This walled Woollahra courtyard garden was built as an entry to a recently renovated house but also as a private relaxation space. Through a laser cut corten steel entry gate you get glimpses of a private oasis beyond. Its rich warm brown colour is perfectly matched with the new spotted gum decking on the porch and the feature downlight by the front door. Soft gravel and steeping stones outside and through the gate draw the visitor in adding a soft and organic feel. Three steps lead to a generous deck wrapping around a corner to reveal more space for entertaining and an outdoor lounge. Planted here is some Boston ivy that will grow up the wall and further green up the space creating a seasonal element with its autumn leaves. An eclectic and varied planting palette of different leaf shapes and colours creates texture and stands out against the white walls. Plants were also chosen for their hardiness and low maintenance requirements. Two Olives planted within the gravel provide a light canopy and a frangipani near the lounge will be great to sit under as it grows taller over the years. The resulting garden is not only a lovely entry for the residents and their visitors but also a spot where they can sit and relax.

Richards Residence

Foch Family Landscape Architecture

This landscape of this transitional dwelling aims to compliment the architecture while providing an outdoor space for high end living and entertainment. The outdoor kitchen, hot tub, tiered gardens, living and dining areas as well as a formal lawn provide ample space for enjoyment year round. Photographs courtesy of The Richards Group.

Family Garden in Putney

Ruth Willmott Associates

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

Bespoke steps

Holley Hextall Stone

Bespoke Yorkstone Steps, the natural earthy hues in the Yorkstone blend seamlessly into this beautiful garden. https://www.holleyhextall.co.uk/product/40mm-bullnose-step/

A Contemporary Cottage Garden - Kent

James Innes Design

Traditional cottage planting with a contemporary twist at a Kent country garden by James Innes Design.
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun formal garden for summer in Kent with with flowerbed, gravel and a wood fence.

Osterville Woodland Garden Patios and Planters

Mary LeBlanc Landscape Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional front yard full sun formal garden in Boston with brick pavers.

gardenUP Garden Designs

gardenUP®

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional front yard partial sun formal garden for spring in Boston with mulch and with flowerbed.

Fabulous Containers, Planters and Urns

Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors

Inspiration for a mid-sized front yard partial sun formal garden for summer in Chicago with a container garden and natural stone pavers.

Stone Curving Steps w Lamp Posts & Walls

THE KING'S MASONS

Formal curving entrance stairs. Natural stone with flagstone capping on the lamp posts and curving retaining walls. We also installed a stone walkway to the front door. The patterning of the stone is exceptional - we have master masons!

Iron Fences

Split Rail Fence Co Denver CO

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun formal garden for summer in Denver with a garden path and mulch.

Cedar Cold Frame w/Temperature Sensitive Piston

Homefront Farmers

Cold frames are a terrific way to extend the growing season on both ends; serving as mini-greenhouses they allow your garden to keep producing in cold weather months when growing would otherwise be impossible. These beautiful, locally made cedar cold frames measure 24″x 44″ and slope from 5″ in front to 24″ in back (custom built sizes are also available). A temperature sensitive piston automatically opens and closes the lid as-need to create a perfect climate for your plants.

SC 3

Jon Eric Christner ARCHITECT INC.

Garden Entry - General Contractor: Forte Estate Homes photo by Aidin Foster
Mid-sized mediterranean side yard partial sun formal garden in Orange County with natural stone pavers and with path for spring.

English Garden, California Style

BE Landscape Design

After a tear-down/remodel we were left with a west facing sloped front yard without much privacy from the street, a blank palette as it were. Re purposed concrete was used to create an entrance way and a seating area. Colorful drought tolerant trees and plants were used strategically to screen out unwanted views, and to frame the beauty of the new landscape. This yard is an example of low water, low maintenance without looking like grandmas cactus garden.

Grace Design Associates

Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

The clients had built a magnificent Italianate 'villa' with spectacular views of the Santa Barbara coastline. They had assembled an impressive array of garden objects from around the world which were to be incorporated into the gardens. But the challenges were numerous. Object scale had to carefully managed in this 40 foot by 80 foot space -- The statuary, hardscape elements, and fountains were carefully separated throughout the landscape, in order to de-emphasize the disparate sizes. Objects included a six-foot high Buddha, a 12" high prayer bell, and a massive 1,500 pound stone urn. Additionally, spectacular tree specimens were chosen and carefully placed to provide a counterweight to the other objects in the garden. * Builder of the Year: Best Landscape and Hardscape, Santa Barbara Contractors Association

Garnet Residence

Envision Landscape Studio

This small tract home backyard was transformed into a lively breathable garden. A new outdoor living room was created, with silver-grey brazilian slate flooring, and a smooth integral pewter colored concrete wall defining and retaining earth around it. A water feature is the backdrop to this outdoor room extending the flooring material (slate) into the vertical plane covering a wall that houses three playful stainless steel spouts that spill water into a large basin. Koi Fish, Gold fish and water plants bring a new mini ecosystem of life, and provide a focal point and meditational environment. The integral colored concrete wall begins at the main water feature and weaves to the south west corner of the yard where water once again emerges out of a 4” stainless steel channel; reinforcing the notion that this garden backs up against a natural spring. The stainless steel channel also provides children with an opportunity to safely play with water by floating toy boats down the channel. At the north eastern end of the integral colored concrete wall, a warm western red cedar bench extends perpendicular out from the water feature on the outside of the slate patio maximizing seating space in the limited size garden. Natural rusting Cor-ten steel fencing adds a layer of interest throughout the garden softening the 6’ high surrounding fencing and helping to carry the users eye from the ground plane up past the fence lines into the horizon; the cor-ten steel also acts as a ribbon, tie-ing the multiple spaces together in this garden. The plant palette uses grasses and rushes to further establish in the subconscious that a natural water source does exist. Planting was performed outside of the wire fence to connect the new landscape to the existing open space; this was successfully done by using perennials and grasses whose foliage matches that of the native hillside, blurring the boundary line of the garden and aesthetically extending the backyard up into the adjacent open space.

Contemporary Townhouse Garden

Plantology Ltd

Contemporary townhouse wildlife garden, with meandering gravel paths through dynamic herbaceous planting with corten water features.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard full sun formal garden in West Midlands with with flowerbed and river rock.

Слияние линий Одинцово

Ландшафтная компания LivegardensMS

Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic front yard partial sun formal garden for fall in Moscow with a water feature, concrete pavers and a metal fence.

Amersham Entertaining Garden

Chiltern Garden Design

A large lawn offsets the planting and terraces, leading the eye to the end of the garden where three mature trees have been placed to create autumn drama when the colours ignite.

Designing a Garden within budget in Chalfont

Karl Harrison Landscapes Ltd

Like all projects this garden had a budget, we prefer to call this “An Investment”. The best place to start is with a design and materials specification. It’s at this point we can offer an accurate quotation and show off exactly what we can achieve within the budget.

Hogan

Florida Landscape Living LLC

Tailored and Tropical meet!
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional front yard full sun formal garden for summer in Orlando with with lawn edging and river rock.

Mid-sized 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.