Outdoor Home Living
Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
50 Backyard Ideas That'll Transform Your Space Into Paradise
So much better than hanging out inside.
Trevor Tondro
As much as I love to get cozy in the living room and lounge around in bed, a backyard is a true sanctuary—especially if it's prepped with all the right backyard bells and whistles. Indeed, your outdoor space can just as inviting, comfortable, and stylish as your interiors, but it also offers fresh air and nature. So it's the best of both worlds. From manicured landscapes to stately patios and paradise-status pools, get ready for some al fresco bliss with these 50 backyard ideas to help you get yours in shape for the warmer months ahead. And make sure you bookmark your favorites so you can bring them to life at home.
1 of 50
Complement the Architecture
Whether you're starting a project from the ground up or you're adding a swimming pool to your backyard, make sure it's consistent with the style of your home's architectural roots so that everything flows and works together. On this property designed by Catherine Kwong, the modern, dark pool tiles and clean lines reflect the open-air structure beyond.
2 of 50
Build an Outhouse
Leave it to Commune Design to convince us that we need a stylish outhouse in our own backyards. With pretty florals, nature-inspired materials, a pop of color, and polished artwork, it seems like a nice place to meditate, too.
3 of 50
Shrink Your Pool
This small backyard in designer Fitz Pullin's Jacksonville, Florida, home was destined for majestic greatness despite its modest size, thanks to the dramatic tree and climbing vines.
4 of 50
Break Up Zones With Hedges
This backyard in a home by Amir Khandwala has it all: A lush lawn, a swimming pool and adjacent lounge area, and an outdoor dining room under a pergola. Low hedges are a great visual signifier, allowing you to keep each activity zone separate.
5 of 50
Set Up a Yurt
If your space allows, set up a yurt in the backyard. It'll have so much functional range—use it as a glamping guest room, a pool house, or even just an outdoor living room/ entertaining area. Because they're more well-insulated than tents but less permanent than an actual building, you can still hang out in them during the cooler months.
6 of 50
Make It Multi-Purpose
Set up distinct zones to get more use out of your outdoor space. Here, Studio Robert McKinley used different flooring materials to distinguish the separate hangout spots. The concrete flooring under the fire pit sitting area is durable and sturdy while the lawn functions as a nice segue to the pool. The concrete planter with red flowers and lush green plants is a nice transition, too.
7 of 50
Set Up an Outdoor Mudroom
Secure some hooks and slide in a bench or pair of chairs to let your beach and pool gear dry instead of dripping throughout the house. Think of it as an outdoor mudroom. Romanek Design Studio opted for casual, minimalist furniture and decor for an understated, stylish impression in this Malibu home.
8 of 50
Focus on Landscaping
The backyard is your space to reconnect with nature and unwind in the fresh air. So instead of saturating it with furniture and decor, focus on landscaping and florals.
9 of 50
Invest in an In-Ground Swimming Pool
This in-ground swimming pool surrounded by a sun-dappled garden and canopy of trees is a backyard dream. Hang some string lights in the seating area for extra style points.
10 of 50
Set Up a Work Studio
Build a separate workshop in the backyard if space allows. Reath Designs opted for a floor-to-ceiling glass window design, which helps boost productivity and creativity and doesn't disrupt the visual flow of the landscape.
11 of 50
Upgrade Your Seating
Swing sofas are the perfect blend between benches and hammocks. Not only are they relaxing and comfortable, but they can also be visually intriguing, especially if you play with scale and proportion. Designed by Studio Life/Style, these swing sofas with super long ropes are the perfect example.
12 of 50
Create a Flower-Covered Pergola
The only thing more heavenly than this cottage's pool is the wisteria growing beside it. Shading a group of bistro chairs, the pergola provides the perfect lunch spot.
13 of 50
Get Inspired by Your Surroundings
This dining area blends in beautifully with the natural landscape. Opt for a rustic dining table with wooden tree trunk stools as dining chairs. It's, edgy, sleek, and sophisticated while still being approachable.
