Colored concrete pathway with drought tolerant plantings and dry riverbed.
Design ideas for a small side yard full sun xeriscape in San Diego with a garden path and concrete pavers.

Cozy Backyard Patio

SCJ Studio Landscape Architecture - Montana

A forgotten backyard space was reimagined and transformed by SCJ Studio for outdoor living, dining, entertaining, and play. A terraced approach was needed to meet up with existing grades to the alley, new concrete stairs with integrated lighting, paving, built-in benches, a turf area, and planting were carefully thought through.

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

Primrose Hill

Emma O'Connell Garden Design

Bespoke cantilevered metal steps within retaining wall with shade-loving planting including acer.
Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard garden in London.

The path leading to Al fresco dining

Georgia Lindsay Garden Design

A garden of two halves, divided by the oak screen to conceal the BBQ
Design ideas for a small modern backyard full sun garden for spring in London with gravel and a wood fence.

Sofronas Residence

Altera Landscape

Landscape Design: AMS Landscape Design Studios, Inc. / Photography: Jeri Koegel
Small contemporary side yard partial sun garden in Orange County with natural stone pavers.

Brownstone Backyard in Jersey City, NJ

Solicito and Son Landscape Contracting

Design ideas for a small traditional backyard partial sun garden in New York with a container garden.

Japanese Courtyard Garden

Hanselman Landscape and Gardens

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

Contemporary Landscape

This is an example of a small and desert look contemporary courtyard full sun garden for summer in Los Angeles with gravel.

Water feature in a small space

Horn & Co. (Previously JHLA)

Our clients on this project were inspired by their travels to Asia and wanted to mimic this aesthetic at their DC property. We designed a water feature that effectively masks adjacent traffic noise and maintains a small footprint.

Compact Entertaining Garden

Tom Howard Garden Design and Landscaping

Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard partial sun garden in London with natural stone pavers.

Garden

Lori Dennis, ASID, LEED AP

Container gardens sit next to a concrete paver driveway and modern home just nextdoor.
Inspiration for a small contemporary front yard full sun garden in Los Angeles with with raised garden bed and a wood fence.

Design Details

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.

West Coast English Retreat

Tierra Madre Fine Gardens

Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard partial sun garden in Other with gravel.

1960's remodel - Japanese & Scandinavian style house

Mark Hazeldine Photography

Japanese style garden with Corten steel abstract sculpture
Inspiration for a small scandinavian backyard partial sun garden in Surrey with a wood fence.

West Pymble

iCreate Landscape and Design PTY LTD

Photo of a small contemporary courtyard partial sun garden in Sydney with with raised garden bed, natural stone pavers and a wood fence.

Sakura House

Arbordale Landscaping

Photo of a small contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden for summer in Toronto with a garden path, concrete pavers and a wood fence.

Courtyard Garden Design Redfern Sydney

Vogue & Vine - Landscape Designers Sydney

Our inner-city client in Redfern had a small outdoor courtyard which was impractical and he never used it for entertaining. Vogue and Vine were called in to create a liveable outdoor room and maximise space for seating and entertaining. We put down a new concrete floor and created built in bench seating and garden beds. We broke the space up using different materials and a modern colour palette. We used outdoor sofas and built in cushions to add a touch of glamour and warmth.

Presidio Park Refresh

Jackie and the Beanstalk

The large alcove houses a giant AC unit which was visible from the street. This gate that leads nowhere allows access for servicing or removal of the unit. The bioswale is constructed of a Geo Grid to allow a dolly to remove AC unit if and when it fails. The beautiful rain chain filters rain water from the roof into the bioswale so the water remains in the garden and not down into the storm drain.

Small Contemporary Garden Blackheath

Hamilton Cody Garden Design

Inspiration for a small contemporary front yard partial sun driveway for summer in London with with privacy feature 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.