6 Ideas for Gardens On Different Levels
Challenged by a sloping garden or level changes in your outside space? Let these features inspire you
A plot with a steep incline, one big step or lots of smaller ones can feel like a design conundrum, but get a good designer involved and these “challenges” can in fact become opportunities to create an intriguing and inviting garden design.
Take a look at the examples below and save ideas and any local professionals whose work you like to a Houzz Ideabook for your project.
Take a look at the examples below and save ideas and any local professionals whose work you like to a Houzz Ideabook for your project.
2. Incorporate curves
This garden is cleverly built around a number of circular beds and terraces, which dilute the steep slope of the Cornish coastal plot. As seen in this view, having stairs that snake around curves makes for a gentler descent (and view) across the space and takes the eye off the fairly significant drop and ascent.
Smaller details with soft edges reinforce the design theme: note the semi-circular structure halfway up the stairs; the curved lawn; the way the bottom step helps to create the shape – and even the bench on the top patio.
Look for a landscape designer near you on Houzz.
This garden is cleverly built around a number of circular beds and terraces, which dilute the steep slope of the Cornish coastal plot. As seen in this view, having stairs that snake around curves makes for a gentler descent (and view) across the space and takes the eye off the fairly significant drop and ascent.
Smaller details with soft edges reinforce the design theme: note the semi-circular structure halfway up the stairs; the curved lawn; the way the bottom step helps to create the shape – and even the bench on the top patio.
Look for a landscape designer near you on Houzz.
3. Make thresholds a feature
This garden had two terraces at different heights, which design and build company Pencil & Brick cleverly defined and linked to the lawn beyond.
Firstly, with enthusiasm from the owners, they installed that fabulous pink staircase to link the upper terrace to the garden. The lesson here? If you need a big, functional staircase in your garden, turn it into a stunning feature. (We’ve also seen metal stairs sprouting plants and housing pots on every step as a way of bringing the structures into the design of a garden.)
Next, to tackle the tricky lower patio-to-garden transition, the designers introduced a variety of textures and levels to knit the spaces together. You can see this in the next photo.
This garden had two terraces at different heights, which design and build company Pencil & Brick cleverly defined and linked to the lawn beyond.
Firstly, with enthusiasm from the owners, they installed that fabulous pink staircase to link the upper terrace to the garden. The lesson here? If you need a big, functional staircase in your garden, turn it into a stunning feature. (We’ve also seen metal stairs sprouting plants and housing pots on every step as a way of bringing the structures into the design of a garden.)
Next, to tackle the tricky lower patio-to-garden transition, the designers introduced a variety of textures and levels to knit the spaces together. You can see this in the next photo.
A concrete retaining wall was needed after the digging that took place to expand the basement area here; this has cleverly been almost completely hidden by the timber planters you can see at the top.
The steps are cleverly designed to feel discreet; at the bottom there’s just a single step onto a small platform that flows into a bench, rather than just more stairs. (Benches, generally, are brilliant for breaking up inclines.) From there, shallow steps take you into the main garden.
The planting in the raised beds allows the area – which, thanks also to the decorative tiles, feels like an outdoor room – to be very secluded.
Check out the rest of this period family home.
The steps are cleverly designed to feel discreet; at the bottom there’s just a single step onto a small platform that flows into a bench, rather than just more stairs. (Benches, generally, are brilliant for breaking up inclines.) From there, shallow steps take you into the main garden.
The planting in the raised beds allows the area – which, thanks also to the decorative tiles, feels like an outdoor room – to be very secluded.
Check out the rest of this period family home.
4. Create a sunken space
Artisan Landscapes created a complex, five-terrace design for this garden in Somerset. Here, you can see three of the levels – and particularly the way the lowest area has been turned into a sunken garden, with a distinct function and look.
Wooden planters containing vegetable and fruit crops fill this brick-paved level, the brickwork lending the space the feel of a traditional kitchen garden.
