best backyards
As much as we all love to get cozy in the living room and lounge around in bed, a backyard is the truest of sanctuaries—especially if it's prepped with all the right backyard bells and whistles. Indeed, your outdoor space can be just as inviting, comfortable, and stylish as your interiors, but it also offers fresh air and nature. So it's the best of both worlds. From manicured landscapes to stately patios and paradise-status pools, get ready for some al fresco bliss with these 65 backyard ideas to help you get yours in shape for the warmer months ahead. And make sure you bookmark your favorites so you can bring them to life at home.
Instead of a hard-to-maintain lawn, opt for gravel, but then bring in greenery with lush pots and topiaries scattered around the parameter of the yard. And, if you're hosting, spruce things up by focusing on the tablescape. Here, Gen Sohr anchored the table with two wicker end chairs and special throws and cushions to make it cozier.
This red-striped hammock hangs between two trees outside design consultant Ellen O'Neill's home. "I felt like I had run into an old friend when I saw this hammock at IKEA, " she says.
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You will forever be known as the coolest house on the block if you have a built-in trampoline in the backyard. Even if it takes up the whole lawn, it's worth it.
"When we built the courtyard between our kitchen and den, we were inspired by a sunken garden we'd seen in Yucután. We plant plantings on top of the wall so they would cascade down, " says Ramin Shamshiri. Classic patio tiles and preppy lawn furniture are paired with a brutalist outdoor fireplace. All together, this garden patio is a magical blend of whimsy and edge.
Landscape designer Jay Griffith’s standalone pagoda is a grown-up version of a treehouse hideaway and it's much easier to add than a built-in landscaping structure. The floor cushions enhance the sense of intimacy while the curtains provide extra privacy.
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If you have an active household and would prefer something the whole family can enjoy, install a tennis court. Not only is this a great investment for your property and health, but a beautiful tennis court will also make your backyard feel vacation-ready. Ed Holland framed this one with lush greenery and a stone pathway.
This beautiful backyard designed by April Powers has a glassed-in swimming pool to optimize it for exercise all year round and the cozy gazebo is perfect for al fresco hangs, thanks to the colorful performance fabric, curtains, and coffee table.
Designer Alison Victoria's wanted to treat her eyes to more greenery in her small city backyard, so she got clever: The trick to maintaining a low-maintenance garden wall is actually opting for faux plants! She removed the glass from an antique pier mirror formerly in the entryway of an old home and then nailed faux fir panels directly into the fence.
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Whether you're starting a project from the ground up or you're adding a swimming pool to your backyard, make sure it's consistent with the style of your home's architectural roots so that everything flows and works together. On this property designed by Catherine Kwong, the modern, dark pool tiles and clean lines reflect the open-air structure beyond.
Caroline Rafferty decked out a small wicker bar prep zone right by the pool cabana. With cheerful bubblegum pink and cute stripes, this backyard puts you in an instant vacation state of mind. It's also optimized with a ceiling fan and hidden remote-controlled hurricane shutters for the off-season.
Extend a dining room from inside to outside with large accordion windows and a tiled table (easy to clean and weatherproof) on both sides. Get inspired by Kingston Lafferty's innovative design in this blue indoor/outdoor room.
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Designed by Cuff Home in Los Angeles, this backyard is both a beautiful garden and a fun park, thanks to the skateboard ramp.
If this enchanting garden doesn't inspire you to go wild with your topiary designs, I don't know what will. Geometric silhouettes give the traditional garden trend a fresh new look.
A dramatic water feature and tropical, lush greenery make this backyard feel like it's bursting with possibility. Ivy climbs all the way up the exterior of the home, too.
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Set up a dining area in your backyard garden. Here, Deirdre Heekin and Caleb Barker put simple rustic dining furniture between rows of veggie, flower, and herb beds.
An outdoor grade pool table on the patio means the party can come outside! Just opposite the custom pool table by Linda Hayslett is a cooking area and banquette for dining and drinks al fresco.
