36 Retaining Wall Ideas Perfect for Sloped Backyards (2024)

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Landscaping

Hardscaping

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  Boulder Retaining Wall

  

  Reflecting the surrounding mountain terrain, JLF Architects and Big-D Signature used boulders to create a retaining wall between the main house and garage/guest quarters of this Park City, UT. A newly constructed wall made of remnant stone on the other side of the smaller building adds a sense of history to the property.

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  Bucolic Retaining Wall

  

  This lushly planted sloping backyard from Crisp Architects includes a stone staircase and retaining wall that lends it a bucolic feel.

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  Desert Retaining Wall

  

  This Palm Springs backyard pool area from Michelle Boudreau Design has a retaining wall with a stepped stucco edge that creates a focal point on the sloped periphery. The slope is planted with a spare selection of desert-friendly vegetation and complemented with palm trees and privacy hedges.

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  Multi-Level Retaining Wall

  

  Stacked gray stone adds texture to this tiered backyard retaining wall from KG Designs, planted with green plants and white and purple flowers that soften the modern Seattle backyard patio and outdoor living space.

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  Local Stone Retaining Wall

  

  JLF Architects built a retaining wall to protect the downstairs patio space from water runoff on this sloping site in Hudson River Valley, NY. The retaining wall is built from large rocks and landscaped with stacked soil beds that echo the natural setting and local stone.

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  Curved Retaining Wall

  

  Retaining walls follow the curves of the gently sloping green lawn of this charming old home renovation from Crisp Architects to create an organic feel.

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  Steep Retaining Wall

  

  Sloped retaining walls on either side of the staircase leading downhill to the pool area add structure to this large and lushly landscaped Mediterranean hillside property from Fantastic Frank.

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  See Also

  12 Lush Landscaping Ideas for a Hilly Backyard43 Creative Slope Landscaping Ideas To Elevate Your Backyard27 Sloped Backyard Ideas (Landscaping on a Budget)21+ Awesome Sloped Landscaping Ideas You Can Steal For Your Yard

  Retaining Wall for Trees

  

  This sloped side yard retaining wall from Light and Dwell is planted with young trees, while edged beds beneath it are filled with shrubs to line the footpath.

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  Flagstone Retaining Wall

  

  This Southern California backyard patio from Leanne Ford Interiors is made possible by a flagstone retaining wall that flows seamlessly into a built-in outdoor banquette and flooring in the same finish for a cohesive look.

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  Double Retaining Walls

  

  Martha O'Hara Interiors created a smooth transition between this Lake Minnetonka, MN home and its sloping manicured lawns by having a series of retaining walls around a pair of staircases.

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  Retaining Wall and Fountain

  

  This raised backyard patio from Lady Landscape is planted with ivy, greenery, and flowers, structured by stone steps and a pair of retaining walls that separate it from the back deck. An integrated retaining wall fountain that spills into a lily pond between the two spaces adds a whimsical water feature.

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  Floral Retaining Wall

  

  Contrasting organic and manmade materials, this stone retaining wall lining the glass-walled staircase of this backyard pool from Fantastic Frank provides a place for multi-colored flowers to bloom.

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  Triple Retaining Walls

  

  Triple retaining walls help structure this sprawling backyard from Crisp Architects and create an easy transition between the back porch and the outdoor patio on the gently sloping lawn below.

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  Hillside Retaining Wall

  

  A series of modern, concrete multi-level retaining walls allow for generous landscaping that maximizes the steep and dense lot of this Southern California hillside home from The Home Consultant.

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  Landscaped Retaining Walls

  

  A large palm tree is planted on a section of this sprawling hilly back lawn from Fantastic Frank that is structured by a stone retaining wall that matches the facade of the home.

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  Patio Retaining Wall

  

  A retaining wall helped turn this backyard space from Afro Bohemian Living into a flourishing garden planted with white, pink, and purple flowers of varying heights to add texture. The retaining wall also serves as a back for a wooden bench that adds extra seating.

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  Modern Retaining Wall

  

  A series of retaining walls that mimic the clean lines of this Austin, TX home from Martha O'Hara Interiors help to integrate it into the contours of the existing hilltop lot.

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  Curved Retaining Wall

  

  A wrap-around retaining wall follows the curves of this gently sloping backyard pool area from Fantastic Frank, planted with Mediterranean trees and vegetation that befit the Spanish island setting.

