Country yard designs

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Hang Up Flower Pots

These pots look like they're suspended in mid-air, but they're actually secured with clay pot hooks — plastic supports that easily screw into a wall and let you quickly hook and unhook terra cotta pots. Each hanger can bear up to 30 pounds, so they're great for larger pots as well.

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51 Captivating Courtyard Designs That Make Us Go Wow

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A captivating courtyard design provides a modern home with a special sense of serenity, and allows nature to become a major part of a home’s makeup. Enclosed garden spaces act as personalised nature retreats that feed into adjacent interior spaces via the blurred boundaries of glass walls, retractable doors and atrium ceilings. To explore these glorious spaces a little more and look at the different ways in which they can be implemented, we have put together a vast collection of inspirational designs taken from all over the world. From South America to Spain to Sri Lanka, from Africa to Japan to India, we cover them all.

• 1 |
• Architect: Jared Della Valle

Twinning is winning: Why settle for one courtyard if you can have two? It’s hard to distinguish the boundaries in this amazing modern home – and that’s kind of the point. Courtyards on each side of a walkway bring nature smack into the centre of this living space.

• 2 |
• Architect: Figr

Extend the same interior ceiling finish out over an exterior courtyard design, like this continuous wood slat ceiling that completely disregards the border.

• 4 |
• Visualizer: Tarek Ali

Make a courtyard part of the decor. This highly tailored courtyard design looks as though in disguise as a botanically patterned area rug – though the tree growing out of it is a bit of a giveaway.

• 5 |
• Visualizer: OMA

You will be surprised to know that this is in fact a cancer care building in Scotland. The Royal Incorporation of Architects, in Scotland, named it as the best building in the country back in 2012 for its bold and welcoming design that is so unusual for the healthcare industry.

• 6 |
• Architect: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP

Light it up with lanterns. This Japanese home has lanterns dotted around its courtyard patio to provide a magical glow at twilight.

• 7 |
• Architect: XTEN Architecture

Make the most of an exterior courtyard by including some modern outdoor chairs into the layout, or add a full dining suite for al fresco dining opportunities.

• 8 |
• Visualizer: NOTT

Everybody loves a bit of rock ‘n’ roll – incorporate some big rocks into the courtyard landscaping for a strong architectural effect.

• 9 |
• Designer: Harrison Landscaping

Create different levels. By adding decks and platforms to your layout you can define eating areas or an outdoor kitchen. Decorate courtyard decks and patios with potted plants or raised plant beds.

• 10 |
• Designer: Jungles

Make a frame with plants. A low maintenance patio can be framed by dense borders of greenery.

• 11 |
• Designer: Handman Associates

If green borders still sound like too much maintenance for you, then how about a softly bubbling water feature to create an atmosphere of zen instead?

• 12 |
• Designer: Corbin Reeves

A contemporary outdoor fireplace is sure to give the wow factor. This hearth extends almost the full length of the courtyard between two pebbled plant beds. The plant in the left corner is the European fan palm.

• 13 |
• Architect: South Coast Architects

Romance a special Señorita or Señor in a Spanish courtyard. You can flamenco dance the night away around the columns of romantic arches – try not to fall in the water feature though.

• 14 |
• Visualizer: Davide Weber

This rather fancy visualisation was one of the entrants to an Evermotion Secret Gardens competition held in 2016.

• 15 |
• Photographer: The Blonde Abroad

Take the plunge. You can take a quick cooling dip in a plunge pool at the centre of this moroccan design covered with green and white tile. Comfy sun loungers invite you to stay all day.

• 16 |
• Visualizer: Sasha Gnativ

Even a narrow space can be transformed into a magical spot. Incorporate plenty of colour in your planting to curate an uplifting view.

• 17 |
• Designer: Architectural Services Division, Govt of Honk Kong SAR, China

This building is actually a crematorium in Diamond Hill, Hong Kong. The shape of the courtyard alludes to the circle of life.

