Create the right atmosphere and take advantage of your property’s natural landscape with these stunning garden retaining wall ideas made from stone. Durable, weather-resistant, and oh-so nostalgic, discover how you can use stone for a variety of purposes and transcend trends and fads to bring a touch of enduring elegance to your outdoor spaces.

But first, the benefits of using stone for your retaining wall

Need a timeless material that’s long-lasting and easy to maintain? Look no further than a classic stone retaining wall perfect for resisting weathering, erosion, and the pressure of soil and water movement. Earthy, raw, and natural in appearance, it also blends in beautifully with the rest of the garden, truly allowing the real beauty of nature to be the focal point of your yard. Versatile in style, the amazing thing with stone is that depending on how it’s cut and stacked, you can achieve pretty much any look you’re after, whether it’s a rustic, stacked-stone appearance or a more sleek, modern vibe. An eco-friendly material that doesn’t release harmful chemicals into the environment, it’s also the perfect choice for the mindful homeowner wanting to preserve the natural surroundings.

Finally, although stone retaining walls can be more expensive to install than some other materials, such as timber or concrete blocks, it does add value to your property in the long run as it is viewed as a more premium material that enhances a house’s value.

So what are you waiting for? It’s time to elevate your garden and outdoor areas with stunning stone!

Retaining wall designs built by TPC

1. The Natural Stacked Stone Wall

Perfect for creating levels and framing your garden bed, this capped stacked stone retaining made from Pennsylvania flatstone looks natural, clean, and neat with a bluestone top to create a smooth finish. Juxtaposed with some ferns and lavender, the natural color of the stone allows the plants to truly shine without distraction.

2. The Stone Firepit Seating Area

Above, we’ve used repurposed granite with a more textured finish as a sectional wall that also serves as seating… talk about a practical retaining wall! Although it may not be the comfiest seat for hours on end, we often see photos from our clients cozying up the space with decorative throws and cushions that they store away on rainy days and bring out on the evenings they plan to make the most of the outdoors.

3. The Garden Retaining Wall

Need retaining wall garden ideas for a country or Hamptons-style home? We love how our Proctor Project turned out. This stunning stacked stone retaining wall doubled as a garden bed and beautifully complemented the white picket fence for a wholesome, ranch-style residence.

P.S. This look can also be achieved with a stone veneer or faux stone if budget is a concern. Just reach out to our team to find out about how we can help you with custom stone masonry and more.

4. The split-level Patio Stone Wall Design

Make the most of a sloping block or irregularly shaped yard with retaining walls that reduce the need for excavation and help to create a unique outdoor space that feels enchanting.

A multi-level patio or split-level patio is one of the most popular retaining wall landscape ideas that allows you to not only play with colors, styles, and textures but also create unique areas of your backyard to soak in the serenity, entertain your guests or relax in the sunshine.

5. The Stone Stairway and matching retainer wall

Create a dreamy, modern outdoor pool space just like this with the intentional sectioning off of areas that pique curiosity and invite your guests to wander to different areas of the yard. Using a rustic natural stone retaining wall with matching steps that lead up to the garden in front of the house, some matching colored boulders also create some visual interest with height and depth.

6. The Pool Retaining Wall Made of Stone

There is certainly more than meets the eye when it comes to the level of work involved in building a safe and structurally sound pool retaining wall.

From foundations and footings to proper excavation, backfill, and the right drainage fabrics, there are also smaller details that need to be considered, like adding capstones that will prevent water from seeping into the wall.

7. The Stone Feature Detail For A Pool

A few things we love about this pool retaining wall we created is the stone detailing that matches the steps and fire pit area. If you love the look of stone but can’t afford to have it everywhere, you can opt for a more affordable paver and create slimline stone details like this in various locations of your front and back yard to really tie the whole look together without it looking overdone.

Plus, with the right experts building your pool retaining wall, you can even sneak in some wow-factor features like the three waterfalls we’ve added, including one that overflows from the in-ground hot tub.

8. The privacy barrier stone wall

Can you really use stone as a privacy screen? Absolutely, just look at the jacuzzi area and the stone fence we’ve created. If you’re concerned about how to make a stone wall look good (and not cold, plain, and boring), as the experts in stone masonry, we certainly have the skills, tips, and landscape retaining wall ideas to help you create the right look for your space.

As you can see here, mixed materials are just one way to do this. The warm, rich colors of the timbers next to the cooler gray tones of the pool not only lighten the space but create a very private, intimate oasis where you can just imagine spending evenings under the stars, sipping a glass of white wine in the jacuzzi with your partner or friends.

9. Retaining walls to create separate outdoor living spaces

Want to section off areas of your backyard to create the ultimate outdoor oasis that caters to all the family members’ needs? Take note of how we used slightly different patterns and colors in our stone choice for different areas like the firepit and outdoor dining table area.

10. Stone Masonry to line the driveway

Can we all just appreciate for a second how sweet the edging of the organically shaped rocks along the grass next to the stone brick pavers and crushed stone all come together naturally? Mixing and matching patterns and design techniques can really create a unique look (that you may have never even seen before).

Not only stunning but incredibly functional, creating this detail for our clients was all about keeping the loose gravel away from the grass and ensuring over time, it would maintain its clean, manicured appearance. What do you think? We are totally in love!

So finally, how to choose the right stone for your retaining wall

Choosing the right stone for your retaining wall is critical. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when choosing a stone for your landscaping project:

1. What functionality is needed? Does it need to prevent soil from sliding or eroding? Are you wanting to create a terraced garden or barrier around the pool? Would you like it to double up as seating?
2. What stone type do you like? E.g., fieldstone offers a more rustic, natural look with irregular shapes and sizes. Cut stone gives a more formal appearance with uniform shapes and sizes, and boulders are larger, rounded stones in nature and help to create a dramatic and sturdy retaining wall.
3. What’s available in your area or region? As Beverly, Massachusetts locals, we can certainly help you with this.
4. What is the weather like at your property… do you need a stone style that is suitable for more drainage?
5. How much maintenance can you commit to? Of course, that’s where we have all the right suggestions depending on what you need.

Ultimately, the right stone for your retaining wall should not only meet your functional requirements but also enhance the beauty and overall design of your landscaping project. Careful consideration of these factors will help you make an informed decision that leads to a successful and visually appealing retaining wall.

So there you have it: 10 beautiful retaining stone wall ideas that you can use as inspiration for your own front yard or backyard. What do you think? Looking for an expert team who understands the complexities of working with stone? Get in contact with The Patio Company today, and let’s help you create the front or backyard of your dreams!