In an ideal world, every home would come with a sprawling backyard. But, unfortunately, this just isn’t the case. And this revelation seems to be crippling to so many dreams.
But we’re here to tell you otherwise! Because, with some good planning and some creative thinking, you can make every square foot count.
And this article is all about that – we’ll go over how you can get big… with small.
Layout
First things first. Before you do anything, you’ve got to sort out the layout. Now, if you’re doing it yourself, as opposed to hiring a designer to do it for you, then you’ll need to dig deep into it. Firstly, take a measuring tape and measure absolutely everything.
You want the whole layout on a piece of paper. Now do version one, then version two, version three, and so on… Do a bit of tinkering. How big is the yard? Does a BBQ fit there? Is there room for a dining area? What about a lounging corner? Perhaps a smokeless fire pit? Things like that. You need to think about what you want and what fits within your budget. After that, make sure you don’t create too much clutter – that won’t work.
Throw in multifunctional furniture (benches with hidden storage, foldable tables that can double as a serving station, etc.) – these work amazingly when it comes to limited space.
Don’t forget landscaping. Sure, you could go grass-only. But if you were thinking ‘something special’, then you’ve got to make it work now. Because later, in case you change your mind later, you’ll have difficulties. Even a single tree or a bush could ruin a whole, thought-out layout.
Now, eliminate all the layout options/versions that just don’t work because of a massive flaw. What you’re left with are the options you get to work with.
Finally, you need to convince yourself which one, of these, to go with.
Solutions
In this section, we’ll go over some ideas you can use to get the desired effect:
Vertical
If you’re looking for some greenery, you can make good use of vertical gardens, trellises, living walls. The best thing about these is that your walls have so much free space on them. So it’d be a shame to be forced to use only the ground. With these, you get your, let’s call it landscaping, while still having plenty of room on the ground to do whatever.
Another vertical solution is storage. Besides plants taking up all the vertical space, you can also install shelves/hooks to keep all the tools, cushions, decor, or whatever else you’re keeping outside. This way it doesn’t look messy, and it’s also protected from the rain. Foldable furniture (table, chairs), as already mentioned, can also be stored flat when not in use.
Light
Once you’ve sorted out the walls (and ceiling, if you have any), you can go for lights – both function and ambient. Use LED tracks as much as you can. For example, if you have a fire pit in the middle of the yard, you can create a pathway leading towards it and use LED strips to illuminate the whole way. Also, you can make use of string lights overhead to grab a bit of attention – it looks nice and gives a bit of a premium feel if done correctly. Have an electrician install spotlights to highlight some of the features you’ve prepared.
If you want to go eco-friendly and sustainable, then go for solar-powered lighting.
Colors
Go for light-colored decking and wall colors. This way, you’re ensuring the whole area feels airy and bright. A trick is to use mirrors and/or reflective surfaces to scatter/bounce light around, which helps create an illusion of depth. This way, the space looks bigger than it really is.
Hardscaping Features
We’ve already mentioned permanent features before, but this section is reserved for them mostly. So any patios, fire pits, an outside pizza oven or baking station, anything like that can make your backyard feel so much more structured/functional.
If you’re meaning to add any of these, and you don’t have much handyman experience (or the necessary tools to do the projects), then definitely hire a pro.
Hint: There could be a waiting list, so be sure you call one as soon as you’ve decided on a layout.
Decks are probably your best bet to create something that’ll feel great all year round. For example, a slimline deck could define the area without overwhelming the yard; or biting a huge chunk out of the free space. And also, consult your budget, because deck prices can be all over the place. For example, a deck builder in Dover, Delaware will charge around 30-60 dollars per square foot. You can expect the same rate from a deck builder Lancaster residents would hire. But one in Asheville, North Carolina will be more affordable (25-55 USD). Then again, one in Bend, Oregon will be more expensive, at around 40-70 USD.
So yeah, make sure you check the full build price for the project, regardless of whether you’re looking to add a deck, a fire pit, or anything similar.
Conclusion
If you have a small backyard then there’s not much point in beating your head about it. What you can do, and what’s a bit more productive, is figure out how you can make that small space work. And you can.
Figure out the layout that works, think style, think practical solutions, and make every inch count (but don’t overcrowd – that won’t look nice).
If you aren’t sure what to do first, then start with the small stuff, and then work from there. If you’re looking to get some more complex things added, then we’d recommend going with the pro route. It’ll cost you more than DIY, sure. But It’s going to be done as you want it and it’ll be rock solid for years to come and for you to enjoy!
