35 Sturdy Retaining Wall Ideas for a Sloped Yard

From stacked stone to board-formed concrete and everything in between, these creative retaining wall ideas show how thoughtful design can make a dramatic impact. By turning something structural into something beautiful, retaining walls can take your property's landscape design to the next level.

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Retaining Walls: Sloped Yard Solution

Ah, retaining walls. For something that has so much potential to improve the look and usability of a property, these structural strongholds are often nothing more than a practical way of keeping water and dirt where they belong on a pesky slope. But, who wants a drab concrete wall next to their home? Not us! So, we've compiled 35 of our favorite retaining wall ideas that are as beautiful as they are functional.

There aren't any strict rules when it comes to retaining walls. Everything, from the size and shape to the materials you use, is totally dictated by your property's needs and your vision. From winding walls made from unique materials like corten steel, a type of steel that is designed to rust, to extraordinary designs utilizing ordinary (and wallet-friendly) landscape blocks, your only limits are your budget and imagination.

Retaining walls can be made from materials like brick, concrete, stone, steel, timber and more. Your chosen material will determine both the look and strength of your retaining wall. If you need to landscape a front yard slope, stacking terraces of timber can keep everything in its place while curating can't-miss curb appeal. Want to bolster your backyard's rolling landscape? Loosely weaving in walls of earthy rocks will lend a natural look on subtle slopes, while neatly stacking cut stone will offer a distinguished, formal appearance.

Already have a retaining wall? Don't worry — you don't have to replace your existing retaining wall to beautify your landscape. We've got some tips and tricks for overhauling unsightly retaining walls, too.

From: Cornerstone Architects

Landscape Block Retaining Wall

Looking for a DIY retaining wall that's as simple as it is stunning? Head to the hardware store and grab some retaining wall blocks. Whether you opt for the budget variety, which can be found for just over $1 each, or upgrade to something like the Indiana Limestone seen here, there are several options to fit any budget and style.

get the how-to: How to Build a Concrete Block Retaining Wall

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Corten Steel Retaining Wall

Corten steel, sometimes called weathered steel, is a type of metal material that's designed to adapt to the elements, quickly developing a beautiful rusty patina. As a retention material, corten offers the strength of steel with a look that can easily blend into its surroundings. Want a flowy, naturalistic look? Go for something curvy and low-profile. Want something more modern? Stick with sharp lines and angles.

Find More Ideas: 25 Raised Garden Bed Ideas

Boulder Retaining Wall

While a perfect row of boulders may be a rare sight in nature, this installation is a great bridge between the manicured lawn and the carefully planted slope. The immensely heavy boulders hold the landscaped hillside up with ease, at once serving both a practical purpose and creating a stunning visual.

See More of This Home: Curb Appeal: Grand Entrance Has Wall of Trees for Privacy

From: Scenic Landscaping

Timber Retaining Wall

Whether laid horizontally or vertically, timber is a great option for a DIY retaining wall, as wood is an easy material to work with for even the greenest DIYers. Pro Tip: If you want something that's guaranteed to last, we suggest swapping ordinary timber for composite timber made from recycled materials that won't decompose.

get the how-to: How to Install a Timber Retaining Wall

From: ZFreedman Landscape Architecture

Painted Timber Retaining Wall

If you like the price and accessibility of timber, but you aren't too keen on the warm wood aesthetic, look no further than a can of paint. By painting the timber, the stacked terrace retaining walls forming this home's front yard looks like an extension of the home itself.

find more ideas: Hillside Landscaping Tips

Industrial Steel Retaining Wall

In love with all things modern and industrial? This stacked steel retaining wall is the best of both worlds. Take a page out of Word + Carr Design Group's book by integrating a bench with a smoker that pulls double duty with your retaining wall.

Learn More: Inexpensive Outdoor Kitchen Ideas

Complementary Stone Retaining Walls

Rather than going all in on one type of stone, mix things up by choosing two or more complementary materials. Doing so can keep things visually interesting, especially for larger slopes that require several stacked retaining walls. This landscape incorporates two distinct stone walls, a matching stone firepit, an inlaid stone patio and a water feature flowing down a spillway of boulders.

See More of This Home: Backyard Landscape With Water Feature, Curved Stone Wall

From: Sunflower Landscapes

Stylish Concrete Retaining Wall

Even gray concrete retaining walls don't have to be boring. To visually connect this home with its surrounding outdoor spaces, the designers intentionally poured the concrete retaining wall to mirror the look of the vertical siding.

See More of This Home: Curb Appeal: Midcentury Home With Courtyard

From: R Design Landscape Architecture

Water Feature Retaining Wall

Rather than feature a boring blank wall on the side of this pool, the builders chose to incorporate a water feature and fun geometric tiles. This is a creative way to turn an otherwise simple structural element into a conversation piece.

Find More Ideas: 51 Refreshing Plunge and Cocktail Pools

From: Lisa Gimmy Landscape Architecture

Stained Timber Retaining Wall

A warm, timber retaining wall is great for reshaping a sloped yard and lending a real identity and presence to your garden area while complementing the natural landscape's tones and hues. To turn up the wood tones and make them pop, we suggest a semi-transparent stain.

