Courtyard design for a private house (60 photos): beautiful design ideas. Interesting ideas for planning the courtyard of a private house and tips for arranging courtyard design

A private house is good because it has its own yard. It's a good place to relax, you can decorate it the way you want. But everything should be done according to certain rules- landscape design of the yard, that's what it's called. The task is not as simple as it seems.

General principles

To make your yard beautiful, harmonious and comfortable, it is advisable to create a plan before starting work, and then implement this plan into reality. And, by the way, in most cases, when independent development landscape design, the result is very different from the project. Either we saw a new plant that was not on the plan, or we didn’t like in reality what looked “super” in the picture. However, the landscaping of your home’s yard should be done according to the rules, otherwise you may end up with an uncomfortable yard and an unpresentable appearance.

Preparing a site plan

The first thing you will need is a site plan to scale. You can draw it on a checkered sheet or on graph paper. Accept a certain scale, for example, one meter is one or two cells. In the second option it will be possible to draw in more detail small parts, but the plan will be big. The plan should indicate:

With this initial plan, you can begin planning your yard. On this plan, it is immediately necessary to highlight shaded areas (the sun appears only for a few hours), partial shade (half of the day is illuminated by the sun) and sunny areas (there is almost no shadow at all) zones. To do this, it is best to take colored pencils and shade the areas with different colors.

Large area for parking cars, a little smaller for barbecue, swimming pool and summer recreation Large or small plot- doesn't matter. Anyone can be cozy Plantings are only around the perimeter of the site, the main area is free - for lawns and flower beds

If there are lower and higher zones on the site, they should also be highlighted. It is also necessary to identify sources, springs, retaining walls or the intended location of their installation, all other landscape features. All this information should be taken into account when developing the landscape design of the yard.

Deciding on the central object

Before you begin landscaping your yard, you need to decide what you would like to focus on. This refers to a large object: a pond, a fountain, a gazebo with or without a barbecue, a pergola. This object is placed in the central place, and all the other, smaller ones are placed around it. Moreover, if you have chosen a pond, it does not mean that there will be no gazebo or fountain on the site, just that the main object will be the pond. It is the main “feature”, and all other structures will only play on it and complement it.

In this case, the central zone is a recreation area and a lawn

The same rule applies if you want to make the main “theme of the yard” a recreation area - a gazebo or pergola, just a platform with sofas, benches, a hammock, etc. A pond, a fountain, and small architectural objects may well be located next to them. The idea is that this zone is the highlight of your yard, and all other objects will play off it. Because, in a usually small space, two or three competing ideas mean chaos and lack of harmony.

We find a place for everything

Having decided on the set of desired objects, take a sheet of cardboard and cut out all the objects from it. We cut it out to the scale in which the map was drawn, of the shape in which the construction is planned. You can color it, you can sign it.

We take the images and lay them out on the plan. Place the selected “main object” in the center of the composition. This does not mean that its place is strictly in the center - it can also be on the side of the site. This corner just needs to be visible from the windows and/or from the entrance. After all, you should receive aesthetic pleasure from your yard.

When we have found a place for the central zone, we begin to figure out where to put all the other larger objects. Some may be located close to each other, others at a certain distance. If everything you want doesn’t fit in your space, you’ll have to sacrifice something or downsize. Here everyone decides what is more important to him.

We lay paths and develop a lighting system

When everything you want to see on the site is placed on the plan, it’s time to lay paths and think through the lighting system. Why these two different systems do you need to plan at the same time? Because the paths are usually illuminated, otherwise walking along them at night is not very convenient. So they pull the cables along them, supplying voltage to the lamps, and also extending the lighting to all key points of the yard - to the gazebo, fountain, stream, etc.

When planning paths, there are two basic rules. First, if you need to visually bring an object closer, we lay a straight path. This rule applies if the site is large in area or long and narrow. Another possible area of ​​application is a courtyard decorated in a minimalist style. Here, other forms are simply unacceptable - only strict geometric shapes. Although, broken lines are also welcome.

