A small backyard can still be an oasis with the right design and landscaping ideas. Here are 23 ways to make the most of a tiny outdoor space:
Incorporate Vertical Gardening
Vertical gardening is a great way to maximize planting space in a small backyard. Try these ideas:
Use Wall-Mounted Planters
Hang wall planters on fences or exterior walls. Choose lightweight planters and anchors that can support the weight. Good options for small spaces include metal wall planters, fabric pockets, and vertical gardening systems.
Install a Vertical Garden
Vertical gardens are composed of stacked, wall-mounted planters. This creates a living green wall that adds visual interest. Succulents and small perennial flowers work well. Provide irrigation through drip systems or self-watering inserts.
Grow Vines
Vining plants like clematis, morning glory, passionflower and climbing roses cover bare walls with greenery when provided with a trellis or other support structure. Place trellises along house walls, fences, or posts. The vertical growth saves ground space.
Use Multifunctional Furniture
Outdoor furniture for small backyards should try to serve more than one purpose. Some creative options include:
Storage Benches
Benches with hidden storage compartments allow you to stow cushions, pillows and other items when not in use. Look for weather-resistant benches made of teak, cedar, or synthetic wood.
Table Sets
Opt for bistro-height tables that can double as counters for serving food and drinks. Nesting tables are another option to save room.
Charging Stations
Incorporate USB ports into outdoor furniture for conveniently charging phones and other personal devices outside. Waterproof charging stations built into tables or seating help maximize usefulness.
Hammock Chairs
Suspend hammock chairs from sturdy beams, patios, or trees to provide comfortable seating without taking up floor space. The hanging design adds visual interest.
Fire Tables
Propane fire tables create cozy firelight and double as tables when not lit. Models with adjustable flame heights add ambiance without excessive heat.
Use Space-Saving Design Techniques
Employ design strategies to make a small backyard feel larger:
Limit Ground Clutter
Keep patio and garden furniture minimal. Store items when not in use. Simple, unified patio materials also open up visual space.
Use Mirrors
Strategically hung mirrors reflect light and views, giving the illusion of more room. Place them to reflect attractive areas you want to highlight, like gardens.
Paint Fences Light Colors
White or light gray fence colors make boundaries recede visually, so the yard feels more open. Darker colors hem in space.
Curate Garden Views
Situate seating areas to face the best views of the garden. Frame views using trellises, arbors, or planted borders. Eliminate unsightly views like HVAC equipment.
Layer Lighting
Outdoor lighting extends usable hours in a small backyard. Use a mix of path lights, spotlights, string lights, candles, and lanterns. Uplighting in trees creates ambiance.
Open Sightlines
Prune lower tree branches and shrubs to open sightlines and make the area feel larger. Frame desirable views.
Choose the Right Plants
Careful plant selection helps maximize appeal in a compact backyard:
Look for Compact Varieties
Seek out patio trees, shrubs, and perennials bred for small spaces. Many newer cultivars thrive in containers too.
Use Plants with Vertical Shape
Slender, columnar tree forms occupy minimal ground space. Upright perennials like salvia and veronica take up little room.
Choose Multiseason Interest
Pick plants offering more than one season of interest, like foliage and flowers at different times. This extends the backyard’s appeal.
Favor Native Species
Native plants suit local growing conditions and support biodiversity. Their adaptability benefits small spaces.
Add Flowering Vines
Vines add height efficiently. Clematis, trumpet vine, passionflower, and climbing roses are pretty options that bloom prolifically on trellises.
Mix Potted Specimens
Use pots of different heights, shapes, and sizes to add visual variety with plants. Move pots around seasonally.
Build Multi-Level Platforms
Creating vertical levels is an effective approach to gain more useable space in a small backyard:
Install Decking
An elevated deck provides a second “floor” for furnishings. Built-in or freestanding benches utilize the space below.
Construct Patio Pavers
Place stone, concrete, or brick pavers over a gravel base to make a raised paved surface for seating. Edge with decorative stone or bricks.
Try Deck Boxes
Use weather-resistant deck boxes as staggered landscape steps and extra seating. Store cushions inside when not in use.
Add Deck Planters
Built-in deck planters, filled with trailing flowers, soften edges and delineate space. They also bring color up closer to eye level.
Use Space Under Decks
The area under an elevated deck offers usable square footage. Make the most of it with:
Outdoor Kitchens
Install a compact grill, fridge, sink and counters to create an outdoor cooking space protected from the elements. Add weather-resistant cabinets for storage.
Dining Areas
Furnish the underside of the deck into an intimate dining spot. Use weatherproof curtains to enclose the area.
Lounge Spaces
Add a weather-resistant rug, comfy chairs, and side tables to make a covered hangout space. Outdoor curtains create an enclosed feel.
Fire Pits
Tabletop fire pits let you enjoy flickering flames without taking up precious ground space. Ensure proper ventilation.
Embrace Portable Elements
In a small yard, portable furnishings make it easy to modify the space:
Lightweight Furniture
Choose lightweight aluminum or resin chairs and tables that are easy to move around. Bright colors add cheery pops.
Wheeled Planters
Use pots on casters to create movable garden displays. Roll them to optimal spots as conditions change.
Freestanding Features
Components like fire pits, water features, and bar carts can be moved to alter the layout. Stow away when not needed.
Cantilever Umbrellas
Umbrellas that attach to decks or patios provide shade wherever wanted. Rotate them to follow the sunlight.
