25 Backyard Landscaping Ideas
Thinking about upgrading your backyard? There are so many options to consider, from using the space for entertaining to adding a pool or garden.
To help you decide what’s best for your space, we’ve gathered 25 backyard landscaping ideas for you to consider.
Whether you’re looking for a small project or a new overhaul, these backyard landscaping ideas are designed to fit any budget and any space.
1. Add a Backyard Fire Feature
There’s nothing quite like kicking back in your own backyard and enjoying a relaxing fire.
A fire feature is a great addition to any backyard landscaping project.
Choose from a traditional fire pit or a more modern option like this one, which features a built-in bench and a gas-powered fire pit.
2. Create a Backyard Dining Area
This outdoor dining area is packed with personality. A long, wood dining table and chairs are set on a stone patio and covered by a canvas tent.
A vintage chandelier hanging from the tent’s center adds an extra touch of elegance.
A nearby outdoor kitchen is perfect for the homeowners who love to entertain.
3. Create a Backyard Lounge Area
Designer Janice Parker created a backyard lounge area by using a custom built-in bench with storage and adding West Elm’s pillows and cushions.
She also made a custom fire pit, and created an outdoor kitchen using a grill, fridge, and countertop.
4. Add a Backyard Water Feature
There’s nothing more relaxing than the sound of water trickling in the background. You can create a small pond, a waterfall, or a water garden in your backyard.
If you’re looking for something more low maintenance, try a bubbling rock feature or a wall fountain.
5. Create a Backyard Play Area
Whether you have kids or are a kid at heart, a backyard play area is a great way to add function to your backyard.
Here, a classic swing set is given a modern twist with a sleek black finish.
The surrounding pea gravel base is a low-maintenance option that’s also soft enough to cushion falls.
And the artificial grass is the perfect spot for a game of cornhole.
6. Add a Backyard Shed
A backyard shed can be used for so much more than storage.
Whether you need a home office or just want a place to get away, a backyard shed can be a great addition to your landscape design.
Sheds can be customized to fit your needs, and you can choose from a variety of materials, colors, and styles.
This one by Studio Shed features a modern design and a deck that’s perfect for enjoying the surrounding landscape.
7. Create a Backyard Walkway
You don’t have to be a master gardener to add a pretty walkway to your backyard.
This one was created using a variety of materials including wood decking, large square pavers, and pea gravel.
You can also see how the walkway is flanked by the garden beds. This adds a sense of order to the design and helps to define the walkway even more.
8. Add a Backyard Gazebo
Turn your backyard into a relaxing retreat with a gazebo.
Whether you add a small structure to house a table and chairs or a larger one with a full seating area, a gazebo is a great way to create a designated outdoor living space in your backyard.
Add curtains to the gazebo to create a private sanctuary, or leave it open to enjoy the views.
You can also add a dining table or a fire pit to make the space even more inviting.
9. Create a Backyard Garden
Whether you have a green thumb or not, you can create a beautiful garden in your backyard.
A garden can be as big or as small as you want, and you can use flowers, trees and shrubs to brighten up your space.
If you’re not sure where to start, try planting perennials that are native to your area.
This will help ensure that your garden will thrive with minimal maintenance. Then, you can add in annuals and other plants that you love.
You can also get creative and build garden beds in different shapes and sizes. Add in mulch, stones, or bricks to create pathways throughout your garden.
10. Add a Backyard Patio
A backyard patio is a great way to create a dedicated space for outdoor dining and relaxing.
You can opt for a concrete, paver, or brick patio, or choose from one of the many other materials available.
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, consider a gravel or decomposed granite patio.
These materials are relatively easy to install and allow for good drainage. Plus, they provide a more casual look that complements a variety of backyard styles.
11. Create a Backyard Pool Area
Who needs to go on vacation when you have a backyard oasis like this? This pool area by Katie Leede & Company is the ultimate spot to unwind.
The designers created a cozy cabana with a fireplace, a pergola with a bar area, and an outdoor dining space.
The landscaping is simple but lush, and the pool surround is made of bluestone.
12. Add a Backyard Pergola
If you want to add a little shade to your backyard, consider adding a pergola. Pergolas are a great way to create a defined outdoor living space.
You can add a dining table, a couch, or a fire pit to create a cozy spot in your backyard.
Plus, you can grow climbing plants like wisteria, clematis, or grapevines to create a natural canopy.
This backyard designed by Arent & Pyke also has a pergola.
The outdoor dining area is defined by the pergola, and the hanging plants add a little extra shade to the space.
13. Create a Backyard Sitting Area
If you’re not sure what to do with empty space in your yard, consider creating a sitting area.
This is a great way to make use of a patio that you don’t currently use or to create a new one.
