Best of the Week: 24 Ideas for Gardens That Don't Have a Lawn
If you're on a small block, have a paved area, or want low-maintenance outdoors, here are 24 sterling lawn-free ideas
Vanessa Walker
24 July 2019
Houzz Australia & New Zealand Editor-in-Chief
Lawns are such an appealing aspect of the suburbs. But if that’s not your situation (and there are reasons to be thankful for that), here are some great ideas for outdoor areas that will draw you outside and immerse you in nature (all while you enjoy a low-maintenance, lawn-free alfresco lifestyle).
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
1. Location: London, UK
Designer: Antonia Schofield Garden Design
Features: Great flooring combinations and palms aplenty.
Designer: Antonia Schofield Garden Design
Features: Great flooring combinations and palms aplenty.
2. Location: San Francisco, USA
Features: Layer upon layer of vertical greenery.
Find a landscape designer or architect near you to redesign your outdoor area
Features: Layer upon layer of vertical greenery.
Find a landscape designer or architect near you to redesign your outdoor area
3. Location: East Dulwich, UK
Designer: Red Squirrel Architects
Features: A beautiful pairing of brick, stone and steel. Topped off by pot-plant heaven.
Designer: Red Squirrel Architects
Features: A beautiful pairing of brick, stone and steel. Topped off by pot-plant heaven.
4. Location: Tokyo, Japan
Features: A small but utterly delightful green space.
Features: A small but utterly delightful green space.
6. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: DDB Design Development & Building
Features: The patina, the plantings, the cladding. A great example of a modern, beautifully designed space…
Designer: DDB Design Development & Building
Features: The patina, the plantings, the cladding. A great example of a modern, beautifully designed space…
…Here’s another angle.
8. Location: Florida, USA
Designer: Aragon Construction Corp
Features: Added interest with bordered paving.
Designer: Aragon Construction Corp
Features: Added interest with bordered paving.
9. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Justin Long Design
Features: A small space with everything you need. Well executed…
Designer: Justin Long Design
Features: A small space with everything you need. Well executed…
…And here’s the view from the inside.
10. Location: Tokyo, Japan
Designer: Ken Yokogawa Architect & Associates
Features: The feeling of being immersed in nature.
Designer: Ken Yokogawa Architect & Associates
Features: The feeling of being immersed in nature.
11. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Anderson Architecture
Features: A green wall that immediately establishes the intent of the area.
Designer: Anderson Architecture
Features: A green wall that immediately establishes the intent of the area.
13. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Melbourne Design Studios (MDS)
Features: Sequestered, with a testament to trees.
Designer: Melbourne Design Studios (MDS)
Features: Sequestered, with a testament to trees.
14. Location: Spain
Features: Weathered beauty.
Features: Weathered beauty.
15. Location: San Francisco, USA
Designer: 20|20 Builders
Features: What better place to bathe than outside? What a great use of space.
Designer: 20|20 Builders
Features: What better place to bathe than outside? What a great use of space.
16. Location: London, UK
Designer: Vastu Interior Design
Features: Timber battens… A creative approach to courtyard walls.
Designer: Vastu Interior Design
Features: Timber battens… A creative approach to courtyard walls.
17. Location: Los Angeles, USA
Designer: Michael Lee Architects
Features: Fire and water; all the best elements accounted for.
Designer: Michael Lee Architects
Features: Fire and water; all the best elements accounted for.
18. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Northbourne Architecture + Design
Features: A minimalist’s dream.
Designer: Northbourne Architecture + Design
Features: A minimalist’s dream.
…And here’s another angle
20. Location: Sydney, NSW
Features: A simple and delightful space that puts gathering in the garden first.
Features: A simple and delightful space that puts gathering in the garden first.
21. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: B.E. Architecture
Features: When a chair and table arrangement is too passé, a log will suffice.
Designer: B.E. Architecture
Features: When a chair and table arrangement is too passé, a log will suffice.
22. Location: Dallas, USA
Designer: DDLA Design Landscape Architecture
Features: A narrow space made alluring with a fireside set up.
Designer: DDLA Design Landscape Architecture
Features: A narrow space made alluring with a fireside set up.
24. Location: London, UK
Designer: Georgia Lindsay Garden Design
Features: Screens for interest and a lovely set-up for a long afternoon of relaxation.
Your turn
Which of these 24 lawn-free outdoor areas appeals the most? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Missed last week’s Best of the Week? Catch up on the latest interior inspiration with Best of the Week: 21 Examples of Fabulous Kitchen Joinery
Designer: Georgia Lindsay Garden Design
Features: Screens for interest and a lovely set-up for a long afternoon of relaxation.
Your turn
Which of these 24 lawn-free outdoor areas appeals the most? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Missed last week’s Best of the Week? Catch up on the latest interior inspiration with Best of the Week: 21 Examples of Fabulous Kitchen Joinery
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1,2 and14
I love the first garden the most, because it's exactly what I'm trying to achieve in my own courtyard.
I love the 1st garden, am also trying for a similar type of look in a 2 metre x 5 metre tunnel. Another thing is to plant into the ground as I have found trying to keep up the repotting & hydration of potted plants is exhausting & expensive.