• 18 |
• Architect: Atelier Deshaus

Courtyards don’t have to be flat. A few little hills bring in a touch of the wild.

• 19 |
• Visualizer: Tharik Mohammed

This is based on the famous Hooper House II by Marcel Breuer, which is a mid century classic.

• 20 |
• Architect: Mia Design Studio

Cultivate some curtains, like these amazing hanging plants over a reflecting pool.

• 21 |
• Architect: ONG&ONG

Build bridges – from one side of a home to the other.

• 22 |
• Architect: Ayutt and Associates

Plumerias are a great plant for courtyards, with their whimsical form.

• 23 |
• Architect: Wallflower

This one has a 100 year old Plumeria tree, living right at the centre of a modern pool.

• 25 |
• Architect: Marcio Kogan

Erase walls with a retractable door solution.

• 26 |
• Designer: Tom Howard

Maintain all of your ground space by fashioning a vertical garden, like the multi-tonal walls in this front courtyard design. A cool interlocking design is created at ground level with irregular paving planks and lawn. A fire pit keeps the seating area comfortable in chillier times of day or season.

• 27 |
• Architect: Sebastian Mariscal
• Photographer: Coral von Zumwal
• Via: Dwell

Form a shaded area over the dining chairs and table for a cooler more comfortable outdoor dining experience in the height of summer, or to provide shelter from unexpected showers.

• 28 |
• Visualizer: Andriy Maheha

Welcome to the courtyard bar. This outdoor bar is linked directly to the interior kitchen, to receive drinks and snacks, or simply chat to the chef.

• 29 |
• Visualizer: Estudio Arquitecta Grin

Built-in benches at the borders can double as outdoor dining banquettes.

• 30 |
• Visualizer: Sqool

This concrete bench wraps right around an outdoor kitchen, marking out its perimeter.

• 31 |
• Designer: Studio EI

Mimic a pergola with wood framing across the ceiling.

• 32 |
• Designer: Christ-Christ

A single Japanese Maple tree can bring in shades of green and deep red.

• 33 |
• Architect: SAOTA

Make a modern path of slab paving stones across wild brush…

• 34 |
• Designer: EPT

… Or across a bed of loose pebbles. These Mexican beach pebbles make a great combination with Foxtail fern.

• 35 |
• Visualizer: Mia Design Studio

Live amongst the lily pads with a miniature lily pond. This one butts up so close against a sofa that you could even sit and dip your feet! Latticework overhead creates a cosy covered feel but still lets sunlight filter through.

• 36 |
• Architect: Ambrosi I Etchegaray
• Photographer: Rory Gardiner

Even if a courtyard is just a pathway from place to place it can still provide soothing garden views to interior spaces.

• 37 |
• Photographer: Daniel Koh

Invest in exterior lighting to add drama to the smallest of details.

• 38 |
• Photographer: Daniel Koh

In a sunken courtyard, flow planting down from upper garden levels. Both this and the previous courtyard are from this beautiful bali retreat.

• 39 |
• Architect: Alpes GDB

A courtyard can form the core of the home. Situate an eye-catching nature design at the base of a stairwell to link your levels via a place of natural serenity. Incorporate built-in planters on the landings to tie the levels together.

• 40 |
• Architect: Iván Andrés Quizhpe

Sometimes, a pathway and a pool are all you need. Looking at a still pool of water can help quiet the mind, feed the soul, and cool the body. The base of a shallow pool can be lined with stones and pebbles to enrich the feature with a natural look. Create a floating pathway effect by leaving small gaps between large stepping stones, and hiding the fixings.

• 41 |
• Architect: Geoffrey Bawa

The architect of the above spaces, Sri Lankan maestro Geoffrey Bawa, is often considered as the father of the “tropical modernism” movement. If you love this style, we encourage you to check out Geoffrey Bawa: The Complete Works.

• 42 |
• Architect: Khosla Associates

This is from a house in south India that is based around a 5000-year-old Indian design practice called Vastu, which can be likened to the practice of Feng Shui.

