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Playing It Koi
Even the tiniest backyard can accommodate a koi pond if you employ space-smart design, as in this project from Rossington Architecture. The step-down arrangement of this water feature attractively frames the koi pond while also safeguarding the home from flooding during heavy rainfall.
Hip to Be Square
Houzz via The Todd Group
A particularly great idea for arid regions and locales where water restrictions are in place (or for homeowners who simply don’t enjoy lawn maintenance), this grid system of grass and pavers from The Todd Group creates visual interest while minimizing the need for upkeep.
Climb the Walls
Houzz via Bright Green
Whether it takes the form of a lush stretch of ivy or, as in this design from Bright Green, a meticulously cultivated work of art, a living wall draws the eye upward, making a yard seem larger and lending a little creative flair to an outdoor space.
All Rise
Houzz via Nature’s Realm
This green patch of paradise designed by Nature’s Realm incorporates a serenity-enhancing water feature as well as a grid of square pavers that add texture and a raised bed that supports a profusion of greenery. The bed simplifies garden maintenance, as its raised position gives the gardener a spot to sit while planting, weeding, and deadheading.
Related: Goodbye Grass: 7 Inspiring Ideas for a “No Mow” Backyard
Strike a Balance
Zillow Digs home in Palm Springs, CA
Ideal for a desert home, this xeriscaped yard offers generous expanses of square stone pavers and, in place of grass, streams of rocks—an approach that significantly reduces the need to water. A vine-laden trellis that softens the walls adds just a touch of greenery and, along with a handful of succulents and desert blooms, brings color and balance to the space.
Long Division
Zillow Digs home in Huntington Beach, CA
If one large deck seems too much for your backyard, or if it would impede the natural flow of the space, consider splitting it in two. In this functional, flexible design, a walkway leading from the entry gate divides one deck into two cozy conversation areas. The shared design visually connects the two halves, resulting in an adaptable backyard hangout that facilitates instead of dominates.
Related: 20 Tiny Backyards We Love
Step It Up
Zillow Digs home in San Francisco, CA
To bring an air of leafy seclusion to your yard, consider lining the perimeter with trellises and transforming the space into a multitiered terrace. While the work involved is substantial, the minimal upkeep and visual impact will pay off in spades.
Related: 11 Ideas for Better Backyard Privacy
Contain Your Excitement
Zillow Digs home in Clovis, CA
Assemble a wide array of planters, anything from concrete urns to weathered wooden crates, to curate a conversation-worthy container garden. Stagger the heights and sizes throughout the yard in an asymmetrical fashion for a casually exuberant effect.
Tucked Away
Zillow Digs home in Sagle, ID
If you have a sizable space to work with but would rather keep your greenery to a manageable level, devote just one corner of your property to a garden, then define it with a pergola and an inviting place to perch, like a porch swing or a pair of sky chairs. Pave or tile the rest of your yard so you’ll never have to mow, edge, or water it.
Related: 19 “Zero Dollar” Upgrades for Your Outdoor Living Area
Hang It Up
It takes little more than a few square feet and some imagination to install a vertical garden in a small yard—or even on a porch or patio, for that matter. The project can double as a work of art if you incorporate upcycled materials like paint cans, soda bottles, or other household items—as well as a dash of color and creativity.
Make a Nook
Arrange a small selection of perennials and a bench or patio chair in one corner of a small yard to carve out a cozy, meditative spot. Consider choosing colorful containers or adding a pop of color to the seating to enhance the look.
Your Cup Runneth Over
Adopt the more-is-more approach, that interior design maxim that says that filling a small room with oversize elements can actually make it feel bigger. Deck out your small garden with everything but the kitchen sink—containers, pavers, living walls, luxurious furniture, bold lighting fixtures, and water features. Fill every inch with eye-catching treasures, botanical and otherwise, to create an oasis that engages all the senses.
Live Large
These ideas prove that it doesn’t matter the size of the yard, but that it’s what you do with it that makes a great outdoor area.