small backyard
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.
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.
Small Backyard Landscaping Ideas For Your Outdoor Oasis
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.
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.
Small Backyard Design Ideas & Inspiration
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.
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.
Clever Tricks To Make Your Small Backyard Live Large
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.
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.
Best Small Backyard Landscaping Ideas
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).
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.
The Top 63 Small Backyard Ideas
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).
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 or stone table with wooden patio furniture.
How To Create An Outdoor Living Space In A Small Backyard
Keep party guests out of the kitchen with this DIY serving station. Simply install a serving ledge under a window and dress the space with weather-resistant bar stools and a patterned awning.
Find an over-the-door shoe organizer that matches your aesthetic (linen works best!) and attach it to your fence for a space-saving herb garden. Stick a different kind of herb in each compartment, and add labels to help you keep track of what's what.
Turn your backyard into a tropical oasis (well, kind of) by sticking patio furniture straight on the grass. Fill out the space with plush pillows, patterned blankets and battery-operated lanterns.
Backyard Ideas That Will Keep You Outside All Summer Long
Take upcycling to the next level: For a budget-friendly work bench, attach an old door or piece of wood to two waist-height metal pails or garbage cans. Place it near your garden, so you can keep your eye on your bounty as you work your magic.
Even if you don't have room for a full-size garden, this little beauty gives you a similar experience. Once you fill a ceramic planter with soil, dress it up with rocks, low-growing shrubs, flowers and a mini birdhouse fit for a fairy.
Let your geometric tiling or outdoor rug make a statement by hanging a swing chair from the ceiling or deck cover. The perfect place to catch up on your summer read, don't ya think?
Small Backyard Ideas: 20 Spaces We Love
For a garden that doubles as decor, affix ceramic pots to a framed piece of cedar or pine wood. For extra impact, keep flowers in the same color theme and sprinkle a few extras throughout the rest of your outdoor space.
Amanda Garrity Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion.We can't all have a sweeping rose garden, Olympic-sized swimming pool, or a state-of-the-art tennis court in our backyard—but a small backyard is still a backyard (and even rooftop terraces and modest balconies count in our book). Indeed, you don't need acres on acres to create a charming space conducive to alfresco entertaining, gardening, romance, and pensive solo hangs in the great outdoors. We gathered a plethora of beautiful and small backyards to prove it. So keep reading for small backyard decorating and landscape design ideas that'll help you get the most out of yours.
A small two- or one-person sauna will transform a small, lack-luster backyard into a luxurious oasis. Plus, installing a free-standing sauna outside will allow you to avoid of all the fuss of sufficiently ventilating your interiors. You can buy one prefab or you can take notes from this outdoor sauna by Alexander Design and create a more architecturally unique structure that beautifies the garden.
Small Backyard Ideas: 16 Ways To Maximize Your Outdoor Space
This exquisitely-designed patio by Robson Rak proves that you don't need a ton of square footage to make an outdoor space memorable. Choose outdoor fabric in an offbeat, sophisticated color and then spotlight chic materials.
While this backyard definitely isn't pint-sized, designer Jenn Feldman tells us it was difficult to fit the pool in given regional restrictions regarding property lines. So she made it work by planting ficus trees to tighten up greenery (other plants would be too deeply rooted to work with the desired pool depth) and opted for smaller floor cushions instead of loungers. She also installed a swimming jet so the occupant could still do "laps."
This modestly-sized London backyard by Applied Studio manages to pack in a ton of functional value, from the small herb garden to the footpath and picnic area. The real highlight, though, is the indoor/outdoor structure. One half is a little relaxation and meditation area and the other is a small sauna.
Backyard Garden Ideas: Great Ways To Transform Your Yard
A pergola enhances the intimacy of a small space and allows you to get more use out of it since it lets in just the right amount of sun. Twisty branches and flowering vines scale this pergola on Wendy Wurtzburger's 1840 property, making the structure feel like it grew from the ground beneath it. The mossy brick ground contributes to the flow and proves that brick really only gets better with time.
Think of your garden as an organized procession, advises Hollander. Stone steps will give your outdoor space some structure and lead your guests in the right direction, no matter how big or small your garden is.
Ditch grass and instead opt for a natural stone for an old-world charm, like Wendy Owen did here (especially if you can incorporate greenery through climbing ivy and a hydrangea bush). Not only will it be easier to
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