Enhance A Roof Garden With An Entertaining Space
Decorating a small backyard should never be an afterthought. In fact, roof gardens, patios and balconies provide a great opportunity to enjoy the surrounding views and extend the living space of your home, however tiny.
Sleek, simple and sophisticated is the golden design rule for any roof garden ideas. Choose materials to complement patterns or colors in the surrounding landscape or adjacent buildings so the design blends in.
Whether you envisage creating an al fresco entertaining space with an outdoor table and chairs, or a relaxing retreat with an outdoor sectional and lounge chairs, be sure to choose the best outdoor furniture stores to suit your needs and desired look.
With a little planning, creativity and innovation it is possible to transform an unused roof space into an area to relax, unwind and entertain.
Squeeze In A Bistro Set
You can still enjoy a meal outdoors, even if you don’t have space for a full dining set. The best bistro sets come in a variety of styles and materials you’re pretty much guaranteed to find one that matches your backyard and home style. Surround your bistro set with colorful, multi-height plants to create a textured, romantic breakfast area.
Grow Your Garden Vertically
Photo via @real.cedar
Whether youre looking to expand your garden without taking up horizontal space or searching for small backyard ideas, wall planters are terrific for changing your outdoor area on a budget. The experienced carpenter will love this custom DIY vertical planter. But if youre looking for something simpler, drill plastic planter boxes or pots into a wooden pallet to place against your house.
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Use Mirrors To Enhance A Small Backyard
indoors adds instant impact and interest, while maximizing light and boosting the sense of space. And it can make a small garden look bigger, even in a relatively compact area.
They are also the perfect option if you are looking for backyard ideas on a budget. A good mirror can usually be found at a local flea market or second-hand shop.
We always recommend going for the largest mirror you can afford to make the most of every ray of light from your mirrors reflection,’ says Lucy St George of Rockett St George .
While a large picture might overpower a space and particularly a small room a large mirror will do the opposite.
As long as the frame isn’t too bulky, a larger mirror will only serve to make a room feel bigger and brighter, so dare to pick a design that’s on the larger side rather than one with more modest proportions.
Small Backyard Pool Ideas
Owning a pool is a luxury most homeowners fantasize about at some point. But fitting a pool into an already small yard is no easy task. With a few design tricks, however, you wont even notice the lack of space.
Whatever style of pool or hot tub is in your backyard, line the perimeter with plant life. Avoid unwanted leaves and other debris in your pool water and go with tropical plants like palms, cacti, or even bamboo for your pools landscaping.
Do you need to cross turf to get to and from your pool and back door? Lay down stone pavers to avoid tracking grass clippings and mud into your pool or home.
If youre in the process of buying your first pool, be sure to choose one that best fits the available space. While rectangular pools are the norm, installing a round or oval pool can help preserve some of your backyard. In the grand scheme of things, a slightly smaller pool is hardly noticeable compared to losing your entire backyard space.
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Decorate With Multipurpose Furniture
Just like small rooms inside a house need furniture that works harder, small backyards need double-duty benches, chairs, and tables. Outdoor decor is a budget-friendly way to refresh a deck or patio. Find seating with hidden storage to stash pillows and throws or a table that expands for larger gatherings.
Building A Shed In A Tiny Backyard
After the challenge was over, we decided to build a small shed for our lawnmower and gardening supplies. We have a utilities easement on this area of our backyard, which means no permanent structures .
So the shed actually doesnt have a floor. Its kind of like a hut. The platform its on is just boards lined up and screwed into the fence. Two people could lift the shed and move it.
Mike tackled the shed and did a great job. I was not up for a project of this scalebut I did happily paint it to cover up the cedar fence pickets. I used a Behr opaque stain to match the decking as close as I could. The trash can is for yard waste, and the long skinny planter has some more lettuce in it.
For more small space decorating ideas check out how to .
And this creep loves to hang out under the shed
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How Do I Design My Backyard
Designing a backyard can feel like a big task, especially if youre working with a large surface area. Luckily, its more than manageable if youve got a solid plan. Banken explains that although its common to design a backyard in phases , its important to always know how each part will eventually fit into the whole. When you have an overall plan for your space it gives you something to work toward and also makes sure youre not wasting time, he says.
Narrow And Small Backyard Ideas
In some neighborhoods, especially in large cities, all you might be able to call a backyard is a narrow strip of land between you and your neighbors house. This can make decorating your outdoor space logistically tricky in more ways than one.
