Our homeowners were looking for a garden where they could sit by the fire, grow vegetable and hear the sound of water. Their home was new construction in a modern farmhouse style. We used gravel and concrete as paving. Board formed concrete firepit keeps it feeling modern. The vegetable beds supply season vegetables and herbs.

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 natural stone pavers.

Curb Appeal

Crescent Hill Home Staging & Design LLC

Inspiration for a small transitional side yard full sun formal garden in Other with a garden path.

Los Altos Hills

April Philips Design Works

The Spa, spa deck, water feature and greenwall.
Inspiration for a small contemporary backyard full sun garden in San Francisco with a vertical garden and decking.

Rosedale Modern Courtyard

Native Edge Landscape

This duplex has a very modern aesthetic with focuses on clean lines and metal accents. However, the front courtyard was undeveloped and uninviting. We worked with the client to tie the courtyard and the property together by adding clean, monochromatic details with a heavy focus on texture. The main goal of this project was to add a low-maintenance outdoor living space that was an extension of the home. The small space and harsh sun exposure limited the plant pallet, but we were able to use lush plant material to maximize the space. A monochromatic pallet makes for a perfect backdrop for focal points and key pieces. The circular fire-pit was used to break up the 90 degree angles of the space, and also played off the round pottery.

Stainless water fountain

Exterior Worlds Landscaping & Design

Design ideas for a small modern side yard full sun garden in Houston with a water feature and decking.

Laurelhurst Modern Garden

Northwest Native Landscapes LLC

Dramatic plant textures, modern hardscaping and sharp angles enhanced this mid-century modern bungalow. Soft plants were chosen to contrast with the sharp angles of the pathways and hard edges of the MCM home, while providing all-season interest. Horizontal privacy screens wrap the front porch and create intimate garden spaces – some visible only from the street and some visible only from inside the home. The front yard is relatively small in size, but full of colorful texture.

Small interior Zen garden

The Japanese Garden

This zen garden is located on a central courtyard that connects the kitchen of the house, with the living - dining area and main access hall. As you can see it is glazed on several sides, each view after concluded the work is slightly different. This time, only put a lamp in Japanese style to give the night lighting environment. This is a sample of a Zen garden that carries an implicit minimalist in design. The conditions in the house are basically clear and minimalist tones, it is for that reason that it was decided to this design. Few elements, well distributed, with a mix of different textures, from coarse gravel and dark gray color, contrasting with the white gravel and raked; allows us to balance the wabi sabi and the scene.

Decomposed granite path with low water succulents, grasses and shrubs

June Scott Design

Succulents, grasses and low-water shrubs with vivid foliage give this coastal garden a rich, textured look with minimal maintenance. Photos by Daniel Bosler

Concrete water fountain

Studio H Landscape Architecture

Sideyard modern water feature. The fountain is located off the living room window to enjoy from both the living area and kitchen. Concrete stepping pads extend over the fountain and into the artificial turf area in the rear yard. Succulents and grasses are planted throughout the yard.

Brownstone Backyard Landscape Design & Bluestone Patio

Dragonetti Brothers Landscapes

This is an example of a small modern backyard full sun driveway for fall in New York with natural stone pavers and a container garden.

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. The slit in the white stucco wall is a spillway for a waterfall, which empties into the pond below and then recirculates. An elevated concrete patio is behind the waterfall. The original design was by Eric King but this design was modified and built by Botanica Atlanta.

Dimensional Flagstone Paths and Patios

Avid Landscape Management LLC

A clean and efficient side path in Ballard. The concrete slabs are Abbottsford Texada (natural color), 24" x 24".
Design ideas for a small modern side yard shaded garden in Seattle with a garden path and concrete pavers.

Wildlife Friendly Front Garden

Fenton Roberts Garden Design

Jo Fenton
Design ideas for a small traditional front yard full sun driveway for summer in London with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Lincoln Park Herb Wall

Brent Riechers Landscape (BRL LANDesign)

Brent A. Riechers
Inspiration for a small contemporary rooftop full sun garden in Chicago with a vegetable garden.

Secret retreat garden

1 to One Garden Design

The garden was a mess when I arrived to redesign it. Neglected chaos and an elderly couple who wanted a peaceful,place to relax in.
This is an example of a small traditional backyard shaded garden for summer in Surrey.

Casa Sonoma

Reyes Landscape Construction

Small modern backyard full sun formal garden in San Francisco with gravel for spring.

Cabins - American Dream Builders

Bohler Builders Group, Inc.

Jana Bishop
Design ideas for a small country front yard garden for fall in Los Angeles.

Potrero Hill Lookout

Seed Studio Landscape Design

photo by Seed Studio, editing by TR PhotoStudio
Inspiration for a small modern backyard full sun xeriscape in San Francisco with gravel and a fire feature.

Raised Bed Vegetable Garden

Casa Smith Designs, LLC

This veggie bed is accessible from every angle and easy on the back - everything grows right in front of you...no bending over required. Photo Credit: Mark Pinkerton

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.