61 Retaining Wall Ideas That Will Elevate Your Landscaping

Natural stone retaining walls can be a slightly more expensive option compared to other materials like wood, for example, but they’re durable and create a timeless look. “The placement, pattern and repetition of natural stones and bricks can create a contemporary look,” Lobeira says. Stone options like granite and limestone give off a traditional aesthetic.

For a rugged look, consider a retaining wall made from large boulders. In some cases, they can be less expensive compared to other options and complement a more rustic backyard. One of the biggest advantages of boulder walls is that they offer natural drainage.

Consider a retaining wall that incorporates oversized stone steps into the design. Flagstone, bluestone, and fieldstone are all popular choices among homeowners. Premium materials, such as slate or granite, add panache.

Traditionally, rock gardens include a hearty collection of rocks (obviously) and alpine plants, which are plants that grow in a mountain climate above tree lines. If you opt for a rock retaining wall, consider including these types of plants in the design to emulate a mountainous garden. Popular alpine plants include Primula, Dianthus, and thyme.

You can also opt to let both greenery and flowers ‘spill over’ a rock retaining wall for additional visual interest, such as in this stone structure by Eden Garden Design. This will create a cascading effect that adds movement to the overall design and softens the stone’s rugged edges.

Use a rocky retaining wall along your driveway to help keep your car’s path free from debris and create a formal entryway onto your property.

Consider planting cacti along a rocky retaining wall for a little southwestern flair. Organ pipe or candelabra cacti make great yard options, although it’s important to keep your region’s weather in mind as these plants generally like warmer climates.

Though this garden retaining wall was necessary for privacy, Janice Parker, founder of Janice Parker Landscape Architects, found ways to spice it up by creating shapes with the rocks, which were inspired by motifs in the surrounding landscape. “Find ways to work these shapes or motifs into your garden—in the surface paving with patterns and shapes, in the furniture, in the gates and fencing—you will find a way to express them,” she says.

Curb appeal doesn’t stop with your front door. Just take this Pennsylvania home designed by Lauren Thomsen Design. Located on top of a hill, it’s visible from a lower vantage point, making the roof overhangs, exposed beams, and the ceiling plane prominent in the design. “The retaining walls counterbalance the top of the home and add structure and importance to the ground plane as well,” says Thomsen. The stone retaining walls create terraced vertical gardens and carve usable space into the hill to form a flat area for a pool—all while adding visual interest at any angle.

Retaining walls don’t need to be expensive. The following ideas may work well in a budget-conscious project.

Can’t decide between retaining wall materials? Use more than one. This also gives you a chance to minimize costs by buying less of an expensive material—like stone—and combining it with more of a budget friendly choice, like concrete.

Gabion walls provide quality and affordability

“The most affordable way to retain soil might be a gabion wall,” says Arthur Furman, a cofounder of Side Angle Side in Austin. “This is simply a decorative wire mesh cage filled with stones or gravel.” (The name comes from the Italian word gabbione which means “big cage.) This affordable retaining wall idea can be a DIY project or handled by a professional.

Concrete blocks are among the most affordable option for retaining walls. For a warm and welcoming design idea, such as a patio hugged in greenery, consider a cream-colored block—a nice middle ground between edgy grey concrete and natural stone.

Brick is generally considered a mid-level material for a retaining wall—it’s usually priced less than stone but more than concrete. Price aside, a brick retaining wall adds classic charm to both front and backyard landscaping. Choose between traditional red brick (well suited for colonial-style homes) or a natural stone retaining wall that may look good with a craftsman exterior.

Large retaining walls aren’t the only to incorporate this landscaping feature. You can also use a smaller version to create a raised garden bed, highlight a section of your yard, or create dimension throughout your green space.

If you like the look of wood retaining walls, use vertical sleepers to create a small, fence-like wall—perfect for separating garden areas from the rest of the yard. Play around with different heights to add visual movement to the wall structure.

A short stacked-stone retaining wall is the perfect complement for a prairie or native plant garden. Native plants have a distinctly wild look, so pairing them with natural stone creates more realistic imagery and a low-maintenance design.

A short steel retaining walls offer a distinct look to a project, and the rust color from the materials can add an extra pop to a garden. In some ways, this landscaping idea embodies a farm or agricultural setting where steel barns and tractors are common. For this reason, steel retaining walls may look good if you like farmhouse-style decor.

Building retaining walls isn’t necessarily the easiest DIY project, but if you’re eager to make one yourself, consider crafting a small retaining wall around a tree. (See more DIY retaining wall ideas below). Use it to hold soil at the base so you’ve got ample room to plant flowers and greenery.

A small retaining wall that encircles different areas of your yard can help unify the space into a coherent whole. In this yard, the open-ended retaining wall distinguishes the shrubs, while spilling into the gravel of the patio for an easy transition.

