17 Incredible Landscape Design Ideas

These backyard wonders will inspire you to create your own dream landscape.

By: Jeff Stafford

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Alaskan Cedar and Friends

A forty foot tall Alaskan cedar towers over a picture perfect backyard that includes a nature path made of flagstone and a variety of ornamental trees and plants from Smalls Landscaping.

Purple Curvature

Concrete masonry units (CMU) covered in stucco and painted purple add a playful touch to this backyard that includes a circular patio of pavers and paths of Santa Fe Brown gravel from a design by Red Twig Studio.

The Secret Fire Pit Patio

Flagstone steps wind through the forest of a country estate, leading you to a private patio with a fire pit in this back to nature design by Smalls Landscaping.

Lush Life

This is just a small portion of a lush and stunning green space that spans four and a half acres and includes seventeen water features (installed by Hughes Water Gardens), manicured lawns, an eighteen hole putting course and diverse landscapes which are maintained and cared for by Williamette Landscape Services.

Albuquerque Ambiance

In this backyard design from Red Twig Studio, paths of Sunset rose crusher fines (very fine crushed gravel) lead to a flagstone patio where a fireplace and planter made of cultured stone serve as stylish bookends.

The Pool as Art Object

Integrating the shapes and colors of nature into the design of a swimming pool results in an outdoor space that looks like living art from Landscape Studio. The aquamarine color of the pool is set off by such contrasts as the red Japanese maple and yellow green mondo grass along the borders.

Open Air Retreat

Two separate seating areas, an inspired combination of specimen trees (Japanese Maples, Purple Robe Locust), flowering plants (hydrangeas, roses), flagstone paths and flooring come together in an inviting open air patio design by Smalls Landscaping.

Fountain and Turf Synergy

An elegant fountain becomes the centerpiece in this green oval space created by Lawns of Dallas and bordered by seasonal flowers, azaleas and yard sculpture. The tuft in the photo is a dark green ryegrass that will be replaced by a shade tolerant St. Augustine in the summer.

Dusk Delight

When the sun goes down, this backyard designed by Botanical Decorators transforms into a seductive space for entertaining with atmospheric lighting, colorful and comfortable outdoor furniture, a Carderock Quarry-Stone fireplace and a patio of Pennsylvania Flagstone with mini grey granite cobblestone borders.

The Great Lawn

For those who prefer grass to trees, the simple but elegant approach taken by Landscape Studio to this backyard could serve as a textbook example of the ideal lawn. A wide, open expense of green, accessible by a natural stone stairway, is given a decorative border of Misconthis grass, Knockout roses, Cryptomeria and Japanese yew.

Walk on Water

The natural stone walkway across this man-made pool gives this spectacular aquatic environment designed by Urban Landscape a sense of timelessness and rustic beauty.

Veranda Viewpoint

First impressions are important and this spacious backyard designed by LifeScapes entices the eye with clean, uncluttered sightline views of the highlights such as the blue glaze ceramic fountain and the cedar pergola covered with Confederate jasmine.

Shady Grove

An ornamental bowl and pedestal on basalt flagstone takes center stage in this peaceful backyard retreat in Oregon that is also distinguished by its green space textures and forms and the subtle design by DeSantis Landscapes.

Drought Resistant Oasis

The backyard of this Sacramento, California residence has been transformed by Michael Glassman and Associates into a showcase of drought and deer resistant plants with a weeping serpentine cedar as the focal point. The patio flooring is travertine tile and the raised planter is made of steel plate which is rusted and sealed with automotive sealer.

An Idyllic Playscape

If you want to create a child friendly backyard, here is an inspired creation from LifeScapes that combines nature, water features and a recreational area into a lush, idyllic landscape.

California Fusion

An inspired combination of ingredients come together to make this Orange Country residence a model of California chic from the lighted walkway to the potted shrubs and water features, courtesy of Urban Landscape.

Courtyard Allure

One idea for creating a central focus for your backyard is a courtyard which can serve as a resting place or area for entertaining amid the surrounding ornamental plants and shrubs. In this design by Landscape Studio, the main attraction is a classic Compania concrete fountain situated on a patio of cut flagstone.

Shop This Look

Photo By: Image courtesy of Smalls Landscaping, www.smallslandscaping.com

Photo By: Image courtesy of Red Twig Studio

Photo By: Image courtesy of Smalls Landscaping, www.smallslandscaping.com

Photo By: Image courtesy of Willamette Landscape Services and PLANET

Photo By: Image courtesy of Red Twig Studio

Photo By: Image courtesy of Landscape Studio, www.landscapestudiogroup.com

Photo By: Image courtesy of Smalls Landscaping, www.smallslandscaping.com

Photo By: Image courtesy of Lawns of Dallas and PLANET

Photo By: Image courtesy of Botanical Decorators and PLANET

Photo By: Image courtesy of Landscape Studio, www.landscapestudiogroup.com

Photo By: Image courtesy of Urban Landscape, urbanlandscape.com

Photo By: Image courtesy of LifeScapes, www.lifescapes.com

Photo By: Image courtesy of DeSantis Landscapes and PLANET

Photo By: Image courtesy of Michael Glassman and Associates, photo by Michael Glassman

Photo By: Image courtesy of LifeScapes, www.lifescapes.com

Photo By: Image courtesy of Urban Landscape, urbanlandscape.com

Photo By: Image courtesy of Landscape Studio, www.landscapestudiogroup.com

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17 Incredible Landscape Design Ideas

Related To:

Alaskan Cedar and Friends

Purple Curvature

The Secret Fire Pit Patio

Lush Life

Albuquerque Ambiance

The Pool as Art Object

Open Air Retreat

Fountain and Turf Synergy

Dusk Delight

The Great Lawn

Walk on Water

Veranda Viewpoint

Shady Grove

Drought Resistant Oasis

An Idyllic Playscape

California Fusion

Courtyard Allure

Shop This Look

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