Joe Runde
Inspiration for a transitional formal garden in Chicago with a vegetable garden and gravel.

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.

Family Garden in Putney

Ruth Willmott Associates

Ruth Willmott
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern backyard formal garden in London.

G A R D E N - Pacific Northwest

Lore Patterson

Island Garden Designed by : Bliss Garden Design
Design ideas for a modern shaded formal garden in Seattle.

Sunken Modern Garden

Chris Snook

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

A Beautiful Water Feature

The Landscape & Garden Company LTD

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary backyard formal garden in Other with a water feature and gravel.

Paleface Ranch

Van Wicklen Design

Large country backyard full sun formal garden in Austin with a container garden and mulch.

Garden Design, Calton Avenue, 1

Kate Eyre Garden Design

Kate Eyre Garden Design
Design ideas for a small contemporary front yard formal garden in London with a garden path and gravel.

Outdoor Structures

Elise Landscapes & Nursery, LLC

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

English Jewel Box

Mariani Landscape

A view through the garden rooms, a gravel path leads through to the many spaces. The path is lined with cushwa brick outlining the spaces. Terra cotta containers are filled with boxwood and petunia; pachysandra and bugleweed ground cover fill the flanking and center beds. A cast iron bench offers an opportunity to sit and enjoy the space, with the fountain creating a pleasant sound. The wall is graced with two standard form lilacs. Photo Credit: Linda Oyama Bryan

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.

Elegant Country Estate

Artemis Landscape Architects, Inc.

Mid-sized traditional front yard full sun formal garden in New York with natural stone pavers and with flowerbed for summer.

Residential Design 5

Kendall O'Brien Landscape Architects

This is an example of a traditional backyard formal garden in Other.

Greenville, DE Landscape

Wallace Landscape Associates

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard shaded formal garden in Philadelphia with gravel and a garden path.

Georgian Classic Garden

Howard Design Studio

An English style Georgian home with walled courtyard garden. Photographer: John Howard.
Photo of a traditional backyard formal garden in Atlanta with natural stone pavers.

Yarrow Garden

Paul Moon Design

Photo of a mid-sized traditional backyard full sun formal garden in Seattle with a water feature and gravel.

Cold Springs Road Montecito Mediterranean Landscape

Natural Concepts Landscaping Contractors

A stone fountain welcomes visitors who travel through natural stone paved patio and steps to the home's main entrance
Design ideas for a large mediterranean full sun formal garden in Santa Barbara with natural stone pavers and a water feature.

Wilmington Court - Antique Gazebo

Paul N. Brow, Architect, LLC

Antique teak gazebo nestled into the trees at the rear of the garden through an opening in the low, perimeter brick garden wall.
Mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun formal garden in Houston with natural stone pavers.

Townhouse garden

Neil Jones Design

Using a refined palette of quality materials set within a striking and elegant design, the space provides a restful and sophisticated urban garden for a professional couple to be enjoyed both in the daytime and after dark. The use of corten is complimented by the bold treatment of black in the decking, bespoke screen and pergola.

Formal 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.