Live Big in a Small Yard- 6 Tips

Outdoor spaces can increase our enjoyment of our homes. When the weather is nice, it’s like having an extra room — or wing — of the house. Make the most of yours, no matter its size. Even a small backyard can be great for gardening, entertaining, and play. The trick is to use every inch of your property and find ways for spaces to do double duty. Choose furniture that is multifunctional and small in scale. Keep your gardening flexible by growing flowers, veggies, and trees in containers. And remember that no backyard is too small to play in. Portable pieces, such as fold-up tents, let you bring the fun wherever you want it, whenever you want it. Check out these tips and tricks that will help you make the most of your small backyard all year long.

Step Up and Out

Create levels in a small yard to define spaces, making these areas seem like multiple outdoor rooms. Mix materials like decking (shipping pallets), stonework, and even grass to give each space its own special feel.

Garden in Containers

Even if you don’t have much soil to dig in, you can get your gardening on in containers. Plant veggies, flowers, and even trees. Mix shapes and colors, or work within a visual theme. One great advantage of container gardening is its flexibility. You can easily move plants around your yard, create different spaces, and completely change your mind from season to season if you like.

Natural Elements for Privacy

If your lot is small, try not to hem it in with privacy fencing. It will just feel smaller. Use your property lines as an opportunity to grow more plants with a living fence of hedges or trees. This strategy will allow your yard to merge visually with your neighbor’s property, and you’ll have something lush to look at while you relax.

Create a Focal Point

Make a statement in a small backyard by creating a strong focal point with a fountain or sculpture. The piece will anchor your design and give the eye a place to gravitate in a space that could otherwise feel cluttered.

Minimize Furniture

Keep furniture small scale and unobtrusive, and your small backyard will feel a lot bigger. Benches without backs and slim-profile metal pieces make excellent choices. Seats will almost blend into the landscape when there’s no one around to occupy them.

Use Every Inch – Even the Side Yard

If your backyard wraps around to a side yard, don’t let that small piece of real estate go to waste. Instead of parking the recycling cans there, find a way to make it a private dining spot, place of contemplation, or nursery for special plants. It may become your favorite garden nook.