Photo of an expansive contemporary backyard partial sun outdoor sport court for summer in DC Metro with brick pavers.

Classique Jardin

Design ideas for an expansive traditional formal garden in Other with a container garden and natural stone pavers.

Northbrook Illinois Shade Garden in June

Van Zelst Inc

Photo by Kirsten Gentry and Terra Jenkins for Van Zelst, Inc.
This is an example of an expansive traditional backyard shaded garden for spring in Chicago with a garden path.

Water Mill Residence

Araiys Design L.A., P.C.

Photo of an expansive traditional front yard partial sun driveway in New York with gravel.

Clamshell Alley

Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC

This is an example of an expansive beach style garden in Portland Maine with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Historical Home

Intact-Renovations

Intact-Renovations Third tier of wall being installed. You can have some back gaps in lower tiers , but not the coping tier
Inspiration for an expansive transitional front yard partial sun formal garden for summer in Toronto with a retaining wall and concrete pavers.

A country estate in Buckinghamshire

Joanne Alderson Design

A swing as part of a boardwalk over a bog garden for my clients in Buckinghamshire by Jo Alderson Phillips
Expansive country backyard shaded garden in Oxfordshire.

A country garden for a Willis Polk classic in Atherton

User

This is the old tennis court reconfigured as a French country garden.A French limestone carved fountain is centered within the new garden space. The sound of falling water follows down the decomposed granite paths through a series of rose arbors from Walpole Woodworkers.

A sporting paradise in Memorial

Nature's Realm

Natures Realm
Design ideas for an expansive traditional partial sun garden in Houston.

A Garden for Every Season

Cottage Gardener, LTD

This project was designed and installed by Cottage Gardener, LTD. These photos highlight our effort to create seasonal interest throughout the entire year.

Freeform Retaining Wall

Krugel Cobbles, Inc.

Photo by Linda Oyama Bryan
Design ideas for an expansive traditional backyard garden in Chicago with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Sausalito CA - Newly Planted Dramatic Sloped Hillside

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Steep, steep slope below a Sausalito home with dramatic views. New plantings include a combination of CA native trees and shrubs, succulents, euphorbia, new zealand flax, rubus ground cover, native grasses/grass-like plants. Designed to provide erosion control and dramatic plant textures, structure and colors when viewed from the decks above. Photos and Landscape Design © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design. http://www.digyourgarden.com

Lounging Area by the Pool

Terra Ferma Landscapes

The clients loved the highly detailed paving and grass pattern for their pool deck area.
Expansive contemporary backyard full sun formal garden in San Francisco with natural stone pavers.

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

Stonehouse Meadow - Early Summer

Lavish Gardens

A path through the Stonehouse Meadow, with Monarda in full bloom. Ecological landscaping
This is an example of an expansive country front yard full sun xeriscape for summer in Toronto with with flowerbed and a stone fence.

SOLID MID-CENTURY

ORIJIN STONE, LLC

Detail of the featured patio stone: showing our thermal finish Harbor Grey™ granite pavers in daylight. *Proceeding photos taken at dusk make the stone appear darker than actual color.

Ocean front landscape lighting, FL estate

Coastal Source

Photo of an expansive tropical front yard full sun driveway for summer in Philadelphia with concrete pavers and a garden path.

Rustic Mountain stream flowing into lakeside patio

Breaking Ground

Ryan Corrigan
Inspiration for an expansive country garden in Omaha.

Residential

Environmental Design & Research (EDR)

Expansive traditional sloped garden in New York with natural stone pavers for summer.

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.