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

Small Garden Ideas and Designs

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Dorset Courtyard Garden
Dorset Courtyard Garden
Fi Boyle Garden DesignFi Boyle Garden Design
Upper rear terrace is framed by a low stone wall. Borders set into the paving soften the hard landscaping.
Small classic side garden in Dorset.
Small Garden in Erskine
Small Garden in Erskine
North Hill GardensNorth 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.
College Crescent
College Crescent
John Davies LandscapeJohn Davies Landscape
Inspiration for a small world-inspired garden in London.
Hyde Park Refresh
Hyde Park Refresh
Southern LandscapeSouthern Landscape
A cozy backyard perfect for entertaining. New fencing, landscaping, a new deck, kitchen, and custom-built steel pergola create a backyard paradise ready for company.
Lincoln Park Herb Wall
Lincoln Park Herb Wall
Brent Riechers Landscape (BRL LANDesign)Brent Riechers Landscape (BRL LANDesign)
Brent A. Riechers
Inspiration for a small contemporary roof full sun garden in Chicago with a vegetable patch.
Fremont Firepit
Fremont Firepit
Mark S. Garff, Landscape ArchitectMark S. Garff, Landscape Architect
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
Townhouse garden
Townhouse garden
Neil Jones DesignNeil Jones Design
Using a refined palette of quality materials set within a striking and elegant design, the space provides a restful and sophisticated urban garden for a professional couple to be enjoyed both in the daytime and after dark. The use of corten is complimented by the bold treatment of black in the decking, bespoke screen and pergola.
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.
Traditional Garden
Traditional Garden
Landscaping SolutionsLandscaping Solutions
Inspiration for a small classic back formal fully shaded garden in London with natural stone paving and a raised bed.
Artificial Grass + Ipe Wood Deck
Artificial Grass + Ipe Wood Deck
Studio H Landscape ArchitectureStudio H Landscape Architecture
Photography by Studio H Landscape Architecture. Post processing by Isabella Li.
Small contemporary back xeriscape full sun garden in Orange County with a garden path and natural stone paving.
Eleganter Stadtgarten
Eleganter Stadtgarten
besgen Landschaftsarchitekturbesgen Landschaftsarchitektur
Design ideas for a small traditional side formal partial sun garden for summer in Bonn with a flowerbed, natural stone paving and a metal fence.
Monolithic blue mist granite steps with city hall bricks walkway
Monolithic blue mist granite steps with city hall bricks walkway
Urban Stone LLCUrban Stone LLC
Monolithic blue mist granite steps followed by a city hall bricks walkway.
Photo of a small classic front full sun garden for summer in Boston with a pathway and brick paving.
Privacy Fence and Concrete Patio
Privacy Fence and Concrete Patio
BioScapes LLCBioScapes LLC
Small traditional back xeriscape full sun garden in Austin with a flowerbed and decorative stones.
Waterkloof Golf Estate new entry
Waterkloof Golf Estate new entry
Helét van BlerkHelét van Blerk
New outdoor entry to front door with raised floating planters, concrete pavers and artificial grass walkway.
Small contemporary front formal partial sun garden in Other with a raised bed and concrete paving.
Windemere front garden modern update
Windemere front garden modern update
Spring Greenworks LLCSpring Greenworks LLC
This is an example of a small classic front full sun garden in Seattle with a garden path, natural stone paving and a wood fence.
West Coast English Retreat
West Coast English Retreat
Verde Fine GardensVerde Fine Gardens
Small contemporary back partial sun garden in Other with a water feature and decorative stones.
Contemporary Garden
Contemporary Garden
Photo of a small contemporary back fully shaded garden wall for summer in London with a garden path and natural stone paving.
West Pymble
West Pymble
iCreate Landscape and Design PTY LTDiCreate Landscape and Design PTY LTD
Photo of a small contemporary courtyard partial sun garden in Sydney with a raised bed, natural stone paving and a wood fence.
Jardin à Sceaux
Jardin à Sceaux
Sophie Durin | Empreinte PaysagèreSophie Durin | Empreinte Paysagère
This is an example of a small modern sloped garden in Paris with a stone fence.
Courtyard Landscape Garden Sydney
Courtyard Landscape Garden Sydney
Vogue & Vine - Landscape Designers SydneyVogue & Vine - Landscape Designers Sydney
Our inner-city client in Redfern had a small outdoor courtyard which was impractical and he never used it for entertaining. Vogue and Vine were called in to create a liveable outdoor room and maximise space for seating and entertaining. We put down a new concrete floor and created built in bench seating and garden beds. We broke the space up using different materials and a modern colour palette. We used outdoor sofas and built in cushions to add a touch of glamour and warmth.

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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