• 43 |
• Designer: De earth

Simple brickwork planters and grass growing between paving stones give a quaint laid-back vibe.

• 44 |
• Designer: Studio Mumbai

Conjure a dreamlike vista by sinking a water feature into wood flooring, like this house with a courtyard pond.

• 45 |
• Photographer: Andy Serrano

Create a natural looking ravine by lining a stream with craggy rocks.

• 46 |
• Designer: WA-SO

Make hills come alive with trees and moss.

• 47 |
• Visualizer: Studio Aiko

Make a display case for your courtyard. This one has its floor patterned by the Japanese zen garden raking technique.

• 48 |
• Architect: Log Urbis

A glass case can incorporate retractable glass doors to allow access, and to allow the garden space to be incorporated more fully with the interior when desired.

• 49 |
• Architect: Carvalho Araújo

Pulling up a single patio paving slab can be all the opportunity needed to incorporate a little greenery into your life and living space. Put out a rocking chaise lounge chair and enjoy.

• 50 |
• Architect: Andrés Stebelski

This is a house with multiple courtyards, providing interior spaces with a panorama of picturesque trees and shrubs.

• 51 |
• Visualizer: Vika Seregina

Small potted plants line a bank of shelving in this apartment courtyard area, which allows the greenery to be moved and enjoyed in other areas of the home too. A bright red seat has been fashioned around the base of a courtyard tree, which contrasts with the cool blue of a neighbouring kitchen diner. A glass ceiling blurs the boundaries between inside and out.

Love to see more courtyards? Check out this courtyard design video we put together.

Find more inspiration and tips for beautiful outdoor living spaces here:

50 Gorgeous Outdoor Patio Design Ideas
50 Modern Outdoor Chairs To Elevate Views of Your Courtyard & Garden
51 Modern Landscape Design Ideas That Make You Want To Live Outdoors

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Walking through the streets of the private sector, you involuntarily pay attention to the design of courtyards. Particularly attractive are beautiful, tastefully decorated landscapes, near which you want to stay longer. Unusual compositions with artificial ponds, waterfalls, with elements of topiary, alpine slides and rockeries are interesting. Creating an extraordinary landscape in the yard requires work and knowledge of the basics of its design.

Contents

Principles of planning a yard near a private house

Yard is a part of a land plot adjacent to a private house. It is divided into the front, or front yard, and back. The front yard is between the facade of the apartment building and the fence. It is open to everyone who wants to look behind the fence, and is the calling card of the owners. For this reason, its design is treated with particular scrupulousness.

The back yard is behind the house and hidden from prying eyes. A secluded resting place is arranged here, outbuildings are located, poultry and animals are kept.

The layout of the yard largely depends on the size of the plot and the needs of the family. But there are general principles of its improvement, which the majority adheres to. The list of objects located on the territory of the yard includes technical buildings and decorative elements of the landscape. The first of them are a necessity, since they provide comfort to the owners of the house, and the second ones are needed to satisfy their aesthetic needs.

The objects of technical importance include a garage, a parking lot, a summer kitchen, a guest house, an arbor, an aviary for a dog. A garage and a parking lot are usually located just outside the gate, and other buildings are located in the depths, where road noise and street dust do not reach. An aviary or booth for a dog is arranged in a dead corner, but not too far from the outer fence.

Objects of decorative value, these are flower beds, ponds, deciduous and coniferous plantations, lawns, small architectural structures, etc. Their number depends on the area of ​​the yard and such elements in most situations are located along the fences and walls of outbuildings.

The space directly in front of the porch is not accepted to be filled with vegetation - it must remain free for movement. On the site at the entrance to the house, tiles or other paving covering are laid.

Exception to the rule. When the yard is spacious enough, flower beds are broken near the porch on the side of the steps, where flower beds do not interfere with movement.

Front yard seating area

Pergola or shed, this is common in the front yard. They are surrounded by flower beds and climbing plants, and together they make up a landscape composition.

