My husband and I are completely remodeling our backyard this summer, so I have been POURING over different backyard landscape ideas and designs. The internet is full of some seriously gorgeous stuff and I have no idea how I will ever be able to choose something for my own backyard. Here are fifteen of my favorite ideas that I have seen so far, comment below and tell me your favorite. It may just help me decide.
Large River Rocks
Create a gorgeous backyard walkway and staircase with large slabs of river rock. Pick out stones with green hues when picking out your rocks for a really magical backyard setting. More at Landscaping Network.
Botanical Garden-Esque
Add a few raised flower beds throughout your yard and fill them completely with lush, colorful flowers. This would require lots of work, of course, but it would be gorgeous!
Patio For Small Spaces
If your backyard isn’t very tall, but incredibly wide, consider running your patio along the entire length of the backside of your house. It doesn’t need to be more than a few feet wide. Surround the edges of the patio with flowers (or other garden vegetables) to truly maximize your space. Backyard Landscaping Ideas has more about the idea.
Round Edges
Instead of bunt edges in your yard where your garden bed meets your lawn, use circular angles instead. This will make your grass look like a large oval. Even better, you can line the edges of your yard with lush flowers, trees, and other greenery.
A Water Feature
If you’ve got plenty of space, why not put in an outdoor pond? It doesn’t even have to be very big, just somewhere small to skip rocks. Make it look like a natural setting with plenty of trees, river rock, pond grass, and other landscaping ideas. It’s impossible to go wrong with a water feature.
Classic Brick Patio
Keep your yard classic with this old school design. All you need is a classic brick patio that extends directly out into the yard. Fill your patio with plenty of plants and flowers and tons of lush furniture.
Swimming Pool
If you’ve got the space (and no kids to look after) why not add an extravagant pool in? We have tons of space in our yard to do just this if only I could convince my husband that we truly needed a pool. Surround your pool with beautiful flowers, plants, and other bits of lush greenery to make it even more oasis-like.
Outdoor Entertainment Area
If you’d rather make your backyard an extension of your home, install an outdoor kitchen, with a large seating area! We are really gravitating towards this idea because we love to entertain–our Fourth of July parties would be outrageous. You all are invited if we go this route!
Outdoor Fireplace
If you love outdoor entertaining but don’t want a large outdoor kitchen to look after, create your own fire pit or fireplace. It’s still a great place to gather.
Tons of Trees
Lining the edges of your property is a great way to create extra privacy once they grow in.
Gazebo
Add a gazebo to the very end corner of your backyard with a windy path that connects it to the main house. Line the pathway with tons of greenery and you may even feel like you are on a wild adventure into the woods.
Water Fountain
If you don’t have the room for a large waterfall, pond, or pool, you can still enjoy the relaxing sound of water in your yard. Just add in a small DIY water fountain. More information from my post here.
Edgy Pool
If you DO elect to go with a pool, don’t think you have to go with the classic rectangular shape! Feel free to get creative with the edges. It creates tons of interest and appeal.
Cutting Garden
Do you like the overgrown look? Turn the edges of your yard into cut flower gardens with tons of bushes and plenty of flowers. Learn more about making your own cutting garden here.
Skip The Grass
Save our planet (and some water) by replacing your lawn with gravel and hot-desert plants.
Katie says
Hi,
The link that you provided with Photo #3 doesn’t work, but that photo is of the Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island in Brentwood Bay, BC Canada — just outside BC’s capital city Victoria. I recognized it immediately as I visit there often. Here is the link to the original photo and the website for The Gardens — http://www.butchartgardens.com/gardens/photos-and-video. If you have never been I strongly recommend you visit if you are ever in the area. The gardens were created out of an old quarry and were designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2004. This place is Heaven on earth, whether you are an avid gardener or not!
Cheers,
Katie
Jesse R. says
Amazing backyard landscape ideas. I especially like the second one – that “stoney” feel is just perfect! I want to get the perfect landscape for my backyard, but employing the services of a landscape designer and contractor is too expensive for my liking. I came across a resource online that is supposed to provide thousands of high-res landscape designs, plans and tips. I’m wondering if it would be a good alternative approach to landscaping that doesn’t break the bank. The guy on this page https://carveyourcreation.com/ideas-4-landscaping-review says that he used it to build his “dream” Japanese garden. Thoughts? If you haven’t heard of it, no worries, but I thought I’d mention it anyway. Thanks for the ideas!
Sheena says
The pictures look so beautiful, I wish I could have my back yard like that. I just love picture number 3.