How to Get the Most Out of a Small Yard

Small outdoor living space can be a blessing. With less space, there can be less work to do to maintain its beauty and functionality.  A small yard provides the chance to maximize your home space, design a comfortable environment, and create a more cozy ambiance for entertaining.

Small yards can have as much visual appeal, texture, and color as larger spaces. The solution to making your small yard meet your needs is having a plan that maximizes your priorities.

These tips for small yard landscaping can help you convert your backyard into a functional and inviting outdoor living space that you can fully enjoy.

1. Create a Plan

When working with a large yard, you can easily get away with a few landscaping mistakes. However, that is not the case if your backyard is small. Therefore, it is always recommended that you have an idea of what you want your yard to look like if you are working with a small space.

Instead of potentially losing space to a poorly placed landscaping element that does not fit with the overall plan of your yard, draw out your yard and ensure it is visually pleasing before taking any action. 

2. Focus on Your Priorities

You will need to prioritize your needs and ensure all of them can fit in your small yard to get the most out of it. You might also need to compromise some wants for the outcome to be as close to your dream backyard as possible. The best time to do that is before you add any new project to your yard.

For instance, you can wish for a swimming pool, but your yard cannot accommodate a full-sized pool. So, you might have to settle for a hot tub or another water feature like a fountain. Begin by making a list of everything you desire in your perfect dream yard. Then create a list of the must-haves that you refuse to live without.

You might not add all the items on the list to your yard because the space and budget is limited, so ensure that your priority elements are at the top of the list. Look for spaces where you might be able to save some space by getting creative or compromising a bit in choosing dual-purpose elements. For instance, if you consider having both a barbecue grill and a fire pit, consider getting a fire pit that can serve as both a gathering place and as an outdoor cooking area.

3. Design a Focal Point

All yards, large or small, require a focal point to enhance the visual appeal and bring together the landscape design. This can be a tree or shrub, a sculpture, a fountain, or an outdoor dining area. Choosing your focal point early helps in placing it appropriately and designing the rest of the landscape around it for an organized look.

4. Get Artistic With Containers

Container gardens are excellent for small yards. If you want to grow vegetables in your backyard, a container garden will enable you to use only a few feet of space to grow herbs, vegetables, and fruits for your family. You can maximize your yard space by installing steps or shelves to support your container garden. You can also utilize small containers to distinguish spaces for various purposes or create more comfortable seating areas.

You can also utilize containers to add flowers and plants to your small yard landscape without using the amount of space needed for complete flowerbeds.

5. Add Texture and Color

While it might appear challenging to design an appealing space in a small yard, adding texture and color can enhance the visual appeal of your outdoor living space and make it seem larger.

Brightly colored flowers, chairs, and fabrics create an attractive space where your guests are more likely to forget that the yard is small. Adding various textures will also create a more inviting space and will add profundity to your backyard.

A mix of foliage, living ground cover, wood chips, gravel that differ in size and style will enhance the appearance of your outdoor space while making it more welcoming for you and your guests.

If you have a small yard, it can still become a haven of enjoyment with some smart choices. Make sure to have a plan to ensure that all your priorities fit in the small space. Next, get creative with the design of your landscape. Lastly, a focal point can enhance the visual appeal of your backyard.