oUTDOOR SPACE

Built in accessible bar and kitchen

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14. Side yard with a stop. Whether your side yard is the only outdoor space you have, or you just want to carve out a more intimate spot as an addition to a larger backyard, adding a seating area can make the space feel more purposeful. Here, a gently curved path of concrete pavers widens just enough in the center to allow for two chairs. The tree on the street side helps provide privacy — and offers a lovely view.

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13. Serene path. Rather than being a purely utilitarian pass-through space, this side yard is an invitation to slow down and breathe a bit more deeply. Rich green ferns and other shade plants line the gravel path, while unique round “stepping stones” are ringed with Mexican black pebbles and filled with low-growing plants in shades of green from chartreuse to moss.

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Brick courtyard garden. Even on a larger property, there is sometimes a small space that begs for a special treatment. Case in point: this gracious home and garden in Atherton, California. Away from the sprawling lawns, a path between formal hedges leads to a secluded garden bench beneath a wall of climbing roses.

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Shaded lounge. A courtyard garden with just a hint of grass makes for a relaxed and inviting space for chatting, reading or napping beneath the shade of a mature tree. The low wall doubles as a backrest for the built-in bench and ties the courtyard in with the design of the house.

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Cook’s backyard. This patio is packed with details an avid cook would love, from the wood-fired pizza oven and pocket-size kitchen garden to the overhead rack made to hold pots and pans. Ornamental flowers and flowering herbs mixed with the edibles make the garden as beautiful as it is useful.

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Cook’s backyard. This patio is packed with details an avid cook would love, from the wood-fired pizza oven and pocket-size kitchen garden to the overhead rack made to hold pots and pans. Ornamental flowers and flowering herbs mixed with the edibles make the garden as beautiful as it is useful.

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bit of green. Long to stretch out on the grass with a good book, but have only a tiny square of yard to call your own? Take a cue from this innovative space and build in a mini terrace with room for a cafe table and soft green grass.

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A bit of green. Long to stretch out on the grass with a good book, but have only a tiny square of yard to call your own? Take a cue from this innovative space and build in a mini terrace with room for a cafe table and soft green grass.

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5. City balcony. Every square foot has been put to good use on this New York balcony, with built-in planters and benches wrapping around the tight corner. A restrained palette of weathered wood and green is simple and elegant.

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City balcony. Every square foot has been put to good use on this New York balcony, with built-in planters and benches wrapping around the tight corner. A restrained palette of weathered wood and green is simple and elegant.

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Mini destinations. As part of a flower show installation, this garden designer created a space with several small, connected seating areas. Built-in benches flow into a short staircase to a raised dining platform. Planting beds tucked between and behind the seating areas help the compact garden feel surprisingly roomy.

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Urban jungle. Deep, wide planters of bamboo placed along the back wall have transformed this formerly bland urban backyard into a lush oasis. Layering plants with appealing foliage behind the seating area, as was done here, will make it feel like you’re sitting in a jungle.

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1. Modern and mirrored. Horizontal wood panels can camouflage a neighbor’s siding mishmash while bringing a warm, modern look to the patio. A large mirror hung along one wall enhances the light and creates the impression that the garden continues into the distance.

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17. Breezeway deck. A generously sized deck is an effective way to connect structures on the same property — or parts of one large home — and increase outdoor living space at the same time.

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Low-slung deck. Even barely raised off the ground, a wooden deck creates a feeling of connection between indoors and out that simple gravel or grass cannot match.

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15. Destination deck. Who says a deck has to be attached to the house? If you want to be drawn into a beautiful backyard, consider placing a freestanding deck platform in your favorite spot. Nestling the deck into trees or creating high landscape plantings behind it will help it settle in.

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Meandering deck. Let the deck beside your home be only the beginning — curving and snaking through the backyard, a meandering deck beckons further exploration. Consider placing a garden sculpture, a bench or another special feature at the end of the path to create a destination.

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Layered deck. Layers of decking merge in this unusual and visually interesting deck design. Well suited to modern and contemporary homes, a deck like the one shown here would also make a striking addition to a small urban lot.

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9. Master bedroom deck. Decks don’t need to be huge to have a big (and very positive) effect on lifestyle. Case in point: a small deck off the master bedroom, with just enough space for a pair of lounge chairs and a table to set a drink and a book.

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Bump-out deck. Instead of sticking with a basic square or rectangular deck, try bumping it out on one side. A bump-out can help a deck “settle” into the landscape and increase views.

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Curved deck. Balance the rectilinear forms and sharp angles of a modern or contemporary home with a softly curving deck. Steps down to the deck area and a concrete retaining wall surround provide a secure feeling

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Dining deck. Love eating alfresco? Plan your deck to fit your dream dining table and site it for maximum dining enjoyment — not too far from the house and under a tree (that can hold string lights or lanterns) would be ideal.

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Petite deck. Working a deck into a smaller yard can actually make the space feel larger — and more usable. The owners of this charming Spanish colonial bungalow in Southern California built a deck extending into the yard, making the most of the space between mature yucca trees.

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Tree-hugging deck. Custom fitting a deck around a tree is a wonderful way to integrate the deck farther into the yard. Consult an arborist before beginning work to be sure you allow enough room for the tree’s mature size.

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1. Party deck. If outdoor entertaining is what your backyard is all about, think about how you can work your favorite party features into the deck plan. In the party-ready space shown here, there is room for a hammock, a fire pit, an outdoor kitchen and plenty of built-in seating.

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Big window

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Simplicity

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Design landscape and pavement areas

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Lighting in shrub/low tree; mixture of materials...wood, concrete, grass, brick

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Modern fence and stone

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Once again, color used in place of hard to keep looking nice flowers. Both of what is inside the orange pots and under them are in my backyard because they are hard to kill. Flowers can be more short lived. So why not bring in color via pots instead of flowers? The effect to the eye is still fabulous!

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The orange is very effectively used here to bring color where is could difficult to grow colorful flowers... Or for those without a green thumb.

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Great way to use orange! It wakes up this space!

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The built in "windows" in the rock fireplace, the ceiling, fireplace, color pallet ...

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