George Edward Baker A.I.A

Small modern yards

23 Landscaping Ideas for Small Backyards

Making the Most of a Petite Plot of Land

By

Lisa Hallett Taylor

Lisa Hallett Taylor

Lisa Hallett Taylor is an expert in architecture and landscape design who has written more than 1,000 articles about pool, patio, garden, and home improvement over 12 years. She has a bachelor's degree in Environmental Design and is certified in fine and decorative arts appraisal.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 12/02/22

Reviewed by

Mary Marlowe Leverette

Reviewed by Mary Marlowe Leverette

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years' experience; writing for over 20 years.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

Not everyone is blessed with a big backyard. For those who live in places with tighter outdoor spaces, it's just a matter of practicing smart design on a smaller scale. Whether you live in an apartment, condo, townhouse, loft, or house that has more indoor than outdoor space, you can still carve out a yard with soil, trees, plants, patios, seating, and even water features. 

We've found 23 diverse designs and solutions for small backyards and outdoor spaces, from urban to suburban and everything else in between.

The Best Landscape Design Software

• 01 of 23

  Tucson Small Yard Design

  Kathryn Prideaux

  Kathryn Prideaux works magic with small spaces in Tucson and other Arizona cities, infusing the colors of the sky, surrounding terrain, and nature into her landscape designs for patio homes and condominiums. She expertly fuses styles and materials: rejuvenating mid-century modern outdoor furniture, adding rustic materials, finding innovative uses for colorful tile, and incorporating sculptural forms and succulents.

  Although Tucson's Skyline Springs condominium complex has a swimming pool, the owners of this unit wanted a private pool. Prideaux Design, with the help of Cimarron Circle Construction Company, designed a stunning blue glass mosaic-tile pool as the yard's centerpiece, with a ledge for in-pool lounge chairs when desert temperatures spike. Additional features include a poured-in-place etched concrete patio, rusted steel panels and walls, original adobe block walls, and a revitalized vintage Brown Jordan patio dining set.

• 02 of 23

  Yard for a Historic Home

  Jacobs Grant

  German Village in Columbus, Ohio, is a neighborhood of brick row houses built in the 1800s by German immigrants that has been undergoing preservation and revitalization since 1959. A small backyard in the district that had faded concrete pavers and an oversized iron table was transformed by Jacobs Grant Design into a functional, enjoyable space for its new homeowners. Jacobs Grant divided the space into two areas: an outdoor living room and a dining area, surrounded by hornbeam and boxwood hedges to create intimacy and structure. Designed in collaboration with Pots Abilities, the spaces include brick and bluestone, materials used on the facade of the historic house.

• 03 of 23

  Spanish Bungalow

  Dig Your Garden

  For decades, lawns have been the go-to ground cover without anyone giving it much thought. That is until the ongoing drought in California and other dry regions forced landscapers and homeowners to rethink water-guzzling grass and come up with alternatives. Dig Your Garden's solution for the small yard of an older Spanish-style bungalow in San Anselmo, California, was to replace the grass with creeping thyme and other low-water ground covers and plants. A new Arizona flagstone pathway was added, along with a small patio that repeats the terra cotta tones found elsewhere on the home's exterior. 

  Other features, kept to a minimum, include an orange Fermob armchair, colorful pottery, and drought-tolerant plants like tibouchina, lion's tail, lavenders, rosemary, yarrow, sunset hyssop, dwarf strawberry tree, and various succulents and ornamental grass.

• 04 of 23

  Turning the Front Yard Into the Backyard

  Catherine Bosler

  What do you do when your house has no backyard? You borrow space wherever you can find it. In this case, landscape designer Catherine Bosler looked to the 560-square-foot front yard for this Los Angeles area property. Inspired by the nearby coast, Bosler Earth Design added a wood deck painted in a distressed grey to create a living room with a fire pit. An outdoor dining area and has decomposed granite (DG) underfoot and features a grill and prep counter. Bosler also incorporated a tall fountain to mask street noise and attract birds, added built-in benches of wood and stucco, privacy hedges, and a trellis with jasmine for its appealing fragrance.

