We bought this house largely for the backyard nearly two years ago, and until now we hadn’t done much with it. That’s changing fast: plants are arriving, tile is going down, and a pergola is being built. After several budget revisions and lots of decisions, here’s the final plan for the yard divided into its three main zones.
Renovating the interior of our home felt predictable and came in close to budget, but the backyard surprised us — even pared-back plans cost far more than we expected. The yard is organized into three zones: an outdoor dining area, a lounge with a fire pit, and a kids’ play area. Before diving into those, here’s how we approached plants and landscaping.
Plant Plans + Landscaping
I’m not a natural with plants, so we hired landscape designer Rachael of Upcountry Design to develop a plan that balances aesthetics, practicality, and safety for kids. The yard had a mix of random plantings and several dead or problematic trees. Rachael’s plan kept useful shade trees, removed the unhealthy ones, and simplified the layout for a cleaner, low-maintenance result.
Most of the lawn will be turf to keep maintenance low and create an easy play surface. Turf can run hot in direct sun, so we may add a shade sail later if needed. To reduce costs, the lounge area will use decomposed granite instead of turf. Around the yard perimeter we’re planting a mix of bird of paradise, asparagus fern, agave, philodendron selloum and other durable, kid-safe species, plus a lemon tree for fruit and personality.
With the planting plan in place, here’s how the yard breaks down into zones.
Our Outdoor Dining Area Plans
The property includes a very large patio that expands our entertaining footprint beyond the small indoor dining room. We removed an old, rotting pergola, relocated the washer and dryer that used to sit on the patio, and demoed the existing stone surface to start fresh.
We’re constructing a new pergola and a white-painted slatted privacy wall to screen the neighbor’s garage. The pergola roof will have beams with partial shading for sun control. For the patio floor we partnered with Zia Tile to install a bold black-and-white cement tile in a large-scale pattern — it suits this big, open area and gives instant character.
Under the pergola there will be a long dining table with benches and colorful cushions for entertaining. An outdoor grill will replace a planned built-in kitchen to keep costs down. I’m planning to hang lanterns above the table for evening ambiance and will finalize the layout as the build progresses.
Our Outdoor Lounge Area Plans
Behind the patio we’re building a lounge area where a nonfunctional hot tub used to sit. We removed the old tub and are replacing it with a natural gas fire pit, which we expect to use nightly. Surrounding the fire pit will be ample seating: a large sectional and additional chairs, layered with colorful pillows for comfort and style.
Kids Play Area Plans
The opposite side of the yard will serve as the kids’ play area. It’s well placed next to sliding doors that connect to our garage, which we’ll convert into an indoor playroom. Together the indoor and outdoor spaces will allow easy indoor/outdoor play supervision.
The play area will mostly remain turf so it can serve multiple uses — sports, a splash pad, or outdoor movie seating. We’re also searching for a compact, attractive swing or play set that’s practical and safe; if we don’t find the right option this phase may be revisited later.
A Peek At The Elements We’re Using
Design-wise we’re leaning into neutral textures with bold color accents for cushions and accessories. Below is a preview of the visual inspiration and some of the elements we’ll incorporate to pull the whole backyard together.
Key pieces include lanterns, a hammock, an outdoor sectional, rattan seating, a fire pit, woven benches, a white-washed table, and the black-and-white cement tile on the patio. Together these elements will create layered, livable outdoor rooms that feel like an extension of our home.
We’re excited to expand our usable square footage and create a backyard that supports daily life with an active toddler and plenty of entertaining. Stay tuned for the full reveal as the project wraps up!