12 Inspiring Garden Designs from Best of Houzz Winners
From parquet-style paving to clever planting beds and a natural pergola, browse these creative outdoor solutions
Houzz
17 April 2023
Each year, we look through thousands of photos that professionals have uploaded to Houzz to find the most popular images from around the world. The resulting gallery of Best of Houzz Design Award winners is a real source of inspiration. These winning designs for outdoor spaces all offer great ideas for gardens big and small. Take a look to see which appeal to you and let us know in the Comments.
1. Planting pockets instead of a lawn
Belsize Gardens, UK
Organically shaped beds and flowing pathways offer a lovely journey through this peaceful haven in London, designed by Miles Raybould of Belsize Gardens.
The lack of a traditional lawn has made it possible to add a variety of plants, as well as spaces for cooking, exercising and relaxation, in the relatively small (11m x 11m) plot. The individual beds also make it easier to access the plants.
Belsize Gardens, UK
Organically shaped beds and flowing pathways offer a lovely journey through this peaceful haven in London, designed by Miles Raybould of Belsize Gardens.
The lack of a traditional lawn has made it possible to add a variety of plants, as well as spaces for cooking, exercising and relaxation, in the relatively small (11m x 11m) plot. The individual beds also make it easier to access the plants.
2. Veranda with a lounging net
Jacob&Spreng Architekten, Germany
Jacob&Spreng Architekten designed this veranda overlooking the Bavarian Fünfseenland (“Land of Five Lakes”) to encourage a joie de vivre, with a permanently installed hanging net for extra fun and relaxation. The large glass doors can be opened to create a smooth transition between inside and out.
Jacob&Spreng Architekten, Germany
Jacob&Spreng Architekten designed this veranda overlooking the Bavarian Fünfseenland (“Land of Five Lakes”) to encourage a joie de vivre, with a permanently installed hanging net for extra fun and relaxation. The large glass doors can be opened to create a smooth transition between inside and out.
3. ‘Folded’ garden path
Simbiosi, Spain
Landscape designer Jordi Sánchez of Simbiosi transformed a neglected courtyard in Barcelona into a low-maintenance garden thanks to a variety of grasses and succulent plants. The garden path, which looks as if has been casually folded, adds interest.
Ready to revamp your outside space? Find garden designers in your area on Houzz.
Simbiosi, Spain
Landscape designer Jordi Sánchez of Simbiosi transformed a neglected courtyard in Barcelona into a low-maintenance garden thanks to a variety of grasses and succulent plants. The garden path, which looks as if has been casually folded, adds interest.
Ready to revamp your outside space? Find garden designers in your area on Houzz.
4. Parquet-style terrace paving
Carola Vannini, Italy
All the rooms in this flat in the historic centre of Rome look out onto the terrace. One of the aims of renovating this previously neglected space, which was undertaken by Carola Vannini, was to open it up to the outdoors.
Now, both inside the flat and on the terrace, warm colours enhanced by black details complement the bespoke furniture. Combined with the wood-effect paving tiled in a classic herringbone pattern, this creates a fluid transition between inside and out.
Carola Vannini, Italy
All the rooms in this flat in the historic centre of Rome look out onto the terrace. One of the aims of renovating this previously neglected space, which was undertaken by Carola Vannini, was to open it up to the outdoors.
Now, both inside the flat and on the terrace, warm colours enhanced by black details complement the bespoke furniture. Combined with the wood-effect paving tiled in a classic herringbone pattern, this creates a fluid transition between inside and out.
5. Sculptural pizza oven with added extras
Rad Studio, Australia
This terrace in a project designed by Rad Studio in Adelaide plays with the theme of connectivity: the wooden pergola connects to the matching side building; the paving appears to be disintegrating into the lawn, while its pattern is repeated in the flooring on the inside of the building.
The eye-catching wood-fired oven features planters containing fresh herbs to sprinkle directly onto the pizza bread.
Rad Studio, Australia
This terrace in a project designed by Rad Studio in Adelaide plays with the theme of connectivity: the wooden pergola connects to the matching side building; the paving appears to be disintegrating into the lawn, while its pattern is repeated in the flooring on the inside of the building.
The eye-catching wood-fired oven features planters containing fresh herbs to sprinkle directly onto the pizza bread.
6. Sunken terrace adding light to the basement
Heider Pannen-Vulpi Architekten, Germany
The lower terrace level in this project by Heider Pannen-Vulpi Architekten in Dusseldorf gives the house a bright basement, significantly increasing the usable living space while remaining within the local building height regulations. Bench seating and pretty planting surround the patio, creating a cosy spot for entertaining.
Heider Pannen-Vulpi Architekten, Germany
The lower terrace level in this project by Heider Pannen-Vulpi Architekten in Dusseldorf gives the house a bright basement, significantly increasing the usable living space while remaining within the local building height regulations. Bench seating and pretty planting surround the patio, creating a cosy spot for entertaining.
