10 Beautiful Backyard Designs

Design Tip: In general, the biggest mistake in backyard design is one oversized patio with plantings on the borders, says landscape artist Scott Cohen of The Green Scene in Canoga Park, Calif. "When you're designing outdoor space you have to think about how people socialize. As soon as you have more than four people over they break into different groups, and that's how your yard should be divided, too."