In all other cases, they try to avoid straight paths. There is no need to “loop” too much, but winding, smoothly turning paths fit harmoniously into any other yard design style.

When you have outlined it on the plan, draw the lamps to illuminate the yard. Along the paths - every one and a half to two meters, for lighting gazebos and platforms - more often. Illumination of water also looks beautiful if there are “water” objects.

Site layout from improvised means

How else, besides a site plan on graph paper and cardboard analogues of various landscape objects, can you visualize your design project? There is a simple way - using ordinary plasticine or other improvised means. It is better to make a house and other buildings from foam plastic and cardboard, and a gazebo from sticks. Lay out the paths from a material similar to the planned “original”. This will help evaluate the invented texture and color scheme. Everything else - benches, a pond, fountains, trees, bushes, flowers - we sculpt all this from plasticine. To make it look more realistic, trees and shrubs can be made from twigs by attaching “foliage” of approximately the same shade. And yes, we do everything to scale (for example, 1 meter is equal to 1 cm or 2 cm). This is definitely a three-dimensional 3D image that will accurately convey to you the proportions, convenience and all other nuances of the yard landscape design you created.

Plasticine yard design project - excellent 3D visualization

Landscape design programs

If you are a confident PC user, landscape design programs will help simplify the task of developing a design. The bad news is that they are paid, but creating a landscape design for the yard of a private house will be easy and interesting. There are about a dozen programs, but here are the most popular:

• Our garden. There is a large built-in library of plants, a planner for paving, fences, gates, etc. It is possible to load missing materials or textures, plants.
• Google ScatchUp. This is not a specialized program, but it has a landscape planning section, which is very good - it’s full of lessons on working specifically with creating a landscape.
• Punch. The disadvantage of the program is that it is not possible to add your own objects. You can only use those that are in the software library. Another disadvantage is that there is no way to export the results, that is, you will not be able to use the created project in other programs. But it is simple and requires almost no time to learn.
• Sierra LandDesigner 3D. Large database of plants and other objects. It is possible to enter your own data and use it in your work. Each possible action has a hint so it's easy to figure it out as you go. The program specifies the soil type and style you want to decorate your yard. The program will automatically select suitable objects. Once the work is completed, you can print the project and receive an estimate.

Examples of local area planning

Independent landscape design of the yard of a private house is not an easy task. The difficulty is that often what looks good in a picture or “in your head” turns out “not so good” in reality. Therefore, it is easier to rely on photos of real objects. At least you can see what happened there. You can take the idea “entirely”, or you can partially adapt it to your own desires or conditions.

Example one - with water bodies

For example, center - . Do you also want to have a gazebo, a fountain and a stream, flower beds, benches? In this case, this option would look good:

The option with a “real” stream is easily implemented if there is at least a slight difference in height on the site. The fountain is then placed at the highest point, the pond at the lowest. With this arrangement, water flows by gravity; you just need to organize its supply from the pond to the fountain (using a pump of a certain power and a pipe system).

Landscape design courtyard of a private house with a swimming pool opposite the doors

If there is no height difference, there are two options - to make it artificially (a very large amount of work and significant material costs) or to make two autonomous water bodies- a fountain and a pond, and make a “fake” stream out of stones. Another option is not to make a stream at all. The unconnected pond and fountain are also very viable and nice option registration local area.

Example two - in the center there is a recreation area

If the pond is usually located at some distance from the entrance to the house, then a recreation area is often made nearby. But the “recreation area” can be perceived in different ways. For some, these are comfortable sofas and benches on which it is convenient to read; for others, it is a platform with a gazebo and a table, with a barbecue located nearby.

Recreation area - everyone understands it differently

Depending on your wishes, a recreation area of ​​any type can be close to the entrance, or maybe at the opposite end of the site. And near the same gazebo there may be a pond or fountain. But not a gazebo near a pond, but a pond near a gazebo. This is the difference. The path from the entrance leads to the gazebo, and from it you can get to the pond.

