How to Make a Small Backyard Feel Bigger: Smart Landscape Design Tips

A small backyard doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice comfort, beauty, or functionality.

In fact, with the right landscape design techniques, a small yard can feel spacious, inviting, and incredibly stylish. At Salas Outdoors, we specialize in transforming compact outdoor areas into stunning personal retreats.

If you're working with a smaller space, here are the top tips to make it look and feel much larger.

1. Define Clear Zones

One of the best ways to make a space feel larger is to divide it into purposeful areas.

Ideas for zoning:

• A seating/lounge area
• A cooking or grill station
• A small garden or green space
• A path or feature wall

When each space has a clear function, your yard becomes more usable—and it feels bigger than a single open area.

✅ At Salas Outdoors, we create layout plans that help small yards flow naturally.

2. Go Vertical with Design

If your square footage is limited, think up—not out.

Ways to build vertically:

• Install vertical gardens or wall planters
• Use trellises with climbing plants
• Add tall, narrow trees or shrubs
• Incorporate wall-hung décor and lighting

✅ Our team adds vertical interest that draws the eye upward, enhancing the sense of height and space.

3. Use Lighter Colors and Materials

Just like in interior design, lighter colors make outdoor spaces feel bigger and more open.

Examples:

• Light-toned pavers or gravel
• Pale decking or fencing
• Soft-colored outdoor furniture
• White or light stone hardscaping

✅ Salas Outdoors helps you select materials that brighten and expand the feel of your backyard.

4. Simplify the Plant Palette

Too many colors, shapes, and textures can feel chaotic in a small yard.

Instead, focus on a cohesive plant palette:

• Limit your selection to 3–5 plant types
• Use repetition to create flow
• Choose plants that won’t outgrow the space

✅ We specialize in choosing the right plants for low-maintenance beauty without visual clutter.

5. Incorporate Mirrors or Reflective Surfaces

It might sound like an interior design trick, but it works outside too.

Mirrors, reflective planters, or even water features can visually double your space by bouncing light and scenery.

✅ Our custom design team knows how to safely and stylishly incorporate these features into your landscape.

6. Create Diagonal Lines or Curves

Straight lines can box in a small space. Instead, design with diagonals or gentle curves to lead the eye outward and create movement.

Curved elements that expand perception:

• Winding pathways
• Arched planting beds
• Rounded patio edges

✅ Salas Outdoors uses shape and flow to make even the smallest yards feel expansive.

7. Limit Large Lawn Areas

A small patch of grass may seem like a good idea—but it can take up space without adding much functionality.

Instead, replace some lawn with:

• A small paver patio
• A gravel seating area
• Artificial turf surrounded by planting

✅ Our team will design a custom layout that minimizes upkeep while maximizing space.

8. Use Multi-Functional Furniture

Outdoor furniture that doubles as storage, seating, or décor saves space while increasing functionality.

Look for:

• Benches with storage
• Foldable or stackable chairs
• Modular seating sets

✅ We help select and position the right features to get the most out of every square foot.

‍