  "The challenge was to fit everything into such a small space without feeling contrived and overdone and to make the space very private," says Bosler.

• 05 of 23

  Backyard with a Hot Tub and Barbecue

  Land Studio C

  A falling-apart deck and a desire to get rid of their lawn prompted the owners of this San Francisco home to enlist Land Studio C. Measuring about 1,500 square feet, the backyard now features a hot tub with a custom bench and vertical planting (back corner), a fire table, built-in barbecue, Corten (weathering) steel accents, and string lights.

  In this view of the yard, we see a pathway of concrete pavers set in pea gravel, land a lounging area with an umbrella and delineated hardscape. The hot tub's screening wall, bench, and a side yard screen were made from the old redwood deck.

• 06 of 23

  Another Part of the Yard

  Land Studio

  Yes, this is the same yard in the same fairly small space, designed by Land Studio C for a house in San Francisco.  Viewed from the middle of the yard toward the house, you can see the outdoor living room with the fire table, dining area, and small back porch. 

• 07 of 23

  Asian-Inspired Backyard

  Change of Seasons

  Sacramento-based design firm Change of Seasons was inspired by the dividers of a Bento Box for its remodel of a backyard that features stone-lined sections or compartments to add interest and structure to an eco-friendly contemporary garden.

• 08 of 23

  Tiny Toronto Backyard

  Beyond Landscaping

  Working with limited space, Beyond Landscaping was able to create a low-maintenance retreat in the backyard of a home in Toronto, Canada, that features a small fiberglass pool, composite decking, a horizontal fence for privacy, and artificial turf.

• 09 of 23

  Family-Friendly San Francisco Backyard

  Creo

  The challenge: To design a backyard for a young family in San Francisco that could include room for dining and seating along with space for two little boys to let their imaginations run wild. Creo Landscape Architecture planted bluegrass and no-mow fescue on a berm for the children to play, along with interactive sculptures. Creo used durable redwood to build the fence and bench, while Podocarpus (plum pines) provide softscape and privacy. When not in use, the kids' outdoor toys are stored in the redwood benches.

• 10 of 23

  Neat and Vertical Backyard

  Megan Maloy

  Emma Lam and her design team at A Small Green Space specialize in small yards: the bulk of their clients are in Jersey County, New Jersey, and nearby New York City. This 16 by 11.5-foot urban backyard is shared by three condos, making it a challenge for the designers to access via three private flights of stairs that lead to the yard. Since there is no outdoor water supply, the plants chosen are drought tolerant. Among the upgrades to the neat, symmetrical design include:

  • Lightweight furniture
  • New fencing that includes vertical planters
  • A bluestone patio
  • An artificial lawn

• 11 of 23

  Small Backyard With Planters

  KL Designs

  The owners of this small yard in the San Francisco Bay area hired KL Designs to redesign their outdoor space to accommodate raised wood planters in which they can grow vegetables and herbs. Building raised beds allow the plants to grow in quality soil, keeps them away from city-dwelling critters (such as squirrels and mice), and provides easy access for maintaining the vegetables.

• 12 of 23

  Organized Backyard Layout

  Blue Hibiscus

  For symmetry and organization, a patio made of irregularly shaped Arizona flagstone was replaced by designers Blue Hibiscus Gardens with rectangular bluestone tiles in an ashlar pattern. A matching side patio was added using base rock and pre-cut pavers. A cozy deck features built-in seating and a concrete-top natural gas fire pit with prism fire glass. New plants include a Japanese maple and Pittosporum 'Silver Sheen'.

