Ways to make a small backyard look bigger at home

A home’s backyard serves many functions: it is the separation between neighbors, a place to raise pets, a play area for children, a swimming pool, or even an outdoor living area with a grill, forming an extension of the indoor living space. It is a place to enjoy the outdoors, the sunshine, and all that nature has to offer.

Nowadays, gardening is more popular than ever, and for some people it is a fun way to relax. However, some homeowners don’t have a lot of space for this hobby. So, to make a small backyard feel more at home, here are some easy-to-apply tricks.

Divide the courtyard space into multifunctional zones

A small backyard utilizing its small footprint

It’s a good idea to divide your backyard into separate zones; it’s a surefire way to make the space feel larger, even if only visually. A dining area, furnished with a table and chairs, and a seating area with comfortable seating is a surefire way to make the space feel larger, even if it looks like it is.

All in all, multiple zones will add a new dimension to the backyard design and help the homeowner make the most of the space she has, by organizing it according to purpose. Pergolas, modular furniture, outdoor rugs, and decorative dividers are all decorative elements to make a customized space feel clearly defined.

On the other hand, after dividing the courtyard into functional areas, it’s worth keeping a similar material for the floor (grass, gravel, wood…) to weave a unifying thread through the space.

It’s important to avoid overhead patio accessories, such as a pergola or outdoor awning, in a small patio: A pergola or outdoor awning for a small patio, as these accessories tend to make the space feel enclosed and smaller. Having a clear view of the sky above your head will make the patio look bigger!

Choosing the right furniture

It is better to choose “graceful” pieces of furniture with light, light-colored, light-penetrating colors, rather than solid, bulky pieces, to make the space look larger. It’s also useful to consider pieces that fold up when not in use, or multi-purpose pieces, including those with storage space underneath the seats… It’s a good idea to choose furniture that fits your space and has multiple functions.

Several heights in the courtyard

A multi-height patio is a great way to make a space feel larger, as it helps divide the space and adds depth. Easy options for applying this trick include creating a raised bed for plants, or distributing them in boxes and spreading them out overhead…

Flowers and plants

Backyard, plant and flower spreader, bouffer

To enhance the backyard design, flowers and plants are more likely to be present in huge tubs, rather than letting the green grass take up the space, with all the watering and trimming required by the latter, as a wide range of low-maintenance plants makes the backyard look bigger and more diverse.

In this context, it is correct to take into account the size of the mature plant, which helps prevent the garden from looking cluttered. When choosing trees for a small yard, species that have a more open branching structure are naturally preferred. In terms of plants, smaller plants will help make the space appear larger, by minimizing the amount of things the eye has to take in.

Tall, climbing, and intertwining plants are the perfect choice to make walls and fences fade away.

Attracting the senses

Overhead view of a backyard with a swimming pool

This is another trick that will divert attention away from the small size of the patio; the trick is to use natural flowers and plants to provide unique scents, design a pond or waterfall or use features that purr, etc. Even if it doesn’t completely distract from the small patio, these are some great additions.

A great piece of patio décor

It is important that the patio has a focal point, such as: A distinctive outdoor sculpture, a water fountain, a striking tree, or even an oversized pot for planting, which will keep the eye focused on it, create a sense of depth and breadth, and distract from the limitations of the patio’s size.

Instead of trying to cram in too many small items, which can make the backyard look crowded and too cramped, it may be best for a homeowner to be bold by choosing one or two distinctive pieces that will make an impact and grab the attention of her visitors.