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Small Garden Ideas and Designs

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Hackney Court Yard
Hackney Court Yard
Tom Howard Garden Design and LandscapingTom Howard Garden Design and Landscaping
Photo of a small mediterranean courtyard partial sun garden in London.
San Luis Obispo Woodland Garden
San Luis Obispo Woodland Garden
Erik Jones LandscapingErik Jones Landscaping
A pond and stream are hidden along these steps. Backyard steps utilize large flagstone pieces. Irish moss, blue star creeper, scotch moss, and mini mondo grass are a few of the plants growing between the stones. This yard has over 60 Japanese Maples and lots of ferns, ligularias, hydrangeas, and other shade plants Erik Jones
Edible Spaces
Edible Spaces
Outside SpaceOutside Space
Vertical herb garden over the BBQ area.
This is an example of a small contemporary back full sun garden in Sydney with a living wall.
Lincoln Park Herb Wall
Lincoln Park Herb Wall
Brent Riechers Landscape (BRL LANDesign)Brent Riechers Landscape (BRL LANDesign)
Brent A. Riechers
Inspiration for a small contemporary roof full sun garden in Chicago with a vegetable patch.
Small Spaces
Small Spaces
G Brown DesignG Brown Design
Reused corrugated metal on fence, reused broken concrete as stepping stones, reused door as back gate,
Small bohemian side full sun garden in Salt Lake City with a garden path and natural stone paving.
Water feature in a small space
Water feature in a small space
Horn & Co. (Previously JHLA)Horn & Co. (Previously JHLA)
Our clients on this project were inspired by their travels to Asia and wanted to mimic this aesthetic at their DC property. We designed a water feature that effectively masks adjacent traffic noise and maintains a small footprint.
Mid Century Modern Landscape Transformation
Mid Century Modern Landscape Transformation
Dig Your Garden Landscape DesignDig Your Garden Landscape Design
With a limited budget, we were able to transform and update this front garden with a new modern pathway, a small patio, and a variety of low-water and low-maintenance plants. The black mulch completes this modern landscape design transformation. I included a selection of plants that provide a variety of heights, colors and textures. Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark' is a great low-care plant perfect along pathways. © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design
Garden
Garden
Jarret Yoshida DesignJarret Yoshida Design
Design ideas for a small contemporary back garden seating in New York.
Remodel Sierra Madre
Remodel Sierra Madre
UserUser
Design ideas for a small contemporary back garden wall in Los Angeles with gravel.
West Village Brownstone, New York, NY
West Village Brownstone, New York, NY
Billinkoff Architecture PLLCBillinkoff Architecture PLLC
photo:Frank Oudeman
Inspiration for a small contemporary back xeriscape partial sun garden for summer in New York with gravel and a potted garden.
Vineyard Residence
Vineyard Residence
Carson Douglas Landscape ArchitectureCarson Douglas Landscape Architecture
William Carson Joyce
Inspiration for a small contemporary back xeriscape fully shaded garden wall in Santa Barbara with gravel.
Modern San Francisco Living
Modern San Francisco Living
Boxleaf Design, Inc.Boxleaf Design, Inc.
Small residential garden to suite a modern house and active children. -kwmla-
Design ideas for a small contemporary back garden in San Francisco.
Southwest Portland 2
Southwest Portland 2
Scot RagsdaleScot Ragsdale
Small classic back fully shaded garden in Portland.
Green Living Wall
Green Living Wall
Plan-it Earth DesignPlan-it Earth Design
This living wall, with corten steel surround, hides an unsightly fence on top of a retaining wall in the shade of a large maple tree Design by Amy Whitworth Installed by Dinsdale Landscape Contractors, Inc Living wall by Solterra Photo by Amy Whitworth
Contemporary courtyard
Contemporary courtyard
SeedOnceSown LtdSeedOnceSown Ltd
This striking modern house had an unloved outdoor space with a large overhanging tree and dominant brick wall. We rejuvenated with new paving, porcelain cladding and a few choice plants for a contemporary look to complement the house. The addition of a living wall completes the transformation
Mountain Home Planting
Mountain Home Planting
SCJ Studio Landscape Architecture - MontanaSCJ Studio Landscape Architecture - Montana
A mountain home near a ski resort gets a planting and hardscape upgrade with mostly native, climate-resiliant planting.
Small contemporary front driveway full sun garden for summer in Other with a pathway and concrete paving.
Compact Entertaining Garden
Compact Entertaining Garden
Tom Howard Garden Design and LandscapingTom Howard Garden Design and Landscaping
Photo of a small contemporary back partial sun garden in London with natural stone paving.
Adams Street, Denver, CO
Adams Street, Denver, CO
LAND BY DESIGNLAND 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.
Watch this Space - Revamp of Santa Luz Front Yard
Watch this Space - Revamp of Santa Luz Front Yard
Alfresco LandscapesAlfresco Landscapes
Complete revamp of existing front yard, creating a more contemporary feel with new wide concrete steps, steppers in Mexican beach cobble, simple stucco retaining walls, waterwise planting, metal fence and new driveway.
August
August
Georgia Lindsay Garden DesignGeorgia Lindsay Garden Design
Full and bursting with life the E20 pollinator garden shows what you can do with a new build!
Photo of a small modern garden in London.