• 13 of 23

  Reimagined Brooklyn Brownstone

  Irene Kalina-Jones

  With the children outgrowing the kid-oriented yard, a Brooklyn couple, both professors, decided to renovate the garden of their Brooklyn brownstone. With the help of Outside Space NYC, the backyard was divided into three areas with different levels. In this area of the yard, a geometric pergola provides shade and creates a comfortable seating area on the ipe deck. Raised stacked-stone beds are planted with a mix of low-maintenance shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses. The homeowner added a modern, lightweight outdoor sofa and coffee table for a mid-century feel.

• 14 of 23

  Brooklyn Bluestone

  Amber Scott Freda

  Another backyard in Brooklyn was redesigned by Amber Freda Landscape Design as a space for entertaining and relaxation. A bluestone patio, custom horizontal planter boxes with casters for mobility, and fencing made of Ipe complement the outdoor kitchen and seating area with a fire pit. Freda's challenge for this space: using the right plants for the widely varying pockets of sun and shade throughout the yard. In addition to a lush mix of flowering annuals and perennials, Freda used sweet potato vine, trumpet vine, Japanese maple, ornamental grasses, and dogwoods. Everything is equipped with automated low-voltage uplighting and drip irrigation lines.

• 15 of 23

  Gazebo Focal Point

  Fernhill

  A stunning wood gazebo is the centerpiece of a backyard in the quaint town of Lititz, Pennsylvania, designed by Fernhill Landscapes. With upholstery, pillows, and flowering plants that harmonize, the space is intimate and appealing.

• 16 of 23

  Downtown Chicago Pad

  Reveal Design

  Besides Wrigley Field, the next-best place to enjoy a Chicago Cubs game is your own backyard, right in downtown Chicago. Created by Reveal Design, the linear design features a patio was made with Technoblock pavers, Ipe, black steel and frosted-glass fencing, aluminum powder-coated planters, and the fire table and grill area are framed with Ipe. The illuminated orbs can be adjusted to change colors for holidays or sports on TV.

• 17 of 23

  Natural Berkeley Backyard

  Green Alchemy

  Guided by the belief that gardens should blend seamlessly with the lives of their owners, Deborah Kuchar of Green Alchemy created a casual outdoor space for a house in Berkeley, California, that features natural materials like stone along with plants that create a lush, private space. Simple, classic butterfly chairs and a fire pit are surrounded by angel's trumpet and lavender, among other growing things.

• 18 of 23

  Luxurious Lissoni in Miami

  Ritz

  Italian architect and designer Piero Lissoni created the namesake Villa Lissoni at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach, a seven-acre property with more than 100 condominiums and a limited collection of 15 standalone properties. This upscale condo features a small, lush yard with tropical landscaping (including orchids), a private infinity pool (the property also has pools on-site), and patios that are accessible via floor-to-ceiling glass doors. 

• 19 of 23

  Yard with Zones

  Land Aesthetic

  San Diego enjoys one of the most ideal climates in the United States (or anywhere), which is why the owners of this home in Encinitas sought assistance from Envision Landscape Studio to make the most out of their backyard space. Divided into zones or sections, the yard includes a lawn for pets and children, a fire pit with casual seating, a covered outdoor living room, a dining area, and a water feature, all surrounded by low-maintenance landscaping.

• 20 of 23

  Planter with a Purpose

  Bradford Associates

  Peeking through the gate of a backyard in Providence, Rhode Island, remodeled by Bradford Associates, you can catch a glimpse of new fencing, a patio with lightweight furniture, and a raised bed that not only allows its owners to grow plants but helps to screen an adjacent raised filtration area.

• 21 of 23

  Corner Backyard in Virginia

  Heart's Ease

  Tucked into a corner of a backyard, a composite-decking bench was placed in front of a mature hydrangea bush to create an appealing nook. Designed by Peggy Krapf of Heart's Ease Landscape and Garden Design in Toano, Virginia, the space features a bench that is set on a stone pad to create a level surface. Urns planted with annual color can be changed out seasonally.

