Thinking of upgrading your backyard for the warmer months? With summer just around the corner, we’ve all been dreaming of ways to make the most of longer, warmer days—and the best place to start is in the backyard.
While this summer is shaping up to be more socially flexible outside of your family, a killer backyard presence will make hosting friends or guests out of town fun, easy, and safe.
Whether you’re working with a sprawling outdoor space or need to make every square inch of your small backyard work in your favor, we’ve rounded up a collection of clever, attainable landscaping ideas that will make your backyard somewhere you will. They want to spend time all summer.
Consider a retaining wall
(Photo credit: Roger’s Landscaping)
A retaining wall not only looks aesthetically pleasing and elegant, but comes with a handful of practical benefits as well—including controlling flooding, slowing soil erosion, and even creating an attractive property boundary sign should this be a problem.
Put in green
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Do you think you should live on a golf course to practice a swing at home? Think again! While the golf setting may not be as big as the driving range, it’s a great way to practice hitting your swing—even if you’re not big on golf. You can take on the task of building your own green space, or hire a landscaping professional to help, but there is also a large variety of ready-made greens available online.
Add a water feature of some kind
(Image credit: Wayfair)
The easiest way to add a dose of quiet sophistication to your backyard? Water feature! Whether your space is sprawling or you have an outdoor space the size of a postage stamp, the water feature is quick to install and instantly makes your space feel more relaxing.
Create a shaded garden under a tree
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Dealing with a shaded backyard? While most of us tend to seek as much sunlight as possible, a shade garden is an especially attractive backyard attraction. All you need is a couple of shade-loving plants (like dead nettle or foamiran flower) and a few pieces of wrought iron patio furniture and you’re all set.
Consider building raised garden beds
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Raised garden beds are an attractive and practical solution for gardening – whether you’re dealing with a small space or a large garden. Try making your own with a pair of 2x4s, or if you aren’t particularly useful, they are readily available at hardware stores.
Add a network of hiking trails
(Image credit: Wayfair)
A network of walking paths can add some serious sophistication to your backyard—especially if you have a lot of trees or shrubs on your property. Consider adding decorative beach pebbles or a small bridge over any streams or water sources you may have.
Consider planting privacy hedges
(Photo credit: Fast Growing Trees)
If your neighbors’ home is particularly close to yours, you may benefit from planting privacy hedges. Many people assume that these hedges take years to mature enough to be useful, but you can actually buy semi-mature, pre-grown plants to suit your needs.
Create your own butterfly garden
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Watching nature is a great way to be vigilant and rooted—and adding your own pollinator or butterfly garden is a great way to make sure your backyard is a regular stopping point for all kinds of lovely little creatures. All you need are a couple of butterfly-friendly flowers and some caterpillar host plants and you’re good to go.
Take care of a private zen garden
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Are you trying to turn your backyard into a relaxing getaway? Look at the Japanese art of the zen garden. The concept of a “dry landscape” garden uses meticulously arranged rocks, sand, moss, shrubs and water features to mimic the essence of nature and aid in meditation practices.
Create layers with lower plants
(Photo credit: Tode Landscaping)
Your garden can be full of life and full of life, but if you’re not intentional with your layers, it can look more like a jungle than a lawn in a well-manicured backyard. Consider adding layers by planting a row of lower plants to give your garden a more organized look.
Beautify things with ornamental herbs
(Image credit: Home Depot)
Dried ornamental grasses like pampas and fountain grass have been having a moment on Instagram for the past couple of months — but trendy ornamental grasses look great when grown outside, too. Consider growing and drying your plants for indoor use when the weather begins to turn later in the summer.
Consider building a roofed pergola
(Image credit: Home Depot)
“Summer shade is essential, and sometimes a traditional back porch isn’t enough,” says home design expert Tim Buck. “The growing trend is for pitched pergolas, whether wood or metal, with a fabric or metal roof.”
These affordable structures create outdoor living space wherever it is wanted or desired. Perhaps as an extension of the house, near a pool, or as a focal point elsewhere in the backyard.
Integrating indoor/outdoor technology
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According to Joe Raboine, director of Residential Hardscapes with Belgard, incorporating technology into outdoor spaces has become essential to carrying out day-to-day functions. “Incorporate heating or lighting in an outdoor area, plus easily accessible WiFi and electrical outlets for a fully functional space that can support more activities,” he says.
Incorporating outdoor office space
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Looking for a way to take your day from indoors to the backyard? Consider building fully functional small spaces! Creating flexible, dual-use spaces in the backyard provides a viable outdoor living space that makes living and working at home more interesting.
Create different back rooms
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“Large outdoor living spaces are the new standard as people change their intentions towards creating an outdoor area with multiple rooms for family and friends to enjoy,” explains Rebwein. Whether you’re looking to entertain during the weekend, work out in your own backyard, or create a small romantic spot for backyard dates, creating versatile rooms is a great way to bring the outdoors home.