Inspiration for a modern backyard garden in San Francisco with gravel and a fire feature.

Eclectic Landscape

Arterra Landscape Architects

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary backyard garden in San Francisco with a vegetable garden and gravel.

Fire Pit DIY

Erin Lang Norris

As the nights draw in and the daylight hours decrease, you can still enjoy being outside in the garden and inviting friends over to enjoy a fire pit. With collected fallen leaves and twigs from the garden, you can have a small fire in no time, place some chairs around, blankets on knees and hot soup with friends- just perfect. By using bricks or dry stone it's simple to build and will give hours of endless pleasure.

Blasen Gardens

Blasen Landscape Architecture

Marion Brenner
Country backyard garden in San Francisco with a vegetable garden.

Sand play and fire pit area

Elements Landscape Inc.

Tropical garden in San Francisco with a fire feature.

Mt. Rose Views

Rachel Hart

This is an example of a contemporary backyard full sun garden for summer in Other with a vegetable garden and gravel.

debora carl landscape design

Contemporary garden in San Diego with a fire feature.

Bocce Ball court

Huettl Landscape Architecture

Design ideas for a contemporary garden in San Francisco with a vegetable garden.

Elegant Raised Vegetable Gardens

Nature's Perspective Landscaping

A space for growing vegetables and potting plants is made more aesthetically pleasing, with a geometric planter design, a large bubbling urn and natural clay pavers and bluestone slabs. A drip irrigation system keeps plants lush and thriving.

Vegetable Gardens

The Ardent Gardener Landscape Design

The Ardent Gardener Landscape Design
Design ideas for a traditional side yard full sun formal garden for summer in Salt Lake City with a vegetable garden and brick pavers.

Herb Gardens

Ecoscape Environmental Design

Mid-sized transitional backyard garden in Denver with a vegetable garden and gravel.

Sunken Lakeside Fire Pit

ELM Garden Design

Raised fieldstone fire pit with bluestone caps Photo: Eustacia Marsales
This is an example of a small country backyard full sun garden in New York with a fire feature and gravel.

Simons: Vegetable Garden

4D Architects

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun garden in Seattle with a vegetable garden and mulch.

Traditional Kitchen Garden

Sue Hayward Garden Design Ltd

Herb garden Traditional Kitchen Garden Photo Sue Hayward
This is an example of a traditional backyard full sun garden in Other with a vegetable garden and natural stone pavers.

Santa Clara Modern

Seed Studio Landscape Design

photo by Seed Studio, editing by TJ Sugnet
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern backyard full sun garden in San Francisco with a fire feature and concrete pavers.

Water feature

Magnolia Landscape and Design Co.

Firepit patio with pondless waterfall.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional backyard garden in Minneapolis with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Ann Arbor Estate Project: Fire Table

Zaremba & Company

An intimate conversation area anchors one corner of the outdoor living space. A reclaimed stone plinth fire table serves as a rustic focal point, and a stone retaining wall enhances the sense of cozy seclusion. Crushed stone delights the senses with every footstep. Photo by John Carlson.

Adams Street, Denver, CO

LAND BY DESIGN

Corten steel sculpture, Corten steel firepit, wood trellis, wood pergola, raised Trex deck, Outdoor dining, Outdoor living, boulder water feature, granite chip, concrete edging Corten steel focal point.

Contemporary back garden, Wimbledon, 5

Kate Eyre Garden Design

This is an example of a small contemporary backyard garden in London with a fire feature, river rock and a wood fence.

Stockbridge Residence

Verdance Landscape Architecture

The potager of stacked-stone beds hosts a kinetic sculpture as well as oversized Italian pots containing citrus trees.
Inspiration for an expansive mediterranean backyard full sun formal garden for summer in San Francisco with a vegetable garden, gravel and a stone fence.

Garden Design Ideas with a Vegetable Garden and a Fire 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.