Terrace Design Ideas: Ground-Level, Sunken & Raised Options

Terraces bridge indoor comfort and outdoor beauty. Whether ground-level, sunken, or raised, they become the heart of garden living.

Ground-Level Terraces

Simplest: grade, level, surface. Options:

• Concrete (screeded, drainage graded)
• Turf (prep like lawn)
• Flagstones on sand/gravel; plant crevices
• Exposed aggregate (cement + sharp sand + pebbles)
• Redwood/cypress blocks on sand over compacted gravel
• Unmortared brick on tamped sand; sand joints for grass

Sunken Terraces

Below grade = natural cooling. Needs retaining wall (holds soil, prevents erosion). Excavate 5–6″ below target level. Sand/gravel base. Finish to taste.

Raised Terraces

Start at house level, rise at outer edge. Retaining wall required. Leveling is the challenge. Drain via central tile line or piping through wall.

Material Tips

• Angle iron braces brick edges
• Follow terrace lines with patterns
• Choose surfaces for bare feet + drainage

A well-built terrace isn't a project—it's a place you'll live in for years.