A backyard is an extension of what’s going on inside your home. Usually, it is more colorful, casual, fun, and the possibilities are up to the terrain, your design skills, and your do-it-yourself know-how.
You can always hire a landscape designer or architect to help your outdoor space realize its potential. A skilled professional can guide you through the process of figuring out a style, deciding who will be using the yard, creating zones of activity, choosing materials and plants, and recommending builders and contractors for everything from swimming pools to outdoor structures to installing irrigation.
Explore 44 ideas that show you how to transform a backyard into your favorite space.
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Multi-Use Yard
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Kayo Shibano How do you design a backyard for children and parents that is safe, engaging, and attractive? Creo Landscape Architecture designed the backyard for this San Francisco area home that includes dining and seating spaces along with a grass-covered berm and interactive sculptures for the children.
The fence and bench are made of redwood. The fence features a light stain while the bench is natural. Podocarpus (plum pines) were planted to provide greenery and enhance privacy. No-mow fescue planted on the berm allows the children to roll, tumble, and enjoy the backyard. Durable bluegrass is planted on the flat areas of the lawn, and recycled brick is used for a small patio. To make smart use of the space, the redwood benches have storage space to hold outdoor toys.
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Eichler Remodel
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The Garden Route Co. Developer Joseph Eichler built thousands of California tract homes in the 1950s and 1960s. His name is now associated with the style we now know as midcentury modern.
In the Visitacion Valley neighborhood of San Francisco, the Garden Route Co. remodeled the landscape of this two-story Diamond Heights Eichler house with a steep hillside garden. The challenge was to create flat, usable outdoor living spaces by building terraces and stairs connecting the different levels. With an emphasis on texture, bold forms, and colors, this garden softens the angular landscape architecture and gives the backyard a more contemporary feeling.
