16 Garden Layout Ideas for a Beautifully Arranged Landscape

Verdant Summer Meadow

Reminiscent of the High Line in New York City, this backyard meadow is full of color, texture, and movement. “We strategically placed foundation shrubs, including hydrangea, cypress, and euonymus,” says Laura Janney, CEO of The Inspired Garden, a garden design and container business. “Then we filled in with drifts of perennial grasses, astilbe, veronica, and geum, weaving one into the next for a feeling of natural, effortless flow.”

Benefits

Who should consider this design?

• Those with larger spaces or who want to reduce their lawn
• Someone who prefers a more natural looking garden

Symmetry and Senses

A true destination in the middle of a garden, this layout has a beautiful pea gravel border—which surrounds four L-shaped gardens. Square trellises occupy vertical space and look fantastic year-round, whether brimming with vines or left uncovered. 

In the center, a water feature is the icing on the cake. “I love that this garden design incorporates the use of all five senses right off the bat,” says Jen McDonald, co-founder of Garden Girls, a service that helps people design beautiful garden spaces. “It’s dreamy and ethereal but also practical and productive.”  

Benefits

• Each garden bed is comfortable and accessible
• Water feature offers an added element of tranquility

Who should consider this design?

• Those interested in creating a sensory garden
• Homeowners looking to create the ultimate staycation spot

Color Pop

In this garden, large groups of purple, red, and yellow perennials light up this house and its neighborhood. “The colors flow [from] season to season,” says Caitlin Boyle, owner of Dirt Diva Designs, a landscape design firm. “In the spring, the purple component is salvia; in the fall the purple is asters.”

Benefits

Who should consider this design?

• People who want a showstopper in their yard

Romantic Woodland

In this garden, flowers in a soft, elegant, purple-and-white color palette create a lovely, romantic ambiance. It was the perfect backdrop for an outdoor wedding. “Woodland phlox, ranunculus, stock, and snapdragons—along with daffodils—filled the garden along the driveway as guests entered,” says Janney. “It was a great way to add magic to this beautiful event.”

Benefits

• Simple way to install instant color
• Allows you to enjoy the flowers after the celebration

Who should consider this design?

• Homeowners planning an event
• People looking for a cottage-style garden

Wildflowers at Poolside

Dreamy wildflowers can provide a delightful ambiance—and a place to escape. Here, they’re also the perfect poolside companions. “We selected plants that were tall and airy like agastache, yarrow, scabiosa, and phlox—mixed in with bachelor buttons, zinnias, and snapdragons—to give the vibe of paradise,” says Janney.

Benefits

• Pops of colors all season
• Flowers help guests relax
• Works in both small and large spaces

Who should consider this design?

Stately Estate

If you have a lot of space, then consider a formal garden that ties into your home’s architectural properties. “Square gardens lined with native Yaupon holly trees create a stunning visual effect,” says McDonald. “We incorporated beautiful salvaged bird baths, pyramid trellises, and antique pots to both serve a purpose and provide a wow factor.”

Benefits

• Provides beauty in an otherwise empty space
• Creates a tranquil backyard for both owners and guests

Who should consider this design?

• Those who like to incorporate wildflowers in a tidier way
• Homeowners with ample space to create an outdoor oasis

Lavender and Lace

This design uses shades of purple and white to create a high-impact cottage garden. “We repeated Russian sage, scabiosa, salvia, catmint, and veronica over and over again,” says Janney, “We then filled in with angelonia, zinnias, and vinca to keep color bursting all season long.”

Benefits

• Monochromatic palette adds elegance 
• Repetition of perennials and annuals creates a more organized look 
• Highlights color without the hassle of a large garden

Who should consider this design?

• Homeowners who want to highlight their entryway
• People who prefer a cottage garden but in a more manicured style

Alluring Alliums

In this wildflower hybrid garden, the allium flowers make a real statement. “These whimsical bloomers are surrounded by other charming flowers like bachelor buttons, salvia, stock, and pansies,” says Janney.

Benefits

• A simple and cost-effective install that’s also deer-resistant
• Dried seed pods still look beautiful after blooming
• Offers pops of color when very few perennials are in bloom

Who should consider this design?

