One of my favorite projects to accept is redoing backyards that require me to incorporate some fun small backyard patio ideas. Sure, taking on those huge properties with large expanses of lawn and hardscaping are always challenging (in a good way), but there is something about making a cozy little spot tucked away in a smaller yard that I find so rewarding. These photos are of the latest home I took on. They really wanted to incorporate some of the trendier landscaping ideas 2022 that incorporate modern styling, the celebrity home style grass-bordered cement pads surrounding the pool, and even some whimsical twinkling lights strew through the trees for evening entertaining. Both they and I loved how these patio designs turned out because they created a whole other very usable living area for them to enjoy.
I stumbled upon this awesome house when I was looking around for small backyard patio ideas to upgrade our home. I wanted something stylish and trendy but also a look that had a ton of personality and matched my quirkiness. The outdoor patio designs they used here are a perfect blend of all of the elements that I was looking for. The foundation of the design -- the beautiful stamped concrete floor, large stucco fireplace, and awesome paneled roof -- is very classic and high end. It is neutral in style enough that you could add just about any decor to it (as they did) to amp up the personality. Most covered patio ideas are pretty simply decorated, but this homeowner treated the area as though it were an extension of their indoor living room and added tons of layered design elements to make it feel full and plush.
I love taking on projects that require small backyard patio ideas because they are so rewarding both in creativity as well as the satisfaction of creating something beautiful out of a challenging space. These areas differ from your typical small yard ideas because they truly rely on hardscaping elements like concrete, patio pavers, rock etc. to develop the design rather than grass and plants (although you can certainly incorporate both). Because of the nature of the color palette of these materials, you are forced to bring in color and design elsewhere though things like textiles (as we did here) and texture. We were able to create such a cozy space using a few basic patio ideas on a budget, and I know that these clients enjoy it every evening.
I have so much fun experimenting with small backyard patio ideas that bring color whimsy to forgotten exterior spaces. You can bring so much pizazz and personality to a home through garden design, so I do not know why more people don't take advantage of the green spaces out back and turn them into another outdoor living area to spend time and entertain in. As you can see from the photos, we have a larger area with a pool directly behind the home, but there was also this side patio that never got any use other than as a path between the front and back yards. Rather than focusing on backyard ideas this year, I wanted to create a secret garden of sorts, tucked away on the side of the house. We had small seating areas and a bunch of colorful flowers to create the foundation for this enchanting little hideaway.
I find that people are so intimidated by small backyard patio ideas for some reason. I actually think that these are some of the easiest designs to work on because there is only so much space that you have to decorate. You can keep landscape design at the minimum (I am a bit less confident working with plants), and instead focus on really cool hardscaping and creating functional and beautiful outdoor living spaces. There is nothing better than sitting on the patio in the evenings and enjoying a glass of wine and sunset after a long day at work. This is why I always strive to incorporate outdoor patio ideas that have fantastic lounge areas for this very purpose. Here I added a full couch with matching armchairs so that they could have friends over for happy hour in the evening.
Small backyard patio ideas do not have to be elaborate and over the top like a lot of the photos on here would lead you to believe. I actually love more simplistic small backyard designs that don't overwhelm the limited area with bold plants and over the top patio features. A simple flagstone patio, adequate seating for guests, and a gorgeous green lawn like this house has is all you really need for an A+ design (at least in my book). The key to pulling off backyard patio ideas like this is to make sure the materials and furnishings you use are quality, high end pieces that look decorative in and of themselves. Also, make sure that all of the things I just mentioned blend effortlessly with the architectural style of your home as well as the exterior materials, so that the entire space looks like a single unit and design thought.