Deep in the forest of upstate New York, designer Beverly Kerzner went above and beyond to commune with nature by clearing vines, non-native plants, and debris a half-acre away from the forested part of her property (a 30-minute walk from the main house!). Next, she built a platform and filled it with all the glamping goods: a well-decorated yurt, an outdoor wood-burning stove, and lounge furniture on the exposed deck. A few steps away, there's even an outdoor bathroom.
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A stylish outhouse in our own backyards. With pretty florals, nature-inspired materials, a pop of color, and polished artwork, it seems like a nice place to meditate, too.
This small backyard in designer Fitz Pullin's Jacksonville, Florida, home was destined for majestic greatness despite its modest size, thanks to the dramatic tree and climbing vines.
If your space allows, set up a yurt in the backyard. It'll have so much functional range—use it as a glamping guest room, a pool house, or even just an outdoor living room/ entertaining area. Because they're more well-insulated than tents but less permanent than an actual building, you can still hang out in them during the cooler months.
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This backyard in a home by Amir Khandwala has it all: A lush lawn, a swimming pool and adjacent lounge area, and an outdoor dining room under a pergola. Low hedges are a great visual signifier, allowing you to keep each activity zone separate.
Set up distinct zones to get more use out of your outdoor space. Here, Studio Robert McKinley used different flooring materials to distinguish the separate hangout spots. The concrete flooring under the fire pit sitting area is durable and sturdy while the lawn functions as a nice segue to the pool. The concrete planter with red flowers and lush green plants is a nice transition, too.
Secure some hooks and slide in a bench or pair of chairs to let your beach and pool gear dry instead of dripping throughout the house. Think of it as an outdoor mudroom. Romanek Design Studio opted for casual, minimalist furniture and decor for an understated, stylish impression in this Malibu home.
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The backyard is your space to reconnect with nature and unwind in the fresh air. So instead of saturating it with furniture and decor, focus on landscaping and florals.
This in-ground swimming pool surrounded by a sun-dappled garden and canopy of trees is a backyard dream. Hang some string lights in the seating area for extra style points.
Build a separate workshop in the backyard if space allows. Reath Designs opted for a floor-to-ceiling glass window design, which helps boost productivity and creativity and doesn't disrupt the visual flow of the landscape.
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Swing sofas are the perfect blend between benches and hammocks. Not only are they relaxing and comfortable, but they can also be visually intriguing, especially if you play with scale and proportion. Designed by Studio Life/Style, these swing sofas with super long ropes are the perfect example.
The only thing more heavenly than this cottage's pool is the wisteria growing beside it. Shading a group of bistro chairs, the pergola provides the perfect lunch spot.
This dining area blends in beautifully with the natural landscape. Opt for a rustic dining table with wooden tree trunk stools as dining chairs. It's, edgy, sleek, and sophisticated while still being approachable.
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Designer Madeline Stuart gave the backyard of this SoCal home by architects Wallace Neff and John Byers plenty of personality, from the eclectic tiles lining the pool to the blooming bougainvillea and whimsical umbrella.
Hadley Mendelsohn Senior Editor Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful's senior design editor and the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House.You can tell a lot about a man and the nature of his home just by catching a glimpse of his backyard space.
Is it sparse and poorly cared for, or well-curated and thoughtfully designed? Does his backyard design blend the natural world with his own domestic domain, and welcome guests and inhabitants alike no matter the time of year? Or does it appear as a barely acknowledged footnote, if not an outright inconvenience?
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Small or expansive, a backyard is nothing short of paradise at your backdoor. From savvy English gardens to on-trend West Coast style spreads, there is truly no limit to the possibilities that await you. A backyard can be transformed into a Zen retreat, complete with rock gardens, manicured foliage, and even a koi pond, or a chic spa escape with meditative fountains and streamlined chaise
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