Elevation changes, big or small, can make a big difference in your landscape design. Adding a wee retaining wall to a yard that may not technically need one makes a statement and creates visual interest.

Use a short retaining wall to accent the subtle contours of your lawn in a classy, minimalistic way. Using rocks or other natural materials may help the wall blend seamlessly into the lawn.

That dirt area that currently serves no purpose in your yard could be the perfect base for a short, natural retaining wall. “What was once an unsightly dirt ditch has been transformed into a vibrant habitat for butterflies, significantly enhancing the curb appeal of the property,” says Amy Hovis, partner-owner of Eden Garden Design, a women-led landscape design and build studio. Sedges are known for their resilience in shady, wet environments, making them a good option to strategically drape over a difficult terrain.

If a retaining wall isn’t what you envisioned for your backyard, don’t fret—you can still employ the functional design without sacrificing your desired aesthetic. Eden Garden Design often covers walls with fig ivy as a solution to this common design conundrum, explains Hovis. This works well on small retaining walls, seen here, but could also function on a taller one.

Another way to camouflage a small retaining wall is to match it to the exterior of your home. In this New Jersey home, a retaining wall is essential both to protect from potential storm surges and enhance overall curb appeal. “Instead of a long, steep staircase to elevate the home, tiered retaining walls create a series of elegant, gradual steps, blending purpose with design,” says Stephanie Kraus, principal designer of Stephanie Kraus Designs, adding that the brick wall was painted Dove White. “Beyond its functional role, the wall adds visual interest, curb appeal, and seamlessly integrates with the home’s classic aesthetic,” she says.

Small retaining walls can also function as planters. In this Sagaponack, New York, home, concrete walls showcase hydrangeas and accentuate the transition between the upper and lower levels of the yard. “This softens the grade change and adds vibrant color to the landscape,” says designer Philip J. Consalvo, principal of PJCArchitecture.

Retaining walls are often used in sloped yards to create more functional space. The below ideas will help you make a slanted lawn.

Concrete retaining wall with flower beds

For a sleek design, look to a concrete retaining wall with built-in flower beds. The juxtaposition of industrial concrete and verdant flora adds a wow factor to a front yard. “Adding ornamental plants to the finished wall also embraces its natural surroundings,” Lobeira, the Monterrey, Mexico–based architect, says.

Since retaining walls are often used in sloped areas to transform that part of the yard into usable space, consider adding steps to your retaining wall for easy access to the different levels of your yard.

Mood lighting is a surefire way to bring in a wow factor to your wall. Not only do lights work as safety mechanisms—especially important in a sloped area—they also add ambiance to your outdoor space. Keep in mind it’s easier to run electrical lines at installation as opposed to adding lights later. Talk to your contractor about light design upfront.

Consider using retaining walls to create a sculptural element and turn your yard into a modern art piece. Accentuate the curves of your sloped lawn to spice up a basic plot.

Use retaining walls in a sloped area to delineate different garden sections, suggests Hovis, the Eden Garden Design co-owner. This deliberate contrast highlights the botanical design and can be used to showcase different grasses and flowers. Whimsical accessories such as a birdbath can soften to the overall environment.

A retaining wall can turn an otherwise steep slope into lush usable space. “The retaining walls helped the overall design concept, which was to integrate the house into the natural slope of the site and its wooded environment,” says Consalvo, the principal of PJCArchitecture. To further integrate the environment, use natural materials such as oak and mixed hardwood. “The ties, the siding, and the woods all harmonize together, creating a seamless composition,” Consalvo adds.

The architecture and landscaping of this three-acre wooded, lakeside residence were designed in unison due to its almost 50-foot grade change. “The goal was to maximize views from the residence into the woodland and toward the water while creating seamless interior-exterior space,” says John Evans, partner at Hoerr Schaudt. A tall wall requires a strong base material such as concrete, while visually interesting stonework can soften its appearance and cascading plants minimize its surface area. “Aesthetics are critical, but make sure the walls are thoughtfully designed from a performance perspective—they need to be not only beautiful, but also functional, of course,” adds Evans.

A retaining wall can also be used to connect terrains of different levels. For example, design meets function in this high-performance LEED Platinum house in Tiburon, California. “Looking for a solution to the problem of entering the house on a steep site, the design team literally bridged the gap between the sloped terrain and the interior of the house [with a concrete retaining wall]—resulting in a suspended outdoor room that gracefully connects the inside and outside,” explains Federico Engel, managing principal at Butler Armsden Architects.

Wood is an inexpensive and easily accessible material for retaining walls. Below, creative ways to put timber to use.

An all-black retaining wall recedes into the background, yet looks striking. The sleek hue works wonders for a landscape that benefits from a high-contrast, modern design.

