44 Backyard Ideas to Transform Any Outdoor Space

This apartment terrace looks more like a jungle thanks to strategically placed houseplants and flooring made from faux putting green. This backyard idea proves that you don’t need to be on the ground level to enjoy the great outdoors.

Related: The Best Back Porch Ideas

Rather than install benches, cabinets, or other, taller design elements, Suzannah Charbin opted to complement the marshy environment and chose low furniture for this backyard idea. This way, the view remains open from all angles, even from inside the house.

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A chimney that extends high above the willow-and-steel pergola calls attention to the dramatic 10-foot-tall “windows” and vineyard views in this lounge by Sheldon Harte.

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If you like to entertain, be sure that your outdoor dining space can seat just as many as inside—without the need for folding card chairs or multipurpose stools. Take a note from Tom Scheerer in this backyard idea and opt for benches to squeeze in as many loved ones as possible.

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In this D.C. home, pizza nights are a summer must-have, so designer Tina Ramchandani ensured space for one in the backyard. Paneled walls also provide privacy while easing the transition between indoors and out.

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If tracking in mud, dust, and other outdoor gunk into your home is a problem, provide family and guests with an easy outdoor handwashing station with space to leave their shoes.

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A fire pit is a fail-safe element for a cozy summer evening. These chic lawn chairs keep you safely away from the smoke while still allowing you to lay back and relax.

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Sometimes, all you need is a pool and sun lounger. This backyard idea foregoes all the patio pavers and walking paths in favor of simple grass. This private sanctuary is all these homeowners need.

Related: The Best Pool Landscaping Ideas

In the backyard of this Jeremiah Brent–designed home, trellises were added to help encourage vine growth over this cozy seating area. The owners could have had it trimmed back, but now it adds much-needed protection from the California sun.

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While this backyard’s pergola doesn’t offer much in the way of shade, its primary purpose is to help frame the seating area amongst the greenery. Lighting is recessed into the pergola to extend the party after the sun goes down.

Related: 23 Pergola Ideas to Spark Outdoor Inspiration

Complementing your home’s exterior colors with your outdoor furniture is a next-level backyard idea. These woven lounge chairs feature throw pillows and towels that pull colors from the rest of the home’s landscaping.

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Rather than sorting through seed packets and planning a complicated layout, choose one flower that makes you happy and run with it. This garden by Edmund Hollander features an abundance of English roses, the homeowner’s favorite floral.

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To add an air of formality, install a regal fountain. It not only adds a distinguished feel, but it also offers a refreshing respite during those hot summer months.

Related: English Countryside Landscaping Ideas

Balance geometric pavers with a lush row of lavender on either side, as in this backyard idea. This can also be a natural way to help remind guests and family members to stay off other parts of the lawn that need some rest.

Related: The Best Outdoor Plants

Embrace the cottagecore trend and plant a full field of wildflowers rather than boring sod or a confined garden. Wendy Owen wanted her Sonoma, California property to feel like a laid-back, rustic French village.

Related: What Is Chaos Gardening?

No area of your yard is off-limits, even the driveway. Instead of solid pavement, lay two rows of turfstone pavers (also called latticed paving stones) that allow grass to grow through. At the center, Bay Area designer Dan Carlson combined succulents and herbs for a colorful, low-to-the-ground garden.

Related: The Best Driveway Design Ideas

Encourage more family game time by installing a full-size bocce-ball court. The surrounding border in this backyard idea is the perfect amount of space for a row of pavers and a few structured bushes.

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Utilize every corner of your yard, even the dark corners. This towering tree provides a naturally romantic cover for a loveseat.

Related: The Best Outdoor Furniture

For those with neighbors in close quarters or set on a narrow lot, add privacy to your backyard patio with breezy linen curtains. They also look super chic when blowing in the wind—just ask designer Hadas Dembo.

Related: Balcony Decor Ideas

For city apartments or those with little green space, maximize your outdoor square footage by working vertically as designer Tamsin Johnson did in this backyard idea. A few cozy seating spaces can be as comfortable and stylish as a sprawling backyard.

Related: Small Patio Ideas