This front yard features a seating area and jar fountain, ringed by aromatic native plantings of California Lilac, Manzanita, Cleveland Sage. A meadow-style planting of native sedge grasses create soft look in the foreground, and new concrete pavers add a modern touch. We also believe the project’s driveway to be among the prettiest we’ve created or seen: a ribbon of stones and grasses now meanders along a Hollywood-style center planting area.

Stepping Stone Sideyard

Plan-it Earth Design

Stepping stones lead you to...
Design ideas for a small traditional backyard partial sun garden for spring in Portland with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Sunken Lakeside Fire Pit

ELM Garden Design

Raised fieldstone fire pit with bluestone caps Photo: Eustacia Marsales
This is an example of a small country backyard full sun garden in New York with a fire feature and gravel.

Stone Stairway

Marilyn's Dreamscapes L.L.C.

After three attempts to get the grading right, we set in a new set of stairs that joins into the older step paths that were built earlier. Spreading yews and vinca fill in for now.

Seattle Cozy Patio

SCJ Studio Landscape Architecture

In Seattle's Fremont neighborhood SCJ Studio designed a new landscape to surround and set off a contemporary home by Coates Design Architects. The narrow spaces around the tall home needed structure and organization, and a thoughtful approach to layout and space programming. A concrete patio was installed with a Paloform Bento gas fire feature surrounded by lush, northwest planting. A horizontal board cedar fence provides privacy from the street and creates the cozy feeling of an outdoor room among the trees. LED low-voltage lighting by Kichler Lighting adds night-time warmth . Photography by: Miranda Estes Photography

Raised Bed Vegetable Garden

Casa Smith Designs, LLC

The star at the center of this veggie garden is the perfect place for the dwarf lemon tree. The six pointed star (just like the Great Seal of the United States) is ideal for the strawberries to cascade over the edges. The star is 6' with 3' clearance around the star so the space is wide enough to comfortably access the veggie beds from all sides. Photo Credit: Mark Pinkerton

Floating Bench garden

Living Colour Gardens

This is an example of a small contemporary backyard full sun garden for summer in London with natural stone pavers and a container garden.

Flagstone Front Walkway in Herringbone Pattern

THE KING'S MASONS

Flagstone Front Walkway in Herringbone Pattern
Photo of a small traditional front yard partial sun formal garden in DC Metro with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Lincoln Park Transitional

Calafia Design

Katy Sheppard
This is an example of a small transitional front yard shaded garden in Chicago with natural stone pavers.

Coan Waterfront Landscape, Camano Island, WA

Lankford Associates Landscape Architects

From the street, a round rock pathway leads to a small seating area next to the water with a small fire pit. Low maintenance, drought resistant and salt tolerant plantings were used in mass and clumps. This garden has become the focus of the neighborhood with many visitors stopping and enjoying what has become a neighborhood landmark. Located on the shores of Puget Sound in Washington State. Photo by R. Scott Lankford

Fire Features

Good Earth Water Gardens

Old barren space where a playground once stood is transformed into a circular patio with a fire pit in the center.
Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard full sun garden for fall in Kansas City with concrete pavers and a fire feature.

Traditional Garden

Landscaping Solutions

Inspiration for a small traditional backyard shaded formal garden in London with natural stone pavers and with raised garden bed.

Residential Work

SOLscape, LLC

Small traditional side yard partial sun garden in Bridgeport with mulch for summer.

Four Corners - Silver Gilt Medal Winner

Peter Reader Landscapes

Photo of a small contemporary backyard garden in London.

Transformation of a 1950's ranch

MJ McCabe-Garden Design

The boxwood takes on a chartreuse green in early spring the gate leads to a pool beyond
Photo of a small traditional backyard formal garden for spring in Charlotte with gravel.

Outdoor Kitchen

Natasha Nuttall Garden Design

An urban oasis in East London. This space has been transformed into a lush garden perfect for indoor-outdoor living. This garden has been designed so that it is divided into 3 distinct areas, each surrounded by lush. abundant planting. closest to the house a dining patio with a large built in parasol for sunny and slightly rainy days, a second patio area with sofa and chairs offers a great space for coffee, working and drinks near the outdoor kitchen and BBQ area. The substantial built in benches at the rear of the garden offers a wonderful space for relaxing and entertaining with dappled shade from the overhead pergola and plants in summer and warmth of the fire pit on colder nights.

Un jardin suspendu à Toulon

Vanessa Cottin

Inspiration for a small mediterranean front yard full sun garden for spring in Other with with flowerbed and gravel.

Small Fairy Fountain Basin

Magic Garden Dreams

One of the small fountainscapes we offer.
Photo of a small tropical backyard full sun garden in San Diego with a water feature and brick pavers.

Harlem Backyard with slanted pergola

Little Miracles Designs

Pergola and kitchen are focal items.
Photo of a small modern backyard garden in New York.

Chiswick Pollinator Friendly Garden

User

A relaxed space which truly celebrates plants and encourages wildlife to thrive. A curved path leads one around the space allowing one to get up close to appreciate plant forms such as Angelica, Veronicastrum and Valeriana. A seating area surrounded by shrub roses allows one to appreciate their scent during flowering season. Please note - these photos were taken soon after completion. The planting is expected to establish, grow taller and fill the space to a fuller degree. Check back in future for further project imagery of this Chiswick garden design

Small 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.