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Tiny Backyard Ideas & An Update on My Tiny Backyard & Garden

This post shares tiny backyard ideas using my own tiny backyard as a canvas! If you’re looking for DIY small backyard ideas, you’re in the right place. 🙂

Tiny Backyard Ideas

Hi there! I’ve been posting sporadically these days, I know…but rest assured, we are keeping as busy as ever with projects around the house. I wanted to pop in today to share an update on my tiny backyard (which you may remember me making over for the Spring 2018 One Room Challenge) and our garden.

We absolutely loved the space and have used it almost every single day. Don’t get me wrong. But as with most makeovers done on a tighter timeline, we made some decisions that we weren’t entirely happy with.

What it looked like before…

Just for the fun of it, here’s what the space looked like before the One Room Challenge:

Y I K E S.

Here’s what it looked like when we finished the space in April. The plants look sooo tiny.

And here’s a recap of what we’ve done to get it where it is now.

Deck Space Changes & Ideas for Small Back Decks

For example, we decided to move the modern outdoor dining table build and benches up to the second-story deck by the kitchen and put more lounge-like furniture in this patio space.

We got a discontinued loveseat and two matching chairs from Target, and we love them. I also made a DIY paver and wood coffee table and matching side table for the space—I *really* love them.

The DIY rock landscaping has held up really well so far, too. I love that it keeps the entire perimeter around the platform deck tidy. BB cat also likes to chill on the pavers, too. 🙂

I swapped out some of the herbs in the hanging pots for flowers once I figured out which ones seems to be attracting Japanese beetles. The extra color is nice. And of course Ramona still LOVES her unicorn swing.

I also switched up the flowers in the two gray resin hanging planters . I had bacopa and vinca planted in them, and they just didn’t end up doing very well at all. So I swapped them for the purslane and trailing petunias.

The purslane has already EXPLODED, and the trailing petunias aren’t looking as hot as they once did. Working on bringing them back. This spot gets a lot of sun, but maybe it isn’t enough.

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 (fences don’t count for some reason).

So the shed actually doesn’t have a floor. It’s kind of like a hut. The platform it’s 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 scale…but 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 decorate a small outdoor space.

And this creep loves to hang out under the shed…

Growing Veggies in Our Tiny Backyard

We also planted a hydrangea bush out in the corner of the yard and moved around several plants as we figured out where everything did the best. I moved several potted veggies down from the top deck.

It gets slightly better sun up there, but there’s no hose, so watering was annoying. It also sometimes leaked down onto the bottom deck, which was both annoying and yucky. The big pots have yellow tomatoes, baby eggplant, and red cherry tomatoes.

Everything in my garden was doing absolutely fantastic. Much to my surprise, everything I planted from seed sprouted and flourished. Until the Japanese beetles discovered my goodies.

They destroyed my green beans, which I had to pull out. Right now I am fighting a war against them on my snap peas, basil, and lima beans. Everything else they’ve seemed to leave alone.

I’ve picked a few rounds of lettuce, kale, and spinach already, and I’ve planted more. Cucumbers, tomatoes, jalapenos, and baby eggplant are on the cusp of being picked. The bell peppers are only doing okay. I’m not giving up on them yet, but they aren’t thriving.

Here is a link to the Dropbox folder with the guide. Enjoy!

Other Small Townhouse Patio Ideas

And finally, Mike got this awesome outdoor hanging bluetooth speaker that also lights up like a lantern. We hung it in the corner of the deck. It works great. I love having it out there to stream music when we’re just hanging on the deck or when I’m gardening or working on whatever project is up that day.

The ferns on the patio are also looking amazing. Don’t overlook the power of some hanging plants to maximize vertical space on a small patio!

And I think that’s it. Looking forward to hanging out here the rest of the summer!

SOURCE LIST
PLANTS:
ROCK LANDSCAPING:
HVAC SCREEN, LOUNGE FURNITURE, AND GARDEN BEDS:
MISCELLANEOUS:

Share my tiny backyard ideas on Pinterest!

Small Backyard Ideas: 20 Spaces We Love

Mulch Matters

1/21

While concrete pavers are often used to visually separate outdoor zones, all-natural alternatives can achieve the same look. Here, pea gravel forms a striking walkway to the patio, while a carpet of mulch provides the perfect foundation for a lounge area.

Related: The Invincible Yard: 12 Ideas for Lazy Landscaping

Zillow Digs home on Bainbridge Island, WA

Split Personality

2/21

Reimagine spare square footage by transforming one undefined space into two distinct zones. Decked out in furniture and wall sconces, this deck and patio acts as a luxury lounge or sunbathing station by day, and by night, it seamlessly transitions into a wining and dining nook.

