Landscape Design - Residential Landscaping Ideas - Garden Design (2024)

Transform your backyard or front yard design with these residential landscaping ideas, tips, and projectsUpdated 3/23/22

Updating your home’s landscaping is a great way to increase the value of your property and create outdoor spaces for relaxing and entertaining. Whether you want to focus on increasing your curb appeal with a reimagined front yard, create a backyard retreat with dining and entertaining areas, or both, there are many options and features to consider. Use the information below to start determining what you want in your new landscape.

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On this page:

  • LANDSCAPE DESIGN BASICS
  • EXPLORE LANDSCAPE DESIGN STYLES
  • HOW TO GET STARTED DESIGNING YOUR LANDSCAPE

LANDSCAPE DESIGN BASICS

Landscape Design PicturesFrom urban gardens to expansive estates, browse hundreds of inspiring landscapes.Landscape Design PrinciplesEight rules for creating a residential garden that is neither fussy nor constraining.Trends for 2024Discover important trends shaping the gardening world in 2024 and beyond.
Backyard Landscape IdeasSee how gardeners around the country have landscaped their backyards both big and small.Front Yard Landscape IdeasSee what gardeners around the country have done with their front yard landscapes.
Hillside LandscapingLearn how to upgrade a slope with these ideas and tips.Designing Outdoor Living SpacesExpert advice for creating an outdoor living area you’ll love.Landscape Design TipsEnhance your garden with these design tips, tricks, and techniques.
Planting IdeasTips for selecting plants with purpose that have captivating foliage, flowers, and fragrance. Expert Design AdviceFour different designers in four different climates share what they learned while creating their own home gardens.
Designing Garden PathwaysAdd or renovate pathways in your yard for function and beauty. Water Feature IdeasAdd a water feature to your yard for beauty and ambiance.Low-Maintenance GardeningCreate a captivating landscape that doesn’t require a lot of work.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN STYLES

Garden StylesFrom classic to modern, get inspiration and learn about the various landscape styles.Small YardsSee how gardeners around the country have created wonderful small yards.Shade GardensLighten up a shady garden with a well-thought-out design and carefully selected plants.
Rock Garden DesignEnhance your landscape with this low-maintenance solution.Zen Garden DesignHow to design a space for quiet contemplation with your own backyard Zen garden.Moon Garden DesignExtend your time outdoors with a nighttime white garden oasis.
Meadow Garden DesignDesign a landscape that mimics ecosystems found in nature.Cottage Garden DesignHere are 7 tips to create your own cottage garden.Rain Garden LandscapingWell-designed rain gardens are not only good for the earth, but good-looking as well.
Privacy Landscaping DesignLearn how to make your yard more private with these options.Butterfly Garden DesignPlant a butterfly garden to attract these beneficial insects to your yard.Pollinator GardenLearn how to grow a pollinator paradise with these tips on plants and design.
Drought-Tolerant LandscapingCreate a water-wise landscape to reduce usage and cut down on your water bill.Vertical GardeningUse vertical options to grow more in less space.Sensory GardenHow to design a sensory garden to appeal to all five of your senses.
Mediterranean Landscape DesignEven if you don’t live in a dry climate, you can still achieve the Mediterranean look.Tropical Garden DesignIdeas for creating a tropical garden that evokes the beauty and serenity of far-off destinations.Bird-Friendly DesignTurn your yard and garden into a mecca for birds by filling it with the plants, shrubs, and trees that they love.
Designing With Foliage Over FlowersHarness the power foliage color, texture, and shape in your garden.Explore Regional GardensFrom coast to coast, discover inspiring gardens from our archives.

HOW DO I DESIGN MY OWN LANDSCAPE?

Before you start digging, you’ll need to have a plan in mind. Start with these 4 steps:

  1. Outline: Start with a rough sketch of your property or area to be worked on. This doesn’t have to be to scale at this point, but should include any permanent features such as your house, shed, large trees or shrubs that are staying in place, areas that are currently paved, patios, pools, etc.
  2. Measure: Take that rough sketch outside and measure everything. Note the measurements on the sketch. Note where windows and doors are for views and traffic patterns, and also where water faucets and electrical outlets are.
  3. Transfer: Transfer your property map to graph paper and draw to scale; this will become your master copy. Make note of sun and shade patterns, wind-prone areas, slopes, etc.
  4. Trace: Use tracing paper over the top of your master copy and begin experimenting with designs.

Is there an app for landscape design?

If you’d like to try your hand at designing your own landscape there are landscapde design sorftware programs and design apps that can help you, such as Home Outside, iScape, Landscaper’s Companion, and many more. Home Outside offers upgraded services from phone/video consultations with professional landscape designers to complete designs done remotely.

How much does it cost to get a landscape design?

As with most home improvement projects, the price can vary greatly depending on the size and scope of the project. Homeowners can expect to pay $2000 to $8000 for a professional landscape design to be drafted for their property. As a general rule, homeowners spend approximately 10% of their home’s value on landscaping.

