6 Ways to Make a Small Yard Feel Bigger

You might think leaving things as grassy as possible would be the best choice, but in a small space, you could be narrowing your options even further. Designer Marie Flanigan suggests opting for hardscape areas, which you can use for inviting seating arrangements. Bonus: less mowing and watering.

You can’t change your square footage, but you do have another dimension you can work with: height. “Incorporate overhead lighting, climbing vegetation or suspended seating like a porch swing,” Flanigan suggests. And if you’re starting from scratch, building in areas of different heights—like, say, steps leading down to a shady patio—can work wonders in transforming the space.

A less-is-more approach might seem like your best bet here, but “small furnishings can actually make a petite space feel shrunken and disjointed.” Figure out what you realistically have space for, whether it’s a couple chairs and a side table or a full dining set. The result should feel inviting and substantial.

Now’s not the time to indulge your love of vermilion: Bright colors can have a crowding effect. “A lighter, neutral color palette will contribute an airy serenity to even the smallest yard,” Flanigan says. For furniture, she recommends teak (which will patina gracefully over time) and simple hues like white and gray for any cushions or upholstery.

Make your outdoor space feel like an extension of your home (thereby making both spaces feel bigger) by incorporating elements like cushions, throw blankets and other cozy accessories. Rugs are especially useful for delineating different “rooms” within a space.

OK, while an oversized bouquet of cut flowers and fancy wicker lounge chairs won't create the illusion of more space, they will make your yard memorable, and by extension, a place you (and your guests) will want to spend time. And if you do feel like a pick-up ball game, there’s always the park.