Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary front yard shaded garden in Chicago with a water feature.

Photo Credit: Eric Roth
Inspiration for a country backyard shaded formal garden in Boston with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Mid-Century Modern Pond, Waterfall, and Patio

User

This is a mid-century modern waterfall/pond with a "floating" step leading from the concrete walkway to the elevated concrete patio behind the waterfall. Designed and built by Botanica Atlanta.

The Abe Woodlands

Dargan Landscape Architects

Can you hear the birds and the rustling leaves? We love technology but wish that instead of viewing these photos, it would be neat to teleport you there. A landscape is not just about what you want, it's about the an experience of all the senses. Just don't taste the bricks-trust us.

Fountain redesign

ForeverLawn of the Carolinas

ForeverLawn installed over AirGrid 2 to allow for flow of water under synthetic turf.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional courtyard shaded garden in Raleigh with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Pocket Garden

Charles C Hugo Landscape Design

rob karosis
Inspiration for a small traditional backyard shaded garden for winter in Portland Maine with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Italian Garden Design Estates

Lanson B. Jones & Co, Inc.

Traditional backyard shaded garden in Houston with a water feature.

Stanford Garden

Richard Kramer

Design ideas for a traditional backyard shaded garden in San Francisco with a water feature and river rock.

Orlando Florida Poolside Landscape

Earthwise Horticultural Services

Scott Simpson Backyard pathway leading to pool using natural stones and low maintenance grass. Matching water fountain near the screen enclosure provides insulation from surrounding traffic noise. Lighting completed to provide evening accent.

Folsom Front Makeover

Luxury Outdoor Living, Inc.

Mid-sized contemporary front yard shaded xeriscape in Sacramento with a water feature and gravel.

Paradise Retreat

Studio Landscape

'A peak into' this garden framed by native oak trees and olives reveals a formal setting of pool and spa with an integrated Antique French limestone fountain. Moroccan lanterns bedeck the limestone spa coping.

Residential Work

EcoLandscapes Design

Photo of a small country backyard shaded garden in Philadelphia with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Water and Stone, Dry Riverbed Garden

Falon Mihalic

A dry riverbed/ rock swale carries water from the home's downspout around a shade garden to infiltrate in the lawn. Plants include Ostrich Fern, Sensitive Fern, Carex 'evergold', Native Bottlebrush Buckeye, Astilbe, Anemone, Virginia Bluebells, Japanese Painted Fern, Woodland Phlox, and Jack Frost Brunnera. Several types of stone were used to create the rock swale: Smooth Blue Mexican Pebble Beach Stone, Granite and Quartz Boulders.

Oasis Garden

Barbara Hilty Landscape Design LLC

Barbara Hilty, APLD
Design ideas for a large transitional backyard shaded garden for spring in Portland with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Creating our own small courtyard knot garden

Joanne Alderson Design

This is the finished courtyard taken through the window of our green oak extension. The parterre/knot garden is very simple & pleached hornbeam trees give added privacy from the neighbouring property

Folsom Front Makeover

Luxury Outdoor Living, Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary front yard shaded xeriscape in Sacramento with a water feature and gravel.

Horlings Residence

MeadowGreen Group

HORLINGS RESIDENCE Location: Ada, MI Scope: Design & Installation Features: Cantilevered deck, flagstone patios, natural water feature with stream, stream crossing, pools and koi pond, specimen plant material, natural steps and retaining.

Koi Pond

Studio Bracket

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury side yard shaded garden in Los Angeles with a water feature and concrete pavers.

Atmospheric lighting

Metamorphic Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized asian backyard shaded garden in Vancouver with a water feature and brick pavers.

Garden Pond and stream with stone bridge

Matthew Giampietro Garden Design

Garden pond and stream with stone bridge and plantings leading into swimming pool. Shade garden plantings along a stroll garden path in Connecticut. Matthew Giampietro of Waterfalls, Fountains, & Gardens Inc. designed and installed this landscape stream and garden pond

Shaded Garden Design Ideas with a Water Feature

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.