Get the How-To: How to Build a Timber Retaining and Sitting Wall

Charming Rock Retaining Wall

A low retaining wall not only marks the perimeter of this luxurious residence in Massachusetts but also provides low seating and framed views of its manicured landscaping.

See More of This Home: Curb Appeal: Rock Wall Leads to Manicured Lawn

From: Seoane Landscape Design

Passive Solar Retaining Wall

Cleverly extend the outdoor season by tucking outdoor spaces into recessed pockets. In this case, the board-formed concrete retaining wall provides protection from the wind as well as a solar heat mass to make the terrace warmer than it normally would be. Learn more about clever patios designed for winter, below.

Find More Ideas: 43 Top Outdoor Design Trends

From: Wagner Hodgson

Hot Tub Retaining Wall

A small fieldstone retaining wall and a cozy flagstone patio create the perfect spot to enjoy a sweeping vista of the surrounding California hills, and this cozy cedar hot tub is calling our name! The choice of ornamental grasses and native trees helps the hidden oasis to stay just that: hidden.

Learn More: 10 Native Plants You Need to Be Growing

From: Margie Grace

Fieldstone Retaining Wall

If you prefer a more naturalistic look for your yard, we're willing to bet a rock retaining wall is right up your alley. Unlike landscape blocks, concrete and other engineered materials, rocks are as natural as it gets. You can further enhance the natural look by choosing a stone with plenty of earthy tones and natural shapes such as fieldstone, then laying them out in a loosely woven stack.

get the how-to: How to Build a Stone Accent Wall

From: Leonard Ryden Burr Real Estate and Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®

Hillside Retaining Wall

The goal of this hillside home's retaining wall was to blend in with the hillside as much as possible, while still carving out spots for a pool and lounge area. Multiple board-formed concrete retaining walls feature tall ornamental grasses cleverly planted between them, making it hard to differentiate between the levels.

See More of This Home: Waterside Retreat: Ocean Views From Hilltop Home

From: Shades of Green Landscape Architecture

Curved Retaining Wall

This bocce court and the native lawn around it is situated on an upper terrace, so it looks out over the landscape.

Get the How-To: Build a Bocce Ball Court

From: Shades of Green Landscape Architecture

Retaining Wall is a Pool Wall

To make use of the awkward slope between this gorgeous beach house and the start of the beachfront, the architect positioned a lengthy lap pool along the edge of the deck. The pool's concrete shell serves as the retaining wall for the property and maximizes the lot's potential.

See More of This Home: Waterside Retreats: Stunning Oceanfront Deck & Pool

From: Craig Reynolds Landscape Architecture

How to Refresh a Concrete Retaining Wall

On its own, a concrete retaining wall can feel a little stiff and corporate, hindering your outdoor space's homey feel. However, simply dressing up the concrete can make a major difference. You can paint it white, add some surface texture or even transform it using stencils.

Find More Ideas: 50 Patio Ideas and Design Tips

Waterfall Retaining Wall

Wanting to make full use of a lot's natural slope? Create a stone retaining wall with a waterfall flowing right into a koi pond. An organic look like this can shore up a slope without compromising your yard's all-natural beauty.

See More of This Home: Gorgeous Gardens: Koi Pond Is Perfect Spot for Reflection

From: Surrounds Landscape Architecture + Construction

Illuminated Retaining Wall and Stairs

A low, board-formed concrete retaining wall creates a flat grassy area and adds to the midcentury design of this home. At first glance, the steps look to be painted yellow but, upon closer inspection, you'll see that they are cleverly illuminated.

See More of This Home: Curb Appeal: Midcentury Home With Courtyard

From: R Design Landscape Architecture

Stepped Up Garden Retaining Wall

This clever use of a sloped yard employs wooden steps flanked by terraced raised beds filled with a variety of herbs, edibles and blooms for maximum plants in minimum square footage.

Find More Ideas: 40 Ideas for Creating the Perfect Pathway in Your Yard

From: Jamie Durie

Vine-Covered Retaining Wall

Have an unsightly retaining wall that you've been itching to cover up? Install a trellis and then cover it with tomato vines. Soon, the retaining wall will be nearly invisible, and — bonus! — your pantry will be stocked.

learn more: 11 Great Garden Trellises for Climbing Vines, Blooms and Vegetables

Formal Retaining Wall

Rather than one tall retaining wall towering over the driveway, multiple-tiered stone retaining walls sweep around the front of this breathtaking Cape Cod estate, lending elegance to the property. Because tall retaining walls require much more engineering to perform under the excess load, resulting in more work and higher costs, stepping down several small retaining walls is a bright idea.

See More of This Home: Curb Appeal: Grand Entrance Has Wall of Trees for Privacy

From: Scenic Landscaping

Infinity Edge Retaining Wall

If installing a hillside pool sounds like a good idea, we've got an even better idea for your retaining wall. Can you say infinity edge? By cutting out the center portion of this retaining wall, the designer was able to offer the homeowner the luxury of an infinity-edge pool as well as access to the gorgeous vista.

