How to Turn a Side Yard Into a Glorious Garden Room
With just 8 feet or so, you can turn a plain side yard into a garden that lets you get carried away
Debra Prinzing
July 20, 2012
Front yards and backyards are well established in the garden playbook. But the space between the exterior of your home and the perimeter of your property is often an overlooked asset, worthy of attention.
There are many wonderful ways to design even a narrow side yard, but if the space is wide enough — measuring, say, 8 to 10 feet or more — you can practically treat it like a garden room. In a medium-scale side yard, all sorts of experiences can occur, transporting you and your guests with a garden stroll, offering a quiet and private retreat, or even capturing a pastoral scene to be observed from indoors.
There are so many great ideas for side yard designs that it made sense to divide this theme into two parts. The solutions you see here are mostly ornamental in nature. Stay tuned for a follow-up ideabook on more functional design ideas for side yards.
Here you'll discover some of the most attractive design treatments you've ever seen in a midsize side garden.
There are many wonderful ways to design even a narrow side yard, but if the space is wide enough — measuring, say, 8 to 10 feet or more — you can practically treat it like a garden room. In a medium-scale side yard, all sorts of experiences can occur, transporting you and your guests with a garden stroll, offering a quiet and private retreat, or even capturing a pastoral scene to be observed from indoors.
There are so many great ideas for side yard designs that it made sense to divide this theme into two parts. The solutions you see here are mostly ornamental in nature. Stay tuned for a follow-up ideabook on more functional design ideas for side yards.
Here you'll discover some of the most attractive design treatments you've ever seen in a midsize side garden.
A circle in a square is a classic design motif. Here it is expressed in a beautiful gravel garden. This side yard is wide enough to accommodate a circular focal point (with a well-proportioned urn at its center). There is ample room for Mediterranean herbs and annual bedding plants to flourish along both sides of a pathway, which parts around the center urn and ends at the garden gate.
A long border worthy of a grand main garden fits into this transition space between a brick home and its garage. The room effect is enhanced here, thanks to the connecting breezeway. It gives the broad path a destination and accommodates deep planting beds for the textural borders on either side.
This is just the sort of secondary spot that could have been paved for parking. Instead, it is a dreamy area for a stroll, still providing access for those approaching.
This is just the sort of secondary spot that could have been paved for parking. Instead, it is a dreamy area for a stroll, still providing access for those approaching.
Every room needs a doorway, right? Here is a full-size door, inserted in a humble wooden fence. Its presence heightens the sense of entry into a verdant side garden. There's even a stone threshold over which to step.
This is a beautiful way to add a sense of mystery and encourage anticipation for anyone approaching the bower inside.
This is a beautiful way to add a sense of mystery and encourage anticipation for anyone approaching the bower inside.
A gently curved flagstone path draws pedestrians from the front yard, through the spacious side garden, toward the rolling lawn in the distance. An opening in a row of trees frames the view.
Within this side garden, however, there are plenty of beautiful plant combinations that provide interest. From the flowering thyme in and around the flagstones to the repeating mounds of perennials (irises and lady's mantle) and soft shrubs (azaleas), the design is inspired and appealing.
Within this side garden, however, there are plenty of beautiful plant combinations that provide interest. From the flowering thyme in and around the flagstones to the repeating mounds of perennials (irises and lady's mantle) and soft shrubs (azaleas), the design is inspired and appealing.
Gotta love this tic-tac-toe design for a side garden that's completely engaging for anyone who happens upon it. This idea can adapt to most any dimension or cultural condition, because you first design the grid, then add the plants.
Starting with off-the-shelf concrete or cut-stone pavers from a home improvement center (super affordable), lay out the path. Then alternate crushed rock for easy drainage and ground covers that can tolerate a little bit of foot traffic. Your side garden will finally have a stylish attitude — and you can probably accomplish this in a weekend.
Starting with off-the-shelf concrete or cut-stone pavers from a home improvement center (super affordable), lay out the path. Then alternate crushed rock for easy drainage and ground covers that can tolerate a little bit of foot traffic. Your side garden will finally have a stylish attitude — and you can probably accomplish this in a weekend.
Attention, minimalists! Less is more in this side yard. Here's what makes this design a winner: 1. silhouetted plants against the perimeter wall; 2. uplighting for evening drama; 3. a flame source (fire pit); and 4. the continual ground plane in the form of decomposed granite.
Depending on where you live, the floor of a side courtyard could be poured concrete, concrete pavers, crushed rock or even turf. Just treat it like a carpet runner and you'll create an evocative side-garden destination.
Depending on where you live, the floor of a side courtyard could be poured concrete, concrete pavers, crushed rock or even turf. Just treat it like a carpet runner and you'll create an evocative side-garden destination.
Side gardens aren't just about the garden floor; they're also about the vertical plane: the walls, so to speak. That notion is expressed beautifully here. Sustainably harvested ipe boards, installed horizontally, alternate with sections of stucco to enclose and retain the side garden.
This is a well-furnished room with benches for seating, pockets for plants and even a fireplace treatment. There's a graphic rhythm to this space that makes it enjoyable both to view and to spend time visiting in.
This is a well-furnished room with benches for seating, pockets for plants and even a fireplace treatment. There's a graphic rhythm to this space that makes it enjoyable both to view and to spend time visiting in.
In reading the designer's notes, I was surprised to learn that this secret side garden was once an asphalt driveway! Wow. The freestanding wall of unstained lumber acts as a screen to hide the pathway from passersby.
But step slightly to the right and you discover the walkway of flagstone and crushed rock. This is an inviting way to experience the garden, yet I love how it remains private — for those allowed to enter.
More:
8 Splendid Designs for a Narrower Side Yard
But step slightly to the right and you discover the walkway of flagstone and crushed rock. This is an inviting way to experience the garden, yet I love how it remains private — for those allowed to enter.
More:
8 Splendid Designs for a Narrower Side Yard
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OMG im just loving this!!!!