ideas for small backyards
Don't think of your microscopic yard as a curse. So what if it's technically a small concrete slab that baaarely accommodates a half-sized Weber grill? Or if your flagstone patio is just big enough for you, a lounge chair, and a good book? Your tiny outdoor spot is actually an opportunity to get creative.
To live large with a small footprint, try these functional tweaks to make your minuscule outdoor space feel like a palatial retreat.
Wait, what? That's right. Even if your square footage is relatively small, dividing your outdoor space into two areas can actually make it seem bigger.
Smart Makeover Ideas For A Small Backyard
"Creating a space within a space makes it seem larger because it gives you a separate experience, " says Joy Diaz, chief marketing officer at Land Care Inc.
Diaz recommends a small wood pergola, which you can purchase at home improvement stores or even build yourself without too much effort. You can also use walls to divide the space. We're not talking about bulky concrete barriers here — try using short trellises, arbors, or vine-covered wooden fences to separate your loungers from your patio table.
"It says, 'I'm in one place, that's another place, and if there's room for two places it must be big, '" says J. Scott Williams, a landscape architect at YardApes in New Milford, Conn.
How To Decorate A Small Backyard
As an added bonus, walls prevent visitors from walking in a straight line from one end of the patio to another, instead creating a winding path that makes your small space feel expansive.
A peaceful space always feels roomier than one crowded with noise and other distractions — like the pressure to strike up an awkward conversation every time you lock eyes with the nice lady next door. Keep your evening soirées and morning coffee blissfully secluded with a few cleverly positioned plants.
There are a few ways to achieve this goal. Along the very edges of your space, plant a tall, wide bush, like the purple smoke bush, a fantastic, easy-to-care-for container plant that can grow six or seven feet every year. Just be sure to keep on top of trimmings to keep it from overgrowing your patio — you want it growing up, not out — but as long as you do so, it makes an excellent privacy screen.
Stunning Backyard Landscaping Ideas For A Small Area
You can also privatize your patio without sacrificing any square footage with the oldest trick in the book: Install some climbing vines on a trellis to clearly tell your neighbors, "This is my special space."
A dramatic focal point can really add some intrigue to a mini yard. And a water feature, like a bubbling birdbath or wall fountain, can do just the trick.
Williams suggests choosing an element with a black bottom, which will create a darker surface that reflects sky and trees, making your outdoor space feel bigger. Just make sure your water feature doesn't overwhelm your porch — you can skip the long, vanishing edge-style pool.
Small Backyard Landscape Design
"I wouldn't put a longer element in a small space, which might make it look smaller, " Williams said. "Add a smaller water element into a small space, and make it seem larger."
Use your walls, fence, or railings as extra space by adding vines or a living wall filled with flowers, herbs, and other eye-catching greenery. For a simple change, prop an attractive ladder — think barnyard chic, maybe? — against the wall and use its rungs as shelving for plants or other decor. The internet is bursting with other vertical planter and shelving ideas, too, using everything from pallets to chicken wire.
"It draws the eye up and outwards, and gives it a green and completely different look, " says Diaz. "It can change the atmosphere of the area. You've walked into a different experience from your home — it's a psychological and emotional change."
Small Backyard Ideas On A Budget: Affordable Outdoor Decor
"Mirrors really make space feel more expansive, " Williams says. On a small porch, place a tall mirror on the ground behind a portico or a patch of greenway, which "makes it look like a doorway into another garden."
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You don't need to go huge on the mirror to have a huge impact. Even hanging a normal-sized mirror, like one you might find over a dresser, can make a tiny space feel much larger. But whichever you choose, make sure to weatherproof your mirror first using a mirror edge sealer (you'll also want to add sealant to the frame, especially if it's made from wood) to prevent moisture damage — unless you like the weathered look, that is.
Small spaces don't have to be limiting. With a little bit of creativity — and perhaps a reflective surface or two — there's no reason you can't feel like you're living in your very own Versailles.The less space you have, the more intentional you have to be about its design. Small backyards, in particular, can be tricky to work with, especially when you factor in the need for large fixtures like pergolas, swimming pools and fire pits. Really, it means that you have to work smarter, not harder to make the most of your outdoor footprint, so you can entertain guests and soak up the sunshine all summer long.
Small Budget Backyard Makeover Ideas
Browse through these small backyard ideas to find simple ways to maximize your outdoor space on a budget. Through a mix of landscaping ideas, decorating tricks and gardening how-tos, you'll get all the inspiration you need to embrace a "less is more" mentality. When building the ultimate backyard, there are two main approaches you can take: Stick with small statements like container gardens, rolling bar carts and potted greenery, or go all-in with brand-new outdoor furniture and major patio renovations. Either way, you'll be amazed just how easy it is to transform your tiny backyard into the outdoor oasis of your dreams.
Mirrors have a way of making even the smallest spaces look way bigger. Hang a mirror on your house's exterior to brighten your patio, deck or backyard space.
Since you don't have a ton of room to grow plants, make sure that you're always thinking about ways to use the little space that you do have. In this case, dress up a pallet fence with an assortment of greenery and seasonal blooms in flat-backed planters.
Fantastic Small Backyard Ideas
Designate a spot for drinks to ensure that everyone stays calm, cool and hydrated on hot summer days. Pick a cart with wheels, so you can roll it inside to keep the drinks pouring.
Keep things light and bright by decorating your space with all-white furniture. Use the patio furniture as a base, accenting your space with loads of greenery.
Boost your backyard's appeal by filling ceramic planters with flowers, succulents and other greenery. And if you want the satisfaction of watching something grow from seed to plant, consider herbs and small vegetables like broccoli and cabbage.
Small Backyard Decor Ideas
Bring a wooden work bench outside, give it a coat of fresh paint and use it for, well, everything. When you're entertaining, turn it into a bar cart or serving station. Otherwise, let it become your catch-all spot for gardening tools, empty pots and watering cans.
Make your small space feel even cozier by stringing lights from one side of the yard to the other. That way, you won't have to use up coveted floor space with standing lamps.
Since lawn furniture may be too bulky to suit the size of your space, go for folding chairs that can be stored easily when they're not in use. For a warm and inviting vibe, throw an outdoor rug and floor pillows on the surrounding grass.
Small Backyard Ideas: 16 Ways To Maximize Your Outdoor Space
If your deck is low to the ground, extend its reach by laying stone patio tiles along the existing deck. It'll create a seamless flow from one area of your space to the next, which is perfect for summer parties and gatherings.
Turn any ol' ledge into an ultra-cozy seating nook. Outfit the wide railing or garden wall with colorful pillows and potted plants, and then pull up a small side table.
When done right, utility carts become the ultimate drink station. Deck out the shelves with coolers, glasses, utensils and pitchers full of party punch (or another drink of your choice).
Small Backyard Ideas — Renoguide
Think of floating plants as a gallery wall for the outdoors. Attach flat-backed planters to the slats using zip ties or small hooks, and then fill 'em with an array of colorful plants.
Take a garden stool — bird baths work too! — and fill it with frozen water balloons for a party-ready cooler. They'll melt slower than traditional ice cubes, so guests won't have to dunk their hands in water to refuel.
Stack curved paving stones in a circle to create a statement-worthy fire pit. To make the space more inviting, scatter some metal chairs and potted plants nearby (but not too close to the fire, of course).
Backyard Landscaping Ideas For Small Yards
Turn a wooden ladder into a vertical stand for potted flowers, veggies, and herbs. Just give it a fresh coat of paint before you put it out on display.
Not only do circular tables give off a modern look, but they're also easier to walk around than traditional rectangle options. Try to mix and match the textures by pairing a concrete
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