Mid-sized mediterranean backyard full sun formal garden in Denver with natural stone pavers and a water feature.

Blue & White Garden with rectangular lily pond; azaleas, tree peonies, assorted Spring bulbs, perennials and flowering shrubs. Display Garden, Seekonk, MA.

Peaceful Spa-inspired Retreat

Peery Homes

Large transitional courtyard partial sun formal garden in Other with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Modern Landscape

Design ideas for a small modern backyard partial sun garden in Denver with natural stone pavers and a water feature.

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.

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.

LED Lighting

LandCrafters, LLC

This is an example of a transitional formal garden in Milwaukee with a water feature and brick pavers.

A Gaelic Estate in the Hamptons

Devore Associates

Traditional formal garden in New York with a water feature.

A Beautiful Water Feature

The Landscape & Garden Company LTD

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

deRamel Residence

Binkley Horticultural Services

Photo by Jessie Keith
Traditional full sun formal garden in Philadelphia with a water feature.

Lemon Ranch

Lori Dennis, ASID, LEED AP

SoCal Contractor Construction Erika Bierman Photography
Expansive tropical front yard full sun formal garden in Los Angeles with a water feature.

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.

Shadyside

The Outdoor Living Studio

Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden for summer in Other with a water feature and gravel.

Japanese Garden: double water fall

Andrew Zema's Landscaping, Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional backyard formal garden in Boston with a water feature and gravel.

French Park

Creative Landscapes Detroit LLC

Ground cover by other
Design ideas for an expansive traditional backyard partial sun formal garden for summer in Detroit with brick pavers and a water feature.

Santa Fe Retreat

Overland Partners Architecture + Urban Design

Alamo Oasis

Michael Tebb Design

Waterfall surrounded by drought tolerant plants takes advantage of the natural upslope of the lot.
This is an example of a traditional sloped formal garden in San Francisco with a water feature and concrete pavers.

New Projects.

Aden Landscaping

Mid-sized contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden in Seattle with a water feature and gravel.

Arcadia Spanish Colonial | Fountain Wall

Greey Pickett

The landscape of this home honors the formality of Spanish Colonial / Santa Barbara Style early homes in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix. By re-grading the lot and allowing for terraced opportunities, we featured a variety of hardscape stone, brick, and decorative tiles that reinforce the eclectic Spanish Colonial feel. Cantera and La Negra volcanic stone, brick, natural field stone, and handcrafted Spanish decorative tiles are used to establish interest throughout the property. A front courtyard patio includes a hand painted tile fountain and sitting area near the outdoor fire place. This patio features formal Boxwood hedges, Hibiscus, and a rose garden set in pea gravel. The living room of the home opens to an outdoor living area which is raised three feet above the pool. This allowed for opportunity to feature handcrafted Spanish tiles and raised planters. The side courtyard, with stepping stones and Dichondra grass, surrounds a focal Crape Myrtle tree. One focal point of the back patio is a 24-foot hand-hammered wrought iron trellis, anchored with a stone wall water feature. We added a pizza oven and barbecue, bistro lights, and hanging flower baskets to complete the intimate outdoor dining space. Project Details: Landscape Architect: Greey|Pickett Architect: Higgins Architects Landscape Contractor: Premier Environments Photography: Sam Rosenbaum

Alternating Textures on Fence Panels

User

This is part of a mid-century modern design in Atlanta. The turf is artificial, as is the green vine material in the fence panels. Designed and built by Botanica Atlanta.

Formal 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.