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  1. Garden & Outdoor
  2. Garden
  3. Size: Compact

Small Garden Ideas and Designs

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Item 1 of 12
Battersea Family Home
Battersea Family Home
Imperfect Interiors
This lovely Victorian house in Battersea was tired and dated before we opened it up and reconfigured the layout. We added a full width extension with Crittal doors to create an open plan kitchen/diner/play area for the family, and added a handsome deVOL shaker kitchen.
Seattle Cozy Patio
Seattle Cozy Patio
SCJ 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
Finished Designs
Finished Designs
Jill Davis Design
Photo and Design by Jill Davis
This is an example of a small traditional front formal partial sun garden for summer in Chicago with a garden path and mulch.
Flower Containers
Flower Containers
Sylvan Gardens Landscape Contractors
Small classic front full sun garden in Other with a potted garden and natural stone paving.
grass + concrete at modern courtyard entry
grass + concrete at modern courtyard entry
Moss Yaw Design studio
smooth stucco in a subtle warm gray tone complements the natural movement and finish of the cedar entry
Design ideas for a small retro front xeriscape full sun garden in Orange County with a garden path and concrete paving.
Modern Zen Garden Small Space Design
Modern Zen Garden Small Space Design
Studio H Landscape Architecture
Photography by Studio H Landscape Architecture. Post processing by Isabella Li.
Design ideas for a small contemporary side xeriscape partial sun garden in Orange County with natural stone paving and a garden path.
College Crescent
College Crescent
John Davies Landscape
Inspiration for a small world-inspired garden in London.
Small Shady Back Yard
Small Shady Back Yard
Magic Landscaping, Inc.
This is the entrance of the garden from the side. This entire rear yard used to be a lawn area in poor condition. Magic Landscaping, Inc- New Jersey Landscape Designer & Contractor.
Richmond Asian Garden
Richmond Asian Garden
Northwest Native Landscapes LLC
This compact, urban backyard was in desperate need of privacy. We created a series of outdoor rooms, privacy screens, and lush plantings all with an Asian-inspired design sense. Elements include a covered outdoor lounge room, sun decks, rock gardens, shade garden, evergreen plant screens, and raised boardwalk to connect the various outdoor spaces. The finished space feels like a true backyard oasis.
Bowden House
Bowden House
Aralia: Innovation in Landscape Design
A courtyard garden in Cheshire. The garden features rendered walls with raised slatted cedar fencing, box balls, modern planting in a contemporary design, differing levels and climbers. The garden is used to relax and to entertain.
Princeton Contemporary
Princeton Contemporary
Ronni Hock Garden & Landscape
Small rustic back full sun garden for spring in Philadelphia with a fire feature and gravel.
Small family garden, indoors out
Small family garden, indoors out
Harrington Porter
Inspiration for a small contemporary back formal full sun garden in London.
St.Margarets Garden
St.Margarets Garden
Tom Howard Garden Design and Landscaping
Small contemporary back partial sun garden in London.
Private residence, Heaton Moor
Private residence, Heaton Moor
Natural Dimensions Ltd. - Landscape Architecture
Japanese garden stepping stones and contemporary raised patio by Nicholas Atherton
Photo of a small traditional back formal full sun garden for summer in Manchester with natural stone paving.
Extension, loft conversion & renovation - Russell Road
Extension, loft conversion & renovation - Russell Road
MAC Building Solutions Ltd
Nathalie Priem
This is an example of a small contemporary back garden in London with a potted garden and concrete paving.
Traditional Garden
Traditional Garden
Landscaping Solutions
Inspiration for a small classic back formal fully shaded garden in London with natural stone paving and a raised bed.
Irvington Minimalist
Irvington Minimalist
Clarkson Porta
Inspiration for a small modern back partial sun garden for summer in Portland with natural stone paving and a wood fence.
Westport Pool
Westport Pool
J. Brandon Jones
Design ideas for a small farmhouse full sun garden fence in New York.
Courtyard
Courtyard
Tim Knowles Landscape Architect
Featured in Better Homes and Gardens "Garden Deck and Landscape", this small courtyard was inspired by a Charleston Garden tour. Traditional materials of brick and bluestone create the framework. A dwarf yaupon holly hedge outlines the small garden areas filled with over 50 varieties of plants.
Beach Contemporary
Beach Contemporary
Living Gardens Landscape Design
Succulent wall
Small contemporary back garden in Orange County with a living wall.

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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