The parkway was designed to provide areas of hardscape where car passengers need to climb in/out. The plant selection is purposely kept low in height so as to facilitate foot traffic, maneuvering cars, and cannot impede car doors.

Balmain - Inner city garden

sticks and stones Landscape Design

Photo of a small tropical backyard full sun garden in Sydney with a retaining wall and decking.

Lyneham House

Light House Architecture & Science

Ben Wrigley
Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard garden in Canberra - Queanbeyan with a water feature and decking.

Brentwood Plunge Courtyard

Native Edge Landscape

This project is another example of how to maximize small spaces. This customer’s small Brentwood yard was centered around their new plunge pool. However, the existing pavers and layout left much to be desired. We reworked the pavers to create usable spaces and clean lines, and a vines and lighting work with the custom pergola to increase the privacy and add a soft vertical element to encourage the intimate feel of the space. Two other structures block the pool equipment and AC compressor from sight. This reduces the visual weight of these areas and allows the eye to focus on the crown jewel of the space… the pool.

Shady Chic

User

Maria Papoutsis
Inspiration for a small contemporary backyard shaded formal garden for summer in Other with a water feature and gravel.

Rear Garden Design, Harpenden

Green Tree Garden Design Ltd

The Lagoudi urn from Distinctive Garden makes a fantastic water feature outside the summerhouse. Richard Brown Photography Ltd
Photo of a small traditional garden in Cheshire.

Portland Road - Kingston

Metre Squared Architecture

Gilda Cevasco
Photo of a small transitional backyard full sun formal garden for spring in Other with gravel and a container garden.

RESTYLING GIARDINO Marisa & Roberto

I.D. Alessandro Roncato

Designed by ID Alessandro Roncato
Inspiration for a small industrial backyard shaded garden for spring in Milan with a garden path and gravel.

Best in Show - Great Gardening Show

Rebecca Webb Garden Designs

Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden for summer in Surrey with with pond and natural stone pavers.

Вид на участок

Архитектурная студия ТУДА

фото: Кирилл Иванов
Design ideas for a small contemporary front yard partial sun garden for fall in Moscow with with outdoor playset and concrete pavers.

Finished Designs

Jill Davis Design

Photo by Jill Davis
Design ideas for a small contemporary front yard full sun formal garden for winter in Chicago with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Contemporary backyard oasis

Land Studio C

Photo of a small contemporary backyard full sun xeriscape in San Francisco with a vertical garden and concrete pavers.

Westport Cottage

Minglewood, LLC

Cottage Shrub and Perennial Garden
Small beach style front yard full sun xeriscape in Providence with a garden path for summer.

Iron Fences

Custom Security Fence & Iron Works, LLC

This is an example of a small traditional backyard partial sun formal garden for spring in Houston with mulch.

Custom water feature next to hillside and native plantings

June Scott Design

Rock outcroppings make a striking background for new lounge areas in this compact Los Angeles hillside garden. Working with the attributes of the site, we added native plants to drape over the stone, and converted hollowed stone planters into a firepit and water feature. New built-in seating and a cozy hammock complete the relaxing space, and dramatic lighting makes it come alive at night. Photo by Martin Cox Photography.

Walling

Through The Garden, Inc.

This wall serves to break up the flat space of this patio and also introduce a dynamic element of a water fountain. The modern fountain projects outward toward the patio space, adding interest to the patio.

Ivy Street

Garden Stories

A small urban garden was the setting for a dense planting design. The landscape is very low-maintenance, using drought-tolerant plants, and narrow trees to maximize the useable space.

Rossmoyne Project

User

The interaction between the alfresco area and the garden - Photo: Julian Taylor
Small contemporary backyard partial sun garden in Perth with natural stone pavers for spring.

Castlebar Road, Ealing

Bayswater Interiors

Courtyard with stainless steel water feature. Bay trees and Box balls to provide structure with some lavender to soften the scheme and to provide additional colour and fragrance. Photo - Courtesy of KFH Ealing

Wildflower meadow surrounding house

Linden L.A.N.D. Group

Bare soil areas that were disturbed during construction were seeded with a Northeast native wildflower mix. Photo: Rebecca Lindenmeyr
Inspiration for a small transitional backyard full sun formal garden for summer in Burlington with a vegetable garden and natural stone pavers.

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.