14 of 50
Lay Fun Pool Tiles
Designer Madeline Stuart gave the backyard of this SoCal home by architects Wallace Neff and John Byers plenty of personality, from the eclectic tiles lining the pool to the blooming bougainvillea and whimsical umbrella.
15 of 50
Build a Tree House
If your backyard opens up into an expansive forest—or even if you just have a few trees—now's your chance to build a treehouse. Or, if you don't want to build an entire house, just build a banister around it as a peaceful lookout deck.
16 of 50
Hang a Hammock
If you have a tiny outdoor space, you can still take advantage of the fresh air in style. Hang a slim hammock and then make it pop with a jute area rug, fun throw pillows, and floor cushions for extra seating.
17 of 50
Add Grass Strips
The best backyard flooring materials near a pool are nonslip tiles and water-resistant decking. But that doesn't mean you can't also reap the beautifying benefits of greenery. Breegan Jane added strips of grass separating the loungers and the swimming pool patio for a pop of green.
18 of 50
Consider an Outdoor Kitchen
Alfresco dining is great, but cooking outside is even better. At a Key West house, the outdoor kitchen cabinets are made from old cypress shutters.
19 of 50
Install a Fountain
Wendy Owen used local fieldstone and water channels to create a scenic fountain on her Sonoma property. She took inspiration from historic structures in Provence.
20 of 50
Build a Small Greenhouse
Leanne Ford built this A-frame garden shed to function as an outdoor playhouse for her child and plans to turn it into a greenhouse once they outgrow its current use-case.
21 of 50
Build an Outdoor Bar
Build a bar for more stylish entertaining outdoors. Choose an eye-catching tile design and hang string lights for a romantic, summery vibe.
22 of 50
Channel an English Garden
Designer Podge Bune went with traditional roses and hedges for her Hamptons cottage, but didn't worry about a color scheme. "I thought, 'Well, let's just have a riot,'" she says. "I'm so bored with all white."
23 of 50
Design a Clubhouse
An outdoor clubhouse like this one will make your backyard feel like a luxury resort in some far-away tropical destination. The built-in sofa and drum pendants make the rustic touches (like the straw roof) feel a little more elevated in this space.
24 of 50
Hang String Lights
Designer Jill Sharp Weeks used string lights to make her garden feel like an extension of her home. The space even includes an outdoor privy, the only bathroom on the ground floor.
25 of 50
Plant Your Own Citrus Trees
Elevate your backyard garden by cultivating a small citrus grove. Not only do the bright hues create a gorgeous visual landscape, but your fruit will also come in handy in the kitchen.
26 of 50
Keep Things Minimalist
For a sleek, minimalist patio, whitewash your wood paneled deck and keep things tonal with a gravel garden instead of grass. Bring a heat lamp outside for warmth, so you can still hang out there during the chillier months. Floor cushions will be great for extra lounge seating.
27 of 50
Compromise With a Grill and Wet Bar
Designer Maria Augusta Luoro of Guta Louro Designs brought her neglected childhood home back to its former glory, and then some. Locally-sourced materials in the backyard allow it to blend right in with lush São Paolo countryside. A covered grill and wet bar allow for alfresco dining without the fuss of all the plumbing upgrades required for a full kitchen.
28 of 50
Spotlight a Garden Shed
Rebecca Vizard used a post office in Seaside, Florida, as the model for her petite garden shed. The spruce-colored fence is stained Sherwin-Williams's Shade Tree.
29 of 50
Make It Kid-Friendly
If you want to make your family home the go-to house in the neighborhood, take notes from this backyard situation. With an epic play structure, twisty water slide, and plenty of greenery, it has child-like glee written all over it.
30 of 50
Transform a Terrace
So you don't have a backyard but you do have a rooftop terrace? That can be just as magical when styled well. Bring in plenty of greenery, and then set up a little sitting area for dining or reading.
Hadley Mendelsohn Senior Editor Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful's senior editor, and when she's not busy obsessing over all things decor-related, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again.
Caroline Picard Health Editor Caroline is the Health Editor at GoodHousekeeping.com covering nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other lifestyle news.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
Source: https://www.housebeautiful.com/room-decorating/outdoor-ideas/g1243/amazing-backyard-escapes-0512/
