Limited outdoor living space doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing style or functionality! With creative landscape and hardscape solutions from Heinen, most any outdoor space can be transformed into an outdoor sanctuary tailored to suit your individual lifestyle!
This small and narrow back yard has been divided into three distinct zones – each serving a specific purpose.
Dividing Outdoor Space into Individual Zones with a Purpose
Outdoor living spaces can be more useful and visually appealing when they are divided into individually-purposed zones or “rooms” within the space. One area might be designated as an intimate entertainment area with comfortable seating and a small table. Another area may be reserved for grilling or a small outdoor kitchen. Still, another may include a table for dining alfresco.
With smaller backyards, a large-scale patio can dominate the space and leave little room for greenery and landscaping. Dividing that same area into smaller sections is a great alternative to a large patio. Smaller hardscaped zones with green space proportionally dispersed throughout can be more visually interesting, serve more types of occasions, and allow a nice balance between your hard space elements (patio, wall seating, fencing, a fire pit, etc.) and soft elements (grassy areas, shrubs, planter beds, climbing vines, etc.).
Another method for creating visual distinction between outdoor zones is through the inclusion of both sun and shade areas. Having an area with full sun and another shaded – either naturally with trees or with the addition of a gazebo or pergola – will also extend the appeal and usability of your outdoor space.
Creating contrast between hardscaped areas can be achieved via hardscape material selection. Heinen’s preferred manufactured stone providers, Techo-Bloc and Unilock, have a wide variety of styles to choose from. By varying colors, textures, shapes, sizes, and patterns, a greater distinction can be made between outdoor zones. Hardscape materials can be mixed, matched, assembled, and constructed to better fit the intended use of a zone. For example, a cooking zone might benefit from slightly textured pavers by creating a slip-resistant work area while a conversation pit retaining wall can offer additional seating when a smooth top-cap is added to turn a short retaining wall, allowing it to serve as a seat-wall for additional guests.
This narrow backyard formerly had a significant slope limiting usage. The Heinen team designed a plan featuring two terraced patios (for dining and entertaining) with an aesthetic that matched the home’s contemporary design.
Reclaiming Sloped Areas
Many homeowners have outdoor living areas that receive limited usage because of steep slopes or varying/quirky elevations on their property. Through grading and attractive, well-designed retaining walls, formerly unusable space can be transformed into sunken conversation pits and steep slopes can be terraced to create smaller, flat entertainment zones – connected with stone stairs lined with outdoor lighting to illuminate paths – both for nighttime safety and to create a warm ambiance.
A retaining wall surrounding a sunken conversation area pit can also double as a seat-walls by adding a smooth flat cap and even have under-edge lighting – for ambiance and nighttime visibility. Using seat-walls for overflow seating is an excellent way to economize space by eliminating the need for excess outdoor furniture.
Navigating a sloped property must also be considered, too. Natural-looking steps and pathways are a nice solution. And low-light fixtures can elegantly illuminate stairs and walkways.
A narrow, raised plant bed helps introduce greenery into this space while not interfering with the lap pool border.
Using Plants and Landscaping Thoughtfully
Choice and placement of landscape plantings can make a significant difference in the look and feel of your smaller outdoor space. Balance and proportion are paramount – less can definitely be more! A minimalist approach takes up less of already limited space while presenting a neat, well-groomed look.
Fortunately, when it comes to selecting plants for backyards with limited space, there are many varieties to choose from. One of the best ways to save space without sacrificing greenery is to opt for vertical plantings such as climbing vines. Climbing plantings take up nearly zero square footage at ground level and are ideal for breaking up monotonously long fences and other walls.
For areas along a sloping stairway between zones, there are multiple varieties of ground-covering plants that give the illusion of a lush, dark green carpet within the smallest of spaces. Plus, they are heartier and require less care than typical grass. Trees can also be worked into a small yard’s landscaping by choosing dwarf varieties – and adding uplighting directed toward the tree canopy can add a dramatic, yet natural, glowing-umbrella visual effect.
When it comes to maintaining grass in small spaces, irrigation and proper drainage is essential. For spaces that are too wet, too dry, or too shaded for grass to stay healthy, there is a solution: replace the grass with high-quality artificial turf. The artificial turf of today is nothing like old varieties. Today’s artificial turf gives the appearance of a lush, healthy lawn with a lot less work. Multiple advancements in technology have allowed manufacturers to create highly durable turfs that will last upwards of 20 years and are completely safe for pets (and a simple hosing eliminates pet urine, driving moisture through the porous turf down, to pea gravel, sand and then to purpose-built drainage piping below the turf).
Start Making the Most Of Your Smaller Outdoor Space Today!
The landscape and hardscape experts at Heinen are here to help increase the functionality and beauty of your outdoor living space no matter its size! With years of design experience, precise planning, a wide variety of quality materials, and the best installation crews in Kansas City, the Heinen team can help create the outdoor oasis you’ve always wanted!