If there is free space, you can complete the picture with any hydraulic structure: a waterfall, a fountain, an artificial pond. The proximity of water contributes to a special microclimate, especially desirable near the place of rest.

It is very popular to build a patio in front of the porch. Proximity to the front door to the house makes it possible to spend every free minute outdoors. Here you can drink a cup of morning coffee, gather with your family for evening tea or keep secrets with friends and girlfriends.

On a small paved area, a table and a few chairs are set - these are the most necessary items in the arrangement of the patio area. Potted plants and sheer curtains providing light shade, comfortable wicker furniture and cushions are used to create a cozy environment.

Important. It is possible to create a full-fledged resting place on the territory of the front yard when it is isolated from the road by a blank fence or a high hedge. Otherwise, it will not be very comfortable to spend time in a sincere conversation at the sight of prying eyes. Moreover, you will not be able to relax in a hammock or on a garden sofa swing.

How to set up a backyard

Backyard design with gazebo, patio area and pond

Between the house and the garden there is a space that is used in two directions: for a garage with a parking lot for a car and a resting place. If there is enough space, you can do both by dividing it with a hedge, a vertical green screen, or a flower garden. At the same time, the garage with parking is located closer to the gate.

The back yard is the best place for a recreation area near a private house. It is easy to create a completely isolated space here, inaccessible to the views of neighbors and street dust. On the one hand, it is protected from the wind by the wall of the house, on the other hand by an orchard, and from the side of the neighboring plot it is separated by a fence. By constructing a light canopy, you can spend time in the backyard seating area without fear of summer rain.

This is where it is most convenient to create a barbecue area, install a barbecue or fold a garden stove.

It is also a suitable area for creating a sports ground, a place for children to play with a sandbox and swings.

Naturally, the backyard, regardless of its purpose, is decorated with various types of flower beds, it is appropriate to plant tall coniferous and deciduous trees here.

Paths and paving

A hard surface in the yard is important from a hygienic point of view. It allows you to keep the yard clean, and it is easier to take care of it: wash, remove leaves, throw away snow. Most often, continuous paving is used, when most of the yard area is laid out with paving slabs. Paths are laid from paving in different directions, helping to get to various areas: a garden, auxiliary buildings, a shower, a bathhouse, and so on.

Ford type paving is mainly used to create paths to various objects. The principle of its device is that a gap is left between the individual tiles.

At the same time, for ease of movement, the distance should not be more than 30 cm, and the tiles themselves are chosen large enough so that the foot fits completely on them. The space between the elements of this type of path is filled with lawn grass, pebbles, small gravel.

What to make paving and paths:

• Paving stones. Thick, brick-like tiles can easily support the weight of a car, so they are used for laying in parking lots. A blind area, a patio area, a path between the gate and the house are arranged from paving stones;
• Molded concrete tiles. Ideal for creating garden paths;
• Flagstone. Flat slabs are integrated into the lawn, combined with crushed stone filling, pebbles;
• Decking. Water resistant composite material imitating wood. It is laid on a leveled area, sprinkled with gravel or crushed stone of small fractions. For greater reliability, decking is sometimes mounted on a crate made of timber;
• Modular cover. Plastic boards with embossed anti-slip pattern, connected with tongue-and-groove or foot-groove;
• Rolled plastic cover. Used to create temporary and seasonal tracks.

It is also possible to make a concrete screed with the prospect that some tile material will be laid on it in the future.

Plants in the design of the yard

Flower beds and flowerbeds help to create a special flavor around the house. The type of vegetation is selected depending on the style in which the site is designed. The size of the yard, the degree of its illumination and the design of the house are also taken into account.

Bulbous

Bulbous flowers will provide a spring explosion of colors: tulips, lilies, hazel grouses, daffodils, muscari, alliums, saffrons . Their flowering period is not very long, but many species and varieties allow you to choose plants in such a way that it lasts from April to early June. At the end of flowering, the bulbs completely wither, modestly giving way to other horticultural crops.

