Photo of a mid-sized contemporary backyard xeriscape in Los Angeles with a garden path and decomposed granite.

Northbrook Illinois Shade Garden in June

Photo by Kirsten Gentry and Terra Jenkins for Van Zelst, Inc.
Design ideas for an expansive traditional backyard shaded garden for summer in Chicago with a garden path.

Camelback Royal View

Hendricks Construction

Inspiration for a large mediterranean front yard partial sun formal garden in Phoenix with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Modern Urban Warmth, Capitol Hill

SCJ Studio Landscape Architecture

Our client built a striking new home on the east slope of Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. To complement the clean lines of the facade we designed a simple, elegant landscape that sets off the home rather than competing with the bold architecture. Soft grasses offer contrast to the natural stone veneer, perennials brighten the mood, and planters add a bit of whimsy to the arrival sequence. On either side of the main entry, roof runoff is dramatically routed down the face of the home in steel troughs to biofilter planters faced in stone. Around the back of the home, a small “leftover” space was transformed into a cozy patio terrace with bluestone slabs and crushed granite underfoot. A view down into, or across the back patio area provides a serene foreground to the beautiful views to Lake Washington beyond. Collaborating with Thielsen Architects provided the owners with a sold design team--working together with one voice to build their dream home. Photography by Miranda Estes

Deer Grass Accents in Winter

FormLA Landscaping

While the Retreat hosts many fall-blooming native plants, Deer Grass accents steal the show in autumn. The owners love the look of their golden seed heads, which catch the breeze and enchant the birds.

Earls Court Oasis

Harry Holding Studio

An inner city oasis with enchanting planting using a tapestry of textures, shades of green and architectural forms to evoke the tropics of Australia. Here, ferns and geraniums spill over the granite plank paving.

Salmon Bay Residence

Richard Hartlage Land Morphology

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern side yard partial sun garden for spring in Seattle with a garden path and concrete pavers.

O'Conner Waterfront, Camano Island WA

Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects

Entry arbor. Photography by Lucas Henning.
Inspiration for a contemporary front yard partial sun xeriscape for summer in Seattle with a garden path and concrete pavers.

Garden Dublin 4

Amazon Landscaping and Garden Design

Gold Granite Patio Boxwood Lollipop planting in urban Garden Design by Amazon Landscaping 014060004 Amazonlandscaping.ie
Photo of a small contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden for summer in Dublin with a garden path, natural stone pavers and a wood fence.

Arabian Ranches Landscape Project

Milestone Dubai

Mediterranean full sun formal garden in Other with a garden path.

Fordyce | Brentwood

Cari Berg Interior Design

Photo of a large beach style backyard partial sun formal garden in San Francisco with a garden path and gravel.

Balgowlah Heights

Joanne Green Landscape & Interior

This project had two required outcomes; develop a bolder garden presence in both the front and back garden, while creating a unique area in the backyard for teenage boys to entertain in. The backyard was a very rocky site which included a bald, exposed rock and multiple levels, but which had an innate native feel - so this was built upon by planting a number of beautiful Australian species, such as Bracelet Honey Myrtle, Kangaroo Paw, Mat Rush, selected succulents, Coastal Rosemary, Japanese Box topiaries, Sweet Viburnum, Bird-of-Paradise, Box and Keteleeri Juniper. To carry the native feel throughout the entire redevelopment, the backyard construction included feature sandstone walling, timber bollards to support lighting and sandstone steps with decomposed granite. To ensure the area fulfilled its entertainment goal, a fire pit was created with timber seating surrounds and a new BBQ enclosure installed, complete with lighting and a gas BBQ for year-round functionality. The exposed rock was turned into a unique feature piece and the garden was punctuated with sculptures, tallowwood posts, sawn sandstone, castlight fittings and terrazzo pots to imbue a modern bent. This feel was carried throughout the front yard where new feature walling, pots and lighting complemented the same plant varieties. The end result is a bold modern garden which boasts year-round entertainment functionality and can be enjoyed by all ages.

Spanish Banks - Contemporary/ Traditional

Bearmark Design & Landscape

Inspiration for a contemporary front yard formal garden in Vancouver with a garden path.

Birds, butterflies and beauty

BE Landscape Design

Design ideas for a small beach style front yard xeriscape in Los Angeles with a garden path.

Lake Front Property

A J Miller Landscape Architecture PLLC

Jamie Young Photography
Mid-sized contemporary sloped partial sun xeriscape in New York with a garden path and natural stone pavers for fall.

Davis Front Yard

Benton Outdoor Living

Photo of a large traditional front yard full sun driveway for spring in Charlotte with a garden path and concrete pavers.

Маленький камерный сад.

Авторские сады

Small contemporary courtyard full sun garden in Yekaterinburg with concrete pavers and a garden path for spring.

Another Lawn Bites the Dust - With Gusto

Billy Goodnick Garden Design

Yellow winter flowers of Sedum rubrotinctum will give way to delicate chartreuse foliage. Dwarf Mexican Sage (Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara' is just starting to bloom in the same purple hue as the Wandering Jew. photo by Billy Goodnick

Urban Garden Design

Amazon Landscaping and Garden Design

Small Urban Garden Design by Amazon Landscaping and Garden Design mALCI 014060004 Amazonlandscaping.ie
Design ideas for a small contemporary backyard full sun formal garden for summer in Dublin with a garden path, natural stone pavers and a wood fence.

Los Altos Residence

Hanneman Design

Inspiration for a large mediterranean front yard partial sun formal garden for fall in San Francisco with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Yellow Garden Design Ideas with a Garden Path

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.