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

Private Modern Garden

Outside Collective

Christel Leung
Small modern backyard full sun formal garden in San Francisco with a garden path and concrete pavers.

Bighorn Palm Desert luxury home modern entrance landscape design

Whipple Russell Architects

Bighorn Palm Desert luxury home modern entrance landscape design. Photo by William MacCollum.
Design ideas for a large modern front yard full sun formal garden in Los Angeles with with pond, gravel and a wood fence.

Living Walls

Landscaping by Steve Blaum

Design ideas for an expansive modern backyard full sun formal garden in Miami with a vertical garden and decking.

Ceibh Courtyard House

McKiernan Architects Ltd.

Courtyard at dusk. Bi-folding glass doors open the connection from the living space to the courtyard.
This is an example of a modern courtyard formal garden in Other with a fire feature.

Modern Backyard Oasis in Moorestown, New Jersey

Techo-Bloc

This backyard landscape design is inspired by our Blu Grande Smooth patio slab. Perfect paving slab for modern poolsides and backyard design, Blu Grande Smooth is a large concrete patio stone available in multiple colors. It's smooth texture is sleek to the eye but rougher to the touch which avoids it from getting slippery when wet. The large rectangular shape works as an easy add-on into Blu 60 regular modular patterns but can also work as a stand-alone to create a very linear look. Check out the HD2 Blu Grande Smooth which is all about seamless looks with a tighter/poreless texture and anti-aging technology. Check out our website to shop the look! https://www.techo-bloc.com/shop/slabs/blu-grande-smooth/

Dalkeith

Tim Davies Landscaping | Perth

GRAB Photography
Design ideas for a small modern backyard full sun formal garden for summer in Perth with natural stone pavers.

Limestone Retaining Wall – Lawn & Patio in Edina, MN

Southview Design

The level backyard is perfect for sports; hedges and a mortared limestone retaining wall create an elegant boundary. Photography by Drew Gray
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern backyard formal garden for summer in Minneapolis with natural stone pavers.

Cougar Mountain Residence

Kim Rooney Design

Landscape by Kim Rooney Fire, Water, Wood, & Rock - A Northwest modern garden for family and friends
This is an example of a mid-sized modern backyard full sun formal garden in Seattle with with fireplace and concrete pavers.

Boulder Country Modern

Native Edge Landscapes

Mid-sized modern front yard partial sun formal garden in Denver with a garden path and concrete pavers.

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. Designed and built by Botanica Atlanta.

Oakland Hills Hideaway - Outdoor Living

studio M MERGE

Marion Brenner
Large modern backyard full sun formal garden in San Francisco with a fire feature and natural stone pavers for fall.

Landscapes

Browne and Associates Custom Landscapes

This front yard, constructed in 2014, was simple and to the point. To anyone who thinks that plain grey concrete is somewhat boring, this front walkway turned out effective and looks sleek leading up to this Washington Park new build in Denver, CO. Browne & Associates Custom Landscapes

Wood Fences

Dakota Unlimited

Custom horizontal fence design and installation by Dakota Unlimited.
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern backyard partial sun formal garden in Minneapolis with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Modern Landscape

Design ideas for a small modern backyard partial sun garden in Denver with natural stone pavers and a water feature.

Front Yard and Backyard Landscaping and Floral Ideas

Marula Landscape & Design

Mid-sized modern front yard partial sun formal garden in Austin with a garden path and natural stone pavers for spring.

The Colony House

The Design Laboratory

Leland Gebhardt
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern front yard full sun formal garden in Phoenix with a container garden.

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.

`Clyde Hill Entry

Tri-Scapes Landscaping

Large modern front yard partial sun formal garden in Seattle with a garden path and concrete pavers for spring.

Modern Backyard Oasis in Moorestown, New Jersey

Techo-Bloc

Modern Formal Garden Design Ideas

Get Inspired by Modern 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 modern 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 Modern Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a modern 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 modern 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 modern 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.