Inspiration for a modern partial sun garden in Sydney with gravel and a wood fence.

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.

Glass Link

Remick Associates Architects + Master Builders

Paul Dyer
Photo of a contemporary garden in San Francisco with a retaining wall.

Victorian Chelsea

Hartley Botanic

Victorian Chelsea powder coated in Olive Leaf
Traditional partial sun garden in Other with a wood fence.

Luxury Hideaway in the Hills

Land Design Associates, Inc.

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun garden in Boston with a garden path, natural stone pavers and a stone fence.

The Lodge, Fulham Cemetery (Grand Designs)

Harry Holding Studio

Planting in the back garden for an innovative property in Fulham Cemetery - the house featured on Channel 4's Grand Designs in January 2021. The design had to enhance the relationship with the bold, contemporary architecture and open up a dialogue with the wild green space beyond its boundaries. Seen here in summer, the planting is a base of evergreen textures punctuated with long flowering perennials.

Malvern | Wattle House

Catnik Design Studio

MALVERN | WATTLE HOUSE Front garden Design | Stone Masonry Restoration | Colour selection The client brief was to design a new fence and entrance including garden, restoration of the façade including verandah of this old beauty. This gorgeous 115 year old, villa required extensive renovation to the façade, timberwork and verandah. Withing this design our client wanted a new, very generous entrance where she could greet her broad circle of friends and family. Our client requested a modern take on the ‘old’ and she wanted every plant she has ever loved, in her new garden, as this was to be her last move. Jill is an avid gardener at age 82, she maintains her own garden and each plant has special memories and she wanted a garden that represented her many gardens in the past, plants from friends and plants that prompted wonderful stories. In fact, a true ‘memory garden’. The garden is peppered with deciduous trees, perennial plants that give texture and interest, annuals and plants that flower throughout the seasons. We were given free rein to select colours and finishes for the colour palette and hardscaping. However, one constraint was that Jill wanted to retain the terrazzo on the front verandah. Whilst on a site visit we found the original slate from the verandah in the back garden holding up the raised vegetable garden. We re-purposed this and used them as steppers in the front garden. To enhance the design and to encourage bees and birds into the garden we included a spun copper dish from Mallee Design. A garden that we have had the very great pleasure to design and bring to life. Residential | Building Design Completed | 2020 Building Designer Nick Apps, Catnik Design Studio Landscape Designer Cathy Apps, Catnik Design Studio Construction | Catnik Design Studio Lighting | LED Outdoors_Architectural

Berkeley Slope Transformed

Sarah Herman Landscape Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary front yard partial sun xeriscape for summer in San Francisco with decking and a wood fence.

Contemporary Eichler Backyard

Land Studio C

Inspiration for a contemporary garden in San Francisco with a vertical garden.

Japanese Soaking Tub

Terra Ferma Landscapes

We loved this Japanese soaking tub nestled in a bed of river rocks against the bluestone wall.
Inspiration for a small contemporary backyard garden in San Francisco with decking.

LaurelRock Company: Turkey Hill

LaurelRock

Larry Merz
Inspiration for a mid-sized country backyard full sun garden in New York with a garden path.

Ruhle Residence Backyard Design

User

Mid-sized asian backyard outdoor sport court in San Diego.

Japanese Garden

Bio Friendly Gardens

Asian backyard garden in San Francisco.

Garnet Residence

Envision Landscape Studio

This small tract home backyard was transformed into a lively breathable garden. A new outdoor living room was created, with silver-grey brazilian slate flooring, and a smooth integral pewter colored concrete wall defining and retaining earth around it. A water feature is the backdrop to this outdoor room extending the flooring material (slate) into the vertical plane covering a wall that houses three playful stainless steel spouts that spill water into a large basin. Koi Fish, Gold fish and water plants bring a new mini ecosystem of life, and provide a focal point and meditational environment. The integral colored concrete wall begins at the main water feature and weaves to the south west corner of the yard where water once again emerges out of a 4” stainless steel channel; reinforcing the notion that this garden backs up against a natural spring. The stainless steel channel also provides children with an opportunity to safely play with water by floating toy boats down the channel. At the north eastern end of the integral colored concrete wall, a warm western red cedar bench extends perpendicular out from the water feature on the outside of the slate patio maximizing seating space in the limited size garden. Natural rusting Cor-ten steel fencing adds a layer of interest throughout the garden softening the 6’ high surrounding fencing and helping to carry the users eye from the ground plane up past the fence lines into the horizon; the cor-ten steel also acts as a ribbon, tie-ing the multiple spaces together in this garden. The plant palette uses grasses and rushes to further establish in the subconscious that a natural water source does exist. Planting was performed outside of the wire fence to connect the new landscape to the existing open space; this was successfully done by using perennials and grasses whose foliage matches that of the native hillside, blurring the boundary line of the garden and aesthetically extending the backyard up into the adjacent open space.

Modern Rambler

Davies Design Build

Large traditional backyard full sun outdoor sport court in Salt Lake City with a metal fence for summer.

Carmel House

Joni L. Janecki & Associates, Inc.

Lepere Studio
Design ideas for a mediterranean backyard garden in Other with natural stone pavers and a wood fence.

Santa Barbara, CA | Landscape Design

Bill Mellett Design

Bill Mellett Design, BMDLA.com
Design ideas for a traditional garden in Santa Barbara with with flowerbed.

Simmons Road

Arkins Construction Inc.

Photo of a country garden in Providence with a wood fence.

River Knoll

Outdoor Lifestyles

This is an example of a traditional side yard formal garden in New York with a garden path, natural stone pavers and a wood fence.

Japanese Modern

Sacred Space Garden Design Inc

This is an example of a mid-sized asian backyard full sun formal garden in Orange County with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

All Fence Materials Brown 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.