Don’t think of your backyard as simply a yard. Instead, imagine it as a valuable extension of your home’s livable square footage and that it’s all yours to makeover and use as you want. For example, you can plant gardens to help you relax and meditate after a long day, transform it into a recreational space for your family, or make a unique outdoor kitchen and dining area for hosting. The options are endless. Read on for some backyard ideas and how to start planning your new outdoor oasis.

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Planning Your Backyard Design

Take some time to assess what your backyard currently looks like before you start planning your design project. Examine the existing layout and any constraints that shape the layout, such as hills, the property boundary, and the exterior of your home. 

Evaluate your property’s unique features and factors as you develop your space. This includes the following:

• Backyard shape: A long and narrow backyard may limit your options more than a square one.
• Backyard size: This may limit the number of different features you can include and how big each distinct feature is.
• Soil type and growing conditions: Helps determine which plants, grasses, and trees will thrive in your landscape.
• Sun exposure: You may need to install sun shades and protective covering.
• Yard grading: You may also need to correct the grading and drainage before you begin.

Once you thoroughly understand your backyard’s current layout and permanent factors, you’ll be in a better position to create realistic landscape plans. You can go even further by creating a 3D rendering of your backyard or at least a two-dimensional sketch with clear dimensions for planning purposes.

Finally, decide the core priorities for your backyard. Popular ideas are hosting and entertaining, cooking and dining, having space for the family to play together outdoors, and quietly relaxing. You may even have more than one priority. Keep these core concepts in mind as you continue to plan.

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Landscaping Ideas

Landscaping is the most fundamental element of a new backyard design, so it’s important to zero in on your ideal landscaping options first. Good landscape design will also make your backyard more cohesive, even with distinct zones.

Comprehensive landscaping includes both softscaping—the plants, grass, and trees that make up your landscape’s greenery—and hardscaping—the patio, deck, retaining walls, and walking paths. Deliberately using both concepts will give you a beautiful, multifaceted landscape where you can sit, walk around, and enjoy nature.

Hardscaping Features

Hardscaping features are the building blocks of your outdoor living space. These give your backyard distinct spaces. Your options include wooden decks, a backyard patio made from concrete or paver stones, and footpaths made from stone or brick. 

On top of these harder surfaces, you might want to install firepits with seating, pergolas for shade and shaping greenery or outdoor chimneys to warm the backyard space in winter.

Along with defining areas for seating and dining, hardscaping features create a sense of flow. Footpaths can connect one designated area to the next. Seating walls along the edge of your patio can also make the most of small spaces and help prevent erosion.

Softscaping and Garden Design

Softscaping is what people primarily imagine when they think of “landscaping.” You can plan your landscape around permanent plants that may already be in your yard, such as mature trees, saplings you want to install, and foundation plants that will line your home and protect the foundation.

Next, consider what grass you want, but the following factors will also determine the best grass for your backyard:

• Amount of lawn care you want to have on an ongoing basis
• Anticipated foot traffic and disruption
• Region
• Soil type
• Sun exposure or shady growing conditions
• Water access

You might choose native varieties, nationwide favorites such as St. Augustine or blue fescue, or even artificial turf. 

Consider the additional plants you may want throughout the backyard. You can have a mix of perennials that come back yearly, annuals you can experiment with yearly, and ornamental or privacy shrubs. Depending on your preference, you might choose drought-friendly plants, exotic and vibrant plants, or low-maintenance evergreens.

Incorporate various plants of different shapes, colors, and sizes to make your landscape more interesting. Add spindly vines around your pergola or a Japanese maple at the corner of the home’s foundation. Include two or three layers of shrubs and plantings in your garden beds, with short plants in the front and taller ones in the back. 

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Outdoor Living Space Ideas

Your hardscaping elements are the structural foundation of your outdoor living space, but an outdoor living space is far more than a patio or some footpaths. The two most common outdoor living spaces featured in well-designed backyards are outdoor dining spaces and seating areas.

Outdoor Kitchens and Dining Areas

Outdoor kitchens are popular and increasingly intricate cooking, grilling, and entertaining spaces. They might have an outdoor oven, a built-in grill, a refrigerator, and a pizza oven. They also have ample counter space for preparing food.

We recommend having a defined dining area if you have an outdoor kitchen. This might be built seamlessly alongside the kitchen through a bar and kitchen island or a wide open space where you can arrange a dining table and buffet.

Be strategic as you plan this space: invest in durable and long-lasting appliances, fixtures, and overhead covering.

Seating and Lounge Areas

If you plan on entertaining but don’t prioritize in-depth outdoor cooking, dedicate your hardscape spaces to lounging. This can be as simple or complex as your space and budget allow. First, make sure you have ample space for a patio or deck where you can have seating or fire features.

Next, consider different furniture arrangements. If you like hosting many guests, choose slim, stackable, and modular outdoor furniture that’s easy to move aside or rearrange. If you prefer plush or roomy furniture such as Adirondack chairs, look for sets that maximize the use of your space so it isn’t overcrowded.

