The Best Small Yard Hardscape Ideas

A small backyard may present some space constraints, but there is still plenty you can do to make a well-designed, attractive, and inviting outdoor space. A tasteful front yard or backyard hardscape design requires little maintenance and looks great season after season.

If you don’t know where to begin, we’ll point you in the right direction. Below are some lawn and garden hardscape ideas to experiment with on your property.

12 Easy Hardscaping Ideas for Small Front Yards and Backyards

1. Maintain an open, airy aesthetic.

If you have a small area to work with, you can create the illusion of space by avoiding tall fences, walls, and other confining design elements. Borders along your yard’s perimeter will accentuate the smaller dimensions of your property. Combine that with an excess of ornaments and furniture, and your outdoor space will feel cramped and cluttered.

The allure of an outdoor space is the freeing, open atmosphere. Embrace that with an open, even minimalistic design. If you want to incorporate walls, keep them low. Be selective about the ornaments and furniture you use to fill your space. Less can be much more.

2. Explore vertical gardens.

If you don’t have much horizontal space to experiment with, build up. A vertical garden on a trellis or wall-mounted planters can bring a shock of color and life to an outdoor space otherwise full of stone, wood, and metal.

To maintain an open feel, you can work with vertical gardens on the pre-existing elements of your space, such as trees, sheds, and your home’s exterior. Some plants to consider are ferns, ivies, bromeliads, pothos plants, crotons, and succulents. 

3. Find ways to marry form and function.

When it comes to hardscape designs for backyards with space restrictions, most elements need to have the dual purpose of being practical and aesthetically important. Consider, for example, how you can treat a staircase. You can make it functional and interesting by using broad stones, natural wood, or interesting shapes.

Get creative with your backyard hardscaping ideas. Turn walls or borders into additional seating. Set a planter or garden bed in the center of a built-in table. Instead of standard patio seating, install an artistic bench as a centerpiece.

4. Experiment with lighting.

Lighting fixtures and lighting quality will influence the feel of your outdoor space. If your home’s wiring can support mounted fixtures, find some statement lights that can bolster your design aesthetic. Work with a design specialist to install accent lighting that will show off landscaping, fountains, or interesting architectural features.

Consider practicality, too. Path lights are important to illuminate the way inside, especially if your outdoor space has uneven ground. You also want light that is strategically placed near eating or seating areas.

Lighting control is important. Use smart light bulbs or LEDs that you can dim or manipulate at will.

5. Incorporate some water.

A fountain or other water-based feature enhances the relaxing vibe of any space. Depending on the nature of your yard, a fountain can work as a centerpiece or sit off to the side as a design accent. Investigate different styles. There are sleek, squared fountains that can lend a modern feel, and there are traditional birdbaths that will make a space feel familiar and tranquil.

6. Play with shapes.

Don’t underestimate the importance of shape in informing a design style. You can lean into curves and arcs by installing rounded walls, circular paving stones, and curved benches and arbors. Right angles might be more your speed, and an abundance of squares and rectangles can look sleek and sophisticated.

7. Build a fireplace or fire pit.

Few things can elevate an outdoor space more than an open fire. A tasteful stone fireplace or fire pit is functional on those cool late summer nights but looks amazing all year round. You can even incorporate stacks of wood for fuel as a design feature of your outdoor space.

If it’s not feasible to have a built-in fireplace or fire pit, consider a portable fire pit that you can carry out on occasion. If woodsmoke is undesirable or problematic because of space constraints or nearby neighbors, you can find smokeless fire pits to suit your needs.

8. Work in an arbor or trellis.

Even in a small space, an arbor makes for an engaging design feature. It provides a good frame for climbing plants, and it can introduce some necessary shade for outdoor seating. Depending on the layout of your property, an arbor can also function as a kind of hallway that leads from your home to your patio.

If a full arbor isn’t realistic in your backyard, trellises can serve a similar function and introduce some verticality.

9. Be open to pairing different kinds of materials.

A small space does not need to be uniform. Mixing concrete architectural features with steel fixtures can create a modern or brutalist vibe. Instead of a uniform grass lawn, use gravel for paths or seating and dining areas. Mixing wood, stone, and greenery can evoke the natural feel of a forest.

10. Introduce interesting fabrics.

Cushions will make an outdoor space much more inviting. To keep from sitting on hard stone, metal, or wood, introduce some seat cushions and decorative pillows. This gives you ample opportunity to play with interesting colors, textures, and patterns.

If weathering is a concern, opt for outdoor-rated fabrics, purchase vinyl coverings, or simply store your cushions and pillows indoors when you’re not using your outdoor space.

11. Get creative with your planters.

For a truly memorable and artful backyard, explore interesting ways to use your planters and garden beds. Instead of traditional potted plants, you could create a grid of garden beds divided by walking paths. Within each bed could be manicured shrubs or an arrangement of flowers and other plants. This kind of layout could evoke a stately European garden.

As an alternative, you could integrate planters into benches, walls, or other architectural features in your yard.

12. Play with colors—or the absence of color.

Your outdoor space, regardless of its size, is your canvas. Introduce flowers and other plants for splashes of color. Set out a colorful umbrella or boldly colored cushions and pillows. Use a rich blue or green paint to color a fence, wall, or panel on your home’s exterior.

That said, a monochrome look can be stylish and befitting of your property. Whites and pale earth tones can lend a desert or Mediterranean feel. You may instead opt for a darker look with black furniture and fixtures. Your color palette is totally up to you.