You’ve found the perfect home and it has everything you’ve ever dreamed of, a spacious, modern kitchen; a gloriously open floor plan; giant bedrooms; great location and neighborhood. The only downside is that the backyard is slightly smaller than you’d hoped. But that’s no reason for distress. There are many ways you can optimize your outdoor space to make it feel much larger! Check out my favorites.

Separate Your Space

Breaking up your outdoor area into separate spaces or nooks can help make your backyard feel larger. Place items like planters, small walls, or outdoor light fixtures in between the spaces or separate them by installing different ground surfaces, such as decking, gravel, grass, and concrete.


Use Plants Creatively

Place plants throughout your backyard to help open up the space. Use plants with larger leaves to create depth, place warm-colored plants, such as red, yellow, or orange, near the front or in the center of the yard to catch attention, or install a trellis or plant taller plants to draw the eye upwards.


Incorporate Strategic Decor

Use big structures like pergolas and arbors to frame your outdoor space and give it a grander feel. Add a large sculpture or water fixture in the center or towards the back of the yard as a focal point, and then arrange your furniture around it. Finally, hang large mirrors with steel, stone, or wooden frames to reflect light and trick the eye.


By using these techniques and more, you can alter perception and make your small yard feel like the large one of your dreams.

 



Lou Rosenberger, Realtor®
CalBRE# 01955420 

This content is not the product of the National Association of REALTORS®, and may not reflect NAR's viewpoint or position on these topics and NAR does not verify the accuracy of the content.