Place outdoor furniture, garden containers, and other items along the edges of your backyard to free up as much central space as possible. Opt for slim rectangular planters instead of round or square ones. Hang additional potted plants on your fence or homes exterior.
If possible, invest in furniture that collapses or folds away when not in use. With enough of these items, you can create a backyard with two personalities .
If you have enough room, section off one end of your narrow backyard for a makeshift patio space. Splitting the space will help break up your yard and prevent it from feeling too awkwardly long and narrow.
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Plant A Fruit And Vegetable Garden
Vegetable and flower boxes bring in welcome crops.
Skip the trip to the grocery store or farmers market by adding a backyard fruit or vegetable garden. For a simple design, consider a few rows of plant beds with gravel walkways between them. Even a novice can start a backyard vegetable garden with a few basic pointers.
Farmhouse Inspired Small Front Patio Entrance
If you have a small space, that doesnt mean you cant have a beautiful and inviting patio. This farmhouse-inspired small front patio is the perfect example. The key to making this work is to keep it simple. A few potted plants, a small table and chairs, and some string lights are all you need to create a cozy and inviting space.
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Tip #: Make What You Need
When Reyes needed something for outdoor lounging, she opted to stretch the possibilities of what was already inside her home instead of purchasing overpriced outdoor furniture. I used the extra twin mattress from my sons room, previously used for sleepovers, and covered it with a sturdy textile I could wash regularly, she says about her Donald Judd-style makeshift daybed. After tossing on a few pillows, it turned out to be an ideal nap spot and the best place to hang out with friendsall for less than $300, she says.
How To Make A Small Yard Look Bigger
Having a small yard is very common, houses are being built on small pieces of land. Without that large outdoor space, homeowners think there is no point to have it decorated for outdoor fun, but thats not the case. A small space can be designed to look bigger and better, just follow these easy tips!
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What Is The Least Expensive Landscaping Material
Pea gravel. Its typically used like gravel for walkways, patios, and other places where foot traffic is high. Pea gravel is very useful in landscaping projects because its a smooth stone. In fact, its also one of the cheapest stones you can use in landscaping.
Pea gravel costs$25 to $67 per cubic yard for smaller projects, averaging to $46 per cubic yard.
Build A Patio Or Deck
No matter what size the backyard, you can always build a patio. A patio can be ground level, which is an easy make. Nevertheless, they really are built at any height. This is great if your yard is a huge hill. Hills and slopes are not the best when looking for a place to hang out. Building a level deck creates a backyard area to hang outside. You can simply turn it into any of the ideas we mentioned above.
Patios are known to surround pools, fountains, and gardens. Furthermore, they can support a bar area, living space, and even a fireplace. If you are handy you can build a deck yourself, if not you can hire a carpenter to do the work!
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Backyard Ideas That Will Keep You Outside All Summer Long
Gazing out onto a vast space behind your house ought to get your mind thinking about backyard ideas. The rear is an extension of your home, and it deserves the same care and consideration as any part of the house. Your design will set the tone for all of your future outdoor spaces, so its important to plan accordingly. Before you can break ground on the outdoor oasis of your dreams, know what that dream is. Will you go modern or classic? Evoke a luxury spa of countryside living? Create space for entertaining or space to kick back and be alone? Look at the big picture: the entire backyard, entire front yard, or the entire property, and envision your goals, says Tyler Banken, an indoor/outdoor plant expert and landscape architect at Neverland, a plant resource.
Here, is a list of 46 backyard landscaping ideas to help inspire your perfect space.
Kick Back With A Firepit
A cozy firepit is the epicenter of outdoor entertaining.
Nothing screams summer more than the sound of a crackling campfire. Firepits make perfect focal points in a backyard, so if you want one, consider planning the rest of your landscaping around it. Banken features a boulder fire, which he says gives a natural rugged look thats softened by the mulch and ground cover for flooring.
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Small Backyard Ideas And Designs
- by Kari Apted
A small backyard is still a backyard, and you dont need a giant garden to make a huge impression. So many landscaping ideas work equally well in small or large backyards.
Even a tiny backyard can be transformed into a charming outdoor living space. Scroll through our best small backyard design ideas and see how simple it is to maximize the space you have.
