Clever Remodeling Ideas For Limited Spaces

Small backyards can be tricky to work with, but thoughtful design is key. If your space is limited, you’ll need to be intentional about how every inch of your outdoor footprint works-and it may help to hire a professional landscape designer. This is especially important if you have particular priorities, like having a shady spot to read or a place to throw a ball around. A little thought can go a long way to helping your backyard look spacious, even in an urban environment.

For example, if your backyard needs to be functional for dinner parties or summer movies in the park, think about how every space can serve more than one purpose. Take this cozy backyard by Whitney Leigh Morris, for instance: a rustic wooden work bench doubles as a bar cart, and the exterior of the house is used as a projector screen.

This is an important tip when designing any space, but it’s particularly vital in small yards. It’s tempting to add lots of different elements in an effort to make the space feel interesting, but bouncing between styles can look unintentional in larger spaces and even more disjointed in smaller ones. Instead, run every decision through the filter of your overarching aesthetic goals-plantings, material selections (paving, mulch, wood, gravel or moss) and furniture should all express the same character.

Another trick for making small backyards feel bigger is introducing a focal point to the design. Whether it’s a specimen tree, water feature or a pair of boldly colored chairs, this kind of feature helps your eye to focus on the most important parts of the yard and makes the space feel less constrained.

A trellis is an excellent way to capitalize on vertical space in small yards since it allows you to grow plants up and out of the ground. This trellis from Chris Webber Landscapes uses a mix of plants, including ornamental grasses, heucherella and hydrangea, to create a garden that’s not only visually appealing but also provides year-round interest.

Small yards can also use curves to their advantage, as seen in this backyard from Emerson Grey Designs. Instead of simply placing a patio in the middle of the backyard, this homeowner designed a curving path that leads to a seating area and a focal garden with bamboo, spruce trees, boxwood, rhododendrons and pachysandra. The curved edges of the landscaping make the backyard appear bigger, and the plant palette keeps the backyard feeling lush even when it’s not in bloom.

A small backyard can be as fun and inviting as a big one, but it takes careful planning to make sure that every square foot of your property is put to good use. Hopefully, these tips will inspire you to make the most of your backyard this summer-and beyond! Happy gardening!

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