Backyard spaces can vary greatly based on numerous factors, often tied to size and growth conditions, making it challenging to transform them into attractive and welcoming areas. Small urban backyards usually have limited space, while many neighborhoods feature sloped yards with drainage issues and few flat areas. Homeowners in drier or wetter regions may find growing traditional grass cumbersome and consider skipping a conventional lawn altogether. Others may wish to avoid the hassle or maintenance associated with even a small yard. However, there are several clever ideas for making a small backyard functional without trying to grow a traditional lawn. These include ways to arrange planting elements, materials to use instead of grass, and other ideas for creating an inviting outdoor space you’ll enjoy spending time in.
These strategies not only optimize a small backyard but can also be adapted for awkward side yards, small sloping front yards, and other underutilized areas around your home’s exterior. Many of these ideas are budget-friendly and can be more economical than maintaining a traditional yard. Some are even more eco-friendly than conventional grasses, such as growing wildflowers instead of a lawn or using your backyard space as a raised veggie garden.
Pebble garden
One of the simplest ways to address a lack of grass in your yard or specific areas is to utilize pebbles or gravel. Not only do rocks provide a walkable surface that can accommodate items like seating, but they also help stabilize the underlying soil and assist with drainage and erosion issues. Mix different types and sizes of gravel in various areas to create zones that make your small backyard appear larger, and incorporate elements like pavers or bricks to form paths or platforms.
Wooden steps
Wooden steps are an excellent solution for slightly sloped yards, allowing you to create a path that won’t shift or slip when the ground beneath it becomes wet from rain. Use them to form a path through a small space, such as a backyard, leading to a small bench or seating area. They can be embedded into a gravel path or dirt for a natural look with plenty of texture. Alternatively, wind a set of wooden stairs in a sloped side yard for easy access from front to back.
Backyard fire pit
Backyards with minimal growth and foliage are ideal locations for outdoor fireplaces, as they pose less of a fire hazard even in dry areas. You can purchase large kettle-like containers that sit on a patio or gravel surround, or build one from bricks or cinderblocks that rests directly on the ground. Add some surrounding chairs for a cozy spot to spend evenings under the stars.
Outdoor living room
Another excellent way to extend indoor living outdoors is by transforming your small backyard space into an exterior room you’ll enjoy spending time in. Add a spacious seating arrangement to a large patio or deck, and incorporate elements such as fireplaces, artwork, murals, or fences to add privacy and focal points in the space. Surround the area with raised planter boxes and shrubbery for a cozy and contained feel.
Outdoor kitchen
Consider creating a small outdoor kitchen in your exterior space for another perfectly livable outdoor room. This is a great addition for homes that frequently entertain, allowing you to handle most of your food preparation and serving without constantly trekking back and forth into the house. An outdoor propane stovetop, luxe grills, countertops, and outdoor sinks are a must, with some larger kitchens adding features like fridges and dishwashers under the cover of a roof or pergola. Combine your outdoor kitchen with a dining area to fill up an awkward backyard space.
Outdoor shower
If you have a pool, sauna, outdoor gym, or live near a swimming spot, an outdoor shower can be a great use of a small backyard, preventing you from tracking grime and sand into your home. It can also be a great spot to cool down after gardening or outdoor recreation. Install a shower head along an exterior wall, garden wall, or fence, then add some privacy screens or partitions and a drainable floor made from treated wood, tiles, or pebbles.
Patio with bistro table
If your yard is too small for a deck with a full outdoor dining setup, consider the simplicity of a bistro table and a couple of chairs. While there may not be room for a large dinner party, even the smallest table offers a spot to enjoy your morning coffee or a quick lunch while enjoying the outdoors. Add a small platform made from wood decking or paver stones near your back door for the table and use the rest of the small space to plant shrubbery or container beds.
Pool or sauna
While small backyards may not have space for an in-ground pool, consider building a raised deck and adding an above-ground model partially embedded in the dirt. This works for traditionally lined pools as well as the recently popular metal stock tank pools and slender shipping container pools. You could also build a deck surround for a whirlpool. For a wider surround, dedicate the entire backyard to the area surrounding the pool with space for lounge chairs or outdoor dining.
Stone path
The classic look of a winding stone path adds an immediate touch of elegance. In a small backyard space that can’t accommodate a lawn, use flagstone to create paths and larger flat areas for seating arrangements or dining tables. For an English garden look, combine it with stone benches, tables, and statuary. A curved stone path is a great idea, as it can make your space feel larger.
Add a pergola
Use all or a portion of a small backyard to create attractive pergola seating arrangements that fill in space, provide shade, and make the outdoors feel like an extension of your home. For a budget-friendly version, use a pea gravel floor bordered by wooden posts, or build a patio with bricks or paver stones. Surround the pergola area with beds of plants or flowers, bushes, or container plants.
Paver stones
If grass grows in your small backyard but you’d rather avoid the all-over green look, combine concrete paver stones with green borders created from traditional grass or groundcovers like clover and moss. This not only makes upkeep easier but also helps maintain a firm surface for tables or chairs that aren’t constantly sinking if your yard gets a lot of moisture. If you love the look but can’t use real grass, try artificial turf installed with pavers.
Food planter boxes
If you love the idea of using your outdoor space to grow your own food, planter boxes filled with veggies and herbs can be a great way to achieve it. Raised wooden beds with small paths between them can be a beautiful way to fill a yard that receives a lot of sunlight. The raised beds also make gardening easier on your knees.
Retaining wall patio
If your small backyard is sloped, constructing a patio bordered by a retaining wall can help create flat areas that can be utilized without the risk of everything rolling or sliding down the hill. Use wood, stone, or metal to create the wall, and fill in the top area with pea gravel or paving stones that will assist with drainage to keep the yard dry and prevent erosion.
Tiered planter beds
If you don’t want to use your small and sloped backyard space for recreation, you can always convert it into a series of elevated or tiered planting beds for flowers, bushes, and other greenery. This approach also works well for an unused side yard visible from the street or a front yard as an alternative to a sloping grass yard.
Wildflower garden
One of the most popular alternatives to traditional lawns and other backyard landscaping ideas, wildflowers work beautifully to fill a backyard space. They can either spread to all corners or be grown in more defined beds with winding gravel or paver stone paths. These flowers can be a great way to attract local wildlife like birds and butterflies, which you can enjoy watching in your yard.
Afternoon napping spot
Turn a defined corner of a small yard into the perfect relaxation spot by adding a hammock for lounging and napping. This approach can work with any sort of ground cover underneath, including sand, mulch, pebbles, bricks, or paving stones. If you have a bit more space, opt for an outdoor daybed platform that accommodates more than one person.
Water feature
Combine a small deck or patio with a water feature scaled to fit your backyard space. This can be anything from a full embedded stone pond with koi fish to a small bubbling fountain in the corner of the yard. The sound of water is relaxing and invites you outside more often. Surround the pond with a couple of chairs or a bench, or for larger areas, add a spacious seating area.
Floating deck
While not all backyards allow for an attached deck directly connected to the house, don’t underestimate the style and functionality of a floating deck. They can easily be constructed from ordinary shipping pallets anywhere in your yard. This is ideal for awkwardly shaped yards and sloped ones that would typically be challenging to outfit with a conventional deck. Plus, you can place it wherever you want to maximize privacy and shade.
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