A mixture of hard edges with the river rock and soft accents with the greenery and mulch makes this landscape the best of both worlds.
Inspiration for a large traditional backyard full sun xeriscape in Columbus with with lawn edging and river rock.

Contemporary Brighton garden with a Californian vibe

Fern & Pine Garden Design Studio

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun xeriscape in Sussex with with raised garden bed and gravel.

"Raised and Traditional Vegetable Gardens" Herb and Flower Gardens

PETER ATKINS AND ASSOCIATES., LLC

Culinary Raised Vegetable Garden. This is nine beds that measure 8x4 and 6x4. Root vegetables, Salad, Tomatoes and Herb. This garden produced 235 pounds of tomatoes in 2020. The entire system is designed to meet your needs, your property and architectural style of your home. Exclusive Peter Atkins and Associates. LLC

Stockbridge Residence

Verdance Landscape Architecture

'Iceberg' roses and 'Grosso' lavender catch the setting sun and provide a serene welcome home.
Inspiration for an expansive mediterranean front yard full sun driveway for summer in San Francisco with with flowerbed and gravel.

Jacuzzi du rooftop

Terrasses des Oliviers - Paysagiste Paris

Mid-sized country rooftop full sun formal garden in Paris with with path, decking and a wood fence for summer.

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

Naples Reserve Tropical Landscape

Custom Outdoor Creations

Front yard design in Naples Reserve with modern tropical plants lined with a Mexican beach pebble border. Included larger bromeliads, bird of paradise with multiple blooms, multiple 14' foxtail palms, an agave, red ti, foxtail ferns and mammy crotons. This design is supposed to look full after plants mature.

Custom seating area with fire pit on deck

June Scott Design

This garden was designed to celebrate panoramic views of the San Gabriel mountains. Horizontal bands of slate tile from the interior of the mid-century home wrap around the house’s perimeter and extend to the rear pool area, inviting the family outdoors. With a pool framed by mature trees, a sunken seating area, fruit trees, and a modest lawn for a young family, the landscape provides a wide range of opportunities for play, entertaining and relaxation.

East London urban garden

Nordland Landscapes

Modern suburban garden with plenty of space for entertianing and relaxing. Designed by Sarah Kay garden design
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun formal garden for summer in London with with raised garden bed and decking.

Dining in style

greencube garden and landscape design

Outdoor kitchen, vertical living art panels and sunken garden. This small rear garden won a prestigious national award from the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI). We have used sustainable Larch cladding on the retaining walls, a combination of granite plank paving and decking, softened with a mixed palette of shrubs, grasses and perenials to create a multi-purpose family garden used for cooking, entertaining and play.

Crown Crest Home

House to Home Design Build Remodel

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun outdoor sport court in San Diego.

Formal pond less water feature

Cascade Garden Design

Another type of pond less water feature with the base underneath the dectitive pebble. This one is more of a formal look with a simple copper pipe going up the middle to create a soft bubbling effect. The pump is low voltage and only requires 30 watts to run so quite an efficient system. Surrounded by a beautiful bed of gebras is a great way to have a low to no maintenance water feature in your landscape.

Slope Planting

Groundswell Landscaping

Slope a little more than a year after planting with colorful drought tolerant combination of boulders, grasses & succulents.
Inspiration for a beach style full sun xeriscape in San Diego.

Mountain Estate

PLACE Landscape Architecture

This is an example of a contemporary sloped full sun outdoor sport court in Other.

Allergic to Bees Horizontal Fencing

Winston Fayer Landscape Design

The backyard is small and uninviting until we transformed it into a comfortable and functional area for entertaining
This is an example of a small contemporary backyard full sun garden in New York with with privacy feature.

Estate Landscaping with Privacy

Burkhart Outdoors, Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun garden for summer in Chicago with with privacy feature and mulch.

Modernist Courtyard

terraneo landscape design

A small courtyard at 12m2 (3x4m) can feel boxy. So curves were employed to soften the design creating flow and interest.
Inspiration for a small midcentury courtyard full sun garden for summer in Sydney with natural stone pavers.

Paver Stones

Veth's Landscaping Services (206-852-7038)

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional front yard full sun garden in Seattle with a garden path and concrete pavers.

Backyard Wildflower Prairie

Springer Environmental Services

This quiet backyard escape uses native wildflowers and grasses to create a beautiful, low-impact landscape. The native Florida plants require no chemical input and no irrigation; the flowers and grass seeds attract and support birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.

Amazing Berkeley Back Yard

Sarah Herman Landscape Design

You can read more about the project through this Houzz Feature link: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/hillside-yard-offers-scenic-views-and-space-for-contemplation-stsetivw-vs~131483772

Full Sun 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.