This modestly sized backyard features a compact swimming pool design and a whimsical swing area for the kids. A soft lawn gives the children room to roll around and enjoy a picnic.

Contemporary architecture calls for a sleek and stylish backyard. This sharp, modern exterior includes a swimming pool with a sun shelf.

Don’t forget to set the soundtrack for your tranquil garden oasis. Install a modern water feature to hear the soothing rush of water while you sip on a mojito and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

A naturalistic pool design fits right into the meandering landscape that surrounds this elegant home design. A couple of comfortable chairs and a small coffee table are placed alongside to create a cute conversation area.

Even small waterways have a transformative impact on the landscape. This brief water feature is speckled with lily pads, building a pretty pause in the pebbled floor.

Tiered terraces can be a challenge but constraints breed creativity. Work with your stepped terrain to create a cascading water feature that complements the steep ascent.

These built-in borders offer another attractive solution for sloped topography. Their clean-cut concrete sides echo the modern architecture of the home, while the pristine topiary sculpts a beautiful vista.

Discover the sunniest spot in your backyard, then install an outdoor deck to set the stage for hours of entertaining or relaxation. Be sure to add a parasol for when the sun is at its most fierce.

Break up long, narrow backyard layouts with an assortment of paving slabs. Use different stones and sizes to distract the eye from the corridor-like constraints.

Look at modern, linear patterns to inspire a striking patio design with personality. Soften the hard outline with soft grasses and bushy shrubs.

Why not use your outdoor space as an extension of your pantry? Construct a raised vegetable patch and grow rows of your favorite and most purchased foods.

Meld an outdoor dining area with a concrete terrace by choosing a concrete table and a custom bench. Tall grasses, mature trees, and climbing plants gracefully soothe the manmade aesthetic.

Gain shade on the patio with a strategically placed pergola. Plant a plethora of plant species to cultivate a wild border.

This modern patio design features a cool conversation pit; a cozy spot to while away long hours well into the evening.

Construct a welcoming ambiance with warm wood-toned elements that counteract concrete paving. Finish off with a thoughtful outdoor lighting plan that creates a welcoming mood and supports safe footing.

Colorful accent walls aren’t just for the inside of the home. Break up a plain outdoor living area with bright feature panels and imaginative wall decor.

Go all out with a sculpture garden to create a cultured space for discerning guests. A perfectly mowed lawn draws the eye toward the art display.

Linear sections neatly zone this restful backyard. Concrete paving stones make light contrast with an emerald lawn and a pretty lily pad pool.

Elevate a formal garden with your very own hedge maze. It will keep kids–and the young at heart–pleasantly amused at your next garden party.

An outdoor fireplace makes a dreamy place to snuggle up under the stars. Grab a couple of outdoor poufs to put your feet up and put the world to rights.

Install a vertical water feature to make a magical backdrop for an al fresco eating area. This chic modern waterfall wall wonderfully reflects sunlight in its outpour.

Get creative with LED strips to highlight key planting areas, built-in benches, and planters.

Create an intimate feel with high hedges, border trees, and an explosion of flourishing flowering plants.

Use string lights to give an outdoor dining room a festive feel.

In this outdoor dining room, rattan pendant lights are gathered to construct a large focal point with a natural feel.

A traditional stone pavilion gives a well-manicured garden a regal feel.

Fashion a zen Japanese space with a karesansui garden, where you can while away your time and release your troubles as you peacefully score the gravel.

Complement your Japanese zen garden with precise borders and uniform planting.

Give a garden staircase a weightless design with cantilevered treads that hover over a body of water.

Embrace the calming power of symmetry with mirror image trees, aligned paving slabs and patios, and a perfectly central living area or dining space. This symmetrical design continues into an outdoor kitchen, where matching shelving towers flank each side of the prep area.

Rewild your garden to encourage wildlife to grace your space. Think freeform ponds, cascading water, rocky borders, and lush plants.

Enhance your backyard with a garden water bowl, a serene water feature that offers relaxation and serves as a drinking spot for birds.

Another take on the water bowl, this time set into a modern concrete border.

Transform your garden into a tranquil haven by adding a charming tea room. Experience the joy of sipping tea amidst nature, surrounded by calming greenery.

Maximize the beauty of a narrow backyard by threading a thin pond through its center.

Enrich your backyard landscape with a serene reflection pool complemented by a captivating sculptural element. This harmonious pairing adds a touch of refinement, creating an attention-grabbing focal point that makes your space unique.

Craft a captivating terrace adorned with linear water features that gracefully echo through the landscape. This exquisite design element brings a sense of harmony and a touch of sophistication to your outdoor space.

Turn your garden into a wonderland of sights and sounds with a petite, illuminated waterfall that playfully cascades into a dainty pool.

Make room for fun with a sand-filled volleyball court. The losing team has to mix the next round of cocktails.

If volleyball sounds like too much physical exertion, put your brain into action with a giant garden chess board.

Golf lovers will love this personal putting green, which includes hilly terrain, a moment in the sand, and tricky borders to conquer. Just don’t get mad and wallop the ball over the side; it’s a long way down.

Tiptoe over stepping stones toward a dedicated sun lounging area or the summer house.

SInk a conversation pit into your lawn to bring greenery rushing up to your eye line. See more inspiration for conversation pits.

Light up the night with a glowing arrangement of exterior lights that thread around the edges of paving stones and buzz through plant borders like a sparkle of fireflies.

Emblazon your backyard with bursts of vibrant color, like the fiery red flowers that thrive within these smartly hedged beds. A small tree adds height to the heart of each area. Fresh white outdoor furniture counterbalances the more colorful elements of the landscape. A hot tub adds a splash of fun.

A swimming pool with a baja step creates a useful additional area in which swimmers can rest or play. Tropical planting adds blissful shade around the borders of a sunny pool area, which extends the time that you and your guests can enjoy the water.

Fashion an inviting walkway around a stunning tree with rest areas along the way. Try creating an interesting incline with low steps to break up the ascent.

Make outdoor seating blend with the natural landscape. This driftwood bench makes a natural, sculptural moment beside enchanting vertical garden walls.

Build a multi-level garden space with an elevated terrace and a blooming floral stairwell. An understair courtyard completes the look.

This multi-level backyard features an inviting lounge area across its lower level and a sociable dining space up top. A modern fenced perimeter wraps the entire space in a rich, visually warming wood tone.

Extend a small decked area into your garden pond design to create the illusion of a floating raft. This concept works beautifully with a naturalistic swimming pond.