It’s easy to forget about the side yard, allowing it to become a sad alley and spot for hiding unsightly air-conditioning units.
But even if calling what’s along with the side of your house “yard” is a stretch, there are plenty of things you can do not only to improve it but also to make it space you enjoy walking through or even spending time in.
Consider these 25 elements when embarking on your weekend landscaping projects.
1. Continuity.
Exterior Worlds Landscaping & Design
In this Texas backyard by Exterior Worlds, the entire landscape is a sculpture garden. Siting some of the sculptures on the side creates a journey of discovery and delight.
2. Gate.
Outdoor Lifestyles
Of course, a gate adds security and privacy. But it can also add a sense of an alluring mystery as to what’s behind it. If you’re going to put in the time to make the side yard a destination or a pleasing path to the backyard, create a sense of drama with a gate.
3. A stretch to courtyard size.
Dennis Mayer – Photographer
This path widens to patio size by extending all the way out to the fence boundary on one side and the house boundary on the other. Beautiful roses, a fountain, and seating make it an enticing destination.
4. Interesting path materials.
STAR Architecture
Most side yards don’t have much room to play with. But you can draw the eye down the length of the space with an interesting path — whether of crunchy gravel, stately brick, or a hopscotch-like arrangement of concrete pavers.
5. Architecture overhead.
Great Oaks Landscape Associates Inc.
Another way to draw the eye away from the sides is to draw it up. Arbors, pergolas, vines, lighting — all these features will have people looking up. Architecture overhead can enhance a narrow space by defining it. The journey through it is more compressed, so the drama of the backyard opening up at the end of the procession is all the greater.
6. Water.
JHLA | Jennifer Horn Landscape Architecture
The sound of a fountain is so pleasing, and tucking it around the side will have people wondering where the relaxing splashing noises are coming from. The other advantage to a trough-like this one by Jennifer Horn Landscape Architecture is that the sound can be enjoyed inside the house.
7. Contrasting sides.
Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture
Soft bamboo and corrugated metal are material opposites, making the journey interesting along this side yard path by Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture. The change in grade keeps the trees from taking over space.
Note: Though bamboo is beautiful, be sure to talk to your nursery or your landscaper about noninvasive clumping species and planting it responsibly. I have seen it jump over deep steel planters installed in the ground and take over backyards.
8. Low lighting.
DesignBlue, Inc.
Side yards often are places you want to get through as quickly as possible at night — they can be downright spooky. Illuminate the hard work you’ve done with landscape lighting to make it a safe and inviting journey after dark.
9. Overhead lighting.
Hansen Architects
Opt for string lights overhead for more outdoor ambiance.
10. Bar.
Landsystems Landscapes
This side yard by Landsystems Landscapes makes the most of where the backyard deck meets the side yard, with a bar placed along the side, and room for stools along it. Container gardens along the wall create a nice view from the deck toward the side yard.
11. Allee.
Cullman and Kravis
This is a fancy word for an evenly spaced line of trees. Some species can thrive in a tight space. You can also create just a single line of trees on one side if that’s all your space will allow.
One challenge with side yards is that often they receive no direct sunlight. We have plenty of plant suggestions and shade garden ideas to get you started.
13. Checkerboard herb garden.
Schmechtig Landscapes
This garden by Schmechtig Landscapes has a checkerboard base, with squares of pavers, gravel, and planted herbs. You will need good sunlight to pull this off with most herbs.
14. Vertical garden.
Charles C Hugo Landscape Design
If you don’t have much space to plant on the ground, look up. Vertical gardens can hang from fences and the sides of buildings. This installation by Charles C Hugo Landscape Design is a more expert level installation, but there are plenty of ways to do it, including with WallyGro wall planters.
15. Kitchen garden.
Patrick Ahearn Architect
If you’re lucky enough to have a little extra room and good lighting, consider a small kitchen garden for herbs and veggies.
16. Trellises.
Santa Rita Landscaping, Inc.
