10 Compact Decks, Patios and Porches for Making Memories

An enjoyable outdoor living space comes down to creating a memorable experience, regardless of square footage. From a soaking tub under the stars to a high-rise vegetable garden, these 10 compact outside areas u

25 Ideas to Perk Up Your Side Yard

Ah, the side yard. It’s often a neglected and sad alley where you stick air-conditioning units. But even if calling what’s along the side of your house “yard” is a stretch, there are plenty of things you can do

Porch Life: Step Into a Backyard Addition With Breezy Coastal Style

This family of six moved into a turnkey model home that was outfitted down to the towels and plates. But after about a month and a half of living in it, they realized it didn’t suit their lifestyle. They hired i

A ‘Medieval Contemporary’ Garden Takes the Silver at Chelsea

God’s Own County: A Garden for Yorkshire, a garden designed by Matthew Wilson for the Royal Horticultural Society’s 2016 Chelsea Flower Show, took the silver medal for its celebration of that British county’s we

A Sunken Urban Garden With a Contemporary Seating Area

Imagine returning home to this oasis of peace and tranquillity after a day at work in the city. That was the vision that inspired Australian garden designer Charlie Albone to create this tranquil show garden for

Terraces, New Plantings and Basketball Transform a D.C. Backyard

The owners of this house in Washington, D.C., knew they could get more from their backyard. See how they multiplied their outdoor fun by turning their awkward sloped lot into a stylishly expanded entertainment p

8 Ways to Grow More Plants in Small Spaces

Plants boost all gardens with their color, texture, seasonal interest and beauty. It can be a challenge to squeeze more plantings into a small space, so you must think creatively to design a compact garden that

Wild Countryside Evoked in a Garden of Memories

This beautiful, gold-medal-winning garden at the Royal Horticultural Society’s 2016 Chelsea Flower Show was designed by Chelsea regular Cleve West. It reflects the garden designer’s experience of living in Exmo

Florida Carriage House Gains 900 Square Feet of Outdoor Living Space

This vacation property in Key West, Florida, might not be the expansive estate we’ve come to expect with tropical retreats, but it more than brings the flavor of the Keys. “I refer to it as a little jewel box,”

How to Pick the Right Paving and Decking Material

While lawns have their place, at least part of the garden floor needs paving or some kind of hard surface to make it easy to move around in, and to create outdoor sitting and dining areas. In smaller gardens, ev

See 5 Unexpected Ways to Use Vines

Vines are special because they can grow in ways that shrubs and trees simply cannot. For this reason, vines have great potential to be long-term foundation plantings in the landscape and can be used in many diff

Unwind With 30 Gorgeous Garden Retreats

Close your eyes and imagine what your ultimate outdoor retreat looks like. Maybe it’s a secluded corner where you can be on your own, or a large shared space for gathering with friends. It might overlook a windi

Enjoy the Simple Beauty of a Backyard Rock Garden

Japanese-inspired rock gardens are a time-honored tradition. The basic idea is to take a rectangular plot of sand, scatter in some rocks and add minimal, but stylized, greenery. How the concept of the rock garde

How to Design a Meadow Garden Everyone Will Love

You’d like to evoke the spirit of a meadow in your garden bed or expanse of former lawn, but you don’t want it to appear weedy or messy, or grow higher than a jumbo jet. You know that to win over neighbors, it w

Native Plants Help You Find Your Garden Style

Gardening with plants native to your region is a powerful local choice that protects global biodiversity and creates an authentic sense of place. The design challenge with natives is ultimately one of imaginatio

25 Big Ideas for Smaller Patios

Expansive patios with built-in outdoor kitchens, fire pits, fountains, bars, living room-style furniture and even big TVs seem to dominate articles about backyard decor. That leaves some of us with smaller patio

The Joy of a Balcony: 16 Ideas for Your Little Slice of the Sky

If you’ve ever lived in a high-rise with no access to outdoor space, you know the value of even the smallest of balconies. Letting a good balcony go to waste is a shame. If you have one but find you never go out

Living Roofs Put Down Roots

By now we know that the first step to a sustainable home is insulation that maintains the interior at a comfortable temperature no matter how hot or cold it gets outside. The next step on the journey is water ma

England’s Most Famous Garden Designer Has These Tips for You

2016 is the Year of the English Garden. It commemorates the 300th anniversary of the birth of England’s most celebrated landscape designer, Lancelot “Capability” Brown. The 18th-century visionary was responsible

How to Turn an Ugly Wall Into a Feature

Unsightly walls bring down the look and feel of a garden. For large gardens, the view often can be fixed with plantings that screen the wall. However, an unattractive wall is often more imposing in smaller garde