Contents
Go For Modular Furniture To Suit Your Space
Modular furniture has always been a small space dweller’s friend. What we like so much about the Solleron series is you can really create a shape of sofa that fits with your space. You can build up how many seats you want, add armrests, corner sections, pick colors and cushions to go on top just a really versatile piece of patio furniture.
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Add An Outdoor Water Feature
Whether you want to go big with a landscape design or keep it simple with a DIY garden project, adding a water feature can turn your outdoor space into a beautiful oasis. Some examples of water features you can add are:
You dont need a large area to have a vegetable garden. All you need is a location that can provide adequate sunlight, access to a water source, and rich, fertile soil. Doing this will help you produce healthy vegetables, fruits, and herbs without going to the grocery store.
Additionally, consider using a fence deer and other animals in the community love your vegetables just as much as you do, and you dont want to give them a food supply and ruin all your hard work.
Nordic Inspired Pallet Furniture With Rusty Firepit
Patio created this beautiful, small patio design with Nordic-inspired pallet furniture. The centerpiece of this patio is the stunning rusty firepit that makes it perfect for chilly evenings. This design also features a small dining area and a cozy seating area. This is the perfect patio for a small space or backyard makeover.
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Focus On Color And Design
If you have a small backyard, you need to focus much more on elements that reflect your personal style. Thus, you can draw attention from the smallness of your garden to the harmony in its design.
For example, in the outdoor design above, green is also used on the cushion covers to blend in with the plants surrounding the courtyard. The flowers in the foreground are emphasized with purple cushions. In addition, a visual feast was created by surrounding the entire area with a dense plant texture. The smallness of the space, on the other hand, has visually fallen into the background with the use of all these cool colors and textures in harmony.
Small Covered Patio With Seating And Hanging Lights
This small patio design is perfect for a cozy backyard or outdoor space. The covered patio keeps the area shaded and protected from the elements, while the hanging lights add a touch of ambiance. The seating area is inviting and comfortable, making it the perfect place to relax with friends or family.
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How Do I Make A Small Backyard Look Great
Joe Raboine, outdoor living expert and director of residential hardscapes at Belgard , has a top tip for small backyard owners: work out where you get the most sun and go from there. Raboine’s advice is: ‘look at every small space with some sun as an opportunity: porch, balcony, roof, landscape, windowsill, fence, mailbox, driveway, walkway, decks’, and so on. Almost anything will look better in full sun, so make sure your backyard’s most important feature is in the spot that gets the sun.Lindsey Hyland, a gardening expert and founder of Urban Organic Yield , has further tips for small backyards:
- Add features such as a patio, deck, or pergola to provide some extra space and make the area more functional
- Install plants and trees to create a natural boundary and add some color and life to the area
- Use furniture and decorations that maximize the available space.
What Not To Do In A Small Backyard
Hyland has a reassuring answer: ‘Don’t try to do too much. When you have a small backyard, the key is to use every square inch wisely.’ In practice, this means ‘choosing plants and landscaping that will make the most of the space and avoiding features like pools or large garden sheds that will take up valuable real estate. You can still have fun in your small backyard just think carefully about what you include.’
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Lay Paving Stones Diagonally To Make A Space Appear Largerfrom Hgtvcom
If your small yard looks disheveled and uninviting, you’ll be inspired by these 12 photos of small yard renovations. HGTV features a slideshow that gives specific tips for making a small yard look bigger and better. One of the best takeaways: Lay paving stones on the diagonal to make the space seem larger. Take a look at slide 2 and 9 for great examples of how paving layout can impact a small yard. See the slideshow at HGTV.com
Take A Second Look At Wasted Space
Getty
When youre working with the natural limitation of a small backyard, one of the best strategies is trying to multipurpose landscaping elements when possible. A privacy fence can also serve as a vertical garden bed. A shaded corner can be the perfect spot for a water fountain. A tiny concrete patio can be retrofitted with an in-ground fire pit.
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Small Patio Design Ideas For A Small Space Or Backyard Makeover
One interesting fact about doing a small patio design is that theres no shortage of great ideas. You are spoilt for choice on the incredible ideas to make your smaller space look better. Some ideas are easy DIY, while others might require an expert hand.
There are countless ways to make a dull-appearing small patio look better.If you work your magic well, youll give them a new and exhilarating appearance. You can paint over them, lay a deck or even add curves with pavers. You have numerous inspirational ideas available that you can try out.
Before your search, lets share our collection of the best small patio ideas with you. Whatever the case, well dive into these ideas and help you make your concrete patio look better!
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