The side of a house can be boring and lack architecture — we tend not to even put many windows on a wall that faces a fence or neighbor’s house. Trellises offer another way to stretch the garden upward and add architectural interest to the side of the house.
17. Garden shed.
SBaird Design
Sometimes there’s just no perfect spot for a shed to take up residence in the backyard. Tucking it to the side can help provide privacy from the street. This Japanese-style shed by S. Baird Design stands out along the side yard. Just be sure to check your local regulations regarding where you can place an outbuilding before you do this.
18. Potting station.
SITEDESIGN+STUDIOS
Potting benches can get a little messy. Keep your garden workstation tucked away to the side, where it’s both convenient and out of the way.
19. Focal point.
Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer
What a difference a cheery sunflower makes. All eyes are on this one as people walk along the side of this house. Choose a striking feature that adds a special touch to your garden.
20. Curves.
If your side yard space has a little bit of width, you may have room to throw in a curve or two. This flagstone path is inviting and keeps the side yard from feeling like a glorified dog run.
21. Terraces.
AB design studio, inc.
A side slope can present a number of design challenges that are best dealt with during the site planning process. If you are planning on new construction, don’t let your side yard be an afterthought you plan on dealing with later — work with a landscape architect to terrace or otherwise make the best use of the space before you break ground.
22. Pond extension.
Lindsey Adams Construction Inc.
Koi enjoy room to swim around. Keep them in good shape by using side yard space to expand their habitat.
23. Tucked-away seating.
The Designory
One of the advantages of a side yard’s tight space is that it can be intimate. Extending the deck across the entire width of this side yard from The Designory allowed room for an outdoor sectional to feel natural out here.
24. Tall hedge.
Arrow. Land + Structures
Hedges not only soften property boundaries and add greenery, but they also provide privacy from neighbors.
25. Knot garden.
The Todd Group
Elaborate low hedges add lots of interest and geometry to this beautiful side yard. A bronze statue at the end provides a focal point along the path and is also enjoyed from the adjacent patio on the left.
Your turn: Have you embarked on a side-yard landscaping odyssey? Let us know what you did in the Comments. Even better, share some photos.
10 Fresh Tile Ideas You Might Have Missed This Week Tile Ideas - See a roundup of new tile styles, patterns, materials, and more featured in these articles. 1. Edgy bath. This punchy Australian home does a lot to dazzle…
4 Living Rooms With Nice Architectural Features Furnishings and accessories go a long way towards earning a living room appearance fashionable. But standout architectural functions like ceiling light beams, fireplace information, and archways can truly take a…
The 10 Most Popular Home Gyms So Far in 2022 Now more than ever, people are looking for ways to stay fit and healthy at home. While some of the most popular home gym photos this past winter are aspirational…
TOP 6 Practical Bathroom Design Ideas From Spring 2022 Practical Bathroom Design Ideas From Spring 2022 - If you're aiming to save area as well as add style in a bathroom, these six concepts have you covered. Take into…
50 Out-of-the-Box Ideas for Bedroom Accent Walls Wall ideas - The wall behind the headboard in your bedroom is an ideal canvas for showcasing your creativity. Here are 50 inspiring accent wall ideas — gallery walls, boho-style…
The 10 Most Popular Patios So Far in 2022 The most-popular patio seating ideas in the past three months show that many homeowners were thinking about how to cozy up to their outdoor spaces for more year-round use. And…
Top 7 Winning Kitchens Color Palettes From Spring 2022 A lot enters into the design of a kitchen. A counterproductive idea for achieving a stylish space is to not overthink it. One method kitchen designers do that is by…
17 Outstanding Outdoor Rooms We have no doubt come a long way in how we treat our outdoor garden spaces as extensions of our homes, fulfilling a need to sit outside and enjoy the…
15 Show-Stopping Bathroom Lighting Ideas Bathroom Lighting Ideas - It’s all too easy to fall into a safe decorating trap when it comes to choosing lighting, but rather than just focusing on the practical aspect…