• 22 of 23

  Clean-Line Backyard Design

  Christy Webber

  Symmetry, geometric design, and organization are often key to designing small backyards.  Christy Webber Landscapes was inspired by this Chicago homeowner's recent interior renovation--modern and using clean lines--to extend living space to the yard. The patio is paved with bluestone with blue-chip joints. A privacy fence is softened with medium-sized trees, like Japanese maple trees, along with birch and spruce trees, while boxwood, rhododendron, arborvitae, and pachysandra add year-round interest.

• 23 of 23

  Super Small Backyard Turned into a Dream

  Magic Landscaping

  Andrew Shepherd of Magic Landscaping was tasked with creating a backyard for a historic home in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The challenge: "It had absolutely no backyard. What was there was about 20 feet deep and about 100 feet wide. The project scope was to create interest, beauty, privacy, and intimate spaces so that the family could go outside and spend time together," says Shepherd.

  Using a combination of limestone boulders, Delaware pea gravel, cedar mulch, and lush greenery, Magic created fairytale-like paths, a fire pit, a trampoline for the kids, and a dining area.  

Among the ideas above, also take time to consider:

• Container gardens: When you lack good soil or have an outdoor space that is mostly patio or decking, add pots, low bowls, repurposed wooden boxes or crates, and urns
• Think about vertical space: The sky's the limit when you grow your succulents, herbs, flowers, or even vegetables in a vertical container that is attached to a wall
• Hanging garden: Plants can be suspended from beams, eaves, or wall hangers; it's up to you what to plant and what works in your region
• A no-fuss patio or deck that allows you to get outside and has water-wise plants that don't require lots of care and maintenance
• A small kitchen and dining area: Love to grill? If space allows, you can add a basic grill, counter, outdoor refrigerator, and even grow a small herb garden to add flavor on the spot
• A private garden: City-dwellers often crave outdoor space. High walls and espaliered or climbing plants help to create a sense of seclusion

Once you start researching, you'll find that garden styles and solutions are limitless—there's a backyard for every petite plot of land.

37 Small Backyard Decor Ideas

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

It's not the size that counts.

By Hadley Mendelsohn

Mar 3, 2022

MARION BRENNER

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.

Vanessa Alexander Design

1 of 37

Erect a Sauna

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.

Robson Rak Interiors

2 of 37

Make It Count

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.

Jenn Feldman Design

3 of 37

Rethink Your Layout

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."

Applied Studio

4 of 37

Incorporate Things You'll Actually Use

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.

David A. Land

5 of 37

Make It Feel Lived In

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.

JASON NORRIS

6 of 37

Craft a Story

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.

MARION BRENNER

7 of 37

Forgo a Lawn

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 maintain, but it will also make it easier to use furniture, whether you opt for loungers or a patio dining set.

Kingston Lafferty Design

8 of 37

Add Colorful Accents

A corner fountain puts the finishing touches on this idyllic brick patio by Kingston Lafferty Design. Blue patio furniture breaks up the warmer tones from the exposed brick.

ANNIE SCHLECHTER

9 of 37

Convert a Parkway

What is now a beautiful patio used to be the parking area! If you don't need the extra space for a car, then convert it into something you'll actually want to look at and use. Gary McBournie gave this saturated red brick patio a second life with a central sculpture and plenty of lush gardens. The red hue warms up the gray shingles and blue shutters on his Nantucket property.

Erin Kunkel

10 of 37

Set up a Gazebo

If you want to carve out a stylish hang area that feels truly transporting, opt for a backyard gazebo. This one from April Powers is also a post-swim hang area—the ideal compromise when you don't have the room, budget, or desire to build a full-blown pool house. The crawling vines, sheers, and camouflaging paint color allow the gazebo to blend right in with the garden environment, while the bench and coffee table ensure comfort and function.

