7 ways to transform a small backyard

See how a barely usable backyard can evolve into a cozy family retreat


Before
With no privacy, no personality, and-the biggest drawback of all-no place to sit, this 550-square-foot side yard had little to recommend it. However, with a few smart strategies, the space transformed beautifully.


After: Added height and a chic dining space
A truckload of salvaged redwood came to the rescue. Some of the boards were used to add height to the existing cement-block wall; others were turned into a sturdy dining table as well as the backs and bottoms of cushion-topped, built-in seating. What's more, the aged redwood brought with it the character the yard had been missing. With space to dine, gather, and play, the area is now the family's favorite hangout in the garden.
> Related: 21 idea-filled outdoor dining rooms


Fun furniture
A pair of red antique school benches are a perfect match for the distressed wood of the dining table.
> Related: How to develop an indoor-outdoor color palette


Plants for privacy
Leafy giant timber bamboo (Bambusa oldhamii), relocated from another area of the garden, will screen the space even more as it grows.
> Related: Creative small-space gardening


Built-in warmth
A ready-to-roar gas firepit housed in a concrete "wok" from Potted (pottedstore.com) heats the yard's main seating area. The cushy pillows are covered in cloth from F & S Fabrics (fandsfabrics.com).
> Related: Backyard firepits

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