Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun garden for summer in London with natural stone pavers.

Side Yard Entertainment Space in Alexandria, VA

Stone retaining walls using Dove Grey fieldstone and Solid bluestone cap. Hidden LED lights are under the caps.
Mid-sized traditional side yard full sun formal garden in DC Metro with a garden path and natural stone pavers for summer.

Drought tolerant and deer proof

Brown Dion Design

This is their garden about a year later. Native and drought tolerant plants fill the area between the street and the set-back deer fence. The fence is transparent to keep a friendly face to neighbors.

Wimbledon Garden 2

Tom Howard Garden Design and Landscaping

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary courtyard full sun garden in London with a vertical garden.

Mailbox Border

gardenUP®

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional front yard full sun formal garden for summer in Boston with a garden path and mulch.

Detailed Landscape

Photo of a large country backyard full sun garden in Denver with mulch.

Hardscaping

Northwestern Landscape & Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun outdoor sport court for spring in Seattle with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Herb garden

Earth Essence Designs

Photo of a mid-sized traditional side yard full sun garden in DC Metro with a vegetable garden and mulch.

Cape Cod Wild and Edible

Christian Douglas Design, Inc.

Christian Douglas
Photo of a mid-sized country front yard full sun xeriscape for summer in San Francisco with a garden path and decking.

Potrero Hill Lookout

Seed Studio Landscape Design

photo by Seed Studio, editing by TR PhotoStudio
Small modern backyard full sun xeriscape in San Francisco with a fire feature and gravel.

Brooklyn Backyard

Root & Vine Gardens

Brooklyn Backyard Oasis. Blue stone patio, Ceder privacy fence.
Inspiration for a small contemporary backyard full sun formal garden for summer in New York with natural stone pavers.

Progressive Landscape Design

Green Jay Landscape Design

Each custom landscape is a one of a kind work of art. In this case the new landscape features a curvilinear front walkway, a new semicircular landing at the base of stone staircase with bluestone treads and natural stone veneer. A low stone retaining wall frames the entrance to the mixed evergreen flowering perennial and ornamental grass garden. The scope of work includes a belgian block apron and trench drain for drainage where the driveway meets the garage.

Edinburgh Ornamental Productive Garden

McQue Gardens

Paul Johnston of Copper Mango
Inspiration for a large contemporary backyard full sun garden in Other with a vegetable garden and natural stone pavers.

Rail Fences

Split Rail Fence Co Denver CO

Mid-sized country backyard full sun formal garden in Denver for winter.

Past Landscape Projects

Alpine Construction and Design Ltd.

Photo of a mid-sized transitional front yard full sun garden in Calgary with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Jupiter Golf Course Landscape

User

Lovely, clean-lined landscape by Pamela Crawford featuring lots of bromeliads, containers, and landscape color. See over 2000 photos of Pamela's work at pamela-crawford.com. Photographed by Allen Rokach.

Simple yet stunning

Gorski Landscaping

Low mainteance with a touch of pink ton help illuminate Japanese lace leaf maple tree
Photo of a mid-sized modern side yard full sun xeriscape for spring in New York with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Modern Urban Warmth, Capitol Hill

SCJ Studio Landscape Architecture

Our client built a striking new home on the east slope of Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. To complement the clean lines of the facade we designed a simple, elegant landscape that sets off the home rather than competing with the bold architecture. Soft grasses offer contrast to the natural stone veneer, perennials brighten the mood, and planters add a bit of whimsy to the arrival sequence. On either side of the main entry, roof runoff is dramatically routed down the face of the home in steel troughs to biofilter planters faced in stone. Around the back of the home, a small “leftover” space was transformed into a cozy patio terrace with bluestone slabs and crushed granite underfoot. A view down into, or across the back patio area provides a serene foreground to the beautiful views to Lake Washington beyond. Collaborating with Thielsen Architects provided the owners with a sold design team--working together with one voice to build their dream home. Photography by Miranda Estes

Almond Drive, Anaheim

Solscapes

Customer had always wanted a drought resistant landscaping, and head unsuccessfully attempted it on his own two years prior. We started with an area completely overgrown with Bermuda and dead plants. We built a dry river bed through the center, and planted an Olive tree and Palo Verde tree. The orange of the coral aloe and the scent of the Mexican sage is a delight to the senses.

Residential Work

SOLscape, LLC

Small traditional front yard full sun driveway in Bridgeport with a container garden and mulch for summer.

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.