rock gravel design

20 Best River Rock Landscaping Ideas

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So you are looking for river rock landscaping ideas for your front yard.

Okay, I will give ten ideas that are easy to implement, amazing in looks, and come with unique features that you may have not seen anywhere.

These ideas are low maintenance, and you do not have to spend huge money to design them.

Surely a combination of these ideas will add value to your front yard.

River Rock Landscaping Ideas

Before you learn about those ideas, I urge you to think about your overall landscape design and select the idea that fits the best, not the one that seems well.

So let’s move forward and learn those river rock landscaping ideas.

Read also: Ten budget-friendly poolside landscaping ideas

unique design with rocks

Yeah, this thing is marvelous, especially the way they have designed the area with rocks and plants with sand. I recommend you build something similar.

Get those river rocks and let your creativity do the rest. But be patient as a new design will not come easy and handy to set up. You need to give it time. Okay!

Get these rocks: Decorative Garden Landscaping Stones

2. Set up Areas with Rocks with Plants

Set up Rock Stairs with Shrubs

Use small or big rocks, shrubs, or similar plants to make a new design beside the stone walkway. 

The stones can be any river stones you want, with a mix of colors or pure black. This design will look great and will give your landscape a fresh look.

3. Build a Water River from Rocks

Build a Water River from Rocks

You do not need to build a big pool using rocks and stones.

Build a small one just for decoration, circle it with some big rocks and small rocks in the gap, and then fill the area with water. 

It will look like you have made your own river. Let a few small fish swim there and make your water river complete.

4. Design a Great Combination of Rocks

Design a Great Combination of Rocks and Shrubs

If you have access to many kinds of river rocks, you can use them to build something like a river bed where the water of the sea splashes on the rock. You have seen it in movies. 

Use something similar and possibly use some rocky plants around it to make it more natural. Without those plants, it may not be good.

Frankly speaking, it is one of my favorite river rock landscaping ideas.

5. Create Rocks in Water Features

Create Rocks in Water Features

I am not saying you arrange those big rocks and then build the water features from scratch. 

No, if you already have a water feature like a small pond, waterfall, or anything similar, add some rocks there, and you will see the look has changed dramatically.

6. Decoration with Wooden Bridge and River Bed

Decoration with Wooden Bridge and River Bed

If you have a big space in your yard, you can build a wooden bridge and let the river flow down it using rocks. 

You do not need to build an actual bridge but just a tiny bridge to make it look like a bridge on the river where only a mouse can pass. I think you have got the idea!

7. Build the Design with Large Rocks

Decorate with Large Rocks

Yes, I have said you do not need large rocks, but that for a different idea. This landscape design is a whole new thing. If you have a large yard then large rocks may suit the area. 

But those rocks need to look like they are taken from a river nearby, or else do not use big rocks as it may damage the view.

8. Build the Gutter System with Rocks

Build the Gutter System with Rocks

Do not say yak! You can use some small rocks on the side of your gutter system and make it look like a small river flowing.

Obviously, the gutter needs cleaning occasionally if you want this landscape idea to work.

9. Rock Riverbed with Wood

Rock Riverbed with Wooden Elements

Use some small rocks with wood and place them near your river that you have built previously in a circle or square way. 

Instead of rocks, you can use a wooden fence and let some climbing plants go on it. It will also look good unless you are on a short budget.

10. Rock Decoration for Yard

Rock Decoration for Yard

Use these river rocks in your yard or build a new design with the walkway. Place some rocky plants beside it to make it look like a wet muddy river where the water is yet to be filled. 

11. Good Looking Rock Based Decorations

Good Looking Rock Based Decorations

Now to expand your river rock landscaping ideas, combine all these ideas that I have shared with you and build something new.

I want you to test a few designs, play with the landscape, and see what works best. 

13. Build This Japanese Garden

Japanese rock garden
Media Director on Flickr

Buy these shiny pebbles: Polished Black Pebbles for Garden Decoration

14. Spread the White Rocks all Over the Yard

river rock outdoor ideas
pxhere.com

15. A Simple Pond Edging with Rocks

rock pond
needpix.com

16. Build this Chinese Pond

rock pond backyard
舟集 ToadboatCC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

17. Just Lay Different Types of River Rocks

rock landscaping ideas FAQ

Get these mixed up rocks: Natural Polished Mixed Color Stones

18. Combine Rocks with Gravel

gravel and rock
Tracy O on Flickr

19. Use Peebles to Separate Everything in the Yard

rocky yard
Jeremy Levine on Flickr
painted peebles
cultivar413 on Flickr

Get these painted rocks now: 43 Pcs Arts and Crafts (Rock Painting Kit)

Last Words

So we are done, and I have succeeded in describing those river rock landscaping ideas to you and how to apply them.

Now, get those rive rocks from only a few mulches and then use them in your yard. I wish you the best of luck.

My Recommendations

Get one of these shiny river rocks to decorate your garden.

120 PCS DIY Rocks Flat and Smooth (Best Overall)

Mixed Color Polished Small Peebles (Most Affordable)

Super Shiny Large White Stones (Premium Quality)

Front Yard River Rock Landscaping FAQs

How much river rock do I need for a 100-square-foot yard?

Less than 1 ton as it can cover up to 240 square feet if you go about 1 inch deep. For 2 inches deep, it can only cover up to 120 square feet.

How deep should I place the river rocks?

One inch is normal, but for better views, you can go up to 2 inches deep, which will take 1 ton of rocks to cover about 120 square feet of yard.

How heavy are those river rocks?

River rocks weigh up to 2,700 lbs to cover about a 100-square-foot yard.

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River Rock Landscaping Ideas with Edging
Foto: Jonn LeffmannCC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons / pxhere.com
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Featured Image Source: IconlandscapesolutionsCC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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About Author

Nazim Ali

Nazim Ali is an engineer who loves fixing things at home. He loves to try new things and share the knowledge with the world.