Add a Fire Pit
What do you do when your house has no backyard?
In this case, landscape designer Catherine Bosler ofBosler Earth Designlooked to the nearby coast.
A wooddeckis painted in a distressed gray to create a living room with a fire pit.
The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto
The outdoor dining area has decomposed granite (DG) underfoot and features a grill and prep counter.
The aquatic centerpiece has a ledge for in-pool lounge chairs when desert temperatures spike.
Other features include an orange Fermob armchair, colorful pottery, anddrought-tolerant plants.
Catherine Bosler
Tip
Axeriscape gardenis designed to use minimal water.
Move furniture and seating around the space to create movement and depth.
Bluegrass andno-mow fescueon a berm serve as a spot for the children to play, along with interactive sculptures.
Kathryn Prideaux
When not in use, outdoor toys are stored inside the redwood benches.
Create a Vertical Garden
City-dwellers often crave outdoor space but still enjoy privacy.
High walls and espaliered or climbing plants help to create a sense of seclusion.
Jacobs Grant
A matching side patio was added using base rock and pre-cut pavers.
A cozy deck features built-in seating and a concrete-top natural gas fire pit with prism fire glass.
A geometric pergola provides shade and creates a comfortable seating area on the Ipe deck.
Dig Your Garden
Raised stacked-stone beds are planted with a mix of low-maintenance shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses.
The homeowner added a modern, lightweight outdoor sofa and coffee table for a midcentury feel.
Build an Outdoor Kitchen
Maite Granda
Love to grill?
Land Studio C
With upholstery, pillows, and flowering plants that harmonize, the space is intimate and appealing.
Incorporate Lighting
Created byReveal Design, this illuminating design took inspiration from downtown Chicago.
Glowing orbs provide extra light that can be swapped out for different colors.
Land Studio
Urns planted with annual color can be changed out seasonally.
The patio is paved with bluestone with blue-chip joints.
Imagine an Oasis
Andrew Shepherd ofMagic Landscapingwas tasked with creating a backyard where there was none.
Change of Seasons
If you don’t have room for large planter beds, opt for smaller, stackable planters and tables.
Bonus points if you might fit a popcorn cart.
Using items that serve multiple uses is key when designing for a small space.
Beyond Landscaping
Extendable dining tables, cabinets with pull-down trays, nesting tables, and ottomans that open into lounge chairs.
In addition to modular furniture, portable appliances and easy-to-carry items will serve you well.
Budget-friendly furniture, plants, string lights, and decorative rugs are easy add-ons to elevate an outdoor space.
Creo
Outdoor spaces that are usable and functional are high-selling points when it comes to the real estate market.
Brick and concrete pavers create a flat surface, are uniform in shape, and are easy to install.
If you don’t want brick, try gravel, which is a low-cost option.
Megan Maloy
KL Designs
Blue Hibiscus
Irene Kalina-Jones
Maite Granda
Fernhill
Reveal Design
Green Alchemy
Ritz
Land Aesthetic
Bradford Associates
Heart’s Ease
Christy Webber
Magic Landscaping
Ursula Carmona ofHomemade by Carmona
Emily Henderson Design/ Photo by Kaitlin Green
The Spruce / Stacy Zarin Goldberg
The Spruce / Jacob Fox
@kirsten.diane/ Instagram
Amber Freda Landscape Design