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  See Also

  Sloped Backyard Ideas: Landscaping, Design & Plants to Use

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  Slightly Sloped Wall

  

  This small rustic boulder retaining wall from Amy Leferink of Interior Impressions helps to integrate the two-story home into the existing lot while providing a place to landscape the outdoor patio with gravel, flowers, plants, and mulch.

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  Sloped Lawn Retaining Wall

  

  A vivid patch of green lawn is planted inside a bright white retaining wall that matches the modern style of this Southern California home perched above the street from The Home Consultant.

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  Driveway Retaining Wall

  

  A low retaining wall lines the long, sloping driveway of this hillside property from Fantastic Frank, giving grass, trees, and plants a chance to grow without inhibiting flow.

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  Wood and Stone Retaining Wall

  

  This tiered wood and stone retaining wall from Fantastic Frank is generously planted to give it an organic and integrated feel.

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  Stepped Retaining Wall

  

  The retaining wall on the periphery of this Ibiza backyard pool area from Fantastic Frank adds structure to the outdoor space and protects the lawn and pool deck.

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  Vegetable Garden Retaining Wall

  

  The Home Consultant restructured the slightly sloping backyard of this Southern California home to include a retaining wall along one side of the fence for a fledgling vegetable garden. Keeping the retaining wall low to the ground helps keep the price down.

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  Double Retaining Wall

  

  A double landscaped retaining wall creates a transition between the back patio of this contemporary home from Brophy Interiors and the steep drop to the flat lawn below.

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  Staircase Retaining Wall

  

  The sloping backyard of this property from Fantastic Frank has multiple levels, including a reclaimed wood and rock retaining wall lining the staircase leading to an open-air deck.

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  Raised Deck and Steps

  

  Turn a severely sloped backyard into an opportunity to build in a special feature. Seed Studio Landscape Design turned the unusable summit of a sloped San Francisco backyard into a staircase leading to a destination deck with views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

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  Multi-Level Stone Walls

  

  Make a gently sloping backyard more usable by building a series of multi-level patios.

  Kate Marker Interiors created several zones in this spacious backyard that are united by rustic stacked stone walls.

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  Deck Steps

  

  The timber steps leading to the upper deck of this sloping backyard from Seed Studio Landscape Design wind through a retaining wall planted to create a habitat for insects and native pollinators.

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  Large-Scale Boulders

  

  Use large-scale boulders to create a dramatic retaining wall in a spacious backyard. Kate Marker Interiors added a rustic note to this lush green farmhouse backyard with a retaining wall and central staircase leading to a fire pit conversation area.

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  Mixed Retaining Wall

  

  Give your retaining wall a wild and natural feel with mixed plantings and materials. KG Designs planted the retaining wall in this sloping backyard in South Puget Sound, WA with a mix of garden styles inspired by English country, Northwest native, and Southern California to honor their clients' favorites.

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  Sloped Backyard Terraces

  

  Work around a sloped backyard by installing two-tiered terraces. Seed Studio Landscape Design built a redwood terrace for dining and a lower stone terrace with a fire pit and lounge space in the shade of two existing maple trees, creating a usable entertaining space in this Northern California backyard that is filled in with succulents and ferns that thrive in the shade.

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  Steps and Pathways

  

  Vary steps and pathways on your sloping backyard retaining wall for an organic feel. KG Designs mixed natural flagstone landings with natural basalt steps and crushed rock walkways in this sloped backyard landscape design.

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  Retaining Wall Banquette

  

  In a steeply sloped backyard, turn the retaining wall into a multipurpose space with the addition of a banquette.

  Seed Studio Landscape Design worked around an existing retaining wall to build a custom dining area in this lushly planted backyard space.
  

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  Retaining Wall Lighting

  

  Use landscape lighting to make your sloped backyard come alive at night. Seed Studio Landscape Design lit the retaining walls and landscaping on either side of a central staircase outfitted with an adjustable color lighting system that is decorative and practical to create an atmospheric after dark feel that makes the space usable day and night.

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  Mixed Material Retaining Wall

  

  Create an organic feel in a sloping backyard by using mixed materials. Kate Marker Interiors built retaining walls with a combination of stacked stones and boulders that are more rustic than the adjacent white stucco patio walls, with ground cover plantings and bushes to create a natural feel.