“Wood is an inexpensive and common choice for a retaining wall,” Raboine, the director of Belgard Residential Hardscapes, says. Since wood is an organic material, expect it to have a shorter lifespan compared to solid options like stone. You can extend the longevity of wood retaining walls by opting for pressure-treated wood and using a wood preservative. However, just be careful with planting too close to the wall as the chemicals in treated wood can harm flowers and greenery.

Even if you have a sloped lawn that could benefit from a retaining wall, you don’t necessarily need to compromise your dream of having a white picket fence out front, too. Layering materials is one of those ingenious privacy fence ideas that often gets overlooked. Add a white picket fence—or any wooden fence for that matter—on top of the retaining wall, then plant bright flowers and shrubs for that classic look.

Use lush greenery, or even plant a lettuce garden, to create a cottage-like feel with wicker-style retaining walls that add to the charm. Other ways to create a fairytale backyard include stacked worn rocks paired with moss and native flowers.

These backyard retaining wall ideas will help you make the most of your outdoor space.

Expand your usable living space with a retaining wall that extends out of your home for a seamless indoor-outdoor area. Choosing the right materials is key, explains says Duan Tran, partner at KAA Design, an architecture and landscape design firm based in California. On this hillside property, poured-in-place board-form concrete walls create an outdoor terrace. “Simultaneously, these same walls permeate and extend into the home as indoor walls that further blur the indoor-outdoor material transitions one would usually see,” he says. “Additionally, other materials including flooring and wood siding also transition seamlessly between both worlds, allowing the home and outdoor elements to feel as one.”

Create an entryway

Another way to make a retaining wall more functional is to include a doorway in the design. Either carve out an opening or add a rustic door to allow easy access between spaces. Frame the entrance with greenery for an added touch of whimsy in your garden.

To get the most functionality out of every square foot of your backyard, double up the retaining wall’s purpose with a cozy fire pit. Think of it as a sunken, outside sitting room for year-round entertaining. Los Angeles landscape architect Patricia Benner, principal at Benner Landscape Design, stacked a stone wall that becomes a built-in stone seating area. “It has a nice, organic flow and makes the seating feel integrated with its surroundings,” she says.

Incorporating seating into your retaining wall design gives the structure utility beyond beauty. “The retaining wall’s function is vital,” Lobeira says of this retaining wall that is also a built-in concrete bench. These natural stone seating platforms are particularly welcome in smaller backyards.

A fountain, or another water feature, makes the retaining wall dynamic. Usually, water flows from a spillway inside the wall into a basin below. It is then recirculated back into the spillway.

Tiered retaining walls are fantastic ways to dress up a hill or slope in your yard and make the space more usable. Walls like these also create greater possibilities for your garden design, opening up plenty of usable space for plantings.

Similarly, you can use a retaining wall to reinforce or expand your patio area. Consider adding elements like a fire pit, outdoor kitchen, or Adirondack chairs to maximize the usable space.

This steel retaining wall creates an infinity-edge lawn and divides the backyard into two areas, the more formal lawn and the more natural, unmaintained area of the property, explains Hovis. “One lesson here is that framing is everything,” she says. “That sweet steel edge frames the lawn perfectly so that everything beyond it can be more alive and natural.”

Create contrast between your hardscape elements and the natural elements in your yard by pairing a retaining wall directly in front of a line of lush evergreen trees.

Fans of a well-manicured, formal garden might like planting sculpted shrubs along their retaining walls. They add a welcome texture to the lawn and an air of luxury.

Use the retaining wall as an extension for a fountain or a water feature. Contrasting colors bring life to the yard, while the soothing sound of water creates ambiance for a calming outdoor garden.

If you have a backyard with different elevations, consider using a retaining wall to hold up a pool, such as in this design by Butler Armsden Architects. Framing your pool with a modern retaining wall will create a contrast between the natural and man-made elements of your yard.

If your backyard is actually more of a side yard, a strategically placed retaining wall can maximize your property. This narrow bayfront lot, designed by Marshall Paetzel Landscape Architecture and Kramer + deConciliis Architecture, feels like a hidden oasis thanks to a retaining wall with a board-formed concrete finish and integrated path lights.

A retaining wall designates an outdoor living area, creating space to tuck away an outdoor kitchen or bar. In this backyard, designers Cullman & Kravis fit the bar to the space with storage, a refrigerator, a serving area, and lighting for use at night. “The wall is built with a ‘random rectangular’ pattern, creating interest with variations of color and texture,” adds landscape designer Parker, the founder of Janice Parker Landscape Architects, of the decision to use locally sourced natural fieldstone and granite.

