Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary backyard formal garden in Other with a water feature and gravel.

Koi Pond

Studio Bracket

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury side yard shaded garden in Los Angeles with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Water Features

MOD Construction, LLC

Outdoor water feature
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun garden in Salt Lake City with a water feature, concrete pavers and a stone fence.

Bighorn Palm Desert luxury modern home front entrance walkway water feature

Whipple Russell Architects

Bighorn Palm Desert luxury modern home front entrance walkway water feature. Photo by William MacCollum.
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern front yard full sun formal garden in Los Angeles with a water feature.

Los Altos Craftsman Style Garden

Confidence Landscaping, Inc.

Design ideas for a large arts and crafts backyard shaded xeriscape in San Francisco with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Water Features & Hardscape's

Outdoor Lifestyles

Photo of a traditional backyard formal garden in Bridgeport with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Sculpture House Oakland

Dodie Shoemaker

California living indoor outdoor modern yard
Photo of a small modern backyard full sun xeriscape for summer in San Francisco with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Shades of Green

Living Gardens Landscape Design

Our clients were looking to replace their existing dying grass with a welcoming low water design. We created a fire pit seating area under trees with string lights overhead. The fountain is featured opposite the master bedroom windows. A low water and low maintenance design.

Frederick Street Project -- Ping Pong Table

Scott Lipscomb Landscape Architect (SLLA)

Another angle of the ping pong table. Also included in this picture is water fountain surrounded by river rock. Photo Credit: Scott Lipscomb
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun formal garden for spring in Other with a water feature and gravel.

Warrawee

Cadence and Co

This is an example of a traditional backyard partial sun formal garden for summer in Sydney with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Asian Garden

Lanaiscapes

Inspiration for a mid-sized asian side yard partial sun formal garden for summer in Hawaii with decking and a water feature.

Wynnum

Everscapes

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun formal garden in Other with a water feature.

Water Features and Ponds

Good Earth Water Gardens

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional front yard full sun garden in Kansas City with a water feature and mulch.

Salem Residence

Zucker Design Associates, Inc.

Jeri Koegel Photography
Mid-sized contemporary backyard partial sun garden in Los Angeles with a water feature and gravel.

Modern Fountain

Kirby's Pools

Mid-sized contemporary backyard shaded garden in San Francisco with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Hidden Bird Bath Pathway

Campos Landscaping

Mid-sized modern backyard garden in Los Angeles with a water feature and brick pavers.

Statuary

CHIP-N-DALE'S CUSTOM LANDSCAPING

Design ideas for a mid-sized asian backyard garden in Las Vegas with a water feature.

Al Beadle Project

On Site Landscape

This is an example of a small modern backyard partial sun xeriscape in Phoenix with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Lakeside Drive Residence

Lorissa Kimm Architect

Matthew Millman
This is an example of a mid-sized modern backyard partial sun garden in San Francisco with a water feature and decking.

Close up of fountain

Juli Ordower Landscape Architecture

The bubbling fountain provides a tranquil backdrop to the shade garden.
Small contemporary backyard shaded garden in Chicago with a water feature.

Black Garden Design Ideas with a Water 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.