Do you have a small outdoor space that you don’t know what to do with? Well you’re in luck! You don’t need to have an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a sprawling garden in order to create a backyard that you’re proud of.
With warmer weather and sunny days rapidly approaching, here are 20 tips to help transform your modest backyard into a summer dream.
1. Get A Custom-Built Deck
Installing a custom-built deck can transform your backyard into a completely different and elevated outdoor space. Good news – you don’t need to have a large backyard in order to have the perfect deck built for you.
There are a variety of options available and a range of deck sizes to pick from that can suit your needs. Choose the perfect small deck for your tiny backyard.
2. Hang Up A Hammock
A space-saver and a prime example of comfort and relaxation, the hammock is a timeless summer afternoon nap staple.
You don’t necessarily need trees to hang up a hammock either, which makes it perfect for smaller patios, and even some apartment balconies as well.
3. Make The Most Out Of Corner Space
Corners are often overlooked areas of unused real estate for design potential. Especially with smaller spaces, it’s important to make the most out of what you have, and that includes corner space.
Come up with a concept to implement into your corner. Some ideas include:
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Introducing a corner fountain or pond
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Grouping together a set of chairs for guests to socialize
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A relaxation nook for reading, yoga, etc.
4. Break Up With Your Lawn
While a traditional lawn works for many people’s homes, that sometimes isn’t the ideal option for people with limited space. Instead, it might be better to consider forgoing grass for stone or gravel.
Not only will it be easier to maintain in the long-run, it will be better to stage the furniture of your choosing. Balancing the stone or gravel with climbing ivy, statement plants or house-hugging bushes are subtle ways to incorporate greenery and compensate for the lack of grass.
5. Separate Your Spaces
Just because your backyard isn’t big, doesn’t mean it can’t have a cohesive layout with division and clear separation between different areas.
Zoning your spaces according to their purpose can be as simple as grouping your furniture together in a specific area for socializing and dividing spots with outdoor rugs.
6. Opt For A Mini Greenhouse
A-frame greenhouses look great and are an excellent alternative to traditional, larger greenhouses.
7. Incorporate On Statement Greenery
Statement plants are perfect for smaller patios and serve as a simple, yet effective way to add some lush colour to an otherwise bland space. Look for larger palms and foliage-heavy options that serve as their own focal pieces.
These plants are a wonderful alternative if you aren’t able to have a traditional garden.
8. Make It Multi-Functional
You want to get the most out of your outdoor area, especially if it’s smaller in size. One space can provide a multitude of different purposes. Move forward with designs that keep this in mind and make this possible.
For example, you can have a terrace for dining that also incorporates plants and a small garden, as well as a spot for relaxing with a corner hanging boho chair. The key is knowing what elements of each you want to have and incorporating them altogether in a way that remains functional and aesthetically pleasing.
9. Become Comfortable With Compromise
Small spaces don’t mean you have to ditch all of your decorating plans entirely, but it is important to be realistic with your expectations.
Maybe you won’t be able to have a large swimming pool, a lounge area, and a sprawling garden, but it can be possible to combine a few ideas into a more feasible vision.
Incorporating a well-designed, custom deck that includes a tasteful, free-standing hot tub.
10. Scale Down Your Patio Furniture
Patio furniture can take up a large amount of space if you allow it to. It’s far better to have understated pieces that still serve the same purpose, than oversized options that make your space feel crowded and cramped.
A bistro table and chair set is perfect for a patio that provides seating and a place to enjoy your morning coffee, without taking up more room than what’s necessary.
11. Don’t Go Overboard
Similar to compromising, it’s good to go into small space design with a cohesive vision. You can incorporate a variety of elements, but try not to include too many aspects at once.
Summer is the time where people like to spend the majority of time outside, and you don’t want your backyard to become an overwhelming mishmash of different styles and too many pieces of furniture.
12. Include String Lights
String lights are an incredibly simple way to inject some cosiness and comfort into even the smallest of spaces. They are a great choice to offset rustic wooden accents and boho furniture.
Want to add some romance and a little bit of magic to your patio? Hang up some string lights.
13. Add A Bar Cart
Bar carts don’t take up too much room and they can be a surprisingly subtle way to add some unique and fun flair to your outdoor lounge and dining area. Wheeled bar carts have an added bonus: they’re easy to move around to wherever you want it to be without extra hassle.
A well-styled bar cart is a party lover’s essential item, and the options for what to include on one are endless. Your guests will love it, and it’ll save you repeated back and forth trips inside to make everyone’s drinks.
14. Pay Attention To Architecture
Look at what your home really has to offer, and think of ways to integrate the backyard features that you want with what is already there.
As an example, wicker and swing egg chairs are currently very popular. A hanging chair could be attached to a pergola, giving the space a simple, but impactful upgrade.
15. Consider Laying Down Some Tiling
Nothing looks more summery than colourful patio tiling. Patio tiles are a fresh and streamlined way to elevate uplift your outdoor dining and entertainment space.
16. Look At It Like A Living Room
Consider your patio or backyard an extension of your home – just another room to decorate and add your sense of style to.
Save on floor space with a hanging chair, include a large floor rug, accent chairs, and a small side table. Design it with the same comfort and appeal that you would apply to your living room.
17. Get A Grasp On Gardening
No matter the size of your backyard, you can find ways to introduce a garden.
Plants and flowers immediately brighten and liven any space, and you don’t need a well-practiced green thumb in order to start.
18. Look Into Shade Options
Smaller spaces are actually at an advantage when considering shade options. You won’t have to worry about providing shade for too much surface area, which saves you time and money in the long run.
19. Make Colour Subtle
Summer is the perfect time to add bright pops of colour throughout your space without letting it take over and overwhelm your space completely.
Implement a colour palette by incorporating it in some of these ways:
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Plant pots
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Area rugs
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Cushions
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Umbrellas
20. Dabble In DIY Furniture
Finding outdoor furniture that fits your design taste, size requirements, and price point can be difficult.
Wood palettes can be unexpectedly versatile solution if you’re having issues finding something that works for you. Stack the right sized palettes on top of each other, drape with sheepskin mats, blankets, and pillows, and enjoy a stylish, makeshift bench.
Put these tips to good use in your small backyard and transform your space into the outdoor oasis you’ve always dreamed of for the summer months.
