Richard P. Rauso, ASLA, Landscape Architects

Richard P. Rauso, ASLA
Photo of a mid-sized traditional backyard full sun garden for summer in Other with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Lagom Residence

CB Architecture + Design

Eric Rorer
Large midcentury backyard partial sun garden in San Francisco with with outdoor playset.

Contemporary Fountain w/ Cobble

Conscious Environments Inc.

This fountain is a great addition to a front yard entry. Clean and simple with a subtle water noise for visual and auditory interest. The fountain is surrounded by boxwood hedges, Mexican Beach cobble, and white precast concrete.

Lyneham House

Light House Architecture & Science

Ben Wrigley
Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard garden in Canberra - Queanbeyan with a water feature and decking.

Modern Tranquility

Campion Walker Landscapes

To anchor a modern house, designed by Frederick Fisher & Partners, Campion Walker brought in a mature oak grove that at first frames the home and then invites the visitor to explore the grounds including an intimate culinary garden and stone fruit orchard. The neglected hillside on the back of the property once overgrown with ivy was transformed into a California native oak woodland, with under-planting of ceanothus and manzanitas. We used recycled water to create a dramatic water feature cut directly into the limestone entranceway framed by a cacti and succulent garden.

Ross

Wasson Nursery

Expansive country sloped garden in Indianapolis with a water feature for spring.

Lancaster woodland home and garden

Hanselman Landscape and Gardens

Hanselman Landscape and Gardens
Design ideas for a large traditional garden in Philadelphia with a water feature.

DIY Front Yard Makeover

Josh and Malissa McCulloch

DIY front landscaping with pondless waterfall. A mixture of perennial and annual flowers keep the flowerbed looking lush all summer and is an inexpensive way to add curb appeal (tip: install a drip line for the hanging baskets - much easier than hand watering!) The black adironack style front porch swing that we built serves as the perfect place to sip lemonade and enjoy the blooms!

Small Fairy Fountain Basin

Magic Garden Dreams

One of the small fountainscapes we offer.
Photo of a small tropical backyard full sun garden in San Diego with a water feature and brick pavers.

Mid Century Modern in the Hollywood Hills - Front Patio

Bosler Earth Design

Designer’s Notes: Use mixed materials such as concrete pavers, wood, various stones and decomposed granite to add interesting plant textures to add appeal. ©Daniel Bosler Photography

Dragon Playhouse

Magical Playhouses

Contemporary garden in Seattle with with outdoor playset.

MODERN BACKYARD REMODEL

Envy Landscape Design Inc.

Mid-sized modern backyard full sun xeriscape in San Diego with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Japanese Garden: second pond during the summer.

Andrew Zema's Landscaping, Inc.

This is an example of a large traditional backyard garden in San Diego with a water feature.

Remsenberg Koi Pond

AH Ponds, Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun formal garden in New York with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Stainless water fountain

Exterior Worlds Landscaping & Design

Design ideas for a small modern side yard full sun garden in Houston with a water feature and decking.

Classic home for a modern family

Wadia Associates

Design ideas for a traditional formal garden in New York with a water feature.

Concrete water fountain

Studio H Landscape Architecture

Sideyard modern water feature. The fountain is located off the living room window to enjoy from both the living area and kitchen. Concrete stepping pads extend over the fountain and into the artificial turf area in the rear yard. Succulents and grasses are planted throughout the yard.

Mid-Century Modern Backyard

User

This is a small in-town backyard designed to have a mid-century modern look. The stepping stones are poured concrete. The turf is artificial, as is the the green vine material in the fence panels. The slit in the white stucco wall is a spillway for a waterfall, which empties into the pond below and then recirculates. An elevated concrete patio is behind the waterfall. The original design was by Eric King but this design was modified and built by Botanica Atlanta.

Drainage Solutions

Sunrise Landscape + Design

A patio was built and walkway installed to the shed. A pipe was installed underneath the walkway with in the rock bed area for water to flow easily during rain storms and drain away from the home.

House in Epsom

Eldridge London

Stainless steel slide set into terraced landscape of triangular cedar clad planters and steps, with children's sandpit. Photography: Lyndon Douglas
Design ideas for a contemporary garden in London with with outdoor playset.

Garden Design Ideas with a Water Feature and with Outdoor Playset

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.