Related: 7 Remedies to Rescue a Dying Lawn

Zillow Digs home in San Diego, CA

Pool Your Resources

3/21

Has your answer to the kids’ request for a pool always been “No,” because of a thumbprint-sized backyard? Open your mind and yard to a new alternative. This petite pool, tucked in a corner beneath a lush canopy of trees, transforms a yawn-inducing yard into a tropical paradise.

Related: 7 Ideas to Steal from Real People’s Tiny Backyards

Zillow Digs home in Key West, FL

Corner Case

4/21

With the clever placement of garden accents, even characterless corners of the backyard can offer style without subtracting additional space. Take a cue from this small backyard idea, and reserve forgotten corners for potted plants or a casual dining area sheltered by a trellis to efficiently and economically put small spaces to work.

Related: 9 Lessons Learned from Tiny Backyards

Zillow Digs home in Laguna Niguel, CA

No Mow Yard Work

5/21

The grass always seems greener on the neighbor’s side of the fence, unless you’re the owner of this no-grass, no-mow backyard and entertainment arena complete with a fire pit. The elegant enclosure happily trades the traditional lawn for gravel bounded by a modern black fence.

Related: 11 Low-Cost Buys to Boost a Boring Backyard

onekingslane.com

Take the High Ground

6/21

All hands—and eyes—will be on deck when you install this raised deck in your backyard. The elevation not only creates striking visual distinction from its surrounding green space, but the ample room below it offers the perfect sanctuary for homegrown plants to flourish.

Related:  8 Ways to Make Your Small Yard Look Bigger

airbnb. com

Snug Sanctuary

7/21

Your yard is never too small to fit the comforts of home. Petite though this patio may be, it still boasts a regal and restful atmosphere thanks to the placement of space-minimizing raised garden beds and au-natural wooden chairs topped with plush cushions.

Related: 8 Ways to Upgrade Your Backyard with Pavers

airbnb.com

Off the Beaten Path

8/21

Installing a stone pathway along the home perimeter is a low-maintenance way to cut through the visual monotony of grass and create a cottage-style back entryway. Lined with sparse vegetation and bounded by a well-kept lawn, this pretty pathway steals the spotlight in this charming backyard.

Related: 7 Thrifty Designs for a DIY Walkway

airbnb.com

Good-Natured Neighbors

9/21

To add pattern and color to a styleless outdoor space, opt for nature’s paintbrush: plants. This rainbow-colored small backyard idea employs a menagerie of flora, from potted plants to climbing vines, whose playful appeal is only boosted by a winning walkway of circular pavers.

Related: 14 Totally Free Ways to Grow a Garden from Scratch

airbnb.com

Open-Air Oasis

10/21

If your dream destination is a quiet, contemplative, sun-filled sanctuary, look no further than the yard. Accented from top to bottom in wood and pavers, and then lined with cooling greenery and sparse furniture, a blah backyard morphs into a chic courtyard before your eyes.

Related: 11 Ideas for Better Backyard Privacy

airbnb.com

Color Theory

11/21

Even the lushest yard needs a splash of color, otherwise a home's best features can disappear into a visual morass of green. Here, color was achieved by the strategic placement of red pillows on outdoor furniture, and clusters of brightly-colored blooms that command attention.

Related: 9 Insanely Easy 1-Hour Backyard Projects

airbnb.com

Screen Talent

12/21

It doesn't take much to maintain this secluded sanctuary. Attractive gravel and pavers mean there's no need to mow or weed, while colorful pots of plants add vibrancy to the space without sacrificing square footage. The combination of a patterned privacy screen and wooden slat fence keeps out unwanted eyes, while providing an elegant backdrop for long summer nights.

Related: 9 Double-Duty Favorites for Tiny Outdoor Spaces

airbnb.com

Make a Splash

13/21

An outdoor tub nestled in an underutilized corner of a small backyard provides a sunny spot for relaxation. Wreathed in a semi-circle of stone pavers and vibrant greenery, the backyard wash station provides the a sense of woodsy privacy.

Related: 7 Smart Ways to Save Water in the Yard

airbnb. com

Go On a Limb

14/21

Creating a sense of privacy in the backyard can be as simple as covering a bare pergola with climbing vines. Even better? Hanging a hammock from the pergola makes this structure pull double duty in a tight space.

Related: 9 DIY Ideas for a Summery Backyard

airbnb.com

Fountain of Youth

15/21

Good for more than reviving an aging bathroom or kitchen backsplash, tile can also breathe life into a narrow outdoor space. Here, blue and white tile lines a rustic fountain, bringing a sense of tranquility to a yard crowded with ferns and palms.

