A portico with reclaimed doors and mirror creates an illusion to a space beyond
Design ideas for a small world-inspired back private partial sun garden in London with gravel.

Back Garden Terrace in Bearsden

North Hill Gardens

The back garden presented some unique challenges due to its significant level differences. Limited access made the space nearly unusable for our clients. The original hardscaped terracing needed significant updating and rebuilding due to partial collapse. We were tasked with adding functional seating, installing a water feature, and developing a safe way to access the bottom part of the garden. Learn how we were able to access all three levels of the serenity garden: The area was divided into two terraces on different levels to avoid an overwhelming 'bunker-like' impression. Our team completely removed the old structures and installed new retaining walls that have been built from gabion stone baskets. We installed stainless-steel water shelves extending from chevron-patterned Siberian larch decorative screening. A daily-use patio of porcelain slabs was installed to create a large dining area at the top terrace. A darker shade of slabs creates a line cutting through the whole area, creating a visual axis ending at the water feature. The middle terrace is more like a chill-out zone with a custom floating bench and additional mobile seats that you put on top of the gabion wall, making it ideal for more sheltered, private gatherings. Stairs from the middle terrace lead to the bottom garden, contrasting the highly developed upper garden. The bottom garden is a wilderness haven with extensive planting and a decent-sized frog pond. The new upper garden can be considered an observation point situated on the edge of the wilderness.

Mattison Rd Project

IMAGO GARDEN DESIGN AND LANDSCAPING

This luxurious urban garden transformation reimagines a once-blank canvas into a striking private retreat, rich in detail and layered with design complexity. Positioned in the heart of the city, the garden now offers a serene, high-end escape—thoughtfully crafted to deliver visual impact from every angle, whether viewed from inside the home or experienced within the space itself. Though the original plot was level, we introduced the illusion of depth and dimension through elevated design elements, including Schellevis floating steps, which lend an architectural elegance and subtly define spatial zones without disrupting the garden’s flow. Strategic planting anchors the layout, with four distinctive specimen trees—two Dicksonia antarctica, one Feijoa, and one Trachycarpus fortunei—each contributing to carefully curated focal points that guide the eye and enhance the sense of scale. The rear shed is artfully concealed using vertical timber posts, positioned behind the Feijoa to maintain natural beauty without visual distraction. A custom bespoke metal pergola adds verticality and contemporary flair, creating a sculptural frame that draws the eye upward and balances the garden’s horizontal lines. Together, these elements work harmoniously to create a garden that feels expansive, immersive, and deeply refined.

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Wandsworth Water Feature

Emma O'Connell Garden Design

Modern urban garden incorporating planted gravel path, water feature and feature wall and a fabulous colour palette of greens, yellows and whites.
Inspiration for a small contemporary back formal raised pond in London with gravel.

Manor House Devon

Woodford Architecture and Interiors

Traditional partial sun garden in Devon with gravel and a stone fence.

Miners Memorial Garden in Derbyshire

Plantology Ltd

This is an example of a contemporary garden in West Midlands.

Wimbledon - Rear Garden Project

Sustainable Landscapes

Inspiration for a traditional back full sun garden in London with a vegetable patch and a wood fence.

Sport Complex - Photography

Agata Brennan Photography

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Maple Lodge

Kathryn Cox Garden Design Studio

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Iconic is the word

Epoch Garden Design

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Country Garden

Inspiration for a rural garden in Buckinghamshire.

Gin Distillery, Whitechapel

Kinder Design

Inspiration for an urban garden in London.

Richmond Garden

Peter Reader Landscapes

Stepping stones lead through this garden of raised seating and dining areas, combined with lush planting and sculpture.
Contemporary back partial sun garden in London with natural stone paving and a wood fence.

Tsubo House

FRAHER Architects

Photo of a contemporary garden in London.

Cleveland Walk, Bath

Katie Older Lighting Design

Design ideas for a contemporary garden in Other.

Surrey - Rear Garden Project

Sustainable Landscapes

Photo of a traditional garden in London.

Notting Hill Penthouse

PPG Interiors Limited

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No Lawn Garden in Ealing, London

IMAGO GARDEN DESIGN AND LANDSCAPING

This project involved the complete transformation of a long-neglected, overgrown garden into a vibrant, structured, and highly functional outdoor sanctuary. Designed with both visual harmony and practical use in mind, the garden now offers a refined, immersive experience that balances natural beauty with intentional design. At its heart, a main patio is elegantly connected to a more secluded rear patio by a series of random-length natural stone stepping stones, creating rhythm and flow throughout the space. The rear patio is enveloped by tall, architectural Phyllostachis aurea, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a private tropical retreat, rich in texture and movement. On the left side, we constructed two bespoke wooden raised beds, tailored for the client’s use in cultivating aromatic herbs—merging functionality with understated elegance. To the right, a striking Trachycarpus fortunei palm serves as a focal point, complemented by a generously planted bed that delivers seasonal interest, structure, and year-round interest.

The Lakeside View Garden in Lochwinnoch

North Hill Gardens

This large garden sits on top of a hill with a spectacular view of a lake and mountains. The client requested we connect two distinct sitting areas with a decorative pathway, one at the house and one at the bottom of the garden. They also asked for a subtle planting scheme that complemented the garden without deterring from the views. Our team was successful in completing this project by: Adding a large dining patio made of slabs near the home. Integrating linear stepping stones into the patio leading towards the stairs. Creating sculptural stair structures of staggered blocks. Designing the stairs to become linear stepping stones at the bottom of the slope, leading to a secondary patio with a circular lounging set. Merging grasses and meadow perennials with the existing landscape.

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.

Whether you want inspiration for planning a garden renovation or are building a designer garden from scratch, Houzz has 195,299 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Epoch Garden Design and Kathryn Cox Garden Design Studio. Look through garden photos in different colours and styles and when you find a garden design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful garden ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.

Coastal family garden

Joanna Lowe Garden Design

Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary garden in Edinburgh.