Landscape Design - Residential Landscaping Ideas - Garden Design (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between garden design and landscape design? ›

Scale – landscape design covers projects that are generally of a larger size (but can also be small). Context – gardens are normally (although not always) associated with a building, landscapes need not be, in fact frequently are not. Generally, gardens have defined boundaries, landscapes often don't.

What are the three design areas of a residential landscape? ›

The yard is an extension of the home where a variety of activities take place. A yard can generally be divided into three areas: public (the front yard), private (the back yard), and service (typically the side yard).

What landscaping adds most value to home? ›

10 Lawn, Landscape Features That Increase Home Value
  • A well-maintained lawn. Leading the way among exterior improvements is a well-kept lawn. ...
  • Shrubs and trees. ...
  • Tidy garden. ...
  • Landscaped pathway. ...
  • Lighting. ...
  • Fresh mulch. ...
  • All-season deck/outdoor kitchen. ...
  • Pop of color through container plants, garden bed.
Apr 19, 2024

Why is landscape design so expensive? ›

Specialized skills. Landscape design is a specialized field that demands expertise in design principles and construction techniques. Designers invest years into their craft, so their skills are highly sought after. Customization: Custom landscape designs are tailored to your unique vision and home.

What is garden design called? ›

Landscape Design: The art or practice of planning (designing) changes to landscaped areas, either for aesthetic or practical purposes.

What are the 7 steps to landscape design? ›

  1. Step 1: Plan a Landscape Project. Like any home project, planning is one of the most important aspects of re-landscaping your yard. ...
  2. Step 2: Remove the Lawn. ...
  3. Step 3: Install Hardscape. ...
  4. Step 4: Build a Healthy Soil. ...
  5. Step 5: Install an Irrigation System. ...
  6. Step 6: Purchase & Install Plants. ...
  7. Step 7: Water Efficiently.

What is the rule of three in landscape design? ›

Three plants creates balance

If you have enough space, group them in an equilateral triangle. This looks particularly good with mounding or vertical plants. Be sure to leave some space between the plants, especially if they are three different kinds.

What are the 3 major principles of landscape design? ›

The principles of landscape design, namely proportion, order, repetition and unity, are the fundamental concepts of composition that professionals use to plan all kinds of open spaces.

Is there an app to design my backyard? ›

DecorMatters is a backyard design app where you have complete control in creating the outdoor space you've been imagining. Download it today and discover what design experiences are possible when technology, retail, and community work together in one beautifully designed app.

Do it yourself landscape design online? ›

SmartDraw's landscape design software makes it easy to design your next outdoor space with built-in templates for landscapes, gardens, backyards, and more. Start with any of the built-in templates and drag-and-drop flowers, shrubs, grasses and other plants.

How do I plan my garden layout? ›

Map Out Your Plants

Sketch out your plan on paper. Use graph paper and draw to scale, keeping in mind the mature size and habit of each kind of plant. Site larger plants, like corn and tomatoes, where they won't cast shade over shorter plants. Choose compact varieties if you have limited space.

What type of garden adds the most value? ›

The experts revealed that the garden feature which adds the most value to a property is a shed. In fact, 82 per cent of property professionals claim a decent-sized shed is the most cited feature to boost value.

How to increase home value by $50,000? ›

Adding $50K in Value to Your Home: Top Strategies for Sellers
  1. Curb Appeal Matters. First impressions count. ...
  2. Upgrade the Kitchen. The kitchen is often the heart of the home. ...
  3. Bathroom Remodel. Bathrooms also hold great value. ...
  4. Energy Efficiency Improvements. ...
  5. Fresh Paint and Flooring. ...
  6. Professional Staging. ...
  7. Proper Pricing Strategy.
Aug 28, 2023

What raises the value of a home the most? ›

Homes are valued and priced by the livable square feet they contain, and the more livable square feet, the better, says Benjamin Ross, a Realtor and real estate investor based in Corpus Christi, Texas. Adding a bathroom, a great room or another needed space to a home can increase function and add value.

What is the difference between landscaping and gardening? ›

Landscaping is focused on the design and construction of outdoor spaces, while gardening is focused on the care and cultivation of plants. Both are important for creating and maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces, but they require different approaches and expertise.

What is considered landscape design? ›

Landscape design is the analysis, planning, and design of exterior living spaces. Landscape design today integrates a wide variety of elements to achieve functional and beautiful spaces for outdoor living.

What is the meaning of landscape designer? ›

Landscape designers use garden plants, trees, grasses, and hardscape materials to create beautiful and functional outdoor spaces. They are responsible for making sure the design suits the requirements of the area, such as privacy, rainwater runoff, aesthetics, and habitats for animals.

What is a simple definition of landscape? ›

A landscape is part of Earth's surface that can be viewed at one time from one place. It consists of the geographic features that mark, or are characteristic of, a particular area. The term comes from the Dutch word landschap, the name given to paintings of the countryside.

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