Dry stack rock walls, dry creek stream for spring melt
Design ideas for a small traditional backyard full sun formal garden for spring in Boise with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Adams Street, Denver, CO

LAND BY DESIGN

Corten steel sculpture, Corten steel firepit, wood trellis, wood pergola, raised Trex deck, Outdoor dining, Outdoor living, boulder water feature, granite chip, concrete edging Corten steel focal point.

Shady Madrona Front Patio

Erin Lau Landscape Design- Seattle

A shady front yard paver patio in the Madrona neighborhood of Seattle under a large Sequoia tree. Corten steel planters with Creeping Jenny and Carex spilling over. The steel gas firepit brings warmth to the seating area wrapped by a cedar built-in bench.

Pend Oreille Patio

Pacific Garden Design

Despite their location just outside downtown, the homeowners have an expansive backyard abutting Lake Pend Oreille. They enjoy the space, but needed a spot to gather lakeside. A patio with natural flagstone pavers is accented with sculptural boulders and seat rocks. A gas fire pit and custom shade sail create a comfortable space for chilly nights and sunny days, maximizing the homeowners' use of the space.

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.

Lounge

Rose Brady Keane Landscape Architecture

A shady backyard area was transformed into a dining and lounging space with veggie boxes and a bamboo border for privacy.
Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard shaded xeriscape for summer in Portland with a fire feature and concrete pavers.

Low profile Fire feature

Cade Kawamoto, Landworkshop , inc

David Guettler Photography.
This is an example of a small modern front yard full sun xeriscape for spring in Los Angeles with a fire feature and concrete pavers.

Inviting Patio with fire feature

Magnolia Landscape and Design Co.

Inspiration for a small traditional backyard full sun formal garden for summer in Minneapolis with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Laurelhurst Garden

Howells Architecture + Design

Anna M Campbell
Design ideas for a small modern backyard partial sun garden in Portland with a fire feature and concrete pavers.

Compact & Contemporary | Dining Area

Beyond Landscaping

This Toronto backyard may be small in space but it's big on style. We created two defined living spaces - a dining area on a raised square cut flagstone patio and a sunken living area with a fire table that will add style to any evening ambiance. This space is a perfect extension of the house. It's not only big on style but function as well and makes it perfect for this young family of five. There is a cozy bbq area with bench height stone wall and lounge area for mom or dad, long stretch of grass perfect for throwing the football and dining for the whole family (even the little ones!) When design in small spaces, creating defined rooms and keeping the unity between them can make the space feel larger and much more functional.

Glass House in the Garden

Flavin Architects

Modern glass house set in the landscape evokes a midcentury vibe. A modern gas fireplace divides the living area with a polished concrete floor from the greenhouse with a gravel floor. The frame is painted steel with aluminum sliding glass door. The front features a green roof with native grasses and the rear is covered with a glass roof. Photo by: Gregg Shupe Photography

Front Yard Landscape

Stephanie D Poole

Photo of a small beach style front yard full sun xeriscape in Santa Barbara with a fire feature and gravel.

Fire pit landscape

Project Masterz

Inspiration for a small country backyard partial sun xeriscape for fall in Austin with a fire feature and decomposed granite.

Maltese Road

Aralia: Innovation in Landscape Design

An award winning Victorian garden design that featured in ITV’s ‘Britain’s best gardens’ programme. The design features Victorian paviours, a metal pergola, a slate bench and traditional raised brick beds. Unusual down-lighting and a mixture of cottage garden and architectural planting complete the design. Photography by John Glover

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

In-Town Backyard

authenTEAK Outdoor Living

This beautiful outdoor space in Atlanta's Virginia Highland neighborhood was designed by Land Plus Associates and constructed by Okun Tech. Outdoor kitchen featuring Kingsley-Bate Valhalla table and Sag Harbor chairs. Appliances by Lynx.

Roseville

Landscape and Waterfall Creations

This is an example of a small traditional backyard full sun formal garden in Sacramento with a fire feature and concrete pavers.

Natural Stone Mountain Landscape

Terry T. King Landscape Architecture

Small traditional backyard full sun formal garden in Boise with a fire feature and natural stone pavers for spring.

Fire Pit Seating Area

Pickel Landscape Group

All boulders were found on property and used to make the walls.
Design ideas for a small country backyard shaded garden in Philadelphia with a fire feature and natural stone pavers.

Rocky Fire Pit Area - Permeable

CA Yardscape

Photo of a small beach style backyard partial sun garden for summer in Toronto with a fire feature and gravel.

Small Garden Design Ideas with a Fire Feature

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.