Near the gazebo, indoor or outdoor area for recreation, flower beds, rock gardens, and rock gardens can be located. Along the path there are flower beds, taller plants - bushes and trees, in the shade of which it is reasonable to place benches. But no matter what you plant along the path, the main object should be visible in perspective - a gazebo or area with sofas.

Photo ideas of beautiful corners of private courtyards

Landscaping a yard is not an easy task even for professionals, and even more so for amateurs. There are too many nuances to know. It’s much easier to find a design you like and then reproduce the photo on your site.

Front garden

They don't call it a front garden most area between the facade of the house and the fence. Not everyone wants to place a house close to the sidewalk, just as not everyone wants to move it far into the interior of the site. So you end up with a narrow (a meter or two) strip of land in front of the house, which cannot be improved in any way except with flowers and shrubs.

No matter how narrow the strip between the fence and the house is, it is advisable to divide it into two zones - a flower garden and a path. A path is not necessarily a continuous tile or other covering. This can be lawn grass with tiles laid in random order (with gaps).

A path is desirable - you will need to take care of the plants once again without worrying about the cleanliness of your shoes

If the climate is hot, the area is dry, or there is no desire/opportunity to tinker with the grass, you can replace the grass with mulch or fine gravel. An excellent composition is obtained from painted colored gravel and several beautiful plants.

Pay attention to the location of the plants - it depends on the type of fence. If the fence is solid, you need to develop a planting plan so that they look good from the windows. In this case, the tallest plants are located closer to the fence, the shortest - closer to the house. If the fence is sparse, more decorative, and you want a beautiful view from the street, we change the planting plan exactly the opposite: the tallest plants are along the house, the shortest ones are closer to the street.

If the “face” of the front garden is facing the street Flowers or plants of approximately the same height - if you need everything to look decent from all sides Interesting option- convenient, beautiful and unusual Traditional design of the area in front of the fence

If you want a beautiful view from both sides, there are two options. First, we plant small and medium-sized varieties of flowers and greenery in the flower garden. Secondly, we divide the front garden into several zones, make separate flower beds or alpine slides/rock gardens that look good from any point.

Entrance/entrance group

The entrance group is the area near the porch, the entrance group is near the gate. As you understand, the design is different, although there is common features: all “decorations” should not block the view. You should be able to clearly see who is entering or entering your territory. Therefore, mainly medium-sized and low-growing plants are used.

The traditional way to design an area near a porch or gate is flower beds or flower beds. They can be of a standard type - only plants different types, which create a constantly blooming or greening carpet.

Dwarf trees - unusual and beautiful

You can also follow the latest trends in landscape design - occupy most of the area decorative crushed stone or mulch, plant plants at a distance from each other. In addition to the modern look, this option is good because fewer plants require less care, and less money will be spent on purchasing. This will really help you get by with “little blood” if you have just started to implement the landscape design you created for the courtyard of a private house into reality. Buying and planting too many plants at one time requires a lot of money and time. And so, you can add plants step by step, at the same time adjusting the plan along the way.

Path design

Having planned the paths, you still need to choose the material from which they will be made. The standard approach is paving slabs, but it requires a lot of money, although the coating is reliable and comfortable. If finances are tight, you can temporarily. Some of them require little money, but they look great and are good to use.

You can plant low-growing shrubs along the edge of the paths - make it low-growing. If you have no time to wait until the shrub grows, plant low-growing varieties colors. They come in different heights, colors and flowering times.

The second often built-in design option for places along paths is flower beds. And, again, they can be made “in a modern way” - against the background of backfilling with crushed stone or mulch. This cannot be called a rockery, although the idea was taken from there.

Backyard

All theoretical calculations about landscape design of the yard were, in fact, about how to arrange the backyard. It is this part of the courtyard that is closed from prying eyes and it is here that you want it to be beautiful, cozy and comfortable. We won’t talk about planning again, but we’ll talk about how and what is the best way to pave this area.

If you are planning to backyard paradise - you have no problems. Plants, lawns, paths, everything will be described, how and what to do is clear. But if you want to make a recreation area here so that you can put a table for the summer, lounge chairs to lie in the sun, maybe install a pool? What should the backyard cover be like then? There are options:

• Lawn. This great option, if the level groundwater low, the soil drains water well or the site is well-drained. If not, there will be puddles, mud, problems with the grass.

