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.

Barnaby Woods Residence

Moody Graham

Photography by Allen Russ.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun garden in DC Metro with natural stone pavers.

Rock garden

Maher & Greenwald Fine Gardens

Mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun formal garden in New York with a vegetable garden.

Pacific Palisades Estate

Leyva & Wilde, Inc.

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional backyard partial sun outdoor sport court for summer in Los Angeles with natural stone 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.

Basketball and Tennis Court in Weston

Sport Court of Massachusetts

Weston Custom Multi-sport backyard basketball court, with lighting, tennis net and tennis hit board
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun outdoor sport court in Boston with natural stone pavers.

Curving Bluestone Walkway with Radius Granite Steps

Natural Path Landscaping

Note how we always have large bluestone pieces at the edge because we lay out the pattern with AutoCAD. There are two more granite steps at the driveway. See the granite lamp post.

Mid Century Modern Gem

Urban Oasis Landscape Design

The uneven back yard was graded into ¬upper and lower levels with an industrial style, concrete wall. Linear pavers lead the garden stroller from place to place alongside a rain garden filled with swaying grasses that spans the side yard and culminates at a gracefully arching pomegranate tree, A bubbling boulder water feature murmurs soothing sounds. A large steel and willow-roof pergola creates a shady space to dine in and chaise lounges and chairs bask in the surrounding shade. The transformation was completed with a bold and biodiverse selection of low water, climate appropriate plants that make the space come alive. branches laden with impossibly red blossoms and fruit.

Branxholm Park House, Scottish Borders

Inside Story Photography

Inside Story Photography - Tracey Bloxham
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun garden in Other with gravel.

Asian-Influenced Suburban Sanctuary

Alderwood Landscape Architecture and Construction

These clients' small yard had severe drainage issues, making it difficult for their large family to spend time outdoors. We worked with the clients to create several spaces in the small area that flowed together and met the family's needs. The modern-styled furniture spaces divided by flagstone pavers separated the spaces while an array of short plantings, Japanese maples, and Asian lantern decor introduced fluidity.

Traditional Beach Cottage

Wildflower Landscape Design at K&D Landscaping

Oakleaf Hydrangea
Photo of a mid-sized traditional front yard partial sun xeriscape in San Francisco with natural stone pavers and with flowerbed.

Contemporary yard for a contemporary house

Blue Hibiscus Gardens

IPE wood at installation has the redder color.
Mid-sized contemporary front yard partial sun xeriscape in San Francisco with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Plantig design and planting

Renz Landscapes

Mid-sized traditional front yard partial sun garden in Raleigh with brick pavers.

Secret Gardens

Oliver Design Associates

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional backyard partial sun garden in New York.

West University

Exterior Worlds Landscaping & Design

Carl Mayfield
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional partial sun driveway in Houston with natural stone pavers.

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.

Grace Design Associates

Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional front yard partial sun garden in Santa Barbara with a container garden and gravel.

Modern Oasis

Mom's Design Build

With an existing pool and retaining walls, we took this space and made it more modern offering many various spaces for lounging, enjoying the fire, listening to the water feature and an upper synthetic turf area for playing games. It is complete with bluestone pavers, a modern water feature and reflecting pool, a raised ipe deck, synthetic turf, glass railings, a modern, gas fire bowl and a stunning cedar privacy wall!

Traditional Beach Cottage

Wildflower Landscape Design at K&D Landscaping

Curving Calstone pathway leading to front porch. Front yard features artificial turf and planting beds with decorative mulch and granite boulders.
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional front yard partial sun garden in San Francisco with with rock feature and natural stone pavers.

Edinburg Residence

MMD Construction

Mid-sized contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden in Other with a garden path and concrete pavers for summer.

Mid-sized Partial Sun 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.