As you shop for furniture, don’t just look for colors and styles you love. Purchase hardy, weather-resistant materials such as treated metal, sealed wood or wicker, and laminated or sealed fabrics. 

Additional accessories for seating and lounge areas can include weather-resistant pillows, end tables for drinks, a colorful outdoor rug, and a helpful bench chest for storing pillows out of the weather.

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Water Feature Ideas

Explore adding water features to your backyard after considering landscaping and hardscaping choices. Here are some popular options:

• Birdbaths and small water gardens: These features are small, simple, and add a bit of serenity to your backyard. You can install them around your garden, combine them with a bird feeder to attract local songbirds or place them on your patio as part of your meditation space.
• Ponds or small streams: If your priority is a picturesque space, consider the power of a pond or stream. You can have a koi pond, a blooming water garden, or a motor-powered stream that bubbles around your outdoor living space. 
• Swimming pools: An in-ground or aboveground pool is a great idea if you or your family loves swimming and will frequently use it. However, it can have a large footprint, so it needs to be a feature you prioritize. For small yards, consider a hot tub or endless pool. If you have a very large backyard, you can explore the possibility of a large swimming pool with in-built water fountains.

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Lighting and Ambiance Ideas

Outdoor lighting is an essential feature of any well-designed backyard space, but planning out your lighting last is important. This ensures you map out task, general, and accent lighting to your designed spaces. After all, each space needs devoted lighting, such as the kitchen, main seating area, play spaces, etc. 

We recommend building your lighting in stages. First, plan out task lighting, such as spotlights and lanterns. Safety lights can also line your footpaths, any steps, and the perimeter of your deck or patio so no one steps off the edge unexpectedly. Next, add accent lighting with warm coloring or remote-controlled colors to create ambiance and the right mood.

You can string lights along the perimeter of your backyard or zigzag them across different zones. You can also hire a lighting expert to install beautiful landscape lighting that highlights your trees and garden beds throughout the evening.

For contemporary lighting installations, choose LEDs. These lights last longer, are easy to maintain, and give you more color, brightness, and warmth options.

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Kid-Friendly Backyard Ideas

A backyard is a great recreational space for children. Consider your particular needs for the space, such as if you want a distinct play zone for your own children, lots of recreational space for guests, or zones for outdoor fun that appeal to people of all ages.

For the first two categories—catering to children’s outdoor play—consider the likely ages and prioritize safety. For example, you might install a permanent sandbox or make the patio big enough for a temporary one. Alternatively, you might install a toddler-friendly playground that you can replace with a jungle gym or swing set for older kids in a few years. 

Invest in purchases that are safe, durable, and easy to clean. Ensure a clear line of sight between the child and general zones and your home’s exterior windows. 

If you prefer recreational spaces suitable for guests of all ages, there are still plenty of options. Install artificial turf for a putting green or have a wide green lawn for corn hole boards or water games. Also, consider convenient outdoor storage such as a shed or chest for yard games and supplies.

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Our Conclusion

Backyards are the perfect space for extending your home’s livable space to suit your aesthetic, hosting, and entertaining dreams. Imagine each of these design ideas to see which ones have a place in your lifestyle and fit nicely into your property and budget. Once you have a general idea of what you’re looking for, we recommend consulting an experienced landscaping service and outdoor living space designer. This will streamline the process and ensure a cohesive, long-lasting layout.

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FAQ About Backyard Ideas

How can I make my backyard more private?

You can make your backyard more private by installing privacy screens, a taller fence, or planting quick-growing hedges around the edge. Sun screens and gazebos can also add more privacy in specific zones.

What are some low-maintenance backyard landscaping ideas?

Some low-maintenance backyard landscaping ideas are container gardening and xeriscaping. Container plants are easy to maintain, grow, and rearrange to suit the weather. Xeriscaping is an increasingly popular trend focused on drought-resistant plantings and hardscaping elements, and it can simplify your irrigation requirements and water consumption.

How do I create a backyard oasis on a budget?

Create a backyard oasis on a budget by creating a strategic plan. Determine which elements of your existing landscape you can keep in place and where you need to spend money. You can also refresh your current outdoor living space by switching out the cushions, adding string lights, a small garden, potted plants,and simply rearranging the furniture to a new, eye-catching layout.

What are some good backyard ideas for small spaces?

Some good backyard ideas for small spaces are do-it-yourself (DIY) container gardening, planting narrow and tall plants, and choosing thin-profile furniture. Collapsible and stackable furniture can also help you get the most out of a small outdoor space.

How do I incorporate a vegetable garden into my backyard design?

Incorporate a vegetable garden into your backyard by creating a garden zone or scattering containerized plants. For example, you can have garden beds for root vegetables and companion plants or a trellis for vining beans while keeping herbs around the outdoor kitchen and tables.

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