  For some, comfort is tall grass. A barbecue area at the far end of the yard is reasonable. In the backyard of a private house, you can arrange a waterfall, and also a brick barbecue. The most natural landscape is possible.

• Lay down paving slabs or pave everything with flagstone - a good option even for clay soils with a high groundwater level, easy to maintain. But he is too “urban”, tough and unforgiving.
• Combine lawn with tiles. A very correct approach. It’s comfortable, and beautiful, and there’s not much dirt, and there’s room to walk around barefoot.

As you can see, there are three options, but there are thousands, or even more ways to implement them. Different styles decorations, various plants, combinations of materials, furniture, decorations, ponds/fountains/benches/swings. It’s impossible to count everything. All this allows you to create your own yard. Individual and different from others.

Just a photo

Fencing off a recreation area is an ideal solution for many

Rules for selecting plants: the highest ones are near a wall or fence, further away - lower

The courtyard of a private house with a fountain and a stream - stylish and beautiful

Beautiful paths are not always difficult and expensive

Recreational flooring can be made of planks or planken, a polymer similar to wood.

Retaining walls - difficult and expensive, but unusual and beautiful

To achieve a compositional idyll on a personal plot, it is not enough to simply build a luxurious house - it is equally important to beautifully and functionally design the area around it. Planning the yard of a private house is a very responsible process, since you need to take care of the correct placement of both economic and technical facilities, as well as places for recreation and entertainment. Is there anything worth missing out on? initial stage arrangement - and correcting the shortcomings will then take a lot of time and money.

What to consider when planning

The first thing you need to do when planning your yard is to make a list of required and desired objects. Technical and utility buildings can be called obligatory, without which it is impossible to ensure comfortable living for people, and desirable ones usually include all decorative delights designed to improve the territory and give it an aesthetic and attractive appearance.

• garage or parking for at least 2 cars (even if the family does not yet own a car - think about the future or about guests who will come for visits);
• outbuildings (guest houses, workshops, summer kitchens, premises for pets, etc.);
• access roads to the garage, paths for movement around the territory;
• yard lighting system;
• places and areas for recreation and entertainment (for example, gazebo, sauna, swimming pool, party area, active games, sports, a place for a stationary barbecue or pitching a tent in the summer);
• green spaces: vegetable garden or vegetable beds, decorative flower beds, fruity or decorative garden;
• other landscape design objects: fountains, artificial waterfalls, ponds, sculptural compositions, etc.

Even if the family does not have a car, a parking space should be provided

General requirements for landscaping a yard

In addition to the wishes of the owner, in the design of the courtyard area it is imperative to adhere to the construction and sanitary standards for the improvement of courtyards, including on private plots. This will help to avoid all sorts of inconveniences, problems with neighbors and government surveillance services.

Rules for the placement of residential buildings

Quite strict requirements exist in relation to the location of residential buildings and other architectural objects relative to the boundaries of the site.

A residential building, as well as a guest house, must be located at a distance of at least 3 m from the border of the yard, and if there is a highway immediately beyond its borders, then at least 6 m. This is done to protect residents from excess dust, exhaust gases, unnecessary noise.

The layout of the courtyard of a private house in the village is somewhat different from city courtyards. Mainly due to the fact that villagers very often raise and breed domestic animals, building on the territory personal plot special rooms for them. According to architectural standards, as well as out of respect for neighbors, such buildings for livestock or poultry are erected no less than 4 m from the neighbor’s fence, other utility structures - at a distance of 1 m.

Features of the location of green spaces

It is customary to plant tall and large trees no closer than 3 m from the demarcation fence, so that their branches and roots do not create inconvenience to the owners of the neighboring plot. For the same reasons, the norm for medium-sized trees is 2 m, for shrubs – 1 m. These standards should definitely be taken into account when arranging hedges to mark the boundaries of the yard.

