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Affordable 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.
Stylish City Refuge
Stylish City Refuge
Hufnagel Landscape Design & Construction GroupHufnagel Landscape Design & Construction Group
Small contemporary back garden in New York with a potted garden and natural stone paving.
Wildlife Friendly Front Garden
Wildlife Friendly Front Garden
Fenton Roberts Garden DesignFenton Roberts Garden Design
Jo Fenton
Design ideas for a small classic front driveway full sun garden for summer in London with a garden path and natural stone paving.
City Garden- Cedar Arbor
City Garden- Cedar Arbor
Bradford Associates, LLCBradford Associates, LLC
A lovely cedar arbor allows the climbing roses to frame the garden entrance.
Design ideas for a small traditional back formal partial sun garden for summer in Providence with a garden path and natural stone paving.
Small San Francisco Back Landscape
Small San Francisco Back Landscape
Dig Your Garden Landscape DesignDig Your Garden Landscape Design
This tired, unused San Francisco backyard was transformed into a modern, low-maintenance landscape with site-appropriate plantings enhanced by raised planting beds and a lead-free artificial lawn to replace the existing water-thirsty lawn. I created two separate "rooms" to break up the long narrow yard, and specified full range blue stone for the two small patio areas, connected by a curved pattern of rectangular pavers of the same natural stone. The raised concrete rectangular planting beds were incorporated to bring more movement and interest to the landscape along with gravel bed accents alongside. Some of the existing concrete remained, and was stained with a color to compliment the natural stone. These photos were taken over a three year period. Photos: © Landscape Designer, Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design.
Backyard Basketball Court in Brookline
Backyard Basketball Court in Brookline
Sport Court of MassachusettsSport Court of Massachusetts
Brookline Custom Backyard Basketball Court
Photo of a small classic back partial sun garden in Boston with an outdoor sport court and concrete paving.
Modern Zen Garden Green Design
Modern Zen Garden Green Design
Studio H Landscape ArchitectureStudio H Landscape Architecture
Photography by Studio H Landscape Architecture. Post processing by Isabella Li.
This is an example of a small contemporary side xeriscape partial sun garden in Orange County with a garden path and gravel.
LOW WATER LANDSCAPE GARDENS
LOW WATER LANDSCAPE GARDENS
Marc Mason Landscape ServicesMarc Mason Landscape Services
Marc Mason Landscape Services
Photo of a small traditional front xeriscape full sun garden for summer in Orange County.
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
Rustic Creekside Backyard - Cedarburg, WI
Rustic Creekside Backyard - Cedarburg, WI
Ginkgo Leaf StudioGinkgo Leaf Studio
Stone steppers lead to an irregular lannon stone fire pit area in this creekside backyard in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Westhauser Photography
Photo of a small rustic back partial sun garden for summer in Milwaukee with a fire feature and natural stone paving.
Raised Bed Vegetable Garden
Raised Bed Vegetable Garden
Casa Smith Designs, LLCCasa Smith Designs, LLC
This veggie bed is accessible from every angle and easy on the back - everything grows right in front of you...no bending over required. Photo Credit: Mark Pinkerton
South Pasadena Craftsman Cottage
South Pasadena Craftsman Cottage
June Scott DesignJune Scott Design
This front yard features a seating area and jar fountain, ringed by aromatic native plantings of California Lilac, Manzanita, Cleveland Sage. A meadow-style planting of native sedge grasses create soft look in the foreground, and new concrete pavers add a modern touch. We also believe the project’s driveway to be among the prettiest we’ve created or seen: a ribbon of stones and grasses now meanders along a Hollywood-style center planting area.
Chiswick Contemporary courtyard
Chiswick Contemporary courtyard
Nordland LandscapesNordland Landscapes
This garden was overgrown and not used at all by the property owners. The homeowners wanted a contemporary courtyard that was family friendly and modern. To achieve this, materials were chosen to match the stylish interior of the house. Also by using lighter coloured material we were able to brighten up the garden. The printed porcelain paving gave a contemporary modern feel whilst introducing added interest. Cedar batten fencing was used to clad the boundaries to minimise the oppressive feel of the high boundaries and to introduce more light into the garden. The cedar timber floating bench now provides a place to sit and entertain. It is also the perfect height for the clients’ children to use as a play bench. To brighten up the dull and dark corner by the french doors, the original steps were clad in beautiful blue and grey encaustic tiles to add much needed colour and interest in an area that had been previously neglected. This contemporary courtyard is now bright and welcoming and used by the property owners and their children on a daily basis.
Front Yard Landscape
Front Yard Landscape
Stephanie D PooleStephanie D Poole
The vertical garden provides a small scale herb and vegetable garden with edible flowers. It's located close to the kitchen for ease of use and care.
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.
Floating Bench garden
Floating Bench garden
Living Colour GardensLiving Colour Gardens
This is an example of a small contemporary back full sun garden for summer in London with natural stone paving and a potted garden.
Modern Landscape
Modern Landscape
Design ideas for a small modern back formal partial sun garden in Denver with an outdoor sport court, natural stone paving and a water feature.
Side Yard water feature
Side Yard water feature
Studio H Landscape ArchitectureStudio H Landscape Architecture
Side yard modern water feature. The fountain is located off the living room window to enjoy from both the living area and kitchen. Concrete stepping pads extend over the fountain and into the artificial turf area in the rear yard. Succulents and grasses are planted throughout the yard.
Small Frontyard
Small Frontyard
Arbordale LandscapingArbordale Landscaping
Cedar gate with arbour entrance to the backyard. Flagstone landing with cobblestone border.
Design ideas for a small traditional back partial sun garden for summer in Toronto with a garden path and natural stone paving.
Melville courtyards
Melville courtyards
Cultivart Landscape DesignCultivart Landscape Design
ron tan
This is an example of a small world-inspired courtyard full sun raised pond in Perth with decking and a water feature.

Affordable 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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