Bonjour and welcome to our Art of the Home photo gallery of inspiring backyard landscape design ideas. We hand picked them just for you…hope you enjoy the visit!
A backyard can provide a place to rejuvenate yourself and also a place to enjoy the simple pleasures of gardening (and get some good exercise and vitamin D at the same time!). You may love to take care of flowers or enjoy growing your own veggies and herbs. In both cases, you can use your backyard as your outdoor canvas. And the great news is — the size of your backyard isn’t paramount. Rather, the focus should be on what brings you joy while you are taking in some fresh air. You’d be surprised how even with a small backyard you can section off some areas offering you several outdoor spaces to enjoy (variety is the spice of life, right?). For example, you can have an area for outdoor games. Or, if you like to cook, you can make your own potager (vegetable garden). How great would it be to serve a weekday meal with fresh lettuce from your own backyard or sprinkle your Sunday chicken with fresh rosemary and thyme coming from your culinary herb garden — so delish!
Another important aspect of landscaping your backyard is the clever use of natural greenery and flowers as privacy hedges. They offer beautiful ways to naturally landscape your backyard so you can enjoy its natural openness but still feel like you are in your own secluded retreat. And when choosing flowers don’t forget to keep in mind the requirements of your area in terms of temperature, etc. Also, think about which flowers (e.g. types, fragrance, colors) that really make you glow…that’s an important one. Make sure you are planting flowers that touch your heart, so you can bring them indoors or your loved ones can surprise you with a small bouquet and cheer you up. There is nothing like the children rushing up to your bedroom to wake you up with the first Spring flowers (weeds included!). Sure to bring tears…of joy and beautiful memories for a lifetime! If you’ve been with us for a while, you may recall that we enjoy the French May 1st tradition of spreading happiness year-round by offering each other some fresh cut lily of the valley. We also love lavender so we make sure to plant them on both continents as well.
So let’s get some fresh air with this photo gallery. We’re pretty sure you’ll find some inspiration looking at the selection of backyard landscape design ideas we handpicked for you. Hope you enjoy your walk through these gorgeous outdoor retreats. Beautiful day to you!
1. Tranquility in the Cabana…
The Little Plus: love the distinct three different spaces created in this landscaped backyard. First, to your right, notice the beautiful stone reflective pond. On the other side of the garden path, you have a rustic fire pit with a popcorn kettle ready to go. And the queen of the backyard is that beautiful cabana — almost feels like a different room. And if you zoom (a lot!) you’ll see how the owner brought in a hand-painted pale green and cream desk. Also, potted plants, as well as the hanging flowers, provide beautiful colors to this relaxing retreat. And did you see the small fountain on the barrel? This lovely backyard definitely showcases that you can have tons of functionality and charm with a relatively small space.
2. The Lion King…
The Little Plus: love the ivy climbing up the tall privacy wall. The fountain in tumbled stones adds an old-world feeling to this backyard. Also, the long rectangular planters along the wall allow you to change flowers and plants as seasons change. You can even use one for your culinary herb garden! And what a great idea to have an area where the patio stones are framed by grass — it calls back the tall green shrubs and makes this space feel more natural.
3. Hydrangea Beauties…
The Little Plus: the serenity and peace exuding from this space. The variety of flowering plants and greenery add a relaxing and romantic feel to this backyard design. And notice the wooden lattice fence stained in a rich brown color. It contributes to the zen feel of this beautiful garden. Also, love how planters of various shapes, textures, and colors are displayed at various corners of the backyard. It allows you to change flowers with the seasons. How lovely it must be to enjoy a tea (maybe with a slice of apple tart as a treat…) or an espresso after lunch in this beautifully designed backyard. A free way to recharge!
4. Lunch in Provence…
The Little Plus: the use of small white gravel between the parterre. This is a common landscaping feature in France, particularly in the south of France. Also, notice how large white rocks are used to frame the lawn and bushes — low budget and so country! The wrought iron pergola with wicker top is also a common feature in Provence. A beautiful and relatively easy DIY project for those that live in a warmer climate.
5. Hide and Seek…
The Little Plus: the patina of the backyard walls is so charming. And notice that one wall is in yellow hues darken by the passage of time and the other one is in a warm terracotta color. Also, see how the large stone planters stand tall on top of the fence to add greenery with yellow tones calling back the sun and yellow flowers. And of course, you have a beautiful statue playing hide and seek behind the hanging flower vine — oh so charming!
6. French Queen Garden Retreat…
The Little Plus: this is actually Marie Antoinette’s garden at the petit Trianon where she would retreat. Her garden was designed to ensure it would keep a natural atmosphere. Her goal was to escape the formality of Versailles and feel at peace. That is a great vision for any garden!
7. Yellow Joy…
The Little Plus: the yellow hues of the ground cover pop and call back the golden coat of the beautiful cedar zebrina in the back of the yard. Also, notice how the rocks are randomly placed among the green bushes to give a natural look and add visual interest to the backyard. Larger rocks, in the same texture, are used to line the path which helps to tie this landscape design together. Finally, the backyard fence with lattice top provides privacy with a touch of flare.