It is advisable to coordinate this issue with your neighbors in advance, including discussing the type of plants that are planned to be used to create a green fence (some types of plants can cause allergies or asthma attacks).

Layout of a plot with a garden

Sanitary and hygienic planning standards

The following standards regarding the location of objects in the yard are designed to ensure a comfortable and safe existence, as well as basic hygiene:

• if the toilet is located on the street and not inside the house, then it is built 20 m from the residential building. In this case, the distance from the toilet to the neighbors’ homes should be similar;
• bathhouse or sauna, equipped in separate room, must be located at a distance of 5 m from a residential or guest house;
• the well cannot be dug next to compost, cesspools, toilet or cattle pen. The optimal distance of the water source from such objects is 20 m;
• It is better to remove premises for keeping animals at least 15 m from the house.

Even in small courtyard it is necessary to provide a rest area

Layout of the yard of a private house of 6 acres is the most difficult task in creating landscape design, since, in addition to the house, you always want to arrange a full-fledged parking space, a corner for relaxing on fresh air, make a flower bed, plant a couple fruit trees or beds with spices.

To facilitate the planning process, the yard should be divided into 3 mandatory zones:

• residential and outbuildings;
• green area (garden, vegetable garden);
• rest zone.

An example of successful placement of all necessary zones on a site

It is very important, even at the stage of laying the foundation of a residential building, to choose a place for it so that the shadow from the building does not fall on the main part of the site, otherwise in the future there will be a problem with growing vegetation. The ideal option is to erect a building in the northern part of the yard.

It is better to place utility rooms or a greenhouse there. If the site is planned to be divided Orchard, then the trees should be located in the direction from north to south, maintaining a distance between seedlings of at least 3 m, otherwise, over time, the overgrown trees will form a dense cover with their crowns, preventing normal natural lighting of the area.

The layout of the courtyard of a private house in the photo below is one example of the ideal placement of all the most necessary objects in a small area.

The most practical option for arranging small yards is geometric. It allows you to economically use every centimeter of land.

When arranging a narrow yard, it is better to use round shapes

Ideas for arranging areas of non-standard shapes

It often happens that the courtyard around the house has an irregular shape (triangle, truncated trapezoid, rhombus, etc.). This may immediately seem like a problem, but with a balanced and thoughtful approach to planning, this disadvantage can be smoothed out and even turned into an advantage.

For example, in sharp corners you can hide utility rooms, barns, animal pens or compost pits, where they will not attract attention so much. Sharp corners can be fenced off with hedges, placing seating areas behind them.

It is better to divide a narrow long yard in half with a house, placing all other elements on both sides of it. At the same time, when designing paths, flower beds, and green spaces, it is better to use rounded shapes. Winding paths are very helpful in such a situation, as they visually make the yard wider.

If the yard has a round or oval shape, it is not at all necessary to place the house in its center. Shifting the building towards the edge of the site will visually increase its size even more.

You need to plan your yard before any activities begin. construction work, since in the process of arrangement, to provide lighting or equipment for additional buildings, it may be necessary to provide communications and adjust the relief, which is quite difficult to do when the site is practically already decorated.

The presence of a personal plot opens ample opportunities for implementation different ideas. In a beautiful frame the main thing will look impressive. The territory can be marked for recreation and recreation for adults. Qualified landscaping of the territory of a private house will help increase the level of comfort and successfully solve a number of practical problems.

Read in the article

Landscape design of the courtyard of a private house: photos and comments

To simplify the formulation of your own wishes and preparation of technical specifications, you need to familiarize yourself with implemented projects. The following examples in the photo are accompanied by comments that explain individual solutions.

This technology allows you to create a reliable coating with your own hands that provides good protection of the foundation from moisture. Install behind the outer edge. Reinforcement is used to strengthen the structure.

Reinforced concrete products are durable. They are able to perform their functions for decades without damage. But over large areas such coatings do not look expressive enough. We should not forget that this technique involves “wet” labor-intensive processes. To provide high quality you will have to carry out work at air temperatures above 0°C, in dry weather.