Choose a spot that gets good sun and is relatively flat. Then, define the area by placing outdoor rugs, such as these from Rugs.com, on the ground.
After that, all you need to do is add some outdoor furniture and you’ve got a brand new place to relax!
14. Add a Backyard Kitchen
When you’re planning your outdoor kitchen, think about how you want the space to work.
Do you want it to be a place where you can cook and entertain? Or do you want a space where you can prep and cook the food, but enjoy the meal in a separate dining area?
This outdoor kitchen by Blackband Design is a great example of how you can create a space that’s perfect for cooking and entertaining.
The kitchen is equipped with a grill, a sink, a refrigerator, and plenty of counter space. There’s even a bar where guests can sit and chat with the cook.
The kitchen is covered, which makes it easier to use in any weather, and the dining area is just steps away.
15. Create a Backyard Lawn
A grassy lawn is a great way to add softness to your backyard landscaping.
It can be used for a variety of activities, like playing lawn games, reading a book in a hammock, or simply laying on the grass and looking up at the sky.
If you’re starting from scratch, you can plant grass seed or lay sod. If you already have a lawn, make sure you’re taking care of it properly.
16. Add a Backyard Island
If you have a large backyard, consider adding a landscape island to break up the space.
This can be a great way to add a focal point to your yard, and it can also help to create separate zones.
You can plant a landscape island with flowers, trees, or even a vegetable garden.
Just make sure to choose plants that will thrive in the conditions of your island, whether that means full sun, shade, or something in between.
17. Create a Backyard Fountain
The sound of trickling water is incredibly relaxing, and a fountain can add a sense of calm to your backyard.
This option from the garden at a Charleston guest house is a simple fountain made of a large urn with a lion’s head on the side.
The water spills over the top and is recirculated by a pump inside the urn.
18. Add a Backyard Fence
A solid wood fence is a classic way to add privacy and structure to a backyard. But if a standard fence feels too boring, consider a modern design.
A horizontal slat fence feels fresh and current, and it can make a small backyard feel larger.
If a fence feels too imposing, consider a shorter wall or a line of hedges to define the edge of your yard.
19. Create a Backyard Courtyard
If you have a large backyard, consider breaking it up into smaller areas to create the feeling of an outdoor room.
This courtyard area from a backyard designed by Arent & Pyke is the perfect example.
The patio is separated from the rest of the yard with a large garden bed and a small fence.
A trellis overhead adds a sense of privacy and can be used to grow climbing plants.
20. Add a Backyard Cabana
If you’re lucky enough to have a pool in your backyard, take it to the next level with a cabana.
This one, designed by Arent & Pyke, is the perfect spot to relax after a swim or to enjoy a cocktail with friends.
Fill it with comfortable furniture and add a bar cart so you have everything you need for an afternoon of fun.
21. Create a Backyard Bridge
If you have a creek or small stream running through your backyard, consider adding a bridge. It will look charming and make it easy to cross over the water.
This bridge, designed by Studio H Landscape Architecture, is made of ipe wood and has a steel frame.
The modern design fits in well with the rest of the backyard landscaping.
22. Add a Backyard Arbor
Arbors are a great addition to any backyard.
You can use them to create a grand entrance to your garden, as a partition to separate sections of your yard, or simply as a place to grow beautiful climbing plants.
Roses are a popular choice for climbing plants, but you can also use clematis, morning glories, and more.
You can even train climbing plants to grow along the top of your arbor to create a lovely shaded walkway.
23. Create a Backyard Balcony
If you have a multi-story home, you might have a walk-out balcony on the second floor.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy one on the ground floor.
This backyard, designed by Regan Baker Design, features a low balcony that creates a transition between the upper and lower levels.
The cozy seating area offers a great view of the pool and the rest of the yard.
24. Add a Backyard Bar
A backyard bar makes entertaining so much easier.
You don’t have to worry about guests tracking dirt into your home if they need to use the restroom or get a drink, and you can even add an outdoor sink to make cleaning up even easier.
This beautiful backyard by Studio Lifestyle features a bar with a built-in grill and a counter with stools for guests to sit.
The bar is also covered by a pergola, so guests can enjoy the shade while they sip their drinks.
25. Create a Backyard Bungalow
If you have the space and budget, a backyard bungalow can provide a little escape without ever leaving home.
With a bungalow, you can have a home office, art studio, or a place to host guests.
This one in New York designed by The Brooklyn Home Company is a guest house but can also be used as a home office or studio.
Conclusion
We hope that you were able to find a little inspiration from the 25 ideas we have here. We know that landscaping can be a bit overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. If you are a bit creative and a little daring, you can create a backyard that you can’t wait to spend time in.
We would love to hear from you. Do you have any backyard landscaping ideas that you would like to share? Please leave them in the comments below.
