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  1. Garden & Outdoor
  2. Garden
  3. Type: Formal Garden

Midcentury Formal Garden Ideas and Designs

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Laurelhurst Modern Garden
Laurelhurst Modern Garden
Northwest Native Landscapes LLCNorthwest Native Landscapes LLC
Dramatic plant textures, modern hardscaping and sharp angles enhanced this mid-century modern bungalow. Soft plants were chosen to contrast with the sharp angles of the pathways and hard edges of the MCM home, while providing all-season interest. Horizontal privacy screens wrap the front porch and create intimate garden spaces – some visible only from the street and some visible only from inside the home. The front yard is relatively small in size, but full of colorful texture.
Clyde Hill Midcentury
Clyde Hill Midcentury
Garret Cord Werner Architects & Interior DesignersGarret Cord Werner Architects & Interior Designers
This remodel of a midcentury home by Garret Cord Werner Architects & Interior Designers is an embrace of nostalgic ‘50s architecture and incorporation of elegant interiors. Adding a touch of Art Deco French inspiration, the result is an eclectic vintage blend that provides an elevated yet light-hearted impression. Photography by Andrew Giammarco.
MIDCENTURY MODERN
MIDCENTURY MODERN
Fair Studio - Email Us Directly: Hello@Fair.StudioFair Studio - Email Us Directly: Hello@Fair.Studio
Timber tech decking, black concrete steps and a concrete patio allowed for beautiful contrast in the hard-landscaped materials.
This is an example of a medium sized retro back formal partial sun garden for autumn in Los Angeles with a pathway and decking.
Stevens Residence
Stevens Residence
Vitus Mataré & Associates, Inc.Vitus Mataré & Associates, Inc.
Photo: Tom Hofer
Inspiration for a large retro back formal garden in Los Angeles with a vegetable patch.
Mid-Century Modern
Mid-Century Modern
Designs by SundownDesigns by Sundown
Photo of a medium sized midcentury side formal partial sun garden in Denver with gravel.
Davis Residential
Davis Residential
ArchiParsArchiPars
The client had a dream house for a long time and a limited budget for a ranch-style singly family house along with a future bonus room upper level. He was looking for a nice-designed backyard too with a great sunroom facing to a beautiful landscaped yard. One of the main goals was having a house with open floor layout and white brick in exterior with a lot of fenestration to get day light as much as possible. The sunroom was also one of the main focus points of design for him, as an extra heated area at the house.
Mid-Century Modern Revival
Mid-Century Modern Revival
Coldham & Hartman ArchitectsColdham & Hartman Architects
Ethan Drinker Photography
Inspiration for a medium sized midcentury side formal partial sun garden in New York with a potted garden and natural stone paving.
Backyard for Family & Furry Friends
Backyard for Family & Furry Friends
Ambiance Garden Design, LLCAmbiance Garden Design, LLC
Backyard Renovation for family looking to share time with friends and dogs.
This is an example of a medium sized retro back formal partial sun garden for summer in Charlotte with a fire feature, natural stone paving and a wood fence.
Fountain Garden
Fountain Garden
SilverSun LandscapesSilverSun Landscapes
Timothy Reed
This is an example of a large midcentury courtyard formal partial sun garden for summer in Tampa with a water feature and gravel.
Beaverton Mid Century Modern
Beaverton Mid Century Modern
Chinick Landscaping & NurseryChinick Landscaping & Nursery
Containers, grass plants and columnar Hornbeams soften this brick privacy wall at the back of this new landscape. Design by Candace Chinick.
Inspiration for a medium sized retro back formal partial sun garden for summer in Portland with concrete paving.
MCM Look / Blending Materials
MCM Look / Blending Materials
Princeton Design CollaborativePrinceton Design Collaborative
Pivot Gate extends the architecture of the home and conceals the side utility yard . photo by Jeffery Edward Tryon
Photo of a small retro back formal partial sun garden for summer in Philadelphia with a gate, mulch and a metal fence.
Rudy's Outdoor Paradise
Rudy's Outdoor Paradise
Horizon Builders, Inc.Horizon Builders, Inc.
Poured concrete fire pit, stepping stones and patio area. Changed out window for a sliding glass door to beautiful outdoor space.
Photo of an expansive midcentury back formal garden for spring in Other with a fire feature.
Berkeley Hills House
Berkeley Hills House
Parco StudioParco Studio
Juniper timber retaining walls and steps form the terraced vegetable garden. A rain chain on the southern end of the butterfly roof leads to a runnel at the base of the garden.
220 Northwest 12th Street | Delray Beach, FL
220 Northwest 12th Street | Delray Beach, FL
Pascal Liguori & SonPascal Liguori & Son
Pond
This is an example of a medium sized retro side formal full sun garden for summer in Miami with a pond and concrete paving.
Telgenhoff Residence
Telgenhoff Residence
CLT Design/Build Inc.CLT Design/Build Inc.
The Telgenhoff Residence uses a complex blend of material, texture and color to create a architectural design that reflects the Northwest Lifestyle. This project was completely designed and constructed by Craig L. Telgenhoff.
The Soak Box
The Soak Box
Hush HouseHush House
This project combines three main strengths of Smash Design Build: architecture, landscape, and craftsmanship in concise and composed spaces. Lush planting in modern, rusting steel planters surround wooden decks, which feature a Japanese soaking tub.
Concrete Outdoor Area Pairs Perfectly With Water Features and Play Area
Concrete Outdoor Area Pairs Perfectly With Water Features and Play Area
Alpine GardensAlpine Gardens
This is an example of a medium sized midcentury side formal garden in Denver with a water feature and brick paving.
Bournemouth Garden
Bournemouth Garden
Nigel Walker and Associates IncNigel Walker and Associates Inc
Nigel Walker
This is an example of a medium sized retro front formal full sun garden for summer in Vancouver with a garden path and natural stone paving.
Fuller Landscape
Fuller Landscape
M.A. Desjardins Landscape ArchitectureM.A. Desjardins Landscape Architecture
Design ideas for a small midcentury back formal partial sun garden for winter in Boston with a retaining wall, natural stone paving and a wood fence.
Courtyard Landscape Design Gresham Oregon
Courtyard Landscape Design Gresham Oregon
Ross NW WatergardensRoss NW Watergardens
Stepping stones wind to the mailbox. Landscape Design and pictures by Ben Bowen of Ross NW Watergardens
This is an example of a small retro courtyard formal full sun garden in Portland with a garden path and natural stone paving.

Midcentury Formal Garden Ideas and Designs

A beautifully designed midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury front garden design.

How should I design my midcentury 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 midcentury 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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