7. Mini hot tub instead of a pool
Oslo I LA, USA
A hot tub is less expensive than a full-size swimming pool and easier to maintain. Plus, it can bring a soothing spa experience to the outdoors.
Oslo I LA landscape contractors maximised this relatively small garden in Santa Monica, California with a cedar deck and built-in hot tub. Perimeter planters contain hedges that will grow to provide privacy.
Oslo I LA, USA
A hot tub is less expensive than a full-size swimming pool and easier to maintain. Plus, it can bring a soothing spa experience to the outdoors.
Oslo I LA landscape contractors maximised this relatively small garden in Santa Monica, California with a cedar deck and built-in hot tub. Perimeter planters contain hedges that will grow to provide privacy.
8. Curtains added to a pergola
d’Aussy Interiors, Spain
Located near Spain’s Costa Brava, this patio by d’Aussy Interiors is nestled up against stone walls and has a steel pergola with a bamboo cane roof. Translucent white curtains catch every breeze, providing additional shade and a relaxed atmosphere.
d’Aussy Interiors, Spain
Located near Spain’s Costa Brava, this patio by d’Aussy Interiors is nestled up against stone walls and has a steel pergola with a bamboo cane roof. Translucent white curtains catch every breeze, providing additional shade and a relaxed atmosphere.
9. Side garden benefiting from bold choice
Xanthe White Design, New Zealand
The façade of this Auckland home echoes the greens and whites of the side garden, designed by landscaper Xanthe White Design. The normally challenging narrow, shady conditions are here embraced, with lush planting and oversized stepping stones that create a sense of spaciousness.
The full garden design also included a rain chain, with layers of sand, pebbles, and mulch, encouraging water to run off the roof into the garden.
Browse even more compelling outdoor design ideas
Xanthe White Design, New Zealand
The façade of this Auckland home echoes the greens and whites of the side garden, designed by landscaper Xanthe White Design. The normally challenging narrow, shady conditions are here embraced, with lush planting and oversized stepping stones that create a sense of spaciousness.
The full garden design also included a rain chain, with layers of sand, pebbles, and mulch, encouraging water to run off the roof into the garden.
Browse even more compelling outdoor design ideas
10. Pool leveraged into a terrace
La Nostra Secrets d’Intérieur, France
The extensive roots of the central magnolia plus the shallow rocky ground prevented the installation of a traditional swimming pool in this 13m × 12m courtyard surrounded by high walls in Marseille.
With the help of landscape professionals, the owner, interior designer Laure Arancio of La Nostra Secrets d’Intérieur, found the solution in an elevated wooden terrace, which allowed for a 140cm-deep pool. All the technical equipment is hidden beneath the terrace.
La Nostra Secrets d’Intérieur, France
The extensive roots of the central magnolia plus the shallow rocky ground prevented the installation of a traditional swimming pool in this 13m × 12m courtyard surrounded by high walls in Marseille.
With the help of landscape professionals, the owner, interior designer Laure Arancio of La Nostra Secrets d’Intérieur, found the solution in an elevated wooden terrace, which allowed for a 140cm-deep pool. All the technical equipment is hidden beneath the terrace.
11. Artful composition with huge impact
Hankura Design, Japan
This small courtyard in a Hiroshima home by Hankura Design is proof that you don’t need much space to create an oasis. Although completely enclosed, it evokes a sense of freedom and peace.
Its delicate composition, with a running water feature, moss-covered stones and an artful play of light and shadow, makes it feel like a forest.
Wide opening doors provide a seamless transition from the interior to the courtyard and out to the garden beyond, all of which are on the same level.
Hankura Design, Japan
This small courtyard in a Hiroshima home by Hankura Design is proof that you don’t need much space to create an oasis. Although completely enclosed, it evokes a sense of freedom and peace.
Its delicate composition, with a running water feature, moss-covered stones and an artful play of light and shadow, makes it feel like a forest.
Wide opening doors provide a seamless transition from the interior to the courtyard and out to the garden beyond, all of which are on the same level.
12. Open deck transformed by a leafy pergola
Maéma Architectes, France
Sometimes a deck feels too open and exposed. By planting large shrubs in containers around the edges and adding a natural wood pergola draped with climbers, this wide open rooftop terrace in Paris was turned into a cosy retreat in this project by Maéma Architectes.
Tell us..
Which of these ideas would you love to recreate? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Maéma Architectes, France
Sometimes a deck feels too open and exposed. By planting large shrubs in containers around the edges and adding a natural wood pergola draped with climbers, this wide open rooftop terrace in Paris was turned into a cosy retreat in this project by Maéma Architectes.
Tell us..
Which of these ideas would you love to recreate? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Number 12 for me - going to try and recreate in our garden once we have moved in
2 and 12 for me. When design is thoughtfully defined by surrounding
most of these are outdoor spaces and not good for nature. I would not call any of them a garden except for no 12. These outdoor spaces should not be encouraged as bad for the environment