10 Low-Maintenance Backyard Ideas
These outdoor spaces minimize yard work and keep the focus on fun
Laura Gaskill
7 July 2021
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
Whether you are hoping to conserve water, cut down on time spent weeding and mowing, or just want to make the most of your outdoor space, these 10 backyards prove that low maintenance doesn’t have to mean boring. They get it right with a party-ready bocce ball court, alfresco dining areas and more.
1. Bocce Ball Court
With a bocce ball court, fire pit and minimal plantings, this water-wise Los Angeles backyard by is primed for parties. Lights around the court’s perimeter illuminate it at night and add to the ambiance.
25 Fun Backyard Design Ideas
With a bocce ball court, fire pit and minimal plantings, this water-wise Los Angeles backyard by is primed for parties. Lights around the court’s perimeter illuminate it at night and add to the ambiance.
25 Fun Backyard Design Ideas
2. Small on Lawn, Big on Play
A central rectangle of lawn offers comfy play space for little ones without giving over the entire backyard to grass. Surrounding the center green in this design are native plantings, rock-filled gabion walls, bluestone paths and a seating area and deck.
Tour more of this backyard
A central rectangle of lawn offers comfy play space for little ones without giving over the entire backyard to grass. Surrounding the center green in this design are native plantings, rock-filled gabion walls, bluestone paths and a seating area and deck.
Tour more of this backyard
3. Cool Urban Hangout
This small San Francisco backyard was transformed from a jumbled mishmash of potted plants and wonky brickwork into a flowing space ideal for relaxing with friends. An outdoor living room positioned at the highest point in the yard provides a lookout over neighboring Bernal Hill, while the Cor-Ten steel fire pit creates a welcoming spot to gather in the evening.
Find a landscape designer on Houzz
This small San Francisco backyard was transformed from a jumbled mishmash of potted plants and wonky brickwork into a flowing space ideal for relaxing with friends. An outdoor living room positioned at the highest point in the yard provides a lookout over neighboring Bernal Hill, while the Cor-Ten steel fire pit creates a welcoming spot to gather in the evening.
Find a landscape designer on Houzz
4. No Mowing Needed
Artificial turf forms the centerpiece of this city garden in New York, where a real lawn would be challenging to care for. Surrounding the artificial turf with real plants and trees, as seen here, is a good way to help the fake stuff blend in.
Artificial turf forms the centerpiece of this city garden in New York, where a real lawn would be challenging to care for. Surrounding the artificial turf with real plants and trees, as seen here, is a good way to help the fake stuff blend in.
5. Private Putting Green
For a golfer, having a private putting green may just be the ultimate backyard accessory. A seating area next to the artificial turf green allows spectators to lounge in comfort.
For a golfer, having a private putting green may just be the ultimate backyard accessory. A seating area next to the artificial turf green allows spectators to lounge in comfort.
6. Sweet and Petite
This Alabama backyard may be small but it still manages to pack in tons of features, from the raised deck dining area to the office shed. A hanging chair, gas fire table and mini-lawn area provide nooks to explore.
This Alabama backyard may be small but it still manages to pack in tons of features, from the raised deck dining area to the office shed. A hanging chair, gas fire table and mini-lawn area provide nooks to explore.
7. Room for Entertaining
This luxurious yard was designed with entertaining in mind, with a series of outdoor rooms spanning the length of the yard. Shown in the foreground is a stylish outdoor dining zone with ample room for more seating. A path stretches past planters and ends at an outdoor lounge area.
Shop for outdoor furniture
This luxurious yard was designed with entertaining in mind, with a series of outdoor rooms spanning the length of the yard. Shown in the foreground is a stylish outdoor dining zone with ample room for more seating. A path stretches past planters and ends at an outdoor lounge area.
Shop for outdoor furniture
8. Chic Mediterranean
Enjoy leisurely alfresco feasts on your own Mediterranean-style patio. Here, a long table sits between two rows of olive trees with a fireplace and outdoor kitchen. The arrangement is ideal for preparing — and savoring — a meal.
Enjoy leisurely alfresco feasts on your own Mediterranean-style patio. Here, a long table sits between two rows of olive trees with a fireplace and outdoor kitchen. The arrangement is ideal for preparing — and savoring — a meal.
9. Hot Tub
Lush, green plantings and a hot tub nestled into a natural wood deck give this Portland, Oregon, backyard a Zen look. A board-formed concrete planter continues the clean-lined look.
