- Garden & Outdoor
- Garden
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.
Whether you want inspiration for planning a garden renovation or are building a designer garden from scratch, Houzz has 716,780 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including OSADA DESIGN and Floren Design Ltd.. Look through garden photos in different colours and styles and when you find a garden design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful garden ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.
excellent design layout for low maintenance but interesting garden - sarah_verbena
This contemporary new build home included the installation of double height automated sliding sash windows. This sliding glass leaves smoothly open at the centre creating a real wow-factor. The guillotine windows can be designed for electrical opening with automated motors providing a smooth opening.
minimal windows sliding aluminium doors have been used in the kitchen and bedroom area, they have a 21mm frame and a frameless base. This helps connect this internal space to the gardens.
Modern home - tom_loughran35
Landscape. No trees, flowers, grass, path - trish_doyle79
A small garden at the rear of a Grade II Listed property was extended beyond the original boundary after the client purchased the derelict and overgrown plots beyond. The original lawned garden space was redesigned as a courtyard using reclaimed yorkstone and a more contemporary 'secret garden' was created beyond the wall. A sunny chill out zone was created for the family to relax in, and a productive garden includes fruit trees and raised beds for growing vegetables.
A contemporary rear extension and renovation to revitalise the living accommodation of a mid-terraced Victorian dwelling within the Calabria Road Conservation Area.
This handsome house in Highbury suffered from its traditionally enclosed layout. The works extended and opened the house to the rear, creating a light, expansive kitchen / dining area with direct connection to the newly upgraded garden.
Split level with soft lines - lindamartin42
New release of homes at The Rise near Edgworth in Lancashire. Rural location 7 miles north of Bolton. Launching 30 March 2018.
Photos by Christopher Doyle Photography
Marshalls
style of wall to the right - patrick_shannon67
A tapestry of weaving stems, together with voluptuous, fragrant and multi-petalled flowers add to the romanticism of this garden. Blowsy peonies and "old fashioned" rambling roses grow into billowy shapes against walls, above doors, and trailing from the garden walls and trellis on top of the Summerhouse. Free-flowering and self seeding plant choices help to continue naturalising the garden for the future ...defining the naturalistic approach of this city garden.
Photography : Steven Wooster
Seat build in to land - patrick_shannon67
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.
Garden path from kitchen - kdfusco