walks.

Contemporary back garden, Wimbledon, 2

Kate Eyre Garden Design

upper terrace night lighting

Dorthy Pautz Landscape Architect

Path lighting using WAC balance, and accent up lights on Japanese Maple, Phormium and Cordyline Pot provide drama

Appledown contemporary garden

PLT Design

Contemporary slatted screens with shade tolerant planting in front, used to hide the shed and bin store area from sight

Zen Eclectic Modern Front Porch and Stairs

Taneja Architecture & Design

Modern front entry design with composite decking, natural stone with retaining wall, native plants and water feature.

Narberth, PA - Landscape Restoration & Hardscaping

Refugia Landscape Design/Build

Cottage garden with layered native perennials, shrubs and trees providing all season interest.

Finnish Sauna

Minglewood, LLC

1st Finnish Ripavi Sauna delivered to the US as a pre-fab, self-leveling unit. Crane lowered over the garage and into this cozy, mosaic bluestone courtyard with granite curb to step the grades. Includes an electric heater, outdoor shower, and custom privacy fence/wall combination.

Tiny But Tranquil: A Re-Imagined Urban Small Space

Garden of Ease Landscaping & Design

Small and tranquil, this urban space makes use of the limited area to create a spa-like flow.

Allergic to Bees

Winston Fayer Landscape Design

The backyard was small and uninviting until we transformed it into a comfortable and functional area for entertaining. The front yard was leveled and converted into a play area for two small children and two large dogs. The client is very allergic to bees, so plants were selected with great care.

Modern Front Yard

Plan-it Earth Design

This formal front yard is appealing from the street. Photo by Amy Whitworth. Installation by Apogee Landscapes. Design by Plan-it Earth Design

Front Yard Landscape

Stephanie D Poole

The meandering flagstone pathway leads visitors from the sidewalk or driveway to the front door around a rain chain downspout.

Balmain

Think Outside Gardens

This small courtyard is a carefully designed combination of materials that allows the new and old structures to sit comfortably together and brings the whole garden up to date. The cedar bench top provides warmth to the outdoor space which is dominated by the restrained colours of the walls and flooring. While the consistent mid green colour of the planting provides structure to this garden the combination of varying leaf shapes and textures provides depth and interest. An offset layout to the bench seating allows for depth in the garden whilst the introduction of screen planting creates privacy. The result is a calming and relaxed garden in an urban setting.

Small Garden Design Ideas with Natural Stone Pavers

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.