The retaining wall at the edge of the main terrace – sustainably built from materials salvaged from the groundworks – both defines the patio and gives the lower level its “sunken garden” feel. It’s tall, though, and a half-height level between these two zones reduces the sense of a drop.
Two sets of steps – one recessed into the middle level, one by the tree – are played down with planting. The one closest to the house is flanked by beds containing plants that will grow to blur the line of the wall, while the steps on the right are not only built around a tree, they also have tall, wafty and soft ground-level planting that almost hides the drop.
Artisan Landscapes created a complex, five-terrace design for this garden in Somerset. Here, you can see three of the levels – and particularly the way the lowest area has been turned into a sunken garden, with a distinct function and look.
Wooden planters containing vegetable and fruit crops fill this brick-paved level, the brickwork lending the space the feel of a traditional kitchen garden.
The retaining wall at the edge of the main terrace – sustainably built from materials salvaged from the groundworks – both defines the patio and gives the lower level its “sunken garden” feel. It’s tall, though, and a half-height level between these two zones reduces the sense of a drop.
Two sets of steps – one recessed into the middle level, one by the tree – are played down with planting. The one closest to the house is flanked by beds containing plants that will grow to blur the line of the wall, while the steps on the right are not only built around a tree, they also have tall, wafty and soft ground-level planting that almost hides the drop.
5. Soften with trailing plants
Generous planting has been a feature in many of these spaces and this one, by Beautiful Wild Garden and Landscape Design, takes the idea to the max.
Cascades of flowers spill over the steps and burst out of the planters, cleverly built at the same height as the steps, effectively merging the stone structures with the beds.
Generous planting has been a feature in many of these spaces and this one, by Beautiful Wild Garden and Landscape Design, takes the idea to the max.
Cascades of flowers spill over the steps and burst out of the planters, cleverly built at the same height as the steps, effectively merging the stone structures with the beds.
6. Make it count
If your level change is within a side return, allow the steps up to the main garden to created a sense of seclusion for a small dining or seating area. It’s easy to use a side return as a place to dump gardening equipment and bulky items not in everyday use. If you can make room for these elsewhere, and particularly in a split-level space, the benefit could be a whole new outdoor zone to enjoy.
In this project by Bertolini Architects, a round table contrasts nicely with the horizontal lines of the steps, bricks and decking. Mature climbers on the right create a tall green wall, while flowers overhang on the left, making the area feel secluded. Pots placed on the steps themselves further help to link the area to the garden beyond.
Tell us…
How would you deal with level changes in your garden? Let us know your ideas and experiences in the Comments.
If your level change is within a side return, allow the steps up to the main garden to created a sense of seclusion for a small dining or seating area. It’s easy to use a side return as a place to dump gardening equipment and bulky items not in everyday use. If you can make room for these elsewhere, and particularly in a split-level space, the benefit could be a whole new outdoor zone to enjoy.
In this project by Bertolini Architects, a round table contrasts nicely with the horizontal lines of the steps, bricks and decking. Mature climbers on the right create a tall green wall, while flowers overhang on the left, making the area feel secluded. Pots placed on the steps themselves further help to link the area to the garden beyond.
Tell us…
How would you deal with level changes in your garden? Let us know your ideas and experiences in the Comments.
One of the clever ideas in this multi-level plot by Belsize Gardens is the positioning of those Corten steel planters. These have been built strategically to blur the height differences.
At ground level, they are filled with reasonably low-growing foliage, flowers and grasses, along with some trailers. Growth is tall enough here to cover much of the retaining wall behind them.
The next level of planting, within the wall, further softens the edges of the brickwork. At the top of the steps, a low strip of the rusted steel acts like an indoor threshold bar, with a carpet of lawn on the other side.
Behind that, a slightly taller raised bed breaks up the steps, and these turn left rather than continuing up in a straight line. This reduces the effect of the height difference by allowing for planting in the centre instead.
Beyond, yet another Corten steel planter creates more height and a sense of verdant layers rather than an incline.