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Small Garden Ideas and Designs

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Carroll Gardens Backyard
Carroll Gardens Backyard
Staghorn NYCStaghorn NYC
Total renovation for a small backyard garden in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn. The scope included a bluestone patio, horizontal cedar fence with built in planters and bench with storage. Overhead cafe string lights and a pendant fixture allow this family to enjoy their garden after dark. Low maintenance flowering perennials and grasses as well as herbs and vegetables fill the planted areas.
Brentwood Plunge Courtyard
Brentwood Plunge Courtyard
Native Edge LandscapeNative Edge Landscape
This project is another example of how to maximize small spaces. This customer’s small Brentwood yard was centered around their new plunge pool. However, the existing pavers and layout left much to be desired. We reworked the pavers to create usable spaces and clean lines, and a vines and lighting work with the custom pergola to increase the privacy and add a soft vertical element to encourage the intimate feel of the space. Two other structures block the pool equipment and AC compressor from sight. This reduces the visual weight of these areas and allows the eye to focus on the crown jewel of the space… the pool.
Rustic Peastone Patio & Garden - World's End, Hingham
Rustic Peastone Patio & Garden - World's End, Hingham
UserUser
The goal of this landscape design and build project was to create a simple patio using peastone with a granite cobble edging. The patio sits adjacent to the residence and is bordered by lawn, vegetable garden beds, and a cairn rock water feature. Designed and built by Skyline Landscapes, LLC.
Private Modern Garden
Private Modern Garden
Outside CollectiveOutside Collective
Christel Leung
Photo of a small modern back formal full sun garden in San Francisco with a garden path and concrete paving.
Secret Garden
Secret Garden
Craig Reynolds Landscape ArchitectureCraig Reynolds Landscape Architecture
Tamara Alvarez
This is an example of a small world-inspired garden in Miami.
Elegant Raised Vegetable Gardens
Elegant Raised Vegetable Gardens
Nature's Perspective LandscapingNature's Perspective Landscaping
A space for growing vegetables and potting plants is made more aesthetically pleasing, with a geometric planter design, a large bubbling urn and natural clay pavers and bluestone slabs. A drip irrigation system keeps plants lush and thriving.
Doylestown Pa
Doylestown Pa
Earth Work DesignEarth Work Design
A fantastic outdoor entertaining area next to the spring house on this beautiful historic Doylestown property. Boulder walls and steps were used to fix the grade and a bluestone patio makes a great area for a fire pit and entertaining. Nick Pugliese
Seattle Cozy Patio
Seattle Cozy Patio
SCJ Studio Landscape ArchitectureSCJ Studio Landscape Architecture
In Seattle's Fremont neighborhood SCJ Studio designed a new landscape to surround and set off a contemporary home by Coates Design Architects. The narrow spaces around the tall home needed structure and organization, and a thoughtful approach to layout and space programming. A concrete patio was installed with a Paloform Bento gas fire feature surrounded by lush, northwest planting. A horizontal board cedar fence provides privacy from the street and creates the cozy feeling of an outdoor room among the trees. LED low-voltage lighting by Kichler Lighting adds night-time warmth . Photography by: Miranda Estes Photography
Niche
Niche
Seed Studio Landscape DesignSeed Studio Landscape Design
image: Travis Rhoads Photography
Design ideas for a small contemporary side formal fully shaded garden in San Francisco with natural stone paving.
Small town garden no lawn
Small town garden no lawn
Amanda ShipmanAmanda Shipman
Amanda Shipman
Small traditional courtyard formal partial sun garden for summer in Hertfordshire with a garden path and brick paving.
Zen Nook
Zen Nook
The Mirror of ParadiseThe Mirror of Paradise
Design ideas for a small world-inspired front fully shaded garden in Miami with a water feature and natural stone paving.
Townhouse garden
Townhouse garden
Neil Jones DesignNeil Jones Design
Using a refined palette of quality materials set within a striking and elegant design, the space provides a restful and sophisticated urban garden for a professional couple to be enjoyed both in the daytime and after dark. The use of corten is complimented by the bold treatment of black in the decking, bespoke screen and pergola.
California Cottage
California Cottage
Tish Landscape DesignTish Landscape Design
A new cottage was situated in back of a historic home in downtown Palo Alto. The task was to incorporate the new cottage to the existing landscape. A poured-in-place patio allows the homeowner and her dogs to have a place to sit in the sun, while a dry stack wall delineates the patio edge. Under a canopy of Redwood trees, water-wise plantings create a lush and inviting space. Photos by David Easton Architect
Designing with Hardscape
Designing with Hardscape
Jill Davis DesignJill Davis Design
Newly designed walkway and gardens. What a difference the beautiful pavers and perennials make. Photos by Jill Davis
Small traditional front formal partial sun garden for summer in Chicago with a garden path and concrete paving.
Green Roof Bicycle Shed
Green Roof Bicycle Shed
Harrowden Turf LtdHarrowden Turf Ltd
Red campion and oxeye daisy thriving on a wildflower roof.
Design ideas for a small modern garden in Other.
Tettegouche Studio Landscaping
Tettegouche Studio Landscaping
Bella Terra Landscape DesignBella Terra Landscape Design
This is an example of a small modern garden in Other.
Cote D' Azur
Cote D' Azur
Finley's Tree & Landcare, Inc.Finley's Tree & Landcare, Inc.
Re-landscaped the common area of this Redondo Beach Homeowner's Association for a more polished (drought tolerant) look.
Photo of a small courtyard xeriscape garden in Los Angeles with a garden path and gravel.
Best in Show - Great Gardening Show
Best in Show - Great Gardening Show
Rebecca Webb Garden DesignsRebecca Webb Garden Designs
Inspiration for a small contemporary back formal partial sun raised pond for summer in Surrey with a pond and natural stone paving.
Small backyard with flare
Small backyard with flare
The Bruce CompanyThe Bruce Company
This small backyard incorporates an outdoordining space and wood burning fire pit in their patio area. There is a small crescent of turf on one side and a sculptural water feature on the other. Although neighbors are close, the surrounding plantings and overhead tree canopy make the space feel very sheltered and private.
Traditional Garden
Traditional Garden
Carey Ezell Landscape Design LLCCarey Ezell Landscape Design LLC
A formal courtyard garden creates interest in this front yard.
Design ideas for a small classic front formal full sun garden in Boston with a garden path and natural stone paving.

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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