Corten weathering steel gives a retaining wall a modern look while shrubs blend the landscape and architecture. “The wall is used here as a planter to soften the hardscape and establish the entry courtyard and motor court,” says James LaRue, principal of LaRue Architects. This retaining wall also makes it easier to enter the Austin home, which sits on a sloped terrain.

Stucco isn’t just about adding durability, it can also lighten a landscape design and create deliberate contrast amongst greenery. “We used a skim coat, so you can sort of make out the grid of the stacked blocks within, but you could use a three-coat stucco on lathe to achieve an even more uniform, monolithic look,” says Furman, the cofounders of Side Angle Side, who designed this retaining wall with other co-founder Annie Laurie Grabiel. The pair chose a retaining wall design with reinforced CMU blocks, while slightly above-ground pool harmonizes with the walls.

These tips, tricks, and ideas will get you started if you plan to build a retaining wall yourself.

When DIYing a retaining wall to your landscaping, it important to know what not to do. “I strongly recommend steering clear of rubber landscape edging or off-the-shelf steel edging, as they often detract from the landscape’s aesthetic appeal,” says Hovis. If you’re tackling the project yourself, she says to opt for large landscape boulders instead of smaller ones or wood timbers. “They maintain a higher visual standard,” she adds.

Determine height based on the wall’s surroundings

When designing a retaining wall, it’s also crucial to consider height, especially in relation to nearby structures and vegetation. “This ensures that the wall blends harmoniously with its surroundings, maintaining a balanced and visually appealing composition,” says Tran, the partner at KAA Design. “Scaling the wall appropriately also plays a key role in creating a relatable human scale within the space.” A wall that’s too tall can overpower its surrounding environment and distract from its beauty. A successfully scaled retaining wall should enhance a space—not overwhelm it.

Consider crafting a retaining wall out of concrete planters. Use ridges to trick the eye into thinking that the series of planters is one elongated piece. The mix of natural and artificial elements is sure to make the scene pop.

For an easy retaining wall DIY that doesn’t involve building the wall itself, consider creating a vertical garden. Stacked stone walls or block retaining walls make good choices for vertical gardens as they have plenty of nooks to tuck plants into. If you plan to create a vertical garden retaining wall, consider how much sun you expect the wall to get and be sure to integrate an irrigation system.

For another simple DIY, plant drooping or “spiller” flowers near the edge of your retaining wall for stunning, cascading imagery. Consider including plants like moss phlox, creeping thyme, or rock cress.

If you don’t like the bright colors of flowers, you could incorporate cascading greenery instead. Plants like silver fall Dichondra, Delosperma cooperi ‘Ice Plant,’ trailing rosemary, or Lotus berthelotii make a great choice and a vibrant addition to a neutral-colored wall.

If you like the idea of dressing up your retaining wall but aren’t as confident in flower and plant-tending skills, try planting succulents on and around your retaining wall. Succulents like agave, Dudleya, and aloe are some of the best low-maintenance landscaping options.

To make concrete, you typically have to mix cement with water and aggregates, put it into a mold, and let it dry and set. Generally, this is an integral step when making retaining wall blocks. However, this retaining wall idea challenges that entire idea. Bags of dry cement are piled together like blocks to build the wall, and then the entire structure is thoroughly sprayed with water from a hose. Once it sets, the bags are either burned or ripped off, leaving you with bag-shaped concrete blocks.

Hire a pro artist, or pick up a set of brushes yourself to reinvent a concrete retaining wall by painting a mural on it. Look for concrete paint or outdoor paint specifically as it will hold better in the long run.

“The primary purpose of a retaining wall is to hold back soil and create level areas on a sloped site,” says Consalvo, the principal of PJCArchitecture. Retaining walls also prevent erosion and control water run-off in a front yard or garden. “They are purposeful and allow a certain level of control over the landscape to create added use or value,” explains Evans, the partner at Hoerr Schaudt.

Retaining walls can also be artfully incorporated into landscape design, whether you’re framing a flower bed or adding function to a sloped yard. “They can be used to highlight and define areas of the site and help integrate a built structure into its surroundings, which adds more depth and complexity to the architecture,” Consalvo adds.

The cost of a wall project will generally depend on height and length, explains Parker, the founder of Janice Parker Landscape Architects. “Walls over three feet high may need frost footings, reinforcement, and drainage,” she says, noting that a short retaining wall is often more budget-friendly.

Landscape designers often point to gabion as the most affordable retaining wall to build. Materials such as wood timbers and cinder blocks are also cost-effective, and some home improvement brands offer retaining wall kits for added ease, says Parker.

“Many home supply stores will have supplies and equipment to build walls out of wood and concrete block systems,” says Parker. Landscape experts agree that gabion walls make great DIY projects. “I love the look of these walls, and they can be laid out in curved shapes, which makes them interesting and useful in the landscape,” Parker adds.