6 Best Balinese Garden Ideas You Can Recreate at Home

A beautiful tropical escape with Bali Huts.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)

Here’s a quick overview of the best Balinese garden ideas to inspire your home transformation: think natural materials, resort-style tranquillity, and timeless landscape design tips you can actually use. Read on for expert insights, design breakdowns, and key features to bring that Bali vibe home. With decades of experience in thatched and resort-style features, we’ve worked in countless Bali-inspired home projects and are excited to bring that wisdom right into your own backyard.

Where to start: Recreating a Bali escape in your own backyard

Are you looking for achievable luxury in your home – a sense of luxury and natural harmony that doesn’t cost a fortune to create and sustain? Balinese gardens are an extraordinary source of inspiration: in this guide, we’ll bring our expertise in tropical design and natural materials to help you find simple, achievable paths to paradise at home.

What defines a Balinese garden?

For those seeking a harmonious space to call home, a Balinese garden is an attractive solution. Balinese gardens are defined by their integration with nature and their use of natural materials like bamboo, stone, and thatch, as well as the lush, tropical climate that the region experiences.

You’ll find the stunning interplay of elements like water, plant life, and stone: all natural materials that boast both aesthetics and sustainability. But it’s not just the elements themselves that define Balinese-style gardens: it’s the way these elements are treated. To mimic the rainforest, you should incorporate lush layering of tropical foliage and ensure appropriate shade to shield from the tropical sun. Incorporate a gentle water source, thoughtful iconography, and you’ll be on your way to a tranquil, well-shaded, low-maintenance paradise.

Bali rethatch northern nsw. Alfresco dining area with stunning views and a pool
Tropical backyard with pool and a bali hut

Why use natural materials in a Balinese-style garden?

To create a truly authentic environment, choose natural materials first. It just makes sense: plastic doesn’t bring that same feeling of natural harmony when we know how destructive it can be to our planet. Opt for fast-growing, sustainable bamboo materials, as well as alang-alang thatch, natural stone, and timber to build your garden. You’ll enjoy the long-term benefits: a healthier planet, a water-resistant finish that doesn’t easily attract mould, and a natural, harmonious aesthetic.

1. Create your own resort-style garden retreat

Prioritise rest and shade: incorporate a space to recline with a pavilion or a thatched gazebo as your centrepiece. Bring in elements like daybeds, hammocks, and gentle lighting: find what relaxes you and puts you in that ‘resort’ mindset.

2. Incorporate water for a calming Balinese garden experience

Water is a key part of a Balinese garden, as water is a key part of a rainforest or jungle. Water has a role to play in meditative practice – the sound of flowing water can be an ideal accompaniment to a meditation session and can even shield extraneous noise. Consider what you can do with your space: you might not have space for a full-on Balinese bath, but you might be able to incorporate a subtle fountain or water feature.

3. Use layered landscaping to evoke the lush Bali jungle

Balinese-style gardens take design cues from the vibrant jungles and rainforests, with layered foliage and diverse plant life. You achieve this look by choosing plants of different heights and textures: plants can even provide a kind of ‘wall’, offering sectioning and privacy between areas of your Bali-style garden.

If you’re looking to find authentic plants that are also grown in Bali but are available (and can thrive) in Australia, you’ve got plenty of options. Palms are a perennially popular option. For the classic floral foliage, you can’t go past the hardy frangipani. Heliconias are yet another popular choice – they’re great for a pop of tropical colour.

4. Build a bamboo screen or boundary

Part of creating a tranquil oasis is holding the keys to its boundaries: this is your own private space, and if you want to set a degree of privacy or separation from the rest of the world, you deserve it!

While you might think towering walls and cameras as the foundations of privacy, the approach for a tropical garden is a little different. Our bamboo panels offer a high-end look that is both sturdy and long-lasting, perfect for balancing privacy and practicality with price. Plus, their effortless aesthetic works perfectly with other plant life, mimicking the earthy tones that exist all around us in nature.

5. Design an outdoor shower or bathing space

Bring the relaxation of Balinese bathing culture into your backyard without investing in a full-on pool excavation process. Consider a lighter touch: incorporate an outdoor shower or bathing space into your garden’s landscape. Opt for a gentle, timber finish, furnished with stones, pebbles for a natural look and feel.

6. Create garden zones with thatched roofing or pergolas

Shade is important in the harsh Australian sun: roofing and pergolas are as essential as they are relaxing.

Roofing zones can also help you divide up your space into purposes. For instance, you might want to cover away your meditation space to keep it protected from the rest of your space (and the elements). Using sectional roofing, you can do this – and still have a space dedicated to entertaining at the same time!

We’re experts in creating unique roof lines from natural materials like Balinese and African thatch, and ensuring they stay in stunning condition. We’re always here to answer questions about creating an ideal space, with gorgeous pergolas and thatched roofing: you can check out our brochure for all the key details.

“Having worked on Balinese Inspired Spaces since 2001, we understand how important it is to have an area that is both restful, and relaxing which can also be a great spot for entertaining with family and friends. A Balinese theme is timeless, and will not only achieve this aim but will also add value to your property.”

Sunshine coast bali hut
Looking out at a garden from under a bali thatched roof hut

How to plan your own Bali garden: A step-by-step guide

  1. Assess your space and light conditions
    What’s going to be the best use of your space? Where do you need shade? What kinds of plants could thrive in that space?
  2. Choose your design focus
    Are you aiming for a relaxation space? A place for meditation? Or a space for entertaining? This will be a key driving force behind your choices of architecture and even plant life.
  3. Choose your key features first
    What’s your focal point? Is it a gazebo for gathering? A water feature for natural contemplation? Or bamboo screening to create the privacy you’re craving? Choose your salient elements and then work through a visual hierarchy to determine what you’ll need to add.
  4. Build around your elements
    Build above and around the central parts of your visual hierarchy. Find plants that will thrive in your light and shade conditions, and place them in a shape that will complement your key structures. But it’s not just plants – you can choose statues or sculptures to flesh out the space and achieve what you’re seeking from an aesthetic perspective.
  5. Add your final touches
    Once you’ve worked out the arrangement of your primary and secondary items, you can add those final touches, including furniture. Lighting and furniture may come last, but they’re not just afterthoughts – remember what inspired you to create your own Balinese-style garden and use that mindset to help you choose.

Common questions about Balinese garden design

Yes! Focus on vertical layering, a water bowl feature, and a bamboo screen for privacy.

Use hardy tropical plants, opt for mulch and stone paths, and choose durable thatch products.

This depends on your local council. Structures under certain sizes may not need approval, but it’s best to check.

Final thoughts: A slice of Bali, just outside your door

Not only is a Balinese-style garden the peak of tranquillity, but it’s also achievable on a range of budgets and in a range of spaces. Even just a handful of exciting new elements can bring that relaxed vibe to life. Get expert advice on how to bring a slice of Bali to your space: talk to us about installing the perfect Bali hut or bamboo screening today.

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