An unused area of lawn has been repurposed as a meditation garden. The meandering path of limestone step stones weaves through a birch grove. The matrix planting of carex grasses is interspersed with flowering natives throughout the season. Fall is spectacular with the blooming of aromatic asters.

Contemporary New Home Landscape - Caledonia

Ginkgo Leaf Studio

A dry creek bed snakes through the planted area and is functional - taking rainwater from the front yard and funneling it under the driveway. Renn Kuhnen Photography

Whitney Place by DBM Landscapes

Landscape Industries Association Western Australia

FINALIST of the Awards of Excellence 2014 - Contractor - Residential - up to $75,000 Award
Inspiration for a contemporary courtyard garden in Perth with natural stone pavers.

Decomposed Granite Path

Southwest Boulder & Stone

Decomposed granite – This paving material is popular for use as an informal path and is relatively easy to install and maintain. The benefits of decomposed granite include low installation cost, “soft” appearance and good porosity that allow water to penetrate through to the soil below. This is especially important when paving near older native trees such as oaks. https://southwestboulder.com/blog/how-to-install-a-decomposed-granite-pathway

Bayside Zen Garden | Bayside, WI

LandCrafters, LLC

Behind the Tea House is a traditional Japanese raked garden. After much research we used bagged poultry grit in the raked garden. It had the perfect texture for raking. Gray granite cobbles and fashionettes were used for the border. A custom designed bamboo fence encloses the rear yard.

Modern Farmhouse

Brad Ramsey Interiors

Design ideas for a large backyard full sun garden for spring in Nashville with a fire feature, river rock and a wood fence.

Lueders Stone Front Walkway

Eden Garden Design

Custom-cut lueders limestone front walkway and a lawn area of fine-textured ‘Cavalier’ zoysia grass, defined with custom steel edging. Photographer: Greg Thomas, http://optphotography.com/

Meditation Hut and Water Feature

Wolf Architects, Inc.

Photo Credit: Eric Roth
Inspiration for a country backyard shaded formal garden in Boston with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Garden Path

The Todd Group

This garden pathway links the front yard to the backyard area. Perennials and shrubs bloom throughout the season providing interest points that change from week to week. Creeping thyme and other flowering plants fill in the spaces between the irregular stone pathway.

Modern Landscape Design

WERK | Building Modern

Modern Landscape Design, Indianapolis, Butler-Tarkington Neighborhood - Hara Design LLC (designer) - Christopher Short, Derek Mills, Paul Reynolds, Architects, HAUS Architecture + WERK | Building Modern - Construction Managers - Architect Custom Builders

The Driveway's Rock Bands Are Bird Baths

FormLA Landscaping

The rock bands traversing the sloped drive do more than direct rainfall into the garden where it can fuel growth and resilience. They offer shallow, fresh water for pollinators and birds. On rainy days, they dance with feathered friends.

Sunken Modern Garden

Chris Snook

Photo of a large contemporary formal garden in London with natural stone pavers.

Golf Course

Blooming Vistas

Gorgeous modern landscape with clean lines and exquisite detail.
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern backyard shaded garden in Dallas with with rock feature, river rock and a wood fence.

Front Yard Landscape

Stephanie D Poole

The seating area is located near the sidewalk and the bocce ball court driveway for convenient socializing. The African Tulip Tree will eventually provide shade to the seating area.

Carmel House

Joni L. Janecki & Associates, Inc.

Lepere Studio
Design ideas for a mediterranean backyard garden in Other with natural stone pavers and a wood fence.

Fire Features

Stone Center

Traditional Style Fire Feature - the Prescott Fire Pit - using Techo-Bloc's Prescott wall & Piedimonte cap.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional backyard full sun garden for summer in DC Metro with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Planters and Containers

Yard Art, Inc

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary full sun garden in San Francisco with a container garden and natural stone pavers.

Wildlife Friendly Front Garden

Fenton Roberts Garden Design

Jo Fenton
Design ideas for a small traditional front yard full sun driveway for summer in London with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Outdoor Structures

Elise Landscapes & Nursery, LLC

Large traditional backyard formal garden in New York with natural stone pavers and a garden path.

Garden of Two Halves

Bestall & Co Landscape Design

Lee Bestall
Inspiration for a large country backyard full sun formal garden for summer in Other with natural stone pavers.

Garden Design Ideas with Natural Stone Pavers and River Rock

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.