ERIN KELLY

11 of 37

Make a Mini Greenhouse

Leanne Ford built this A-frame garden shed to function as an outdoor playhouse for her daughter and plans to turn it into a greenhouse once she outgrows its current use-case.

Joe Schmelzer

12 of 37

Nurture Your Kids's Hobbies

A treehouse and a skateboarding ramp? Talk about landscaping dreams come true for a family home with active kids. Designed by Cuff Home in Los Angeles, this backyard is both a beautiful garden and a fun park. And they both fit in the relatively small backyard!

Akin Atelier

13 of 37

Install an Outdoor Shower

If you only have room for one exciting thing in your backyard, make sure to choose something you'll really love (and that could drive up resale value). Outdoor showers can dramatically increase the value of your home—according to a 2018 report from Realtor.com, homes with outdoor showers tend to list for nearly double the asking price of others. Take a cue from this small backyard by Akin Atelier and its rustic yet luxe outdoor showering area.

Fantastic Frank

14 of 37

Pick Statement Greenery

If you only have a small patio, use smart furniture that's super comfy and can seat a several people. Here, a simple daybed does the trick. Then, add greenery and a couple of outdoor throw pillows for color and impact.

Studio Ashby

15 of 37

Make It Multipurpose

If you can't fit a separate garden, greenhouse, and dining space into your outdoor area, design your backyard in a way that makes all of them possible in one contained spot. Take notes from this patio designed by Studio Ashby. This terrace is a dining space, a romantic relaxation spot (hello, hanging chair), and a garden all at once.

Alexander DB

16 of 37

Embrace Coziness

The best part about a tiny backyard is that it's inherently cozy. One well-designed sitting area is all you need for a dream backyard. Get inspired by this fire pit area at a property designed by Alexander DB.

2LG Studio

17 of 37

Break Things Up With Levels

A multi-level landscape design can create the illusion of a larger backyard. It breaks things up visually and allows you to designate each level to a different purpose. In this 2LG studio–designed yard, the bottom level is a dining patio, and the shrubbery border helps transition to the upper yard.

Regan Baker Design

18 of 37

Compromise, Compromise, Compromise

So you would love a swimming pool, but there's not enough room. .. You'd love a sprawling outdoor lounge, but simply don't have the space... A well-designed deck and tasteful freestanding hot tub can be just as covetable, as proven by this outdoor area by Regan Baker Design.

Fantastic Frank

19 of 37

Be Resourceful

When your backyard is actually a small balcony, you'll need to get crafty. Turn it into a small garden with plenty of plants, but leave space for a coffee table (or bistro table if that won't fit) and a small settee or stool with throws and pillows to warm things up.

PHOTO: Tom Ferguson; DESIGN: Arent & Pyke

20 of 37

Don't Overdo It

In this backyard designed by Arent & Pyke, a sleek garden bench under the trees is enough to complete the look. If you have a nice shady spot, simply pull up a bench, add a colorful throw pillow, and call it a day.

Bon Traveler

21 of 37

Hang String Lights

It doesn't take much to make a backyard feel magical, no matter the size. Even a small city patio can transport you elsewhere if you hang romantic string lights. Rustic wooden furniture becomes cozy when layered with pillows and sheepskin throws and set beside a fire pit.

Amber Interiors

22 of 37

Build a Small Fountain

Consider building a small fountain that beautifies the area without taking up a ton of room. At this home designed by Amber Interiors, the patio's small concrete fountain introduces style and has a calming effect despite its modest size.

ANNIE SCHLECHTER

23 of 37

Incorporate Greenery

Transform unused space on your back patio into a gardening opportunity. Case in point? The flower beds on this terrace's stair ledges, which beautify the area and help break up the sea of brick.

Nicole Franzen

24 of 37

Opt for Gravel

Create an outdoor area that doesn't require a ton of upkeep, even if that means forgoing grass. Consider setting up an al fresco dining room on a bed of gravel instead. This dining area is rustic and relaxed—best of all, you won't need to cut the grass.