Conifers

Variety of shapes spruces, pines, junipers and arborvitae opens up space in the gardening of the yard. They are used in the creation of hedges, are present in mixborders, planted in rocky gardens and as tapeworms on green lawns. Undersized and dwarf species are popular because they are suitable for decorating small yards and are used as container crops.

Dwarf conifers

Ornamental shrubs

Background plants are designed to emphasize the bright colors of beautifully flowering perennials. In this performance, 9 are of interest.0064 snowberry, privet, tamarisk, mackerel, lilac . They will cover the fence and the barn and will not divert attention from more sophisticated plantings, such as roses, hydrangeas, peonies or irises.

Shrubs with decorative foliage and lush flowering act as dominant plants. These are Thunberg barberry , forsythia, various types of spirea, spindle tree, viburnum buldenezh, louisiana, viburnum viburnum .

Tip. Evergreen shrubs and trees will add showiness to the flower composition: boxwood, holly mahonia, holly, cinquefoil, aucuba.

Perennials

Flower beds are based on herbaceous perennials. They define the backbone of the flower bed, around which the rest of the composition is built. For sunny places, erigeron, liatris, anemone, yucca, are suitable, and sedum and hosta grow well in the shade.

The space left between perennials is filled with annual flowers that bloom all summer.

Lianas

Liana-like plants seem to be created for decorating the yard. They braid arbors, arches, fences, porch posts. Climbing plantations are used to create green screens when zoning the garden, separating outbuildings from the front part of the yard.

Often planted in the front garden in front of the house clematis . Their not too dense foliage transmits light well, and at the same time creates a kind of curtain that protects open windows from dust penetration.

Always in demand climbing roses , which can be planted near the porch, at the gate, at the entrance to the gazebo. Their long flowering period provides an atmosphere of conviviality throughout the summer season.

Landscape features of the yard

The total area of ​​the land allotment does not always affect the size of the yard. Rather, how much land can be allocated to the yard depends on whether the owners plan to grow vegetables and fruits or not. If so, then on a small plot, a vegetable garden and a garden often take priority at the expense of the yard area.

Design of a small yard

It is difficult to make a large yard on a plot of 6 acres, but you can deceive the perception and expand it visually. A tiny pond will capture attention and distract from the surrounding background.

The illusion of an increase in territory will be stronger if the pond is made elongated. It is best to place it along the longest line. A similar effect of expanding space is felt in a landscape with a fountain installed on a hill.

If the allotment has an elongated shape, a small strip of land remains between the facade of the building and the fence for the front garden.

It is most practical to cover this area with paving, leaving narrow strips of earth around the perimeter along the fence for flower beds. Also suitable is the option when the flower garden is broken behind the fence. It will visually move the yard away from the road and brighten up its tightness. In such a situation, the garage takes place in the very corner, and the parking lot is also taken out of the fence.

A resting place near a house with a small yard is recommended to be arranged in the backyard. It will be easier to spend your leisure time here. The gazebo is sometimes arranged close to the house and has a common wall with it.

Design of a yard on a plot of 10 acres

A plot of land of 10 acres allows you to allocate about 3 acres for the front yard (but this is not a rule and depends on the location of the house on the plot). The classic option is when the house is maximally shifted to the border with neighbors, and the porch is turned towards the gate. In such a situation, on the opposite side, there is sufficient space for arranging a yard with a front garden. Not only a recreation area is arranged here. There is still enough space left to create a beautiful landscape with a mixborder, a rose garden, an alpine slide.

Since a garage is indispensable, it is taken out as close as possible to the gate: only a parking area remains between the gate and the garage.

This layout has its advantages. The building of technical importance (garage) closes the view from the street, thanks to which behind its walls you can create a full-fledged recreation area, a playground, and build a sauna.