• People who want an easy cottage vibe
• Homeowners who need an easy way to add color in mid-spring

Beautiful Barrier

This 60-by-10-foot wide strip in front of a house serves as a garden barrier, separating the house from a busy street. “Each season brings new blooms with hydrangeas, sedum, and redhead fountain grass,” says Boyle. 

Benefits 

• Provides both function and beauty
• Requires little maintenance 

Who should consider this design?

• People who live along busy streets 
• Someone who prefers an alternative to the standard row of arborvitae

Timeless Troughs

Stock tanks are readily available at big box and tractor supply stores—and they’re a wonderful way to grow beautiful plants. Durable and made to last, these containers are a smart option for those who like the charm of troughs, along with the lasting benefits of galvanized steel. 

“Thanks to social media, stock tanks have risen in popularity with younger gardeners who want to add a personal touch,” adds McDonald.  

Benefits

• Tanks can be painted for a more personalized touch
• Customize the number of beds and layout to fit your preference 

Who should consider this design?

• Homeowners looking to create an informal garden on a budget
• People who enjoy cut flowers

Expansive Charm

The size of this home creates an ideal canvas for a picturesque cottage garden. “We strategically placed vibrant blooms in shades of purple, pink, peach, and white around the charming pink door to create a warm and welcoming entrance for guests,” says Janney.

Benefits

• Draws focus to the entrance
• Elegant monotone palette
• Plants are deer-resistant

Who should consider this design?

• People who prefer color from spring through autumn
• Homeowners with long homes

Overgrown Arch

This garden is perfect for those who have ample space, and who want to convert an unused patch of lawn into a dreamy vegetable garden.  “You can control the entire growing environment in a raised garden bed,” McDonald says. “Plus, nothing creates drama in the garden like an arch covered in cucumber vines.”   

Benefits

• Raised garden beds are more comfortable to tend
• Manage the soil and irrigation more closely

Who should consider this design?

• People who want to grow the majority of their own food
• Homeowners who have rocky or clay soil 

Small Space, Big Impact

You don’t need a large area to create something truly breathtaking. “This client inherited the foundation of an English garden and wanted to breathe new life into it with vibrant colors and continuous blooms throughout the seasons,” Janney says. “Visible from inside the home, it offers a delightful view, showcasing unique blooms in shades of pink, orange, and white.”

Benefits

• Provides a focal point for the backyard
• Plants are deer-resistant

Who should consider this design?

• Someone with a small space who wants an elegant, cottage-like vibe
• Homeowners who want a smaller garden

Border Beauties

This layout is just three feet wide and uses the garage as a backdrop for vertical growing. “Beautiful custom panels add architectural interest and triple the growing area for space hogs like melon and tomatoes,” says McDonald. “Drip irrigation lines were tied in to ease the stress of watering.” 

Benefits

• Allows for a more comfortable gardening experience and prevents muddy shoes
• No hand watering required

Who should consider this design?

• Homeowners with limited space who want to grow vegetables and herbs

Butterfly Paradise

One thing that will really make your garden shine is butterflies. Fortunately, you can design a layout that attracts these beautiful pollinators.

“Dozens of white coneflowers, purple asters, and blue-purple butterfly bushes turned a once unattractive hill into a flowing meadow loved by butterflies,” says Boyle. “Low-growing ornamental grasses provide structure for the seasonal blooms and deliver year-round interest.” 

Benefits

• Helps the environment
• Low-maintenance design

Who should consider this design?

• People who want to help pollinators
• Homeowners with a large space to cover

Kaleidoscope of Dreams

This garden offers a more woodsy, natural vibe, with bursts of color popping all season. “We exchanged the standard-looking shrubs for unique shapes that gave the garden more room to breathe,” says Janney. “Then, we added a variety of colors and plants to bring life to their front yard.”

Benefits

• Good for pollinators, but deer-resistant
• Bright palette gives the home a warm welcome

Who should consider this design?

• Homeowners who prefer a carefree style with unusual shrubs
• Someone who wants a natural vibe with bright colors