Cheetah Is the New Black

25 of 37

Make It Party-Ready

Blogger Alicia Lund spruced up her backyard with a well-styled bar cart. Extra perk: Since it's on wheels, you can easily roll it back into the kitchen for refills. The brick paving and pots of herbs also add an English garden feel.

Bon Traveler

26 of 37

Hang a Hammock, Trees or No Trees

If you have a tiny outdoor space, you can still take advantage of the fresh air in style. Hang a slim hammock and then make it pop with a jute area rug, fun throw pillows, and floor cushions for extra seating—no trees necessary. At DIY fence adds to the island vibe while also enhancing privacy.

Lauren Stephanie Wells

27 of 37

Add Some Statement-Making Chairs

This patio is both approachable and design-forward, laid-back and put together. For a similar vibe, opt for sling chairs that make a statement. Or if you're crafty, find some affordable sling chairs and paint the canvas yourself.

Nicole Franzen

28 of 37

Indulge Your Hobbies

If you love taking care of plants, build a tiny greenhouse in your backyard. A small glassed-in space will allow your plants to flourish and let you enjoy them rain or shine.

PHOTO: Anson Smart; DESIGN: Arent & Pyke

29 of 37

Keep Architecture In Mind

Use the architectural elements of your home to your advantage. At this house designed by Arent & Pyke, an indoor bench extends outside. This removes the need for patio furniture and opens up more space for tiles and greenery. It's also a great way to create a flow between indoors and out.

Fantastic Frank

30 of 37

Go Grayscale

Though this backyard is tiny, it feels like a practical and stylish space. The heat lamp promises warmth on chilly nights and the floor cushions are great for extra lounge seating. The whitewashed wood deck keeps the tonal color story alive and well.

Design Ideas That Will Transform Your Patio

Hadley Mendelsohn Senior Editor Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful's senior design editor and the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House.

Small yards - 135 best photos of the design of the courtyard of a private house and cottage

Kalorama Contemporary

JHLA | Jennifer Horn Landscape Architecture

Our clients on this project were inspired by their travels to Asia and wanted to mimic this aesthetic at their DC property. We designed a water feature that effectively masks adjacent traffic noise and maintains a small footprint.

Thigpen Residence

Chris Corbett Design

Neil Michael - Axiom Photography
Stylish design: small modern courtyard courtyard - the latest trend

West Coast English Retreat

Tierra Madre Fine Gardens

Original design example: small pergola in the courtyard of a private neoclassical backyard (modern classic) stone paving with fence

Del Mar Exterior Renovation

SJS Studios Inc.

Bluestone Pavers, custom Teak Wood banquette with cement tile inlay, Bluestone firepit, custom outdoor kitchen with Teak Wood, concrete waterfall countertop with Teak surround. nine0007

Chicago Outdoor Kitchen

Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet

Mr. and Mrs. Eades, the owners of this Chicago home, were inspired to build a Kalamazoo outdoor kitchen because of their love of cooking. “The grill became the center point for doing our outdoor kitchen,” Mr. Eades noted. After working long days, Mr. Eades and his wife, prefer to experiment with new recipes in the comfort of their own home. The Hybrid Fire Grill is the focal point of this compact outdoor kitchen. Weather-tight cabinetry was built into the masonry for storage, and an Artisan Fire Pizza Oven sits atop the countertop and allows the Eades’ to cook restaurant quality Neapolitan style pizzas in their own backyard. nine0007

Contemporary Patio

Photo of a small pergola in the backyard of a private modern backyard home with a fire pit and stone paving

Tropical Pavillion Home

Maxa Constructions

Fresh Design Idea: Small Yard nautical backyard with outdoor shower, concrete slab decking and canopy - great interior photo