Design of a yard on a plot of 15 acres

On a large plot of land there is a unique opportunity to build a house in the depths of the plot. The area in front of the cottage is completely at the disposal of its owners. It is divided into two main zones: an ornamental garden and a recreation area.

The main elements of the garden are flower beds, which are located on both sides of the path leading from the gate to the porch. The design of flower beds is the most diverse, but when breaking them down, it should be taken into account that the variegation of flower beds and the piling up of many types of vegetation tires the eye. Landscape designers recommend interspersing flower beds with cut lawns and separating them with low hedges.

Uneven terrain with a rocky landscape looks original. If the site is flat and its area allows, you can artificially create elevation differences, fill them with decorative gravel and create a corner of the mountain landscape.

An artificial pond, a dry stream, wide steps on steep slopes - all these are interesting ideas for decorating a front yard.

There can be more than one recreation area in a large yard. They are created according to interests: a secluded place of relaxation, family gatherings, gathering with a noisy company.

Each sub-zone is equipped accordingly, for example, a hammock in the shade of a pergola, a carved tea arbor, an open hearth (brazier, barbecue) under a canopy.

An important detail in the design of the courtyard: lighting

An essential detail in the arrangement of the courtyard is lighting. The main objects that should be illuminated first are the front porch, paths, outbuildings and recreation areas. Electric outdoor lights are hung above the porch. They are mounted in such a way as to clearly see the steps of the stairs.

On track routes, it is important to illuminate especially dangerous areas: slopes, turns, steps. Solar-powered garden lights are often used for this. They just stick into the soil on the side of the road.

Garden lights are convenient because they do not need to be wired and do not use electricity. But they do not always give full light. In inclement weather, there is not enough sunlight to charge them. Therefore, if possible, it is better to organize electric lighting in autumn and winter.

dizlandshafta

75 modern ideas for designing a courtyard of a private house

A country cottage or a private house in the city is a source of pride for the owners. Once upon a time, such housing was certainly associated with beds, a vegetable garden and greenhouses. But times are changing, and the functional use of the courtyard area has long faded into the background. Landscaping has gradually reached even the most remote villages, private houses are now real recreation parks in miniature. Where potatoes grew, now there is a decorative pond, gazebos rise in place of greenhouses, and beds have been replaced with flower beds and fountains.

It takes a lot of effort to decorate the territory adjacent to the house, and maintaining order requires a lot of time. But all the work is rewarded by the fact that in return you get a luxurious place to relax in silence or get-togethers with a noisy company.

The courtyard of a private house is made in several levels

A dining area can be arranged in the backyard

A small bridge in the courtyard of a private house

The first stage of the design of the courtyard design is the choice of a stylistic direction. This choice plays a huge role, since it determines in which direction the designer needs to move on. It is worth deciding here not only on the basis of personal preferences, but also taking into account the following factors:0003

• area at your disposal;
• the time limit you are allowed to spend on maintaining the proper appearance of the yard;
• climate and soil type.

There are some of the most popular options that experts offer for the design of the yard of a private house.

Contents

• 1 English style
• 2 Japanese style
• 3 Mediterranean style
• 4 Planning the yard design
• 5 We lay the tracks
• 6 We plant plants
• 7 We arrange decor elements
• 8 Create water bodies
• 9 Close the territory
• 10 Organize the place of recreation with a focus of
• , We are awarded the yard 901 yard of a private house:
  • 12.1 See also

English style

This style is ideal if the house is located in the back of the site and shows an open facade. Then in the courtyard you can place an alley leading to the front door, and arrange a recreation area in the backyard.

English style suggests maximum naturalness. The territory should look as if the human hand did not touch it. This means smooth lines, lack of asymmetry, winding paths and landscape irregularities. It is customary to place plants in tiers: first grass and flowers, then shrubs and trees.

An artificial reservoir in the form of a small pond will also fit perfectly here.

