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As soon as the weather begins to warm up and the first signs of spring are on the horizon, we get the urge to spruce up our backyard space. After a long winter without little to no attention, it’s always in need of some help.
If you’re looking for some inspiration to help you figure out how to design your small backyard space, we’ve got you covered. Whether you live in a big city or suburb with a little bit of yard that you don’t know exactly what to do with, these 12 small backyard designs will help you transform your space into the oasis you’ve always dreamed of.
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12 Small Backyard Designs
1. Add Metal Planters and Start a Garden
Creating a backyard garden is one of the best things to add to your outdoor space. Starting in spring, into summer and even early fall you can begin to plant fresh fruits and vegetables.
We absolutely love how this backyard uses tall planters that match the modern aesthetic of the house, but serve as a beautiful function during the warm months as well.
2. Create a Small Fire Pit Space
No matter how much space you have, adding a small fire pit to your backyard provides the perfect opportunity for entertaining. A space like this is perfect for roasting marshmallows and making s’more’s or for a fun fall backyard gathering with friends.
3. A Neutral Outdoor Escape
There’s just something about a clean and neutral backyard design that we’ll always be drawn to. The large concrete pavers add a modern, sophisticated touch. The string of lights add warmth and coziness and the furniture brings the look all together.
4. Make a Designated Entertaining Space
Do you love to entertain? If so, creating a designated space to host friends, eat dinner and lounge is a great use of space in your backyard.
5. Make the Most of Your City Patio
Living in the city and having a patio space is truly a treasure. Taking a minimalist approach with design will also making the most of your patio is a great way to go. Opt for sleek furniture, a grill and outdoor kitchen to make you small space feel less cluttered but full of function.
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6. Add Cozy Seating and Potted Plants
Looking for a cozier way to decorate your small city patio? Investing in cozy seating is a must and the next best thing is to adding potted plants to make the space feel lived in and welcoming.
7. Elegant and Charming Patio
Small spaces can also be very charming and this backyard patio is just that. While there is little space to work with, the outdoor accent chairs add comfortable design and function to space. A mix-match of florals and greenery bring the space to life.
8. Get Creative with Your Space, But Be Practical
We are huge fans of creating a space that’s has everything we need and want, while still practical for our life and budget. This backyard space describes just that.
The addition of turf creates the look and feel of a yard, and the outdoor living area — complete with a canopy, sting of lights, seating an a fireplace — make this such a cozy space to lounge in on a warm evening.
9. String Lights and Add Personal Style
You don’t have to add a lot to an outdoor space to make it cozy and reflective of your personal style. In every apartment we’ve lived in, we’ve strung lights across the patio. It’s instantly transforms the space and makes it cozy at night.
Simple and fun outdoor furniture can bring in elements of your personal style as well. Opt for patterned or colorful poufs and cozy seating.
10. Make Space for Multiple Activities
A clean, minimalist, small backyard design is something we love to see and making space for multiple activities is even better. In this small backyard, this creator made room for outdoor dining, lounging and still has a bit of green space to walk through.
11. Maximize Space and Style with Tiered Decking
When you don’t have a ton os outdoor space to work with, a hack to making the space appear bigger and architecturally pleasing is building a tiered deck. Each tier can offer a different form of entertaining and relaxing — so neat!
12. Add a Sauna for a Wellness Retreat Vibe
Saunas have been making a comeback in the health space over the past couple of years, and they are such a great addition to a small backyard if you’ve been thinking about it. A sleek and stylish sauna will contribute to the overall design, so investing in one that matches your personal style will help you narrow down options.
