Photo of a contemporary garden in London.

The Barn

Kathryn Cox Garden Design Studio

Rural garden in London.

Surrey - Rear Garden Project

Sustainable Landscapes

Photo of a traditional garden in London.

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Find top design and renovation professionals on Houzz

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.

Bromley

Emma O'Connell Garden Design

sharp, neat edges meet softly tumbling clouds of planting to create a gorgeous contrast of textures
Inspiration for a large contemporary back garden in Other with a retaining wall.

Notting Hill Penthouse

PPG Interiors Limited

Photo of a contemporary garden in London.

Country Garden

Inspiration for a rural garden in Buckinghamshire.

Manor House Devon

Woodford Architecture and Interiors

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

Coastal family garden

Joanna Lowe Garden Design

Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary garden in Edinburgh.

Small Garden in Erskine

North Hill Gardens

Transforming a small, steeply sloped back garden into a functional and inviting space came with its own set of unique challenges. Careful terracing was required to create a balanced, accessible layout, while the design needed to maximise usable space by incorporating multiple sitting areas. The result is a stunning garden oasis that feels expansive and harmonious. To achieve this, the design team employed a diagonal layout grid, where each partition sits at a different level, creating a dynamic sense of depth and openness. The largest sitting area, located at the bottom of the slope, is a porcelain-paved patio seamlessly connected to the back entrance of the house. Midway up the terrace, a cosy lounging area offers a more secluded retreat, while the top level features a practical utility drying area. These levels are connected by sculptural steps crafted from staggered hardwood and metal mesh platforms, blending functionality with artistic flair. Lush evergreen planting adds softness to the structured design, creating an almost tropical atmosphere. The planting scheme enhances the garden's year-round appeal, providing a vibrant and tranquil backdrop that contrasts beautifully with the clean lines of the hardscaping. This thoughtfully designed garden demonstrates how even challenging terrain can be transformed into a versatile and aesthetically pleasing outdoor space.

Gin Distillery, Whitechapel

Kinder Design

Inspiration for an urban garden in London.

Iconic is the word

Epoch Garden Design

Design ideas for a contemporary 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.

Opening Up Clapham: A Contemporary Home Redefined

We Love Build

This is an example of a classic garden in London.

Tooting Outdoor Retreat

The Garden Builders

This beautifully re-imagined garden transforms an open, overlooked space into a sophisticated and secluded outdoor retreat, designed for relaxation, dining and year-round enjoyment. From the kitchen door, the lower terrace catches the morning sun and immediately sets the tone: calm, refined and welcoming. Slim cedar trellis panels and a large outdoor mirror framed by lantern-style lights help define this intimate zone. Three sculptural stone planters hold soft grasses, while comfortable seating encourages lingering and quiet morning moments. See more at: https://gardenbuilders.co.uk/tooting-garden-designer-sophisticated-outdoor-retreat-kitchen-pergola/

London Sanctuary Garden

Fi Boyle

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.

Iconic is the word

Epoch Garden Design

Inspiration for a contemporary garden in London.

Cleveland Walk, Bath

Katie Older Lighting Design

Design ideas for a contemporary garden in Other.

Sport Complex - Photography

Agata Brennan Photography

Inspiration for a modern garden in Other.

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 194,373 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including IMAGO GARDEN DESIGN AND LANDSCAPING and Joanna Lowe Garden Design. 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.

A garden made for entertaining in Mill Hill, London

IMAGO GARDEN DESIGN AND LANDSCAPING

This London garden project represents one of our most dramatic transformations to date. The original site was heavily overgrown and complicated by a WWII bunker and multiple layers of concrete beneath the surface. We completely reimagined and rebuilt the garden, overcoming significant structural challenges to create a refined, functional, and elegant outdoor space. The design features bespoke planting, clean modern lines, and tailored landscaping that bring both beauty and practicality to the garden. The result is a serene outdoor retreat, perfect for relaxation and entertaining, and a true showcase of how thoughtful, bespoke garden design can transform even the most challenging sites.