Stepping stones in a minimal gravel paved area lead past two lounge chairs to the intimate dining area. The herringbone-patterned limestone patio dissipates into a lush planting bed filled with loose swaths of shade-loving perennials and seasonal bulbs. Beech hedging, and formal clipped evergreens, surround the space and provide privacy, structure and winter interest to the garden. On axis to the main interior living space of the home, the fountain, is the focal point of the garden. A limestone water wall featuring an engraved pattern of fallen Honey Locust leaves nods to the centrally located mature Honey Locust tree that anchors the garden. Water, flowing down the wall, falls a short distance into a pool with a submerged limestone panel. The light noise of the falling water helps soften the sounds of the bustling downtown neighbourhood, creating a tranquil back drop for living and entertaining.

Denny Blaine Waterfront

SCJ Studio Landscape Architecture

minimalist concrete water feature, concrete wall, lush planting
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary front yard partial sun formal garden in Seattle with with waterfall and concrete pavers.

Water garden

AQL Landscape Design

Contemporary take on a Japanese water garden - with tropical planting, water fountain, pond and of course Koi! Landscape design and construction by AQL

Country Manor Pond

FallingWater Scapes

Large traditional backyard partial sun formal garden in Boston with with waterfall and decking for summer.

Contemporary Pond Garden - Butterfly.

Kirman Design

Planting in this garden wasn't just for a colourful effect. The limited plant pallet had to also work for nature, attracting insects through the season.

Traditional Landscape

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional front yard partial sun formal garden for summer in Nashville with natural stone pavers and with waterfall.

Water Features

Greenbee Landscape, Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional backyard full sun formal garden for summer in Los Angeles with with waterfall and natural stone pavers.

Bubbling Pot

Archer Services

An outdoor water feature, this bubbling pot brings all of the other landscaping elements together nicely. The water feature adds just the right touch of sophistication to this beautifully landscaped front yard.

Before Waterfall

Magic Garden Dreams

Imagine stepping outside your home to your very own backyard oasis, complete with a stunning ecosystem pond. You get to sit back, relax, feed the fish and enjoy the sound of running water. It is a personal vacation spot for the entire family and a reason for you to spend more time outdoors. Our ponds are made from only the top of the line pond products that create 100% all natural ecosystems. We install Aquascape ponds that are self-sustaining and require very little to no maintenance, providing an opportunity to have fish and interesting new varieties of plants. Bird lovers will be delighted in the new variety of beautiful feathered friends that your pond will attract. And of course you can create your own aquatic family of fish, koi, water lilies, pond plants and all the other enchanting creatures that flourish and thrive in their new home.

Garden Lighting

Lectec Ltd

30mm deck lights in stainless steel
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern backyard full sun formal garden for summer in Other with with waterfall and natural stone pavers.

Modern Farmhouse

Lindgren Landscape

Stock tank water fountains
Photo of a mid-sized country backyard full sun formal garden in Denver with with waterfall.

Greenwich, London

Alex Rainford-Roberts Garden & Landscape Design

This is an example of a large contemporary backyard shaded formal garden in London with with waterfall and natural stone pavers.

Country Garden and Rill, Wiltshire

Fi Boyle Garden Design

In 2022, we converted the swimming pool to this stunning three tier rill with an extended terrace for dining and entertaining. We used the formal planting of the yew domes and the lawn to create structure whilst softening the borders with delicate, flowing plants in a simple colour palette.

Stoke Newington Garden

London Garden Designer

Inspiration for a small contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden in London with with waterfall and decking.

Textural courtyard

greencube garden and landscape design

We have a designed a modern, textural courtyard in Sevenoaks using a muted palette of wood, grey porcelain and nordic tier cladding. This semi-enclosed space creates a wonderful connection to the newly refurbished home which leads up to the lawn and summerhouse. We've planted perennials, ornamental grasses and roses, added a backbone of evergreen structure and a raised planter to create a vertical green wall rather than 3 separate borders.

Garden Design/Bromsgrove

Landscapia

Photos by Cameron Botfield. We worked with our customer closely on this design to create a bespoke, completely personal garden. There is plenty of space for outdoor dining as well as additional features to add interest such as the water feature and pergola. We have also used the best, high quality materials to make sure this garden will stay looking this impressive forever!

Sea Bird Lane

BUILDING TECTONICS

Custom Made water/fire feature made with out specialized Concrete method. Our system is designed to withstand our harsh freeze thaw and extreme summer heat. Building a better feature with concrete.

House Refurbishment Colchester

Mayfair Developers ltd

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden for summer in Essex with with waterfall.

Small Waterfall with Small pond

Proud Ponds

Granite boulders, cypress mulch, faux logs, skimmer, aquablox
This is an example of a small mediterranean backyard full sun formal garden for summer in Chicago with with waterfall and river rock.

New Project

Alpine Construction and Design Ltd.

Large transitional backyard full sun formal garden in Calgary with with waterfall and river rock for spring.

Formal Garden Design Ideas with with Waterfall

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.