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Small Garden Ideas and Designs

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Dorset Courtyard Garden
Dorset Courtyard Garden
Fi Boyle Garden DesignFi Boyle Garden Design
Upper rear terrace is framed by a low stone wall. Borders set into the paving soften the hard landscaping.
Small classic side garden in Dorset.
Meditation Garden
Meditation Garden
Ross Land StudioRoss Land Studio
An unused area of lawn has been repurposed as a meditation garden. The meandering path of limestone step stones weaves through a birch grove. The matrix planting of carex grasses is interspersed with flowering natives throughout the season. Fall is spectacular with the blooming of aromatic asters.
Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill
Emma O'Connell Garden DesignEmma O'Connell Garden Design
Bespoke circular table and curving bench backed by retaining wall clad in vintage brick.
This is an example of a small contemporary back fully shaded garden in London with a retaining wall and brick paving.
West London Courtyard
West London Courtyard
Karen Rogers at KR Garden DesignKaren Rogers at KR Garden Design
Walpole Garden, Chiswick Photography by Caroline Mardon - www.carolinemardon.com
Design ideas for a small traditional courtyard partial sun garden for spring in London with an outdoor sport court and brick paving.
Small north-facing garden on new estate
Small north-facing garden on new estate
Sue Craig-StewartSue Craig-Stewart
This photo was taken in March, after a long cold winter, showing that the garden still retains interest throughout the year. Gravel was added to suppress annual weeds, keep roots warmer and retain moisture.
Cooks Hill
Cooks Hill
MUD Landscape DesignMUD Landscape Design
Recycled timber green wall, Photography by Andy Jones
This is an example of a small rustic courtyard xeriscape partial sun garden for spring in Newcastle - Maitland with a living wall and concrete paving.
Decking level with inside the house - Surbiton
Decking level with inside the house - Surbiton
Bright Green GardenBright Green Garden
Low light reflecting off the house.
Inspiration for a small contemporary garden in Surrey.
Botley, West Oxford
Botley, West Oxford
Laura Burt GardensLaura Burt Gardens
A sculpture to give a focal point to this contemporary rear garden
Inspiration for a small back garden in Oxfordshire.
Flagstone Front Walkway in Herringbone Pattern
Flagstone Front Walkway in Herringbone Pattern
THE KING'S MASONSTHE KING'S MASONS
Flagstone Front Walkway in Herringbone Pattern
Photo of a small traditional front formal partial sun garden in DC Metro with a garden path and natural stone paving.
Växtkomposition Entrérabatt
Växtkomposition Entrérabatt
Högadals TrädgårdarHögadals Trädgårdar
Kunden var inte nöjd med sin entrérabatt. Den kändes rörig och ostrukturerad. Där fanns mycket blommor, några hon tyckte om och några hon inte ville ha kvar. Jag fick i uppdrag att göra en ny växtkomposition. Några växter sparades, några flyttades och några adderades. Resultatet blev en långblommande rabatt som blommar i mycket blått i maj-juni för att sedan gå över till mer rosa och vinröda toner i augusti-september.
Waverley Wild Side
Waverley Wild Side
OUTHOUSE designOUTHOUSE design
Oversized step stones make access easy, and maintenance is a thing of the past with a deep layer of gravel.
Photo of a small rustic front xeriscape partial sun garden for winter in Sydney with a climbing frame and natural stone paving.
Woodland Garden- Los Feliz
Woodland Garden- Los Feliz
Ketti Kupper Conscious Life DesignKetti Kupper Conscious Life Design
Decomposed Granite path between Giant Sequoias leads to repurposed, reshaped and stained rear concrete slab. Micro-climate appropriate plants complete the picture. Photo by Ketti Kupper.
Sofronas Residence
Sofronas Residence
Altera LandscapeAltera Landscape
Landscape Design: AMS Landscape Design Studios, Inc. / Photography: Jeri Koegel
Small contemporary side partial sun garden in Orange County with natural stone paving.
Secluded exotic garden
Secluded exotic garden
Green Tree Garden Design LtdGreen Tree Garden Design Ltd
Richard Brown Photography Ltd
Photo of a small contemporary garden in Cheshire.
Mudd
Mudd
The Pond GnomeThe Pond Gnome
The new waterfall is now a place that the birds REALLY enjoy!
Photo of a small mediterranean back full sun garden in Phoenix with a pond.
Contemporary Garden
Contemporary Garden
Inspiration for a small contemporary front partial sun garden in London.
Contemporary Garden
Contemporary Garden
CplusC Architects + BuildersCplusC Architects + Builders
Small contemporary back full sun garden in Sydney with a vegetable patch and brick paving.
Backyard Basketball Courts in Newton
Backyard Basketball Courts in Newton
Sport Court of MassachusettsSport Court of Massachusetts
Newton Custom Backyard Basketball Court with rebounder
Photo of a small classic back partial sun garden in Boston with an outdoor sport court and concrete paving.
Hampstead Small Garden
Hampstead Small Garden
Peter Reader LandscapesPeter Reader Landscapes
A close up view of the semi-formal bed.
This is an example of a small contemporary back partial sun garden in London.
Landscape Design
Landscape Design
GreenManProsGreenManPros
Photo of a small classic back garden in New York with brick paving and a waterfall.

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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