See More of This Home: Picturesque Landscapes: Mediterranean Backyard and Patio With Stone Pathways

From: Torrey Pines Landscape Company

Brick Privacy Retaining Wall

Get two for the price of one! The tall brick retaining walls flanking the sidewalk in front of this midcentury modern home double as privacy walls, giving the home's front yard a clean, yet interesting look. Consider adding walls in a variety of heights to lend visual interest to the front of your home.

See More of This Home: Curb Appeal: Midcentury Home With Courtyard

From: R Design Landscape Architecture

Storage Retaining Wall

If you’re going to install a retaining wall, you may as well add some storage to boot, right? After all, who doesn’t want a gorgeous storage shed nestled into the hillside that perfectly matches the exterior of their home?

See More of This Backyard: Gorgeous Gardens: Romantic, Tuscan-Style Garden

From: Zucker Design Associates

Retaining Wall With Matching Fire Pit

The property surrounding this luxurious home is customized to a T. The fountain spilling off the over-the-top retaining wall is a showstopping statement-maker that lends the property a resort-like ambiance.

Find More Ideas: 30 Stone Fire Pit Ideas

From: Maldonado Nursery & Landscaping

Modern Retaining Wall

The front yard of this modern lakeside home features a beautiful, symmetrical design with concrete retaining walls that add a sculptural design element to draw your eye to the home's striking architectural elements.

See More of This Home: Contemporary Lakeside Home

From: Juxtapose Design Build

Waterfront Retaining Wall

A well-planned retaining wall ensures that even the steepest lots can include room for relaxation. The slope of this property may be steep, but installing an ipe wood deck and stainless-steel cable rail below this massive retaining wall made it accessible and gave it the wow factor it deserved. This creative addition allows the homeowner to enjoy the waterfront lot to the fullest.

See More of This Home: Waterside Retreats: Lake House With Industrial Detail

From: Wagner Hodgson

Timber Retaining Wall + Bench

The best retaining walls are those that serve a purpose beyond just keeping a slope in check. This clever stacked timber design provides bench seating for one-half of the outdoor dining table, maximizing functionality and saving precious outdoor entertaining space.

Get the How-To: How to Build a Timber Retaining and Sitting Wall

From: R Design Landscape Architecture

Double Retaining Wall With a View

In addition to its obvious luxuries, this estate's backyard has hidden treasures, like a small viewing terrace tucked behind one of the massive, stacked stone retaining walls.

See More of This Home: Lakefront Greenwich Manor With Private Dock

From: Houlihan Lawrence and Luxury Portfolio International®

Boho Retaining Wall

In this dramatically sloped Los Angeles backyard, a concrete retaining wall creates a private feel around this boho-inspired patio. A planted yard extends above the wall for additional privacy and natural decor.

See More Photos: 1 Patio, 3 Global-Inspired Makeovers

From: Erica Reitman

Mixed Material Retaining Wall

Want to expand the footprint of your home? Build a retaining wall. This beautiful hilltop home utilizes a combo of cut stone and stacked boulders to create a level spot for an impressive outdoor entertaining space.

See More of This Home: Outdoor Oasis: Elevated Backyard Gathering Space

From: Mom's Design Build

Rolling Hills Retaining Wall

Looking at it now, it's hard to believe that this backyard once sloped straight down the hill. After careful planning by the landscape architect, locally cut stone retaining walls were added to level off the deck and recapture all of this usable space.

Find More Ideas: 67 Dreamy Pool Design Ideas

From: Craig Reynolds Landscape Architecture

Gabion Retaining Wall

This modern, Southwestern home gets the perfect desert landscape with xeriscaped plantings that'll require minimal irrigation. A gabion wall, which consists of stones inside a metal framework, functions as a retaining wall to help curb erosion.

Find More Ideas: Xeriscape Design Ideas

From: Sage Design Studios

35 Sturdy Retaining Wall Ideas for a Sloped Yard

Related To:

Shop This Look

Retaining Walls: Sloped Yard Solution

Landscape Block Retaining Wall

Corten Steel Retaining Wall

Boulder Retaining Wall

Timber Retaining Wall

Painted Timber Retaining Wall

Industrial Steel Retaining Wall

Complementary Stone Retaining Walls

Stylish Concrete Retaining Wall

Water Feature Retaining Wall

Stained Timber Retaining Wall

Charming Rock Retaining Wall

Passive Solar Retaining Wall

Hot Tub Retaining Wall

Fieldstone Retaining Wall

Hillside Retaining Wall

Curved Retaining Wall

Retaining Wall is a Pool Wall

How to Refresh a Concrete Retaining Wall

Waterfall Retaining Wall

Illuminated Retaining Wall and Stairs

Stepped Up Garden Retaining Wall

Vine-Covered Retaining Wall

Formal Retaining Wall

Infinity Edge Retaining Wall

Brick Privacy Retaining Wall

Storage Retaining Wall

Retaining Wall With Matching Fire Pit

Modern Retaining Wall

Waterfront Retaining Wall

Timber Retaining Wall + Bench

Double Retaining Wall With a View

Boho Retaining Wall

Mixed Material Retaining Wall

Rolling Hills Retaining Wall

Gabion Retaining Wall

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