Tour the rest of this backyard
Lush, green plantings and a hot tub nestled into a natural wood deck give this Portland, Oregon, backyard a Zen look. A board-formed concrete planter continues the clean-lined look.
Tour the rest of this backyard
10. Outdoor Cinema
Who wouldn’t want to enjoy dinner and a movie outdoors when it looks this good? Crisscrossing string lights overhead boost the ambiance and wide doors provide easy indoor-outdoor flow.
Tell us: What fun feature would you most like to add to your backyard? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
More on Houzz
How to Hang String Lights Outdoors
How to Design a Low-Maintenance Garden
Find a landscape designer in your area
Shop for outdoor products
Who wouldn’t want to enjoy dinner and a movie outdoors when it looks this good? Crisscrossing string lights overhead boost the ambiance and wide doors provide easy indoor-outdoor flow.
Tell us: What fun feature would you most like to add to your backyard? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
More on Houzz
How to Hang String Lights Outdoors
How to Design a Low-Maintenance Garden
Find a landscape designer in your area
Shop for outdoor products
What are you working on?
Related Stories
Kitchen Guides
10 Key Kitchen Dimensions You Need to Know
Here are key kitchen dimensions that will help you design like a pro
Full Story
More Room Guides
35 Serene Puja Room Designs
Take a leaf out of these elegantly designed, beautiful prayer rooms on Houzz
Full Story
Decorating Guides
What Are the Benefits of Hiring an Interior Designer?
From furnishing working drawings to beautifying the home, find out how an interior designer plays multifunctional roles
Full Story
More Room Guides
Turn One Room Into Two With These Genius Ideas
Carve out an extra room within your home with these fab room-splitting tips and tricks
Full Story
Bedroom Guides
What Are the Ideal Wardrobe Measurements?
Here are dimensions for different types of wardrobe designs that ensure maximum functionality and storage
Full Story
Architecture
These Indian Homes Know How To Combat Harsh Climate
See how these homes by SPASM, Kumar Moorthy & Associates and JPLUSDARCHITECTS mitigate the ramifications of harsh climate ahead of time
Full Story
Architecture
How to Find an Architect That's Right for You
Make the construction and renovation of your home a pleasant and memorable journey by selecting the right architect
Full Story
Bathroom Guides
Step-by-Step: A Guide to Renovating Your Bathroom
Planning to renovate your bathroom? Learn about the different stages involved in the remodelling process
Full Story
Living Rooms
30 Best Sofa Designs
This guide gives a rundown of sofa types that will leave you spoilt for choices
Full Story
Small Spaces
7 Stylish Ways to Dry Your Laundry In a Small Apartment
Has your drying rack become a perpetual eyesore in your home? These dapper laundry drying solutions have you covered
Full Story
Kathleen Marineau
We have clay mixed with schist here - have had really good results digging a spade's depth, sifting the schist out and mixing the remaining soil half and half with leaf compost from our Township. A heavy top-dressing of compost annually keeps the beds in top condition with few weeds.
We've told the guy who mows our grass/weed lawn that we want as little of that as we can get away with... we are planning deep native perennial beds on the perimeter once we fence in our back yard for the dog Hubby wants, raised vegie beds under roofed dog runs (we have lots of deer here) a horseshoe pitch with a wooden cover - so it doesn't become a giant litter pan for the roving kitties, and if possible, a nature pond.
We have to consider water run-off as there is a creek at the end of our street AND our Township is about to institute a fee for maintenance of water treatment/creek areas. We use rain barrels and just put a French drain in to take water from one of the two downspouts NOT attached to a rain barrel to the grassy are in our front yard. We will put in more for the Winter months when barrels would freeze, as we can afford them. Plan to put in swales in the front yard and a water garden a few yards above curbside as well.
Those hexagonal grids for the gravel sound like a great idea. We have wanted to replace a cracked concrete walkway with something permeable, and that would likely do it for us. What has worked for us to keep the gravel from being tracked in is a large doormat - the kind made from recycled tires - at the entry. Teach everyone to wipe their shoes and you don't get as much of the tiny stuff in the house.
I notice the trend seems to be away from vegetation and towards other surfaces (concrete, gravel, astroturf). This is the pity in that vegatation of any kind is better for the planet.
The outdoor movie screen ~ a sound and light horror for neighbors. Courtesy and consideration please.