Atlantic Beach Contemporary Compact Backyard

Cascade Outdoor Design

Small spaces can provide big challenges. These homeowners wanted to include a lot in their tiny backyard! There were also numerous city restrictions to comply with, and elevations to contend with. The design includes several seating areas, a fire feature that can be seen from the home's front entry, a water wall, and retractable screens. This was a "design only" project. Installation was coordinated by the homeowner and completed by others. Photos copyright Cascade Outdoor Design, LLC

401 State Street

Greenbaum Home Furnishings

Home Furnishings Inspiration: Small Country Style Backyard Paving with No Sun Shade

Stone fireplace with adirondack chairs

9000 Designs 40002 ©Melissa Clark Photography. All rights reserved.
Original design example of a small modernist backyard with a fire pit and paving stones without sun protection

Townhome Patio area

Home Remedy LLC

This space was unattractive, visible by all the neighbors and totally unused by the homeowners. We added this cool horizontal fence and filled in the area with pavers and different types of rock and it's amazing how it changed the look of this space. A few plants and it was set.

Backyard

Krystina Hollenbeck for HiLuXeLifestyle

Fresh design idea: a small pergola in the backyard of a private house in the neoclassical (modern classic) style with paving slabs - great interior photo

Soares Family | Danver Outdoor Kitchen & Pergola

Richard's Total Backyard Solutions

Outdoor entertaining just got cozier! Check out this stunning outdoor living space in West Houston. The key features of this project include: -Custom 13' Danver Outdoor Kitchen from our Richard's Custom Elite Line -Powder-coated stainless steel cabinets in the color Nu-Black Hammertone -Alfresco Grill -Granite countertop in the color "Roaming Mist" -French pattern travertine pavers -Covered Pergola with acrylic topper

Del Mar Escape

Cross Construction Inc.

This Del Mar outdoor oasis was designed by SJS Studios Inc. and built by Cross Construction. It showcases a custom built-in teak bench that surrounds a custom concrete / teak table that can transform into a firepit at night. The built-in grill integrates teak with terrazzo countertops that have a waterfall edge and beautiful custom tiles that give the space a unique and coastal vibe. The handmade tile is installed in the custom bench pulling the whole space seamlessly together. The trash enclosure features custom teak work with a copper lid and hardware that will patina over time. This amazing outdoor space, features quality craftsmanship and maximizes every corner to provide the homeowners with not only an outdoor coastal oasis but a functioning outdoor area to lounge and host gatherings both throughout the day and night. nine0007

Del Mar Exterior Renovation

SJS Studios Inc.

Bluestone Pavers, custom Teak Wood banquette with cement tile inlay, Bluestone firepit, custom outdoor kitchen with Teak Wood, concrete waterfall countertop with Teak surround.

Beacon Hill Brownstone

TOMHILL STUDIO

Brick pavers in a herringbone pattern are a nod to this homes historic past. Corten steel retaining walls and horizontal wood screen are the modern materials that give the homeowner the contemporary garden experience they hoped for. The back stone wall is original. nine0007

green courtyards beat parking lots in Novosibirsk

see also

10 best yards in Novosibirsk: cats, carts, mills and barbecues

Novosibirsk developers are increasingly using modern approaches to landscaping yards. Many principles have long been used in foreign countries. We are just getting started. Why don’t you see cars parked at the entrances and empty lots between houses in new microdistricts? This is reported by Novosibirsk News. nine0122

In one of the city yards you will not see a single car. Here the main one is a pedestrian. That is why instead of paved driveways, walking paths with different types of paving have been built. On their way, residents do not encounter any fences, curbs or steps. Even the entrances to the entrances are necessarily transparent and on the same level with the ground. Everywhere there are dense lawns that you can safely walk on, and minimalist flower beds with unexpected accents. Cereals grow well in Siberia and give a sense of nature in an urban environment. nine0003

Only emergency services are allowed inside the block. Other cars are allowed only in case of emergency. And then - for a few minutes and by prior arrangement. And so it is in the whole microdistrict.

