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

Bronxville Traditional

Winston Fayer Landscape Design

Photo of a small traditional front yard full sun garden in New York with a garden path.

Townhouse garden

Neil Jones Design

Using a refined palette of quality materials set within a striking and elegant design, the space provides a restful and sophisticated urban garden for a professional couple to be enjoyed both in the daytime and after dark. The use of corten is complimented by the bold treatment of black in the decking, bespoke screen and pergola.

Before and After Gallery - Outdoor Spaces

Mix Design Group

AFTER: New xeriscape, stucco repair, change of house color and exterior lights. A mature olive was crane transplanted into this front yard garden
Small front yard full sun xeriscape in Las Vegas with a garden path and gravel.

Coogee courtyards 2

Cultivart Landscape Design

Peta North
Small modern garden in Perth.

Traditional Landscape

Inspiration for a small traditional front yard shaded garden for fall in Chicago with a container garden.

Small town garden no lawn

Amanda Shipman

Amanda Shipman
Inspiration for a small contemporary backyard partial sun garden for summer in Hertfordshire with brick pavers.

Modern Rustic Landscaping

User

The front yard plants are adapted to full sun and provide color and texture (drought tolerant)
Design ideas for a small modern backyard full sun xeriscape in San Francisco.

Front Garden, Courtyard and Patio

Picture This Landscape

Small traditional side yard partial sun formal garden in Houston with natural stone pavers for summer.

Original Endless Pools®

Endless Pools

In a compact yard, the Endless Pool leaves space to spare! With its fully adjustable swim current, the Endless Pool lets you swim in place. Also great for aquatic exercise and family fun, the Endless Pool conserves space (and resources) so you can enjoy big-pool functionality in one easy-to-maintain installation. This Endless Pool in Austin, Texas, also functions as a reflecting pool -- on a cloudy day, you can enjoy a meditative place to unwind in peace and comfort.

Finished Designs

Jill Davis Design

Photo and Design by Jill Davis
This is an example of a small traditional front yard partial sun formal garden for summer in Chicago with a garden path and mulch.

Asian Inspired Garden

DREAMSCAPES Landscape and Design

Design ideas for a small asian backyard xeriscape in Seattle with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Commercial: Babcock Mill Park - Odessa

Wentworth Landscapes

McNeill Photography
Inspiration for a small sloped garden in Toronto with with outdoor playset and mulch.

The edible garden / Garden for a London chef

Barbara Samitier Gardens

Anna Batchelor
Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard full sun xeriscape for spring in London with a vegetable garden and gravel.

Narrow Sausalito, CA Landscape Transformed For Outdoor Enjoyment & Usable Space

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

A cleaned up pathway with concrete pavers and Mexican pebbles transform this landscape update. To gain more usable space in this narrow landscape and update the hardscaping and overgrown garden, my design reconfigured the pathway with poured-in-place concrete pavers accented by Mexican pebbles and a stunning variety of succulents and other site-appropriate plantings that thrive in shade and part sun. We removed the tree to create a patio area large enough to fit a table and chairs for a small group. Non-invasive/clumping Bamboo was added to help screen the patio and provide privacy. Other shade to part-shade plants were included that provide a variety of textures and colors throughout the seasons. Low-voltage lighting was installed for safety and ambiance. Design and Photos: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Baker Family's California Native Garden

Taproot Garden Design

Patrick & Topaze McCaffery - Taproot Garden Design "April 2017 - A refreshing spring garden full of California Native plants. Shasta Sulfur Buckwheat, Verbena De La Mina, Ceanothus 'Ray Hartman', Salvia sonomensis 'Bee's Bliss' and, of course, a controlled bit of orange California Poppies."

Backyard Basketball Courts in Medway

Sport Court of Massachusetts

Medway Custom Backyard Basketball Court with rebounder
Inspiration for a small traditional backyard partial sun outdoor sport court in Boston with with outdoor playset and concrete pavers.

Ponds With Waterfalls

Action Water Gardens Inc

Small arts and crafts backyard partial sun garden in Bridgeport with with pond for summer.

Japanese Courtyard Garden

Hanselman Landscape and Gardens

Photo of a small asian garden in Philadelphia with a garden path and river rock.

Tropical Minimal

Craig Reynolds Landscape Architecture

Tamara Alvarez
Design ideas for a small modern side yard full sun garden in Miami.

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.