A Guide to the Art of Small Yard Landscaping

Over the years I have picked up a few small-yard landscaping ideas that help create spaces you actually want to hang out in. In fact, when you visit a home with a thoughtfully designed backyard, it’s amazing how each detail stands out. The smaller the space, the more these details can shine.

Today we’re featuring a bunch of small yards that show off the results of smart landscaping decisions. Let them inspire you in your own spring gardening and yard design!

Carve Out a Patio Space

Let’s start with a few backyards that are all about the patio space. Why? My guess is the desire to entertain outdoors has a lot to do with it!

In fact, this first yard is pretty much all patio. But, a border of landscaped plants frames the whole area, adding interest and lush details.

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This next outdoor space I found is also mostly patio. The stone retaining walls make sure there’s still plenty of plant life. Plus, that stone-on-stone construction creates a unified look that doesn’t distract from all the greenery.

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The backyard below has a simple patio, but that vibrant red seating adds a ton of contemporary flair. The green space and landscaped border are other highlights. For me, it’s the wooden details that really stand out. A modern fence and matching bench add a feeling of gorgeous craftsmanship to the whole space.

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This next backyard is a Coty Award-winning project. The clients really wanted a patio for entertaining. Well, they definitely got it! It came along with a pondless water feature and just gorgeously landscaped flowerbeds.

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This yard makes the most of its patio space. It shows off a table and chair set, and it’s complete with an umbrella for those super sunny days. A ton of greenery borders both the stone patio and the manicured lawn.

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Make Every Zone Count

A really popular trick for landscaping a small yard is to break it up into different zones and give each one a special purpose. For instance, this yard I found has a patio area, a deck area, and a little green space framed out with bricks.

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This next backyard is all about the pathways. It includes cool touches like stepping stones that are surrounded by gravel. I love the seating area, benches, and just the sheer amount of plant life. Those are definitely the key focal points here.

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The yard you see below has a green lawn, a spot for sitting, and these great stone tiles near the door. You’ve got to notice how gravel frames every single tile. It creates such a modern statement. The plant choices really lean into that contemporary design, too.

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Actually, I’ve seen a lot of small yards with stepping stones that put small plants right in between them. It’s a totally unexpected choice, right? This strategy adds a real sense of fun. It’s especially cool when the plants are just little sprigs of grass, like in this picture.

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And who ever said a tiny backyard is too small for a pool? This next space totally proves that with some smart design, you can have plenty of room for a pool, a green area, a patio, and flowerbeds.

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Part of making every zone count means you have to make every flowerbed count! These stucco retaining walls are holding a bunch of carefully placed treasures. I love that trio of basalt towers sitting on a bed of black Mexican beach pebbles.

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Even if your yard is basically just one main section, you can really make it pop by framing it with a stone border. Instead of just a plain lawn, you can give your yard a “green,” like this one. Lining it with a bunch of modern plants adds so much variety.

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You can get really detailed and add variety even within a single flowerbed. In this next picture, you can see pebbles, tropical plants, grass, big rocks, and a water feature, all packed into one small space. The result is this amazing layered look that uses every single square inch.

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I bet you didn’t think that the “make every section count” rule could apply to a single brick in some gravel! But hey, there is no space too small for your attention. Below, you can see a succulent just taking center stage. These are the tiny details that add personality and depth to even the smallest yards.

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Think Outside the Box

This last set of yards is just amazing. They showcase designs that really go the extra mile and turn a space into pure landscaped bliss!

This first compact yard is outside a Platinum LEED Certified home. You have to see how the angular flourishes and unique layout give this space so much style, just like a beautifully embellished interior.

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The owners of this next yard really wanted an intimate space for entertaining. So, a European-style courtyard was created with a checkered ground of grass and stone squares. It’s so cool! All the plants in shades of chartreuse and purple create this magical garden vibe.

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There is just nothing like an outdoor space that totally comes alive at night with a modern glow. This patio has really strategic lighting and a warm fire pit. The result is a vibrant setting where everyone can gather in style. I could hang out here all night.

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…Or you could just go for a full tropical paradise approach! I love this. Even though a dense group of green plants might look random, there is so much thought that goes into designing a space like this. Look at how the stone tiles create a pathway right through the middle, but still let all that greenery surround them.

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The last one is an outdoor space that got really creative with its plant choices. Because stone and gravel cover the ground, the plants just pop. They don’t have to compete with a green lawn. It’s a good thing each plant is so special, showing off features like interesting leaf shapes or cool structures.

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Well, that’s it for my list of small-yard landscaping ideas. I certainly got a lot of inspiration for my own backyard. Hopefully, you’ve found some inspiration to bring a little green into your own space!