Related: 10 Inventive Designs for a DIY Garden Fountain

airbnb.com

Think Big

16/21

You can steal the look and feel of a big backyard without altering its dimensions by installing a raised deck outfitted with lengthy wooden planks. Here, horizontal planks create the illusion of wider space, while clusters of container plants provide scenery that can be quickly transplanted to a different corner in order to make room for big crowds.

Related: The 10 Biggest Outdoor Living Trends Set to Dominate 2016

airbnb.com

New Heights

17/21

The visual variety in this verdant landscaping scheme can match that of any local botanical garden thanks to the selection of both tall and short plants, from bright blooms to hardy cacti. Carefully selected perennials ensure that the neighbors will be green with envy over this garden for years to come.

Related: 11 Age-Old Gardening Tips to Ignore Completely

airbnb.com

Light Work

18/21

While eclectic furniture and decor can delineate distinct zones in a small backyard, a smart selection of lighting can unify the space. Here, string lights are employed as an end-to-end outdoor lighting scheme to make the different outdoor "rooms" look and feel like they belong under one roof.

Related: 19 "Zero Dollar" Upgrades for Your Outdoor Living Area

airbnb. com

Ordered Chaos

19/21

There’s a fine line between lush greenery and obstructive overgrowth, and this yard strikes the perfect balance. The homeowner designated a corridor of well-manicured grass as the centerline, around which the neat rows shrubbery are arranged. Set above the neat landscaping, a jungle of colorful plants turns the tiny yard into a private paradise.

Related: 7 Ideas to Steal from Real People’s Tiny Backyards

Zillow Digs home in Wenatchee, WA

Living on the Hedge

20/21

Here's a small backyard idea that's as charming as it is practical. Strategically planted hedgerows provide an effective escort to guests who may otherwise stumble off the path. The versatile plant even allows you to create a secluded lounge or dining area just steps from the walkway—but away from its hustle and bustle.

Related: Refresh Your Home with 8 Easy Outdoor Paint Projects

Zillow Digs home in San Francisco, CA

Embrace Your Space

21/21

Make the most out of the space that you have!

bobvila. com

Don't Miss!

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Just a photo: Small backyard gardens - 28 solutions

Classic bosquets, a terrace, a pond and an old fountain - it all fits even in a small backyard

Over 19 million photos of realized interiors, gardens and buildings on the site have been uploaded to Houzz . Every week we choose the best shots on a given topic from them (you can suggest your idea for a selection in the comments).

► We remind you: to get additional information about the project, see all shooting angles or ask a question personally to the project designer - click on the photo you like

Cultivart Landscape Design

1. Diagonal
Where: Perth, Australia
Project Designer: Cultivart Landscape Design

TKL Design Inc.

2. Green Chess
Where: Vancouver, Canada
Project Designer: THOMAS KYLE: Landscape Designe
What we like: The idea with a lawn and paths in the form of a chessboard.

Honor Holmes Garden Design

3. Separation of zones
Where: London, UK
Project designer: Honor Holmes Garden Design
What we like: the dining room, the butt was masked with shrubs and trees and bushes were planted along the lawn.

Harrington Porter

4. Green carpet
Where: London, UK
Project Designer: Harrington Porter
What we love: Artificial turf on the wall, like a carpet.

IN YOUR CITY …
► Houzz can hire a landscape designer in any city and country. Start looking for a designer
______________________________

Neil Jones Design

5. No extra beds
Where: Hampshire, UK
Project Designer: Neil Jones Design
What we love: Fireplace stove and seating area.

Marlin Landscape Systems

6. With a focus on wood
Where: Dallas, USA
Project designers: Marlin Landscape Systems
What we like: The idea with the slab, knocking the rhythm and the bench tracks.

Meister und Meister GmbH

7. Mini garden with bosquets
Where: Hamburg, Germany
Project designers: Meister und Meister GmbH
What we like: How the idea of ​​a regular French garden with bosquet geometry is implemented on a small plot.

Charlotte Rowe Garden Design

8. Couch by the fireplace
Where: London, UK
Project designer: Charlotte Rowe Garden Design
- a wide bench, a minimalist fireplace and a green curtain behind.

John Davies Landscape

9. Water Walkway
Where: Essex, UK
Project Designer: John Davies Landscape
What We Like: The idea of ​​a water lane and a water zone separation.

Isabelle Rouyer Architectures & Design

10. Mirror Break
Where: Paris, France
Project Architect: Isabelle Rouyer Architectures & Design
What we love: A mirror idea on the back wall to give the illusion of more space.

Garten- und Freiraumplanung Martina Zellner

11. Both a pond and a terrace
Where: Munich, Germany
Project designer: Garten- und Freiraumplanung Martina Zellner
, one of which was turned into a mini-pond, the other into a terrace for relaxation.

