19 garden landscaping ideas for your dream outdoor space

A zoned back garden with naturalistic planting
(Image credit: Colin Poole)

Lacking garden landscaping ideas for your plot? Whether you have self-built and are staring at your bare plot trying to summon some garden inspiration, or have inherited a less-than-attractive outdoor space, these inspiring ideas will help kickstart your landscape journey.

You should approach garden design just as you would the design of a house, something that will cater to your own taste and individual requirements. 

Emily Crowley-Wroe headshot
Emily Crowley-Wroe

A professionally trained garden designer based in the Cotswolds, Emily won an award in the prestigious 2024 Society of Garden Design awards.

Matt Nichols headshot
Matt Nichol

Matt enjoys working with his clients to create imaginative and practical gardens. His thoughtful approach to design considers location and lifestyle in balance to achieve gardens which are sympathetic to their surroundings and client's needs. 

Stefano Marinaz headshot
Stefano Marinaz

Stefano set up his own company, Marinaz Landscape Architecture, ten years ago, inspired by the vision of giving as many people as possible the opportunity to have a beautifully designed garden. His company offers design, landscaping and installation services and has completed projects all over Britain, Italy and the Netherlands. 

Teresa Conway
Deputy editor on Homebuilding & Renovating

Teresa was part of a team that launched Easy Gardens in 2018 and worked as the Editor on this magazine. She has extensive experience writing and editing content on gardens and landscaping on brands such as Homes & Gardens, Country Homes & Interiors and Living Etc magazine. She has developed close working relationships with top landscape architects and leading industry experts, and has been exposed to an array of rich content and expertise.

In 2020 Teresa bought her first home. She and her partner worked alongside architects and builders to transform the downstairs area of her two bedroom Victorian house in north London into a usable space for her family. Along the way she learned the stresses, woes and joys of home renovation, and is now looking to her next project, landscaping the back garden. 

With contributions from