Rock walls have long been used to define outdoor spaces and add natural appeal to the landscape — drive through any New England village and you will likely see low rock walls dotting the countryside. Landscape designers and homeowners today are updating these rustic stone structures for current lifestyles. From innovative designs integrating fountains, fire pits and benches to beautifully practical solutions for challenging spaces, the rock wall has come a long way from its rural roots. Ginkgo Leaf Studio 1. Create a cozy nook. Take a cue from this stunning patio and use a curved rock wall with an attached bench to define a seating area around a fire pit. Landscape Techniques Inc. 2. Give structure to a wide expanse of lawn. Use a gently curving, low stone wall to set the patio area apart from the rest of the yard. For more privacy, add flowers like these black-eyed Susans and small trees on the patio side of the stone wall. Goff Architecture 3. Give a petite patio a charming touch. Conjure up an English cottage by adding a classic stone wall and garden gate to a small back patio. For the finishing touch, plant an abundance of trailing flowers around the fence. Blutter Shiff Design Associates 4. Provide an elegant backdrop for plantings. Natural stone is the perfect foil for any type of planting. Here a low stone wall adds appeal to waving grasses and mixed flower beds, and defines the patio. 5. Incorporate a fountain. Like part of a recently unearthed ruin, this stone wall builds up to its highest point in the center, framing a burbling fountain. Backed with tall shrubs for privacy, it would be just right in a small urban lot. Tepe Landscaping Services 6. Let your rock wall double as patio seating. A low rock wall is often naturally the right height for perching, so why not go with it? A gentle "S" curve adds shape to patios and flower beds, while soft cushions make it clear to guests that sitting on the wall is encouraged. a Blade of Grass 7. Define outdoor rooms with a series of rock walls. Multiple rock walls create a second home outdoors. Here low rock walls define an outdoor dining area, and beyond, a stone fireplace and an outdoor living room. Ginkgo Leaf Studio 8. Landscape a terraced hillside. If your property includes a steeply sloping hillside, consider working with a landscape designer to create a terraced garden with stone walls. Terraced gardens are incredibly elegant and protect your site from erosion.

The terraces shown here offer a compelling backdrop to the sunken patio and outdoor fireplace area. Cathy Schwabe Architecture 9. Carve out a private spot with a stone retaining wall. A single stone retaining wall is another option for those with a hill to contend. This works best with a gently sloping hillside; use a terraced-garden approach (such as the one in the previous photo) on steep hillsides instead.

See more of this inviting studio Southeast Studios Inc. 10. Increase front-yard living space with a low stone wall. Direct traffic to the door with a clear path, and use the stone walls to indicate the areas of the yard you want to keep more private. This is a backyard, but you can adapt the same approach out front.

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