Retaining walls can serve many purposes! Personal Touch incorporated siloam steps into this homeowner's short stone retaining wall for better backyard access! Seasonal pansies and complementary evergreens add aesthetic appeal to this stone wall and step duo!

Modern Landscape

Design ideas for a small modern sloped partial sun xeriscape in Seattle with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Small Retro Condo Garden- after

A Small Green Space

Megan Maloy (after photos) www.meganmaloy.com
This is an example of a small midcentury backyard shaded garden for winter in New York with a retaining wall and concrete pavers.

Small Front Yard Upgrade

Reyes Landscape Construction

New front yard landscape with terraced stone walls, boulders, plantings and concrete walkway
Inspiration for a small modern front yard full sun garden for summer in San Francisco with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Thigpen Residence

Chris Corbett Design

Neil Michael - Axiom Photography
Small modern courtyard shaded garden in Sacramento with a retaining wall.

Forest Hill South

Pro-Land Landscape Construction Inc.

Forest Hill South was designed by Mark Pettes of MDP and Pro-Land was hired to construct the project in 2012. Both natural flagstone and interlock was used on this project, designed to compliment one another as well as the house. Decorative walls retain the grade from the driveway and are faced with brick to tie into the house. Flagstone stepping stones laid in the grass bring you from the front landing into the backyard. The same flagstone is carried through the back and laid on the lounge and pool patio. Planting was added for some colour and privacy from neighbours.

Front Yard Landscape

Stephanie D Poole

The height of the natural stone wall is 26" and perfect height for sitting. A six inch space between the side walk and the wall is planted with Cerastium tomentosum or snow-in-summer.

After: rock garden side view

Futurity, Inc.

Outcropping stone steps leading up a berm serve as a focal point. Viridis Japanese maples cascade over rock walls.
Photo of a small contemporary backyard partial sun garden in Chicago with a retaining wall.

Naturalistic Contemporary Home in Santa Monica

Daniel Bosler Foto

Detail of Shrub Bouganvilla. ©Daniel Bosler Photography
Design ideas for a small modern front yard garden in Los Angeles with a retaining wall.

Hawthorn alfresco backyard

Boodle Concepts

An understated row of Ornamental Pear trees sit in from of a freshly Dulux-painted boundary fence in Hawthorn, Melbourne. Galvanised steel trellis on timber posts provides height and drama to the garden space, allowing Star Jasmine to climb up the vertical garden and screen out the neighbours (adding privacy). A freshly positioned boulder retaining wall gives the space an organic feel. Invigorating grasses add a lush element to the back yard, colour matching the artificial grass. Groundcovers cascade down and soften the severity of the timber retaining walls. Styling by Votre Monde. Image by Benjamin Carter of Boodle Concepts Landscaping

Kräuterbeet mediterran

Garten- und Landschaftsbau Wolz GmbH

Garten- und Landschaftsbau Wolz GmbH
Photo of a small mediterranean full sun garden for summer in Munich with a retaining wall and brick pavers.

Landscape Design Lake Mary Heathrow Fl lanai water fountain pavers

Earthwise Horticultural Services

Scott Simpson
Design ideas for a small contemporary courtyard partial sun formal garden for summer in Orlando with a retaining wall and concrete pavers.

Backyard Retaining Wall

Premier Lawncare & Landscape, LLC

This is just another photo of the stair section. These stairs are "rounded", there are many different ways to construct stairs.
Small modern backyard partial sun garden in Grand Rapids with a retaining wall.

Contemporary Landscape

Design ideas for a small contemporary courtyard garden in Other with a retaining wall and decking.

Concord Riverwalk

Minglewood, LLC

Angela Kearney, Minglewood Designs
Photo of a small contemporary sloped partial sun garden for summer in Boston with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Natural Stone Terraces

User

Dry stack flagstone walls create tiers on a steep sloped front yard. - Matt Unger
Photo of a small contemporary front yard full sun garden for spring in Denver with a retaining wall and mulch.

Conscious Stream Scape 2 Year Update - Silverlake

Ketti Kupper Conscious Life Design

Photo by Ketti Kupper
Photo of a small contemporary front yard full sun xeriscape in Los Angeles with a retaining wall.

Piermont New York Scandinavian Modern

Design Farm Group

Ipe wood accents help highlight the black exterior color of the this Cape re-design. In order to integrate the sloped terrain and create ample gathering spaces, we created various levels in the landscape. The terraced levels help open up the narrow space and provide better views to the Hudson River below. Ornamental grasses and ferns and a simple palette of white plantings create dimension against the black architecture. Native pea stone create simple yet thoughtful patios and walking paths. Photo Credit : Meeka Van der Wal Architect : Meg Fowler Builder : Joe Gambardella Landscape Designer : Meeka Van der Wal

Mid Century Restored

Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors

Private conversation space for two is conveniently located near the study.
Photo of a small midcentury backyard partial sun garden for summer in Chicago with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Balmain - Inner city garden

sticks and stones Landscape Design

Inspiration for a small tropical backyard full sun garden in Sydney with a retaining wall and decking.

Small Garden Design Ideas with a Retaining Wall

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.