Designing your garden is an exciting opportunity to transform your outdoor space into a personal sanctuary. From functional spaces to artistic statements, the style you choose should reflect your lifestyle, environment, and aesthetic preferences. With so many garden styles to consider, finding the right one can feel overwhelming. This guide explores popular garden styles—including traditional favourites and modern inspirations—and offers practical advice for planning a space that’s beautiful, functional, and sustainable.
Tropical Landscape Design
Lush, vibrant, and full of life.
Tropical gardens feature bold foliage, vibrant flowers, and dense planting to create a lush retreat. Use plants like palms, ferns, and frangipanis to achieve this style, and incorporate water features for a cooling, tranquil effect.
Bali Landscape Design
Exotic paradise in your backyard.
Inspired by Balinese resorts, this style combines lush greenery with stone elements, bamboo structures, and water features. Key plants include heliconias, cordylines, and orchids. Perfect for tropical or subtropical climates. Read more here.
Hamptons Landscape Design
Coastal elegance meets structured planting.
Hamptons gardens feature manicured lawns, whitewashed fences, and soft blue and white flowers like hydrangeas. This style is perfect for creating a sophisticated, timeless look.
Palm Springs Landscape Design
Desert glamour meets modern design.
Think architectural plants like agaves and yuccas, paired with gravel pathways and bold, colourful accents. Perfect for arid climates or anyone seeking a retro, mid-century vibe.
Australian Native Landscape Design
Celebrate the local flora.
Native gardens embrace Australia’s unique plant life, using species like kangaroo paw, bottlebrush, and eucalyptus. These gardens are low-maintenance, water-efficient, and great for supporting local wildlife.
Xeriscaping Landscape Design
Beauty with minimal water.
This style focuses on drought-tolerant plants, gravel, and minimal lawn areas. Succulents, cacti, and ornamental grasses thrive in this water-conscious design. Read more here.
Desert Landscape Design
Earthy tones and hardy plants.
Desert gardens create a striking look using sand, stones, and low-water plants like cacti and agaves. They’re ideal for arid or semi-arid climates.
Impressionist Landscape Design
Soft, painterly landscapes.
Inspired by Monet’s garden, this style uses flowing paths, water features, and pastel-coloured plants like irises and water lilies for a dreamy, romantic feel.
Wildflower Landscape Design
Natural beauty, low maintenance.
Wildflower gardens mimic meadows with loose, colourful planting. Ideal for promoting biodiversity and creating a relaxed, natural look.
Zen Landscape Design
Serenity in simplicity.
Zen gardens use gravel, stones, moss, and simple plantings to create tranquil spaces for reflection. Perfect for shaded areas or minimalist designs.
Edible Landscape Design
Functional beauty.
Blend aesthetics with practicality by incorporating fruit trees, vegetable patches, and herb gardens into your design. Use raised beds or vertical planting for small spaces.
Formal Landscape Design
Structured elegance.
Formal gardens feature symmetry, hedges, and geometric layouts. Use plants like boxwood and roses to create a classic, polished appearance.
Coastal Landscape Design
Salt-tolerant and wind-resistant.
Ideal for seaside locations, coastal gardens use hardy plants like coastal rosemary, grasses, and pigface. Driftwood and sandy tones enhance the beachy vibe.
Contemporary Landscape Design
Modern and minimalist.
Contemporary gardens focus on clean lines, bold structures, and low-maintenance plants. Think concrete pavers, architectural plants, and minimalist furniture.
Sustainable Landscape Design
Eco-friendly and resourceful.
Sustainable gardens use native plants, rainwater harvesting, and composting to reduce environmental impact. Focus on biodiversity and low-maintenance, long-lasting designs.
Low Water Landscape Design
Thriving with minimal effort.
Designed for drought conditions, these gardens use hardy plants, gravel, and mulch to retain moisture. Ideal for regions with water restrictions.
Cottage Landscape Design
Charming and colourful.
Overflowing with flowers, cottage gardens embrace an informal, whimsical style. Use plants like daisies, lavender, and foxgloves for a romantic look.
Low Maintenance Landscape Design
Effortless beauty.
Perfect for busy homeowners, low-maintenance gardens use hardy plants, mulch, and simple designs to minimise care while staying beautiful.
Water Landscape Design
Tranquil and reflective.
Water gardens feature ponds, streams, or fountains, with aquatic plants like water lilies and reeds. Great for adding serenity and attracting wildlife.
Mediterranean Landscape Design
Warm, relaxed, and inviting.
Mediterranean gardens combine drought-tolerant plants like lavender, olive trees, and citrus with terracotta pots and gravel pathways.
Beachfront Landscape Design
Inspired by the coast.
Beachfront gardens embrace the natural beauty of sandy environments, using salt-resistant plants, driftwood, and native grasses for a natural, low-maintenance look.
Choosing the Right Style for You
When planning your garden, consider the space’s purpose, local climate, and your personal style. Do you want a tranquil retreat, an entertainer’s paradise, or a functional vegetable garden? By combining creative inspiration with practical considerations, you can design a garden that reflects your vision while thriving in its environment.
Ready to Start Your Dream Garden?
Whether you’re inspired by tropical greenery, coastal vibes, or minimalist designs, our team is here to help. Contact us today for a personalised landscape consultation and bring your vision to life.