For your information! Yard surfaces made from asphalt mixtures are not recommended. Vapors from petrochemical products can have negative impact on human health.

In this photo, concrete imitates painted natural wood. The original relief looks impressive on sites of different sizes. It prevents slipping, so it is useful for outdoor use. Factory in-depth application of dyes is characterized by increased resistance to wear.

Paving with such products is suitable for pedestrian paths, driveways, and parking lots. If necessary, it can be performed in difficult weather conditions, immediately or in stages. A layer of paving stones is created on a bed of compacted gravel and sand with a slight slope to the side. An additional advantage of this technology is good maintainability.

Sandstone, as in the photo, is cheaper than granite. Its rough surface provides high level safety when walking in the rain.

1 of 6

For your information! It is easier to figure out how to pave the area if you take into account the future use. If increased mechanical loads are expected, more resistant materials are chosen.

Landscaping and landscaping

There are no special GOST standards for creating a plot of land near a private house. Necessary activities You have to plan the beautification of the local area yourself. Accept correct solution The following examples and photos with recommendations will help.

For your information! To figure out how to plant a house garden correctly, in addition to plant parameters, you need to take into account additional important factors. You should consider the location of flower beds and the design of relevant structures, the laying of water supply, drainage, and electrical networks. Complex preliminary analysis will help optimize the project summer cottage, accurately calculate cost estimates.

Related article:

An ideal solution for fencing an area that will not only serve protective functions, but also to delight the eye with its beauty and shape. How to choose plants, what are the nuances in planting and caring for them - read in our article.

Flower beds in the courtyard of a private house: photos and examples

You can create a documentation package yourself. In any case, it should contain answers to the following questions:

• How to beautifully plant flowers in the yard so that they look good from important vantage points (entrance area, recreation area, from the windows of a residential building).
• What to plant to ensure uniform flowering succession and create expressive compositions throughout the season.
• What flowers suit general style design.
• How to arrange network engineering, passages for relief.

Plants for the yard in a private house are selected taking into account exact location disembarkation

For your information! To study implemented ideas, use thematic photos that are not difficult to find on the Internet. When studying different options the complexity of the work and the reality of repetition should be assessed technological processes on our own without unnecessary labor and money costs.

Article

If you are the owner country cottage or a private house located within the city, you understand perfectly well that the matter does not end with arranging your home. A lot of time, effort and money goes into effectively and beautifully decorating the area adjacent to the house. Nowadays, landscape design has been heard of even in the most remote villages. But not all of our compatriots will agree that the time for beds laid out throughout the entire plot of land has passed, giving way to alpine slides, fountains and artificial ponds in oriental style.

Most owners of private houses (both within the city and beyond) choose the option of decorating the area adjacent to their home, but with a functional background. In order for your work to be translated into a harmonious, beautiful and practical landscape design that will delight you and your family all year round, you need to approach planning with the utmost seriousness. Fortunately, there is now more than enough information on this topic. Equip private territory It is possible with a minimum of financial costs, but you will have to spend a lot of time and effort. To maintain the beauty of your site, you will need to find opportunities and pay attention to plants, buildings, ponds and even garden furniture.

Planning the beauty of the yard

The yard around a city private house or country cottage is an adjacent area that welcomes not only the owners after a hard day (or week, in the case of country estates), but also their guests. We can safely say that the impression of homeowners begins to form at the first glance at the design of a personal plot or yard.

Before you start planning your landscape design, decide what “ beautiful yard"? How would you like to see it? Is it important for you to amaze your neighbors and guests with the splendor of your yard design, or do you put practicality and convenience at the forefront? What is your lifestyle, do you have children and pets, do guests often gather for barbecues and barbecues, do you have evening gatherings in the fresh air? The set of “scenery” for your private yard largely depends on the answers to these questions. Taking into account at the initial planning stage many nuances of the further operation of your site, you will save not only money, but also time for subsequent alterations, reconstruction and corrections.