It began to be built eight years ago. Initially, they took the European principle of "yards without cars" as a basis. Until now, it is strictly adhered to in all projects. True, the design manager of the company assures that the phrase “yard without cars” is not used even in work. nine0003

“We just have the concept of “yard”. The role of the court is completely different. This is not a car park. The yard is a place where people can spend time. We didn't come up with any trend. We looked at how it is done in developed countries,” says Ermek Kulmukhamedov, design manager at a construction company.

But still, the trend was picked up by other developers. Now this is no longer an innovation, but the norm for many companies. Even in the segment of economy housing. After all, the point here is not so much in construction costs, but in the principles of zoning. nine0003

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Take, for example, a typical neighborhood. Multi-storey buildings with hundreds of apartments are located on a vast territory. At best, the buildings form a loose square with wide driveways and vast courtyards surrounded by parking lots. Somewhere in the center of such a yard is a playground behind a fence.

But another picture is also possible. Within the same limits, we put houses more densely, we get a separate quarter. We reduce the number of floors by transferring them to the dominant building. And we remove all the cars outside the perimeter. Thanks to drive-through entrances, you can park outside and go straight to the yard or even to your apartment. The same plot area, the same number of parking spaces and apartments. Only the priorities are completely different. nine0003

True, such a layout obliges. Residents walk around the yard without fear, looking at the details. And they become more demanding.

The developer himself proudly calls one of the microdistricts a “park city”. There are no more closed quarters. Each yard flows into the next. In one, kids have fun, in the other, children and adults play with a ball. A little further on, they are building a large forum where you can arrange concerts and gatherings for all residents. All cars, of course, are behind a guarded perimeter. Here you can safely let the child into the yard. Even if it falls, then on a soft surface. nine0003

“We conduct various surveys, ask people. There is still a large percentage of those who write that they chose a location. But in second place is the concept of "environment and architecture". They already have a growing demand for the environment. We are now actively working with residents to continue the concept, to fill it. They no longer want just playgrounds. They need interesting forms,” notes Vladislav Burmistrov, Development and Marketing Director of a construction company.

nine0002 Instead of typical sites of poisonous colors - equipment made of natural wood, natural shade. This costs several times more than the usual slides and carousels. But residents of this complex can pay extra for environmental friendliness and comfort. On the banks of the river, among centuries-old pines, low-rise houses of an unusually black color are being built so as not to interrupt the natural greenery and azure. Of course, there can be no talk of any parking under the windows. Cars are parked in an underground car park.

Buyers here are wealthy people. Therefore, the designers are foreign, the materials are exclusive, the details are well thought out. Hence the high price of apartments. But the construction company is sure that even their colleagues from the economy segment can adopt the very philosophy of this project. nine0003

“We must learn to integrate into the environment. You can, of course, demolish everything, pave everything, and then plant some small trees. In our case, we tried to save everything. You seem to live in the forest and, at the same time, in the city,” explains Vadim Kotovshchikov, Development Director of the construction company.

A small piece of land, sandwiched between noisy highways. It seems that it is basically impossible to build a comfortable environment here. But a completely different view opens up from the courtyard of the residential complex. Between the three skyscrapers, they were able to place quiet recreation areas, carousels for children, and sports grounds. nine0003

Rational use of the yard is possible only without cars, the developer is sure. For cars there is underground parking and guest parking behind the fence. And so that there was no dissonance with the surroundings, the area around the residential complex was also put in order.

“If you look around, then all lawns, shrubs and large-sized trees that are more than 10 meters high, all this was brought here and planted in order to create a certain environment already on the way to our residential complex,” concludes the Group Development Director construction companies Valery Fedorov. nine0003

Most of these neighborhoods are designed by foreign specialists. And here is a rare case: although the principles are similar, the authorship is already with Novosibirsk architects and designers.

What courtyards look like for people - see this video: