44 Inspiring Backyard Ideas to Transform Any Outdoor Living Space
These designer spaces are alfresco bliss.
The kitchen may be the heart of the home, and the living room is hands-down the best place to lounge, but there's something special about these backyard ideas that'll make you want to spend quality time outdoors. And whether you have a sprawling backyard and swimming pool or a tiny city terrace, backyard comforts can transcend square footage. Opt for a row of chaise lounges by the pool or a group of Adirondack chairs in an open grass field for group hangs. In any setup, a comfortable outdoor area is the ultimate luxury. Some of the best backyard ideas can make a small patio or side yard look and feel just as impressive as acres of lawn. It's all about maximizing the space you have with a combination of clever storage and functional furniture.
As you're planning new backyard ideas for your own space, another aspect to keep in mind is landscaping. How you landscape your backyard also plays into its overall appeal. If you have a green thumb, why not opt for a full English garden or even a hobby farm? If you're more hands-off, choose native plants that are already used to your area's climate for minimal maintenance. Either way, you can be sure that whatever you invest in the surrounding greenery will boost your home's value.
Ahead, we highlight 44 backyard ideas with East Hampton–style hedges and cottagecore lavender fields, as well as city apartment terraces and paved patios. If you're looking for pool landscaping ideas or patio-specific designs, we have you covered there, too.
For more outdoor inspiration:
- 75 Outdoor Living Room Ideas for an Epic At-Home Escape
- 80+ Landscaping Ideas for a Stellar Yard
- How to Landscape Around a Swimming Pool
Fake Your Own Jungle
This apartment terrace looks more like a jungle thanks to strategically placed houseplants and flooring made from faux putting green. This backyard idea proves that you don't need to be on the ground level to enjoy the great outdoors.
Related: The Best Back Porch Ideas
Prioritize the View
Rather than install benches, cabinets, or other, taller design elements, Suzannah Charbin opted to complement the marshy environment and chose low furniture for this backyard idea. This way, the view remains open from all angles, even from inside the house.
Go Big at Home
A chimney that extends high above the willow-and-steel pergola calls attention to the dramatic 10-foot-tall “windows” and vineyard views in this lounge by Sheldon Harte.
Leave Room for Guests
If you like to entertain, be sure that your outdoor dining space can seat just as many as inside—without the need for folding card chairs or multipurpose stools. Take a note from Tom Scheerer in this backyard idea and opt for benches to squeeze in as many loved ones as possible.
Extend the Dining Room
In this D.C. home, pizza nights are a summer must-have, so designer Tina Ramchandani ensured space for one in the backyard. Paneled walls also provide privacy while easing the transition between indoors and out.
Add a Wash Station
If tracking in mud, dust, and other outdoor gunk into your home is a problem, provide family and guests with an easy outdoor handwashing station with space to leave their shoes.
Take Inspiration From Summer Camp
A fire pit is a fail-safe element for a cozy summer evening. These chic lawn chairs keep you safely away from the smoke while still allowing you to lay back and relax.
Keep It Simple
Sometimes, all you need is a pool and sun lounger. This backyard idea foregoes all the patio pavers and walking paths in favor of simple grass. This private sanctuary is all these homeowners need.
Related: The Best Pool Landscaping Ideas
Embrace Wild Greenery
In the backyard of this Jeremiah Brent–designed home, trellises were added to help encourage vine growth over this cozy seating area. The owners could have had it trimmed back, but now it adds much-needed protection from the California sun.
Add Architectural Interest
While this backyard's pergola doesn't offer much in the way of shade, its primary purpose is to help frame the seating area amongst the greenery. Lighting is recessed into the pergola to extend the party after the sun goes down.
Coordinate With Your Home's Exterior
Complementing your home's exterior colors with your outdoor furniture is a next-level backyard idea. These woven lounge chairs feature throw pillows and towels that pull colors from the rest of the home's landscaping.
Grow an Abundance of Roses
Rather than sorting through seed packets and planning a complicated layout, choose one flower that makes you happy and run with it. This garden by Edmund Hollander features an abundance of English roses, the homeowner's favorite floral.
Feature a Fountain
To add an air of formality, install a regal fountain. It not only adds a distinguished feel, but it also offers a refreshing respite during those hot summer months.
Lay Down Some Lavender
Balance geometric pavers with a lush row of lavender on either side, as in this backyard idea. This can also be a natural way to help remind guests and family members to stay off other parts of the lawn that need some rest.
Related: The Best Outdoor Plants
Frolic in the Fields
Embrace the cottagecore trend and plant a full field of wildflowers rather than boring sod or a confined garden. Wendy Owen wanted her Sonoma, California property to feel like a laid-back, rustic French village.
Related: What Is Chaos Gardening?
Pave the Way
No area of your yard is off-limits, even the driveway. Instead of solid pavement, lay two rows of turfstone pavers (also called latticed paving stones) that allow grass to grow through. At the center, Bay Area designer Dan Carlson combined succulents and herbs for a colorful, low-to-the-ground garden.
Related: The Best Driveway Design Ideas
Play Ball
Encourage more family game time by installing a full-size bocce-ball court. The surrounding border in this backyard idea is the perfect amount of space for a row of pavers and a few structured bushes.
Take a Seat
Utilize every corner of your yard, even the dark corners. This towering tree provides a naturally romantic cover for a loveseat.
Related: The Best Outdoor Furniture
Create Privacy
For those with neighbors in close quarters or set on a narrow lot, add privacy to your backyard patio with breezy linen curtains. They also look super chic when blowing in the wind—just ask designer Hadas Dembo.
Related: Balcony Decor Ideas
Take It Up a Tier
For city apartments or those with little green space, maximize your outdoor square footage by working vertically as designer Tamsin Johnson did in this backyard idea. A few cozy seating spaces can be as comfortable and stylish as a sprawling backyard.
Related: Small Patio Ideas
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