Modular Seating
Benches and chairs consisting of stackable units allow flexible arrangements. Separate or reconfigure them as desired.
Select Multifunctional Surfaces
Make surfaces work harder with multiple uses:
Gravel Gardens
A gravel patio provides space for an outdoor living room and planted beds. Use gravel between steppers to make a path.
Decking
Use composite or wood decking material to unify patios, paths, and steps. Built-in benches also act as steps.
Pedestal Pavers
Elevated pavers on pedestals create a raised patio while allowing water to permeate below. Use gravel or plants in between.
Artificial Grass
Synthetic turf requires no mowing and lets kids play. Use for lawns, pet areas, and play spaces.
Add Creative Water Features
The sound of running water makes small backyards more relaxing. Consider these compact water features:
Tabletop Fountains
Self-contained tabletop fountains are inexpensive, low maintenance options. Their gentle sounds distill serenity.
Rain Chains
Rain chains divert roof runoff into narrow, cascading waterfalls. The soothing trickling connects sky and ground.
Container Ponds
Small, self-contained ponds in pots accommodate floating plants and colorful fish while taking up little space.
Wall Fountains
Mounted panels with cascading water make great vertical water features. Position on fences or exterior walls.
Design Multi-Purpose Play Zones
Creative solutions allow play areas for kids without dominating the yard:
Look for Compact Playsets
Manufacturers offer playsets designed for smaller backyards. Compact slides, swings sets, and climbers maximize play.
Use Inflatables
Inflatable bounce houses, slides, and pools make instant play areas. Inflate only when needed, then store away.
Create Activity Walls
Paint a wall or fence with chalkboard paint for drawing. Add a pegboard for hanging targets or other accessories.
Use Imagination
Simple elements like large appliance boxes, sheets, and pool noodles become forts, spaceships, and other temporary play zones.
Grow a Fairy Garden
This whimsical garden theme inspires imaginative play in little spaces. Accessorize with mini furnishings.
Illuminate Creatively
Make small backyards shine using inventive lighting:
String Lights
Festoon fences and trees with retro bulb string lights or modern LEDs. Go for sparkling white or colored.
Path Lights
Low-voltage path lights on steps and walkways provide safe nighttime navigation. Go for subtle or decorative fixtures.
Uplighting
Spotlights aimed up into trees create dramatic moonlight effects. Use for focal trees or backlit greenery.
Lanterns
Groupings of LED lanterns in trees or on posts lend warm, welcoming glows. Vary heights for interest.
Light Bars
LED light bars conceal easily behind or under ledges. They wash surfaces with color. Use remotes for control.
Take Advantage of Wall Space
Vertical surfaces offer prime real estate for maximizing usefulness and appeal:
Mounted Shelving
Wall-mounted shelves provide space for potted plants or decorative displays while taking up no floor space.
Wall Gardens
Modular panels allow vertical gardens on fences or walls. Some systems include automatic drip irrigation.
Art Installations
Paint, mosaic tiles, murals, or wall sculptures turn basic walls into eye-catching works of art.
Living Walls
Modular wall planters support vertical greenery. Succulents, ferns, and ornamental grasses work well.
Storage Solutions
Wall-mounted racks or slatted covers neatly store bikes, tools, and other items. Use decorative covers to conceal.
Get Creative with Hardscaping
Hardscaping materials add function and visual flair in small backyards:
Cut-Out Stepping Stones
Stepping stones cut into shapes like leaves, butterflies or fish inject whimsy underfoot in the garden.
Mosaic Tiles
Decorate a patio or garden path by embedding mosaic tiles. Make your own colorful design.
Painted Planters
Coat basic planters with chalkboard paint to allow for creative decoration. Update looks simply by re-painting.
Gravel Art
Use colored gravel, rocks or marbles to create patterns, shapes and textures on paths. Secure with landscape adhesive.
Recycled Landscape Features
Upcycle old dishes, cutlery, marbles or broken pottery into unique garden features like plant markers.
23 Small Backyard Ideas to Make the Most of Your Space – Conclusion
A small backyard can feel expansive with careful layout and design. The key is picking functional, space-saving elements that make the most of the square footage. Compact furniture, tiered levels, vertical gardening and multipurpose components all help maximize usage. Don’t overlook the possibilities above ground and on walls, too. With creative thinking outside the box, even the tiniest backyard can be transformed into a private urban oasis.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my small backyard feel bigger?
- Use mirrors, light colors, and open sightlines to create the illusion of more space. Also, limit ground clutter and furnishings. Multilevel platforms, vertical gardens, and overhead elements help use space efficiently.
What types of plants work best in small backyards?
- Good options include compact varieties, slender upright plants, flowering vines, native species suited for your climate, and plants that offer seasonal interest through flowers, foliage or form. Potted plants allow flexibility.
What kinds of furniture can maximize a small backyard?
- Opt for lightweight, movable pieces that can serve multiple purposes. Benches with storage, nesting tables, hammock chairs, and fire tables all save space. Cantilever umbrellas and modular seating add flexibility.
What are some ideas to add play spaces in a small backyard?
- Compact playsets, inflatable structures, activity walls, imagination-based play zones, and fairy gardens are good compact options. Also, rotate different types of temporary play spaces to keep things interesting.
How can I use vertical space in a small backyard?
- Installing wall planters, shelving, vertical garden systems, wall art and murals are great ways to utilize vertical surfaces. You can also grow vining plants on structures like pergolas, trellises and fences.