Hello! You’ll get more help if you give your location and how much Sun exposure you get. Good luck!

Thank you! I’m in Massachusetts and the back half gets morning sun while the front of it gets some afternoon sun.

Do you use your backyard at all and do you like gardening and maintenance? If not, why not leave the grass patch next to the patio as just a grass patch?

We do use the backyard but just not this area. My husband and I have always hated this grass area. We feel like it looks out of place. I wouldn’t mind making it into a nice perennial area but I am so bad with what to buy and how to place them!

How large is that area? The fisheye lens makes it hard to tell.

If it's not too big just add a few tree-bushes. Serviceberry maybe? With some lower plantings around them. Or crabapples if you like that look.

A few ideas -

plant a lovely ornamental tree in and uplight it - tuck a birdbath in below it

Add several very large containers to grow tomatoes, herbs, and flowers to cut for the house

What about a larger water feature? (I added a large steel rectangular stock tank with a small recirculating fountain right off my back patio - so nice to listen to and it attracts so many birds to the yard)

Do I see 4 large garbage cans in the patio area? I'd build an enclosure for those in the most flat area. See link. Grass is probably the least expensive way to go since the area is sloped. https://www.houzz.com/photos/hardscape-project-traditional-landscape-atlanta-phvw-vp~4789124

No, that is my patio set. Lol. Cleaning the cushions so they’re not on properly.
The slope definitely doesn’t help.
Thank you!

A few more pictures without a fisheye lens would help...as would dimensions.

How about a narrow dry creek bed beginning from the top corner by the fence and curving down the slope? Then I would plant native ornamental grasses or miniature blooming shrubs such as Annabelle hydrangeas on the sides. Maybe plants that would encourage pollinators.

Here’s another pic

From above. Its 12x18

What are the shrubs planted along the wall? They seem rather close to the wall, the first step in redesigning that space may be to move them out by three feet.

Here was our landscaping plan with about a 6 x 16 space adjacent to our patio.

Two autumn brilliance service berries with caramel huechera on front.

With a wider space you could do trees that spread a bit more than serviceberry - like crabapple.

Or if you want a bit more plants you could layer with serviceberries in the back and a smaller shrub like a hydrangea in front.

A putting green would be my choice: https://www.houzz.com/photos/menlo-park-residence-clca-award-winner-best-landscape-in-ca-under-150k-contemporary-landscape-san-francisco-phvw-vp~3729284

Haha! I'd put in a slip n' slide with a pool at the bottom.

I'd start with a tree. It gives you a focal point to build a garden bed around. It will also screen the large white expanse of the house and deck siding. You might add a trellis to the front of the deck.

I love dogwoods and they grow well in Massachusetts. A nursery would help you pick out companion shrubs and perennials and could help with placement. I go with a diagram of my garden in hand. Plant the edges of your walkway too, to soften the brick.

https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/dogwoods