Steel retaining walls and zoysia turf grass
Inspiration for a large modern front yard full sun xeriscape for spring in Austin with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Cat Mountain

austin outdoor design

The view of Cat Mountain from the street really shows the privacy of the patios below. The long steel planters separate the lawn from the front beds and add direction to the entrance. This photo was taken by Ryann Ford.

Going Native in Bel Air

Urban Oasis Landscape Design

A wild, native spirit radiates out from within the structured lines and angles of the hardscape - softened by a lush and biodiverse selection of California native plants in a velvety palette of soft silvery grays, greens, and purples with the occasional pop of yellow and orange. Newly planted native Engelmann Oak and feathery Caesalpinia Sierra Sun trees are grounded by weighty golden boulders. White Cloud muhly grass whispers to the ceanothus and flannel bush, while verbena ‘De la Mina’ nestles amongst the buckwheat and artemisia, perfumed by the earthy smell of the endemic ‘Aroma’ Sage. Birds, butterflies, and other pollinators have found their way to this sumptuous wildlife habitat that we’ve created, and their presence brings a delightful song and serenity to the garden.

Modern Tranquility

Campion Walker Landscapes

To anchor a modern house, designed by Frederick Fisher & Partners, Campion Walker brought in a mature oak grove that at first frames the home and then invites the visitor to explore the grounds including an intimate culinary garden and stone fruit orchard. The neglected hillside on the back of the property once overgrown with ivy was transformed into a California native oak woodland, with under-planting of ceanothus and manzanitas. We used recycled water to create a dramatic water feature cut directly into the limestone entranceway framed by a cacti and succulent garden.

Details

Grounded - Richard Risner RLA, ASLA

This is an example of a large modern backyard partial sun xeriscape in San Diego with a garden path and concrete pavers.

Low Maintenance Botanical Design at Courtyard Entry

Eden Garden Design

Photographer: Greg Thomas
Design ideas for a large modern front yard full sun xeriscape in Austin with natural stone pavers and a garden path.

Mid-Century Vibe Backyard - Bayside

Ginkgo Leaf Studio

A bluestone stepper path leads you over a bed of slate chip onto the back patio. Westhauser Photography
Photo of a mid-sized modern backyard full sun xeriscape for summer in Milwaukee with gravel and a garden path.

Modern Small Backyard

Studio H Landscape Architecture

Photography by Studio H Landscape Architecture & COCO Gallery. Post processing by Isabella Li.
Design ideas for a small modern side yard partial sun xeriscape in Orange County with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Modern Backyard Remodel - Huntington Beach

Colorworks Landscape Design

Backyard Remodel in Huntington Beach, Ca. Style: Modern Price Range: $70,000 - $75,000 Project Details: Demo, grading, cleanup, and removals. Trex deck and new concrete with top cast finish 3/4” dark gray crushed rock Daytona 80 turf, Mexican beach pebbles, LED low voltage lights by E-Sunn. Backyard entrance gate w/penofin oil stain for toppers and gates French drains Black mulch Drip zone for plants

Artificial turf

Greenside Landscaping Inc.

This is an example of a small modern front yard partial sun xeriscape in Los Angeles with with path and river rock.

Perennials in corten raised bed

Scamells Garden Design

Corten planter with draught tolerant, Mediterranen inspired planting with purples and orange flowers
Photo of a mid-sized modern backyard full sun xeriscape for summer in London with with raised garden bed and brick pavers.

Natural Inspired Architectural Landscaping

GILL LANDSCAPES

Beautiful stone path leading to the exterior service area.
Small modern side yard shaded xeriscape in Christchurch with with path, river rock and a wood fence for winter.

Modern Northwest Bend

Blooming Desert

This modern space offers maximum outdoor living for the homeowners with minimum maintenance with the use of 2' x 2' paver slabs, Mexican Beach Pebble and River Rock Mulch, drought tolerant plant material, drip irrigation and synthetic lawn.

Clive Garden

Melissa Baron Landscape Design

A small, flat backyard spaced was transformed with custom corten steel planters and water feature to bring height and a range of colours and textures.

Apartment 34 Traditional Modern

Growsgreen Landscape Design

More beautiful shadows and light. The feeling of this garden for me is calm but interesting. Grounded but airy. Please note the gradient spacing I used on the beam screens.

Apartment 34 Traditional Modern

Growsgreen Landscape Design

Far shot from the Hot tub area toward the translucent fence. I could look at this fence all day.
Design ideas for a large modern backyard full sun xeriscape with a fire feature and decking.

Concrete Box House

Robertson Design

Design ideas for a modern front yard xeriscape in Houston with a garden path and gravel.

Dry Creek Bed | No-Mow Forest Backyard | Inver Grove Heights, MN

Southview Design

Because of the sloping terrain the backyard was always swampy and mushy. Improving the site to enable water to flow through the yard and infiltrate into the ground was a top priority. The drainage issues were put to rest by building a creek bed from real river rocks. Bonus – when the stream bed is dry it adds a Zen element to this already tranquil backyard. Photography by John Wiese

Stylish Digs in Echo Park

Urban Oasis Landscape Design

This is an example of a mid-sized modern backyard full sun xeriscape for spring in Los Angeles with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Contained Succulents

FormLA Landscaping

Unlike the desert succulents in this playful, modern container garden, the lush landscape featured in this project is authentic to Los Angeles. It will thrive in both drought and high water years for decades to come. Photo: Lesly Hall Photography

Modern Xeriscape 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.