Is your backyard space limited but your imagination unlimited? You’re in luck. There are some amazing small backyard landscaping ideas to be found that will get your creative juices flowing. Before you know it, your little plot of land can feel like a real backyard oasis. Whether you want space to entertain friends or value having a private recharge in nature, even small backyards can be adapted to suit your needs.
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Cost For Small Backyard Landscaping
On average, homeowners with lawn space that is .25 acres can expect to spend $10,000 on landscaping that involves a professional design and mixed materials. When you’re working with a smaller space than that, there are two ways to approach landscaping a small backyard.
First, with less space to fill, it can be easier to keep your landscaping budget in check. Especially if you maximize a combination of perennial flowers, long-lasting xeriscaping elements and DIY projects, you can really transform a small yard landscape without a significant investment.
The other way to approach a small backyard is by allowing yourself to splurge more on hardscaping elements. Because space is limited, high-quality landscaping can truly be the focal point and make a big impression. Whether your priority is to save money or create an amazing backyard, there are some great small yard landscaping projects that are sure to inspire.
1. Make Use of Vertical Space
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With ground space at a premium, look upward. With some basic carpentry skills, it’s possible to DIY tiered garden beds that can give you much more gardening space without biting into your walkway. Not the DIY type? Vertical garden beds available for purchase mean you only need to provide the green thumb.
2. Build in Seating
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Chairs and especially lounge chairs take up a lot of space, which is a problem if you don’t want to constantly bump into them while navigating your small yard. By installing built-in seating around the perimeter of a deck or of the yard itself, you can expand your entertaining opportunities without reducing your usable central space.
3. Define Spaces With a Floating Deck
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Who says the only place for a deck is directly off the house? By tucking a floating deck into the corner of your small yard, you can give the illusion of more space. Add a bistro table and chairs for a welcoming space to sip morning coffee or add a hammock to the level platform for a close-to-home getaway. The average cost for a simple, 10-by-10-foot deck with pressure-treated pine is $2,000.
4. Mix Ground Cover Materials
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If you inherit a small backyard that is filled corner to corner with the same ground cover material, it’s time to mix it up. By visually breaking up the texture of the ground cover landscaping materials, like a mix of pavers, rock, turf and decking, the yard will feel much more custom and interesting.
5. Take a Second Look at ‘Wasted’ Space
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When you’re working with the natural limitation of a small backyard, one of the best strategies is trying to multipurpose landscaping elements when possible. A privacy fence can also serve as a vertical garden bed. A shaded corner can be the perfect spot for a water fountain. A tiny concrete patio can be retrofitted with an in-ground fire pit.
6. Create Terraces for Garden Beds
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A small backyard can feel even smaller if there is a significant slope. By hiring a professional landscaper to install terraces into the slope with proper retaining walls in place, you can add visual intrigue to your yard. Take it to the next level by planting flowers or evergreen shrubs in the terraces.
7. Design an Inviting Entertaining Space
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The best backyards expand your home’s living space by offering an additional area where you want to spend time. Even with a pint-sized space, it’s completely possible to design a go-to hangout area. The essentials include a level seating area, lounge chairs and lighting. For even more impact, consider getting a professionally built fire pit or hiring an electrician to install an outdoor television.
8. Install an In-Ground Plunge Pool
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An Olympic-size pool may be out, but that doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself to a nice dip in cool water even with minimal yard space. When you are landscaping a small backyard in a hot climate, consider building a plunge pool—a shallow pool designed for lounging rather than swimming. On average, it costs $20,000 to install a 6-by-12-foot plunge pool. But, if you want to spend time in your yard on steamy summer days, it may be well worth the investment.
9. Make Use of the Sideyard
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If your backyard is small, look beyond it. If there is space to be found on the side of the house, take advantage by expanding your garden area, adding a walkway and building a front privacy fence so it truly feels like a personal retreat rather than wasted space.
10. Build a Decking Around an In-Ground Spa
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If a hot tub is more practical than a pool in your climate, you can still go the in-ground route, which offers the added benefit of keeping the visual space open and making the yard feel larger than it is. By building a custom deck around a hot tub, it can feel like a destination for hanging out whether you are in or out of the water.
11. Prepare to Entertain With an Outdoor Kitchen
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On average, outdoor kitchens can set you back $13,000. However, with a small space, your downsized, minimalist kitchen may be more in the $4,500 range. If you plan to host outdoor dinner parties, an outdoor kitchen is both functional and eye-catching in all of the right ways.
12. Blur the Indoor-Outdoor Boundary
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A great way to make a small backyard feel bigger? Adding to the space by opening the backdoors straight onto a same-level patio or deck. Or consider building a bartop space onto the side of the house where open windows in the kitchen allow someone inside to serve drinks and appetizers while the rest of the group gathers in the yard.
