Big Design Ideas for Small Outdoor Spaces

In your small backyard space, find ways to have dual-purpose materials. This garden privacy wall doubles as a waterfall feature.

The key to making a big impact on a small footprint: design to scale. Here, a mix of wood and slate, married with plant materials of contrasting color but similar tones, creates four levels of interest in this small space.

When designing a small outdoor space, be sure to stick to the essentials. Cluttering the space with unnecessary items will have the space feeling disorderly.

Having grass in a small yard makes for a troublesome task. Instead opt for tile, pavers or wood flooring - makes for easy yardwork.

This elegant small garden has dwarf and well-behaved plants that won't grow to overwhelm the site.

Designing the space around the rules of perspective — chiefly that parallel lines appear to converge to a "vanishing point" and objects in the distance appear smaller than those close by — can help make a small garden seem larger.

Creating a view along the diagonal of the property creates the illusion that the space is bigger than it looks. Here, the diagonal path with steps traces a zigzag line through the garden, providing areas to linger and enjoy the wide beds and colorful plantings.

The design-on-the-diagonal principle works on this small courtyard patio.

Space is at a premium in this urban garden, so the designer used the minimalist approach in this beautiful retreat. Just enough plants to make a statement keep the clutter down.

If you need extra seating, a good solution is to add a bench against one wall in your outdoor space. This is a space saving solution that allows for more guests to gather in outdoors.

Designers Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri built a clever cut-out under the deck to store firewood. This smart storage solution frees up visible deck areas for seating and greenery.

To grow fruits and veggies in a small yard, pitch out the concept of straight rows in one big garden, and cram your veggie garden in overlooked spaces or mix in with the landscaping, in raised beds and pots. Woodwork or a bit of other hardscaping can turn the garden ornamental.

Rather than use one or two large planters, scale down the size of your pots. Several small containers can be used in a smaller space, either on the wall or on garden shelves.