Of course, the landscape design of your yard will largely depend on its size. If the territory is large, then the flight of your imagination will be limited only by financial capabilities and features of the territory’s landscape, soil type and location in relation to the cardinal directions. But if we are talking about a small backyard of a city private house, then in this case it is necessary to set clear priorities. On a few square meters it will be difficult to place a playground, a place for barbecue, a patio for relaxation, and large flower bed with flowers.

Having worked optimal plan creating landscape design - go to the area and mark the exact location of all objects (gazebos, flower beds, rock gardens, ponds and patios). For simplicity, experts recommend dividing the entire area into squares. Each such segment will have a key figure - a building or decorative element. This way it’s easier to evenly distribute all planned landscape design items and create a balanced appearance plot.

Before starting construction work (if any is planned), it is necessary to check the condition of the territory. If segments of water accumulation are found, install drainage. At the same stage, all communications necessary for watering plants and operating artificial reservoirs, fountains and waterfalls are laid.

Paths, steps and flower beds

Garden paths are an integral part of any landscape design. In addition to their main goal - organizing safe movement around the site, paths perform the functions of zoning and decorating the territory.

Garden paths can be laid out from large but flat stones, concrete slabs, clinker or ordinary bricks, cobblestones, covered with fine gravel or pebbles, fencing with special low borders. By combining track materials, you can get not only the necessary functionality, but also decorative decoration garden or yard.

Landscape design and geometry are inextricably linked. For some, harmony and balance in environment seen in smooth lines, rounded shapes, winding paths and oval flower beds. Some people need rigor and clarity - direct garden paths, as companions from point A to point B, strict forms of bushes, trimmed with what is called a “ruler” and absolutely smooth lawn. Only the owners know what plants and tree shapes will be able to caress their eyes and bring calm and balance to their mood.

It is better to plan the planting of flowers in flower beds or garden tubs in such a way that the flowering of some is replaced by the flowering of other varieties. In this case, your yard will be able to delight you and your family with bright colors throughout the warm season (in most regions of our country - this is approximately from mid-April to early October).

If the landscape of your site involves some hilliness, then instead of fighting nature, creating artificial embankments and leveling slopes, you can succumb to the natural arrangement of hills and lowlands and build beautiful steps that can act as a focal point, attracting everyone's attention.

Artificial ponds on the site, fountains and cascades

It’s rare that an oriental landscape design is complete without a small artificial pond or a small source of water. And as we know, all European and American landscape designers, and our compatriots as well, draw inspiration from the founders of the art of bringing beauty and harmony into the territory surrounding the house - the eastern peoples.

Japanese masters consider water not only the source of life, but also, together with the earth, a symbol of harmony and balance of all living things. Organizing an artificial reservoir on a site is not easy; you will need to contact specialists, study the features of the soil and landscape in order to choose the right place, conduct communications and subsequently tirelessly take care of the proper functioning of the fountain or cascade. But all the effort, work and money spent will pay off when you can watch the fish in your artificial pond or watch the water flow into a small tank.

Efficient lighting system for a private yard

Lighting the territory of a private yard is not only a matter of extending the time of communication with the surrounding nature, but also a priority of safety. A well-thought-out and harmonious lighting system will allow you to calmly move around the site in the dark, be on the patio and enjoy the illumination of decorative items in your yard landscape design that are especially significant to you.

First of all, think about it functional lighting– illumination of the facade of the house and additional buildings, the entrance to the garage or parking lot, the main entrance. Experts recommend placing lighting fixtures in such a way that the outlines of the perimeter of your yard are visible and illuminated possible ways moving around the site - garden paths, steps.

Next, you can begin to develop a decorative lighting plan. You can create lighting near the flower bed, garden sculpture, rock garden or pond. Trees and shrubs are illuminated using LED strips, so-called “lighting without lanterns.”

Lamps can be built into the spaces between the degrees, but this point must be considered at the initial stage of designing the location of landscape design objects. Currently, there are many lighting devices that operate on miniature storage batteries that draw energy from sunlight. You will not have to spend money on electricity bills; the dim light of energy-saving lamps will be enough for safe movement along the paths of the site.