Laara Copley-Smith Garden & Landscape Design

12. Kids & Adults
Where: London, UK
Project Designer: Laara Copley-Smith Garden & Landscape Design
What We Like: Wooden deck with sandbox space, distribution and built-in zones.

Studio H Landscape Architecture

13. Rock Garden
Where: Orange, USA
Project designers: Studio H Landscape Architecture
What we like: The idea of ​​a dry rock garden on a small plot.

Inspired Property Designs

14. Boxes on the wall
Where: Sydney, Australia
Project Designers: Inspired Property Designs
What we like: Wooden box moved to the side of the house for plants on a previously blank wall.

Jarret Yoshida Design

15. Round
Where: Brooklyn, USA
Project Designer: Jarret Interior Design
What we love: Lounge space in the form of a circular bench.

The Association of Professional Landscapers

16. At different levels
Where: Berkshire, UK
Project Designers: The Association of Professional Landscapers
What we like: Garden layout and terracing , mirror panel on the end wall.

Tom Howard Garden Design and Landscaping

shade distribution on the site, having arranged a recreation area near a sprawling tree.

Charlotte Rowe Garden Design

18. Ruled
Where: London, UK
Project designer: Charlotte Rowe Garden Design
What we love: A geometric approach to garden planning.

Mackay + Partners

19. Game of levels
Where: London, UK
Project designers: Mackay + Partners
What we like: How the level difference is played; idea with terrace plantings along the stairs.

Little Miracles Designs

20. Wood and greenery
Where: New York, USA
Project designers: Little Miracles Designs
What we love: How to play with a narrow courtyard with stairs and planting flowers in the middle of a wooden deck.

Alena Arsenyeva's landscape workshop

21. Rockery and retaining wall
Where: Moscow region, Russia
Project designers: Alena Arsenyeva's landscape workshop
What we like:
0014 A section with a transverse slope was played with a retaining wall, which at the same time became both part of the flower bed and the “lead” to the rockery.

Julia Dide

22. Ruins and herbs
where: Kaliningrad, Russia
Project designer: Julia Dide
What do we like: Fences were completed as a stylization under the destroyed brick ruine with worn -out "Granded" forging.

Gardens by Gabriel, Inc.

23. Fire bowl and herbs
Where: San Luis Obispo, USA
Project Designer: Gardens by Gabriel
What we love: How the path's curved shape is reflected in the outlines of the bench, fire pit and mini fountain.

James Gartside Gardens

24. Recessed Corner
Where: London, UK
Project Designer: James Gartside Gardens
What We Liked:

Seed Studio Landscape Design

25. Wood and Pebbles
Where: San Francisco, USA
Project Designers: Seed Studio Landscape Design
What We Like: Small recessed garden pebbles and a wooden deck that can be used as a bench.

Mayita Dinos Garden Design

26. Fountain and Ruins
Where: Los Angeles, USA
Project Designer: Mayita Dinos Garden Design
What we love: A garden room idea that plays on the ruins. There are cracked floors through which grass grows; "ceiling" formed by canopies of four olives, an old fountain from a French estate.

markdesign, llc

27. Backyard Lounge
Where: Albuquerque, USA
Project designers: markdesign, llc
The areas of the garden and the "residential part" are highlighted with different coverage.

URBANSCAPING LTD

Before and After: 1(!) Hectare Garden—Amsterdam Backyard

A couple hired landscape designer Arian Boeckel to transform an unused backyard in an old canal district in Amsterdam. They wanted the outdoors to be able to sit and relax after work and on weekends. They needed an evening garden, and in two months of design and four days of construction, the designer transformed their old yard.

Before photo

Annie Thornton

On project
place: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Who lives here: Family pair
SAD SAD Landscape designer: ARIAN BOEKEL, BOEKEL. TO: The clients wanted the backyard to be a garden, a place to relax, not a functional grilling area. The old yard was not very conducive to relaxation, I didn’t really want to go out there in the evenings.

Boekel Tuinen

AFTER: “Making an outdoor living room is one thing, but I wanted it to feel like a real garden,” says the designer. He planted half of the plot, creating two separate areas: a pergola seating area and a garden that creates a green buffer zone.

Climbing vines on the pergola and green roof help to create a garden feel in a small city courtyard.

Boekel Tuinen

Wooden boards and dark concrete tiles were chosen for the seating area. The supports of the canopy were landscaped. The garden is entered from the living room on the second floor using an external staircase.

Boekel Tuinen

A galvanized steel footbridge spans over plantings and a small stream leading to a covered seating area. The courtyard is surrounded by buildings on all sides, so the site is in the shade almost all the time. The designer has chosen shade-loving plants such as ferns, anemones, hellebore, asters and aruncus, which are also suitable for beginner gardeners.

Honorine Jobert white hybrid anemones show through surrounding foliage.

Learn more