6 Kitchen Makeovers That Benefited From Refaced Cabinets Perhaps, cabinets make or damage a kitchen. They take up one of the most aesthetic rooms and supply the most operate with storage ability and also the company. That's likewise…
8 Narrow Kitchen Islands With Function to Spare Islands are workhorses in the kitchen. They provide an additional surface, besides the perimeter countertops, that can be utilized for food preparation, serving, or as an area to perch as…
How to Remodel Your Kitchen You’ve decided to remodel your kitchen. Now what? Not knowing where to start, many homeowners start by looking at kitchen appliances. Others collect inspiring kitchen photos. Some homeowners decide they…
An All-Star List of 10 Shade Trees to Plant This Fall If you're considering including a shade tree to your yard this fall, begin homing in on your leading selections now, as the prime tree-planting season is right nearby. Fall normally…
10 Home Office Spaces With Vintage Charm Home Office Spaces - Working from home is definitely on the up, so to make your hard day’s graft a little more pleasurable (and, hopefully, a lot more profitable), forgo…
50 Picture-Perfect Powder Rooms in 2022 The powder room has long been a favorite space for designers to transform into a jewel box. Whether with bold wallpaper, an innovative sink, or sensational lighting, the designers of…
9 Porch Decorating Ideas for Thanksgiving to New Year’s Porch Decor - As we go into the active holiday, putting in the time to provide our decks or entranceways a seasonal appearance both for autumn and afterward once again--…
5 Small Bathrooms That Stretch Design Imagination If there's one thing I've learned from bathroom designers, it's that successfully designing a tiny space often means shedding one's fears and inhibitions. Whether you're remodeling a compact guest bath…
11 Elements of the Perfect Sunroom Sunrooms support leisurely living and increase square footage — often with lower construction costs than a fully finished room. If you're thinking about someday adding a sunroom or turning an…
25 Big Ideas for Smaller Patios Expansive patios with built-in outdoor kitchens, fire pits, fountains, bars, living room-style furniture, and even big TVs seem to dominate articles about backyard decor. That leaves some of us with…
6 Ways to Cool Off Without Air Conditioning Cool Off Without Air Conditioning - Having an air conditioner is a near-must in climates where months-long heat waves are a summer season norm. And with that comes a just…
12 Home Office Desks That Are Out of The Ordinary Whether you run a business from home or just use your desk for checking emails, your home office has the distinct advantage of being at home. So why stick with…
The 10 Most Popular Bathrooms So Far in 2021 Bathrooms should, above all else, function well for our daily hygiene. But that doesn’t mean you have to skimp on style. And the following the most popular bathroom photos so…
The 10 Most Popular Bedrooms So Far in 2022 A bedroom is among the most personal spaces in a home — it’s where you start your day and turn in for the night — so getting its comfort and…
25 Amazing Master Closets to Admire For most people, an amazing closet seems like nothing more than a fantasy. But it doesn't have to be that way. These professional tips can take you one step closer…
The 20 Most Popular Home Offices So Far in 2022 These days, most people get some work done from home, whether it’s handling business, finances, or a big event like a vacation or wedding. And setting up and decorating a…
10 Stylish Small Bathrooms With Walk-In Showers The owners of these small bathrooms were willing to forgo the common shower-tub combo in favor of a stand-alone shower that creates a more open and airy feel. But they…
19 Creative Ideas for Staircase Balustrades Before you choose a new balustrade for your staircase, consider a more creative alternative than the standard style. These professionals have illustrated how a practical safety barrier can be a…
15 Smart Ideas From Beautifully Organized Pantries The pantry is the workhorse of the kitchen. It helps you when you need to get dinner (or breakfast or lunch) on the table and keeps ingredients fresh and cool.…
10 Fun Ideas for Decorating With Pumpkins, No… There are a lot of factors to obtain innovation with pumpkins without taking out the sculpting blades. For beginners, you will not need to manage untidy pumpkin pulp, and also…