Even on small area you can find a corner for organizing a relaxation area with the possibility of cooking over an open fire. Agree, it is unfair to deny yourself the opportunity to invite friends for a barbecue while living in a private house with a yard, even if it is located in the city center.

A round hearth serves as an excellent focal point around which garden furniture (chairs or small sofas), paths are formed and plants are planted. Beam system layout in this case will be most advantageous.

An outdoor fireplace or large stove made of stone will not only be a functional embodiment of cooking various dishes over an open fire, but will also form a relaxing place where you can simply relax, watching the flames in the hearth.

Outdoor or covered dining area

To install a dining group you need very little space. You just need to purchase a table and chairs (or mini-chairs) to be able to dine outdoors.

But if you have the opportunity to organize a covered shed for dining area on the site, then in this case your plans will not be affected by bad weather conditions. In hot weather, you and your family or guests will be protected from the sun; in rainy weather, you can safely continue lunch or dinner.

How to Design a Small Backyard

Very often, urban private houses cannot boast of having a large surrounding area. Usually in front of the house there is a place to park a car or arrange a garage, and all areas for recreation, games and cooking in the fresh air have to be moved to the backyard, the size of which is very limited.

In this case, it will be effective to place a wooden platform or deck as the basis for arranging a patio or outdoor dining area. Perennials in bulk flower beds along the perimeter of the territory or near the fence will not only decorate your backyard, but will also hide your area from prying eyes.

Next, all you have to do is choose garden furniture that will serve as a place to relax or eat outdoors. Outdoor furniture can be portable or stationary. Usually, solid stone or wooden furniture is used as stationary furniture, but for small courtyards without awnings this option is not the best option. It is better to give preference to folding furniture that you can hide in the pantry or attic when cold weather sets in.

Currently, there are many options for garden furniture to suit every taste and wallet size. The most popular among our compatriots is outdoor furniture made of plastic ( affordable price and ease of transportation) and artificial rattan (looks respectable and expensive). But there are many models made of wood, forged metal, stone and even bamboo. The choice of furniture for a private patio will depend on your financial capabilities, frequency of use and ability to care for the furniture. For example, plastic furniture can be washed with a hose, but rattan products are very dependent on moisture. Forged chairs and tables need to be tinted every 2-3 years, and wooden furniture needs to be impregnated with oil and coated with varnish or protective antiseptics.

Decorating your backyard may become a hedge. In addition to the main purpose - fencing the territory and protecting against the entry of strangers, the fence can also serve a decorative function. Its frame can serve as a basis for the arrangement of weaving plants, forming a combined hedge, or the design of the fence itself can stand out against the general background of the landscape design.

An unusual fence design or its bright color will bring a positive mood not only to the recreation area, but also to the entire backyard area. Furniture or soft fillings matched to the color of the fence will create a harmonious patio with an attractive appearance.

The backyard area, in addition to the option with a wooden platform, can be laid out with concrete or stone slabs, covered with fine gravel or decorative pebbles, delineating the boundaries with low borders or metal (polycarbonate) boundaries. But in the case of loose flooring, you must be prepared to constantly add material and level it over the area.

Organizing a dining area on a wooden platform is one of the most common options for using a small backyard area. What could be better than a meal with family or friends and family in the fresh air? In such an environment, the appetite is better and the food tastes better.

For an outdoor dining area, it is better to use light but stable furniture that you can bring under a canopy or even indoors and store in winter period time. But in addition to the design and material of garden furniture, the design of the products, their color and texture also matters. If the entire composition of the dining area is designed in similar colors, the place for eating will delight and soothe, creating a peaceful atmosphere. If you decide to use bright, accent pieces of furniture or decor, then the decor of the dining area will become tonic, charging with optimism and good mood. It all depends on the temperament of the homeowners and the result they want to get from their stay in the backyard.

In addition to organizing a place for relaxation or a dining area, you can place a segment for preparing kebabs and barbecues in the backyard. Whether it will be a stationary fireplace, a portable grill, a real Russian oven or just a large grill - it all depends on your preferences and the size of the yard. But in any case, you will need to take care of seating near the fire and a table that will serve many functions.