Mid-sized and Expansive Garden Design Ideas

Central courtyard forms the main secluded space, capturing northern sun while protecting from the south westerly windows off the ocean. Large sliding doors create visual links through the study and dining spaces from front to rear.

Entertainers Delight

Tech Scapes Australia Landscaping

Water feature designed for the middle of the turning circle.
Design ideas for an expansive tropical front yard garden in Sydney.

Contemporary Fountain w/ Cobble

Conscious Environments Inc.

This fountain is a great addition to a front yard entry. Clean and simple with a subtle water noise for visual and auditory interest. The fountain is surrounded by boxwood hedges, Mexican Beach cobble, and white precast concrete.

Life at the beach

Bayon Gardens

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun garden in Melbourne with a fire feature and gravel.

Seneca Residence

Verdance Landscape Architecture

A stepping stone path meanders through drought-tolerant plantings including Dymondia, Rosemary 'Barbeque', and Euryops. The owner's favorite roses are integrated with Penstemon 'Apple Blossom' and variegated Tulbaghia 'Silver Lace' to provide color and contrast. Photo © Jude Parkinson-Morgan.

Less Is More.....Unless It's A Bore

Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors

Patterned bluestone, board-on-board concrete and seasonal containers establish strength of line in the front landscape design. Plants are subordinate components of the design and just emerging from their winter dormancy.

Mediterranean: Euclid

Harold Leidner Landscape Architects

Completed in 2013, this stunning Italianate Mediterranean Villa is located in Highland Park, Texas and stands out in an already distinct architectural neighborhood. This project was designed and installed by Harold Leidner Landscape Architects. The expansive property features a lush landscaping, front motor court with travertine pavers and a luxury pool and spa. The pool area was designed to have a private resort feel to allow for entertaining. In addition to the spacious loggia and cabana spaces, the owner also wanted to have shade protection near the water, so a custom designed pavilion was built on the end of the pool to provide a shaded destination with cushion lounges that extend out into the water, flanked by fountains and adjacent to a fire bowl feature with a classic fire place surround. A truly elegant outdoor space for parties and entertaining with a sophisticated, modern flavor.

Oak Tree Setting With Hillside Views, Landscape Renovation, Northern California

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

APLD 2021 Silver Award Winning Landscape Design. An expansive back yard landscape with several mature oak trees and a stunning Golden Locust tree has been transformed into a welcoming outdoor retreat. The renovations include a wraparound deck, an expansive travertine natural stone patio, stairways and pathways along with concrete retaining walls and column accents with dramatic planters. The pathways meander throughout the landscape... some with travertine stepping stones and gravel and those below the majestic oaks left natural with fallen leaves. Raised vegetable beds and fruit trees occupy some of the sunniest areas of the landscape. A variety of low-water and low-maintenance plants for both sunny and shady areas include several succulents, grasses, CA natives and other site-appropriate Mediterranean plants complimented by a variety of boulders. Dramatic white pots provide architectural accents, filled with succulents and citrus trees. Design, Photos, Drawings © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Rock garden

Maher & Greenwald Fine Gardens

Mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun formal garden in New York with a vegetable garden.

Modern Driveway and Front Yard Danville, CA

DPG Pavers and Design

Paver driveway, drought tolerant planting, black mulch. Paver color and style selected to compliment paint and roof color.
Photo of a mid-sized modern front yard full sun xeriscape in San Francisco with mulch.

Family Garden in Putney

Ruth Willmott Associates

Ruth Willmott
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern backyard formal garden in London.

Pacific Palisades Estate

Leyva & Wilde, Inc.

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional backyard partial sun outdoor sport court for summer in Los Angeles with natural stone pavers.

Outdoor Sport Court Game Court

Sport Court St. Louis

Sport Court St. Louis built this multi use court for a growing family. Sport Court Powergame in Green and Dark Blue with White Basketball Lines and Black Multi-Sport Game Lines

Basketball and Tennis Court in Weston

Sport Court of Massachusetts

Weston Custom Multi-sport backyard basketball court, with lighting, tennis net and tennis hit board
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun outdoor sport court in Boston with natural stone pavers.

Cotton Candy

gardenUP®

Mid-sized traditional front yard partial sun formal garden in Boston with a garden path and natural stone pavers for spring.

Ross

Wasson Nursery

Expansive country sloped garden in Indianapolis with a water feature for spring.

Fulham Garden

Tom Howard Garden Design and Landscaping

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard garden in London with a vertical garden and natural stone pavers.

Curving Bluestone Walkway with Radius Granite Steps

Natural Path Landscaping

Note how we always have large bluestone pieces at the edge because we lay out the pattern with AutoCAD. There are two more granite steps at the driveway. See the granite lamp post.

Mid Century Modern Gem

Urban Oasis Landscape Design

The uneven back yard was graded into ¬upper and lower levels with an industrial style, concrete wall. Linear pavers lead the garden stroller from place to place alongside a rain garden filled with swaying grasses that spans the side yard and culminates at a gracefully arching pomegranate tree, A bubbling boulder water feature murmurs soothing sounds. A large steel and willow-roof pergola creates a shady space to dine in and chaise lounges and chairs bask in the surrounding shade. The transformation was completed with a bold and biodiverse selection of low water, climate appropriate plants that make the space come alive. branches laden with impossibly red blossoms and fruit.

Backyard Bliss

Shambhala Landscapes

This classic San Francisco backyard was transformed into an inviting and usable outdoor living space. A few steps down lead to a lounging area, featuring drought-friendly and maintenance-free artificial grass as well as a cozy, custom-built natural gas fire pit surrounded by a Redwood bench. Redwood fencing, low-voltage LED landscape lighting, drip irrigation, planting and a water feature completed the space.

Mid-sized and Expansive 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.