Clean new stone walls to keep this sloped front yard looking its best.
Photo of a small transitional front yard full sun garden for summer in Toronto with with raised garden bed, concrete pavers and a wood fence.

E5 Courtyard

Sarah Kay Garden Design

A bespoke storage box with a green roof for shade loving ferns and perennials is painted black to blend with the fencing and black exterior masonry wall which complements the interior styling.

View from terrace of lawn and outdoor room

Kate Eyre Garden Design

Small contemporary backyard garden in London with with raised garden bed and natural stone pavers.

Raised Courtyard Garden Beds

City Botanics

Design ideas for a small country courtyard full sun garden for spring in Auckland with with raised garden bed and concrete pavers.

A healthy pea harvest on a trellis

Ethos Seed Company

Organic and abundant harvest of snap peas on an inexpensive trellis. Highly ornamental plants!
Design ideas for a small country backyard full sun formal garden for spring in Bridgeport with with raised garden bed, mulch and a metal fence.

Complete Landscape design & Installation

Lush Gardens Inc

We started with a blank canvas backyard for this brand new home in Los Angeles, California. We maximized the leaving area by adding a large concrete patio, planting to soften the walls, and adding tiles with custom lighting for visual interest.

Project | Palm Square

flaura

Our clients wanted to transform the outdoor terrace of their Victorian property in Bermondsey into an al fresco dining spot. We designed a contemporary terrace with plush tropical greenery to pair seamlessly with the modern interior style.

Contemporary Retreat Garden City Centre

Charlie Day Garden Design

Detailing of bench with dowel caps on screws
Photo of a small contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden for spring in London with with raised garden bed, natural stone pavers and a wood fence.

Portobello

AJR Greenspace

A compact garden in Portobello transformed after the construction of a new dining extension. The floating concrete bench provides the main focal point whilst a hidden set of corten steps leads up to an elevated seating area, the perfect spot to sip a G&T in the evening sun hanging in a hammock from the pergola. The reclaimed brick patio and lush green shade planting soften the industrial structures whilst a Siberian larch screen conceals a useful storage area at the end.

Framing an elegant heritage Nth Adelaide home

Flosski Studio

A young couple sought a refreshed, low-maintenance garden to complement their elegant stone heritage home. Flosski Studio created tiered diamond-shaped parterre garden with layers of emerald, chartreuse and fuschia planting, A new entry path featuring black and white chequered tiles strikes the balance between a heritage and contemporary aesthetic. Sweeping gravel areas extend to the back patio area where clipped native plantings punctuate the entertaining space. Sculptural forms such as a raised water fountain, large pots, spiral topiary and stone spheres offset the delicate plantings.

Aloe striata

Landscape Logic

This is how the front yard flourished in 8 months.
Photo of a small contemporary front yard full sun xeriscape for summer in San Diego with with raised garden bed, river rock and a metal fence.

Chiswick Contemporary courtyard

Nordland Landscapes

This garden was overgrown and not used at all by the property owners. The homeowners wanted a contemporary courtyard that was family friendly and modern. To achieve this, materials were chosen to match the stylish interior of the house. Also by using lighter coloured material we were able to brighten up the garden. The printed porcelain paving gave a contemporary modern feel whilst introducing added interest. Cedar batten fencing was used to clad the boundaries to minimise the oppressive feel of the high boundaries and to introduce more light into the garden. The cedar timber floating bench now provides a place to sit and entertain. It is also the perfect height for the clients’ children to use as a play bench. To brighten up the dull and dark corner by the french doors, the original steps were clad in beautiful blue and grey encaustic tiles to add much needed colour and interest in an area that had been previously neglected. This contemporary courtyard is now bright and welcoming and used by the property owners and their children on a daily basis.

Thorndon Garden

Mosaic Design

View of new steps leading from patio beside house toward upper lawn area. New planting in front of the back fence includes hydrangeas, Italian Cypresses and white foxgloves.

Rosedale - Intimate Condo Courtyard

Infinite Possibilities Landscape & Design

Inspiration for a small traditional courtyard shaded garden in Toronto with with raised garden bed, natural stone pavers and a wood fence.

Back Yard Renovation

Wandsnider Landscape Architects

Large planter with Unilock Lineo wall stone and Ledgestone cap for wall. Unilock Artline pavers for patio with Lannon stone paver edging.
Design ideas for a small modern backyard full sun garden for summer in Milwaukee with with raised garden bed and concrete pavers.

Peaceful, Eclectic Highgate Flat - 300 square feet

Jack Allan

A nice patio with a surround of fairy lights sits next to a raised terrace with vegetable planters.
Photo of a small eclectic backyard partial sun garden for summer in London with with raised garden bed and concrete pavers.

Weavers Field, Bloxham

Alexander John Garden Design & Maintenance

A mini garden makeover to this new home in Bloxham, Oxfordshire. New paved patio using Indian sandstone. A sleeper steps up to the new lawn. A feature raised bed ready for the homeowner to plant with low maintenance planting and companion planting eg salads and flowers. The new garden also features a sandpit with lid for the little one to play safely. We have added a Star jasmine to be trained on the wall to provide fragrance and an Amelanchier tree for spring blossom and great autumn color to give the garden height

Overall Garden Old and New

Dorthy Pautz Landscape Architect

The old existing brick terrace transitions up to the new bluestone terrace at the cabana; tropical palms, flaxes, angels trumpet and Japanese maple form the backdrop, while lower flowering plants in the sunnier foreground areas attract pollinators and birds - Oxalis, Salvias, Cuphea, Parrott's beak, lantana.

Front yard Retaining Wall

Mary-Jo Melnyk Garden Designs

Jardin moderne en centre-ville

Garden Project

Design ideas for a small modern courtyard full sun garden in Toulouse with with raised garden bed and natural stone pavers.

Small Garden Design Ideas with with Raised Garden Bed

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.