Garden Ideas and Designs
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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John Davies
Photo of a world-inspired back garden in London with a water feature.
Wood extension for privacy on wall - neb_jamin
Photo of a medium sized traditional courtyard formal garden in Other.
The hedge, would make a nice green addition to the garden. - n1ghth4wk
Traditional back garden in Other with a potted garden.
everything - doreenhamusimbi
Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary back full sun garden in London with a living wall and natural stone paving.
My Perfect very tidy space.
I would love to have it. - tim_hill47
Photo of a medium sized contemporary back formal garden in Other with a garden path and concrete paving.
Rendered wall would be nice and contemporary - howgatemouth
Unique Home Stays
Photo of a medium sized country back partial sun garden in Other with decking.
This chair is suited to refreshing mind - aeyelishie_sinsuat
Popular Filters to Try:
Michael Pilkington
Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary back garden in London with a potted garden and concrete paving.
A mown path through bluebells and trees lures on a sunny day.
Design ideas for a large classic back partial sun garden in Hampshire with a garden path and natural stone paving.
This is nice, but I guess you have to have a large space to get this feeling - robyung66
The new lawn makes the garden seem bigger and deeper. It's a shallow garden with a point to the left, now concealed by trees and the swing seat. New planting contrasts purples, greys and greens.
Jane Harries
Absolutely love the design of garden - amna_farooqmua
Nicola Stocken-Tomkins
This is an example of a rural back full sun garden in London with a vegetable patch and gravel.
Vegetable plot, using white walls - katie_91
Inspiration for an eclectic back garden in London with a fire feature.
mounds between trees - debbieb44
brick walled townhouse garden with pond, bridge and extensive greenery
Photo of a rustic garden in London.
greenary - donna_pellow
Our client’s garden was bereft of any interest, other than a large shed at the end of the garden, and a small patio outside the house. An unattractive stand of conifers dominated one side of the garden, and overpowered the space.
These two areas were linked using a bold design of interlinking circles, with a cobbled path snaking its’ way down the garden to create a feeling of greater width and depth. A dry stone wall sets off the patio, and frames the entrance into the main part of the garden.
A feature pot is set on a plinth at the bottom end of the garden, where it is visible from the house. The planting is colourful and interesting, with box balls used to reinforce the circular theme. The conifers have been removed and replaced with attractive ornamental trees that will provide more year round interest
Small, stylish yet has everything you need for a functional garden x - anisa1769
Design ideas for a contemporary garden in London.
BI-FOLD DOORS - the roof overhangs the bi-fold doors to create a part' canopy so they can still be opened in inclement weather
Need to consider light aspect, if transparent/glass possible as dining room is already dark - pazzomed
This project involved a complete back to brick refurbishment and 100 metre square enlargement of this Fulham terraced house. The property had not been modernised in 50 years and the practice managed the project from initial design, through planning, tender, construction and fit out. The kitchen was extended to the side and rear in order to create an enormous 45 square metre room where children could play, adults could cook and the whole family could be together. This allowed the formality of the front rooms to be preserved as ‘toy free’, with a grand entrance hall exemplified by the Georgian circular hall table, enclosed drawing room and limestone fireplaces to cater for the parents once little ones were asleep.
Four bedrooms and three bathrooms were carved into the upstairs to include a decadent master bedroom with walk through wardrobes and master en-suite. Element 7 flooring, 18th century antiques and Colefax & Fowler furnishings are combined elegantly with collected art pieces and personal family mementos.
Stats & Fittings: Triple Glazing, Full U/F Heating, Integrated Sonos, CAT 6 Cabling, LED Lighting, Farrow & Ball, Neptune, Element 7, Stone Age, Nina Burgess Carpets, Neptune Kitchen, Lefroy Brooks, Miele, Alternative Bathrooms, English Fireplaces of Distinction
Love horizontal fencing in neutral colour - nikkijelliott
Photo: Alex Maguire
Inspiration for an urban garden in Oxfordshire with a living wall.
white walls, using vertical space...too much maintenance(?) - nina_thompson63
Design ideas for a modern garden in Other.
Fencing = contemporary horizontal design in tanalised timber (zero maintenance) - kyra_morrison