Steel & Cedar: A Stunning Pergola Takes Center Stage

Working in Harmony with Nature One of the most remarkable aspects of this project is how the pergola and the clam shell-colored Trex deck were thoughtfully designed to complement and highlight the existing large red oak tree. Rather than overshadowing or competing with its natural beauty, the design gracefully worked around the tree, creating a harmonious coexistence between human craftsmanship and nature’s elegance.

Marvelous Mid Century

Ketti Kupper Conscious Life Design

Photo by Ketti Kupper.
Inspiration for a small midcentury courtyard xeriscape in Los Angeles with gravel.

Holistic Modern in NE Portland, Oregon

Drake's 7 Dees Landscaping & Garden Center

This particular project actually came about in two phases. The client came to us wanting to qualify for the City of Portland's Audubon Society "Backyard Habitate Certification". Our first infrastructure of paths was crushed gravel with steel edging. Permeability was a requirement for certification... but after a year of being in the ground, the owners wanted another level of finish... and opted to add Iron Mountain Flagstone Steppers with a 1" gap, which still met the parameters of certification. Photography by: Joe Hollowell

Mid-Century Modern Beach House

Wildflower Landscape Design at K&D Landscaping

This is an example of a small midcentury front yard partial sun driveway in San Francisco with with raised garden bed and decking.

Mid century Petaluma

BK Landscape Design

This was a garden space that was a blank slate. All that existed before we conceptualized this garden was water loving turf. BKLD added two outdoor entertaining spaces in this small yard with a colored concrete patio and a crushed rock terrace for an informal fire feature. Umbrella stands were poured into the concrete so that outdoor umbrella's could provide shade and not blow away in this windier corridor of Petaluma. Who's ready for a beverage and some smores?

Mid-Modern Landscape

LandCrafters, LLC

The side courtyard is nestled into the landscape, surrounded by lush plantings. The Colorado flagstone patio is barely noticeable with the retaining/seat wall of cut Eden stone. The obtrusive air conditioner is screened by a custom cedar fence with lath for ventilation as well as support for a clematis vine. It too is designed in the mid-century modern style as the gate and side fence.

Beaverton Mid Century Modern

Chinick Landscaping & Nursery

Design by Candace Chinick We used natural stone steps along with concrete pavers to navigate the slope of this front yard. With uplighting on the metal panels and path lights, this landscape glows in the evenings. Evergreen materials keep the interest year-round. As the ground covers and grasses fill in, it will become very low maintenance in the years to come.

The Soak Box

Hush House

This project combines three main strengths of Smash Design Build: architecture, landscape, and craftsmanship in concise and composed spaces. Lush planting in modern, rusting steel planters surround wooden decks, which feature a Japanese soaking tub.

Courtyard Landscape Design Gresham Oregon

Ross NW Watergardens

This area now belongs to the view from the home, rather than to the neighborhood. Landscape Design and pictures by Ben Bowen of Ross NW Watergardens
Inspiration for a small midcentury courtyard full sun formal garden in Portland with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Taliesen Park

HINISH Design Collective

This is an example of a small midcentury backyard partial sun xeriscape for winter in Portland with a retaining wall and a wood fence.

Berkeley Hills Midcentury Modern

Planet Horticulture

Hilltop home with sweeping views of San Francisco Bay. Open views surrounded by bold foliage dominated plantings. Small lawn of native bentgrass.
Inspiration for a small midcentury front yard full sun garden in San Francisco.

Beachbound, Newport, RI - Hali Beckman, Ltd.

HALI BECKMAN, LTD.

This intimate patio is rich in detail. There are cobble stone edges and pavers, bluestone pavers, landscape lighting and lounging furniture. The plantings were designed for foliage color due to the shady condition.

Courtyard with Sauna

Reikow Landscape Design

Design ideas for a small midcentury courtyard full sun garden in Seattle with concrete pavers.

The Soak Box

Hush House

Taliesen Park

HINISH Design Collective

This is an example of a small midcentury backyard partial sun xeriscape for winter in Portland with a retaining wall and a wood fence.

Mid-Century Modern Beach House

Wildflower Landscape Design at K&D Landscaping

Photo of a small midcentury front yard partial sun xeriscape in San Francisco with with path and gravel.

Marvelous Mid Century

Ketti Kupper Conscious Life Design

Terraced Courtyard with dry creek and floating steps. Photo by Ketti Kupper.
This is an example of a small midcentury side yard xeriscape in Los Angeles with a retaining wall and brick pavers.

Holistic Modern in NE Portland, Oregon

Drake's 7 Dees Landscaping & Garden Center

Another requirement of the Backyard Habitate Certification was a selective list of plants, proven to be favorites of local bird life. Many are natives and others meet other plant characteristics allowed. Japanese Forest Grass, a variety of ferns, Snowberry, Bleeding Heart and the like call out to to those soaring overhead. Photography by: Joe Hollowell

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

Courtyard Landscape Design Gresham Oregon

Ross NW Watergardens

Silver Springs basalt winds through the overlap in the screens. Landscape Design and pictures by Ben Bowen of Ross NW Watergardens
Small midcentury courtyard full sun formal garden in Portland with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Small Midcentury Garden Design Ideas

Get Inspired by Midcentury 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 midcentury 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 Midcentury Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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.