Original path made of sawn wood

Allocation of a recreation area with bushes

See alsoCreating a flower garden is a form of creative expression

Japanese style

Here the reservoir is not just desirable, but an obligatory element. Usually it is the central object, and everything else is built around it. The pond is decorated with bridges, stones, gazebos are installed on its banks. The main representatives of the flora are rhododendron, juniper and dwarf pine.

The Japanese style is quite complex in design and perception, its beauty is deeper and is revealed gradually.

Such a courtyard sets one up for philosophical reasoning, relaxes and gives a person peace of mind.

Paths connect all functional areas on site

Backyard with dining area

Recreation area in the courtyard of a private house

See alsoCountry design with your own hands from improvised materials

A harmonious combination of ancient Greek and Roman styles, this Mediterranean style is a favorite of landscape designers and recalls the wondrous beauty of southern nature.

Its distinguishing feature is the abundance of stone in all its manifestations: marble chips, sea pebbles, and simply raw rocks.

A Mediterranean-style yard should be associated with a mountain coast, so it is customary to place various hills on it. It can be a staircase, a retaining wall or a slope with a terrace located on it.

Plants are of great importance here. In such gardens, topiary is widely used - curly haircuts of plants and giving them bizarre shapes. In addition, the Mediterranean flora pleases with delicious fruits: citruses, pistachios and olives. Small palm trees, flower beds planted with roses or colorful perennial flowers, and herb lawns are also used.

As for architectural elements, there are enough of them here. In the inner part, a patio is arranged, the territory is decorated with arches, terraces and hedges, and, of course, fountains.

In the backyard, you can organize a small fountain and put a dining table

Arbor can be arranged in the yard

See also Creating a harmonious garden design

Planning the design of the yard

A beautiful yard plays a very important role, because it is from it that the first impression of the house and its owners begins. Therefore, the personal plot should be given no less attention than the cottage itself.

In order to save time and money, avoid alterations and reconstructions, when starting planning, it is worth answering a couple of questions.

Thematic corners in the courtyard

Zoning of different parts of the yard
can be done with plants

Recreation area on the plot of a private house

It is on the answers to these questions that all your subsequent decisions depend. This is especially true for small yards, where there is no way to arrange everything at once, and you have to prioritize.

Having in mind some plan for creating landscape design, you can start placing objects on the ground. It is recommended to mentally divide the site into squares that are responsible for various functional areas. Each zone will correspond to one key figure - a gazebo, rock garden, pond, flower bed or patio. In this way, all objects will be distributed evenly and balanced throughout the yard.

Before proceeding directly to the construction, check the condition of the territory. If water accumulation is found, lay a drain. At the same stage, all communications necessary for watering plants and the operation of reservoirs are laid.

The courtyard of a private house is made into several levels

A dining table can be arranged in the backyard

Laying tracks

After we have divided the territory into zones, it is necessary to make it possible to move between them safely. To do this, it is worth equipping special paths in the yard. They can be completely different: someone will like winding paths, someone will prefer straight paths, and some will like something in between.

Track material also offers a huge selection:

• large flat stones;
• brick;
• gravel;
• concrete slabs;
• cobblestone.

Paths can be left unguarded or accentuated with a small fence or decorative border.

If the territory is uneven, it can be arranged in different planes by connecting adjacent segments with the help of stairs.

0003

Planting plants

At first glance it may seem that planting is a question that cannot cause any particular difficulties. However, many garden crops are quite capricious and excessive self-confidence here can lead to the fact that after a while all the work done will have to be redone again. To prevent this from happening, when gardening the yard, it is recommended to be guided by a number of rules.

1. Keep conifers and shrubs away from covered areas. Despite the fact that they look quite impressive here, removing their needles from the terrace every morning is far from the best thing to do.
2. Do not torment yourself with unnecessarily whimsical plants that require constant care. If you don’t feel a particular craving for gardening in your soul, then opt for more modest bushes and trees.
3. The pond implies an elegant decor, but not the plants rinsing their leaves in it. Therefore, deciduous plants should be removed from it away.
4. There is a growing trend to replace fences with hedges. In this case, the plants used should be thick enough and have an average height, since too high ones will look sloppy, and low ones will not be able to hide the territory from prying eyes.
5. There is no such area that would not be decorated with a beautiful flower bed. You can split one large one or several small ones. But remember that if you plant several at once, it is important that they are combined with each other.
6. A small area is not a reason to refuse landscaping. Use a vertical arrangement, using alpine slides, ledges and cascades.