Small Garden Ideas and Designs

A beautifully designed garden is as important as the emphasis we place on the designs of our interiors. After all, our grounds (however modest) frame our homes and contribute to first impressions not only of our houses, but also of the households within. Options for garden designs can be as elaborate or low maintenance as your lifestyle and preferences permit – consider both your aspirations for how it should look and how much time you can invest in garden maintenance. Consulting a gardener or landscape designer will ensure you have a garden that suits your lifestyle, the local climate and soil conditions. But don’t forget that with Houzz your first stop can be collecting images of garden ideas and designs you love in order to inspire your garden plans and potentially share them with a landscape gardening professional.

How do I come up with a front garden design?

The priority for a front garden is kerb appeal. Begin by considering the area immediately around and leading up to your front door. You may want to opt for front garden designs that blend well with the style of your home – for example, abundant foliage and flowerbeds will perfectly complement a period property, whereas man-made materials, geometric shapes and contrasting textures are great ideas for a contemporary garden design. Even if your front garden is a small space, keep it tidy – if you have more space, make the most of it with garden ideas and features such as a manicured lawn, gravel driveway, water feature or garden fencing. If you don’t have the time or commitment to devote to gardening, then neatly pruned hedges, statement paving, hanging baskets, garden benches and outdoor lighting are all decorative, low maintenance garden ideas for your front garden design.

How should I design my back garden?

Back gardens typically offer more space than front garden designs and serve a more recreational purpose, so it’s important to know how you want to spend time in your garden before you design it in order to build in the features that you will enjoy. If you love relaxing in the garden and dining al fresco, think about patios, decking, garden furniture and BBQs. For the more horticulturally-inclined, incorporate flower beds, greenhouses or vegetable garden designs. Your landscape gardening professional can help you install structures such as sheds, pergolas and gazebos that complement your garden design, and artfully-placed garden ideas such as lawn edging and lighting will add definition to your chosen design.

How do I create a low maintenance garden?

The great news is, gardens aren’t exclusively for the green-fingered. Whether you’re not horticulturally-inclined or simply don’t have the time for a bit of landscape gardening, you can still have a garden design that looks the way you want by making some smart design choices. While many of us favour low maintenance gardens like urban gardens, roof terraces and patio gardens, lovers of greenery don’t need to sacrifice grass for paving slabs. Whatever you want from your garden, there are a variety of gardening solutions that can be built in to make life easier. For example, labour intensive features such as vegetable patches, greenhouses and flower beds can be optimised with an automatic irrigation system. These can be offset with fuss-free garden ideas such as hard landscaping, including gravel, paving or decking, and hard-wearing evergreens that require minimal upkeep. You might even consider replacing your garden fencing with slow growing hedging, which can be maintained less regularly than wooden fence panels. If having a lawn is important, there are different types of grasses in varying degrees of durability and maintenance. You may choose to take a more relaxed approach to your lawn – “wild” garden designs can have great charm if the grasses and flowers are chosen carefully. If you prefer a manicured lawn, it’s a good idea to invest in a “mulching” lawn mower that will recycle clippings and remove the need for cleaning up. Finally, there isn’t a more low maintenance garden lawn than artificial grass which can look highly realistic and keep your garden looking green. Garden ornaments are a great way to add interest to your low maintenance garden design – go for smart garden ideas such as solar garden lights which are both decorative and functional. Find some of the most popular design ideas on Houzz.
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