A decorative well can be placed in the yard

Japanese style house design with forest background

The stone fountain in the middle of the courtyard looks very nice

See alsoDesign ideas for decorating the terrace

Arranging decor elements

In order for the view of the backyard plot to be complete and to make it clear that professionals had their hand here, some decorative elements should be added to the landscape design.

Classics of the genre - garden sculptures. They should resonate in style with the overall design of not only the site, but also the house. It can be both classical statues and abstract installations. Of great importance is their size, which is selected depending on the free space that you have. They can advantageously fill the free space of a large yard, and it is better not to clutter up a small area with them.

Decorative arches look good almost anywhere. To create an additional effect, they are entwined with ivy or other plants, and special lighting is selected for them. You can arrange them one by one, one after another or in one row.

Be sure to maintain the overall style with decor. If this is Provence, then clay pots and wicker fences will come in handy, amphoras of different sizes will be appropriate for the Mediterranean style, and a drop of magic in the garden can be added with the help of figures of animals, gnomes and other fairy-tale characters. The last option is sure to be appreciated by your children.

Stones combined with flowers will perfectly complement the design of the yard

You can make a path out of stones, and plant flowers nearby

See alsoHow to decorate the yard with your own hands

Create reservoirs

Just imagine how pleasant it is to enjoy the coolness of a clean pond in a shady corner of your own garden on a hot summer afternoon. The construction of a reservoir is a rather laborious, but worth it, process.

Artificial pond can be made in completely different variations.

• Small pond. Populate it with fish, decorate it with stones and water lilies, and this place will become of great interest to guests, and will also become a favorite place for games for the younger generation.
• Graceful fountain. This structure can take up very little space and is suitable for small yards. But its pleasant spray will be a real salvation from the summer heat.
• Mischievous brook or miniature waterfall. Their murmur relaxes and creates a unique atmosphere of relaxation alone with nature.

To make it pleasant to be in the yard, you need to keep it clean

Well-groomed flowers and trees will look great in the yard

Flowers can be planted next to the path

See alsoLandscaping tips for beginners

Lighting up the area

Artificial courtyard lighting performs several important functions at once.

• Allows movement in the absence of natural light.
• Favorably illuminates decorative elements, creating their aesthetic appearance.

Lighting should be installed so that it covers the entire perimeter, leaving no dark corners and equipping all stairs and paths.

The mandatory lighting program also includes the following items:

• house facade;
• outbuildings;
• car park;
• main entrance;
• recreation area.

After that we move on to the decorative elements. It would be a shame if all this beauty can only be enjoyed during daylight hours. Therefore, we also shed light on all fountains, alpine slides, sculptures and flower beds.

LED strips will be a real find for decorating a night garden. They can emphasize the beauty of trees or place them along the edge of the stairs.

For reasons of economy and convenience, it is recommended to use solar-powered lamps in the yard. They do not waste your electricity, and therefore do not require electricity to be supplied to them.

You can decorate the yard with flowers

Design of the courtyard of a private house with a gazebo

See also Beautiful landscape design of a country house: we create it ourselves

We organize a place of rest with a hearth

On the territory of the personal plot, a place for cooking on an open fire is requested. The most common options for such a place are barbecue and barbecue, but you can find a more non-standard approach.

• Tandoor. This Asian oven is quite bulky, so be sure to consider your capabilities when installing it. You can fold this oven with your own hands, or purchase it ready-made.
• Outdoor fireplace. It creates an amazing impression, as if you were just sitting in the living room, and were transferred to the garden in some magical way.

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