The 10 Most Popular Yard Tours From 2021
The most-read stories about yard makeovers show how homeowners are making the most of their outdoor spaces
From sleek, modern patios with a resort vibe to plant-filled destinations reminiscent of hidden gardens, homeowners are combining personal style and serious functionality in their outdoor spaces. Check out the following countdown of the most-read yard tours to discover ideas you can use in your own design.
9. Poolside Face-Lift
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their daughter
Location: Haddonfield, New Jersey
Lot size: About half an acre
Designer and builder: Ledden Palimeno Landscape
The pool in this New Jersey backyard was in great shape, but everything else needed help. Designer Joe Palimeno removed plantings next to the house to create a small sunny spot for two chaises. On the other side of the pool, a larger paved space holds chairs sheltered by oversize umbrellas. Palimeno also added a waterfall feature at one end of the pool. A new small deck houses an integrated grilling station.
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Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their daughter
Location: Haddonfield, New Jersey
Lot size: About half an acre
Designer and builder: Ledden Palimeno Landscape
The pool in this New Jersey backyard was in great shape, but everything else needed help. Designer Joe Palimeno removed plantings next to the house to create a small sunny spot for two chaises. On the other side of the pool, a larger paved space holds chairs sheltered by oversize umbrellas. Palimeno also added a waterfall feature at one end of the pool. A new small deck houses an integrated grilling station.
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8. Fire Feature Focus
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A young family with a teenage son
Location: Dana Point, California
Size: 950-square-foot (88-square-meter) front yard; 2,680-square-foot (249-square-meter) backyard
Designer: Living Gardens Landscape Design
The designers at Living Gardens Landscape Design gave a Southern California family an updated space that’s warm, welcoming and perfect for entertaining. One of the top priorities was a fire feature with seating; a new stucco-finished gas fire feature with a hearth wide enough to sit on fits the bill. Dimmable cafe lights over the fireside lounge add evening ambiance.
A nearby deck is perfect for lounging. Directly opposite, on the other side of the newly installed pool and next to the house, is an outdoor dining area with a kitchen. It has overhead louvers that can be opened to allow the sun in or closed to provide shade or keep out the rain.
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Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A young family with a teenage son
Location: Dana Point, California
Size: 950-square-foot (88-square-meter) front yard; 2,680-square-foot (249-square-meter) backyard
Designer: Living Gardens Landscape Design
The designers at Living Gardens Landscape Design gave a Southern California family an updated space that’s warm, welcoming and perfect for entertaining. One of the top priorities was a fire feature with seating; a new stucco-finished gas fire feature with a hearth wide enough to sit on fits the bill. Dimmable cafe lights over the fireside lounge add evening ambiance.
A nearby deck is perfect for lounging. Directly opposite, on the other side of the newly installed pool and next to the house, is an outdoor dining area with a kitchen. It has overhead louvers that can be opened to allow the sun in or closed to provide shade or keep out the rain.
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7. Desert Elegance
Patio at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of three, with another child on the way
Location: Arcadia, Arizona
Size: 5,000-square-foot (464-square-meter) backyard; 100 feet long by 50 feet wide
Designer: Iconic Design+Build
Contractor: Unique Landscapes and Custom Pools
A young family asked designer Kaitlyn Wolfe to turn their plain and open backyard into a stylish, contemporary space that would feel like a resort. The redesign features a main living zone that sits under a wood pergola. The pergola is draped with a natural-hued performance fabric that blocks the hot Arizona sun, and misters attached to the overhead add another cooling element. A new gas fireplace anchors the space, which also includes built-in seating and an outdoor kitchen.
Wolfe’s team added a covered patio next to the house, along with a pool, a spa and an outdoor shower. They also combined pavers with low-maintenance artificial turf that provides a soft surface for the kids and pets to play on.
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Patio at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of three, with another child on the way
Location: Arcadia, Arizona
Size: 5,000-square-foot (464-square-meter) backyard; 100 feet long by 50 feet wide
Designer: Iconic Design+Build
Contractor: Unique Landscapes and Custom Pools
A young family asked designer Kaitlyn Wolfe to turn their plain and open backyard into a stylish, contemporary space that would feel like a resort. The redesign features a main living zone that sits under a wood pergola. The pergola is draped with a natural-hued performance fabric that blocks the hot Arizona sun, and misters attached to the overhead add another cooling element. A new gas fireplace anchors the space, which also includes built-in seating and an outdoor kitchen.
Wolfe’s team added a covered patio next to the house, along with a pool, a spa and an outdoor shower. They also combined pavers with low-maintenance artificial turf that provides a soft surface for the kids and pets to play on.
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Shop for outdoor furniture on Houzz
6. Landscape Designer’s Dream Space
Garden at a Glance
Who lives here: Landscape designer Jay Sifford, who designed the landscape and installed the plants
Location: Near West Jefferson, North Carolina
Size: 1.4 acres
House design: Architect Jim Owen of DIGSdesign
Landscape designer Jay Sifford found his dream property in the North Carolina mountains about two years ago. He got busy working on the gardens immediately, turning the relatively flat area in front of the house into a meadow garden. He chose a variety of plants that would provide color and texture throughout the seasons, from junipers and pines to perennials and grasses.
Behind the house, steps lead down the steep slope to bogs and a stream. Sifford filled in empty areas between the native plants that line the stairway with ferns, sedge (Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’) and foamflower (Tiarella sp.).
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Garden at a Glance
Who lives here: Landscape designer Jay Sifford, who designed the landscape and installed the plants
Location: Near West Jefferson, North Carolina
Size: 1.4 acres
House design: Architect Jim Owen of DIGSdesign
Landscape designer Jay Sifford found his dream property in the North Carolina mountains about two years ago. He got busy working on the gardens immediately, turning the relatively flat area in front of the house into a meadow garden. He chose a variety of plants that would provide color and texture throughout the seasons, from junipers and pines to perennials and grasses.
Behind the house, steps lead down the steep slope to bogs and a stream. Sifford filled in empty areas between the native plants that line the stairway with ferns, sedge (Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’) and foamflower (Tiarella sp.).
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5. Space for Family, Friends and Wildlife
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with a young baby, who was born during construction
Location: Somerville, Massachusetts
Size: 2,000 square feet (186 square meters)
Landscape architect: Gilmore Landscape Architecture
Architect: Sarah Walker
General contractor: Harper Elm
The design team at Gilmore Landscape Architecture turned a backyard being used primarily for parking into a relaxing contemporary retreat the homeowners can enjoy with friends and family. The new deck at the back of this Somerville, Massachusetts, yard includes a built-in L-shaped sofa with a bench that flips up for storage. A freestanding fountain nestled in a niche to one side helps mask noise from a rails-to-trails path that runs past the back edge of the property. A small lawn bridges the space between the deck and the dining area next to the house.
The new plantings that complete the space are mostly native species chosen to help welcome beneficial wildlife. “She wanted her backyard to be a stopping point for birds,” landscape architect Robert Gilmore says of one of the homeowners.
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Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with a young baby, who was born during construction
Location: Somerville, Massachusetts
Size: 2,000 square feet (186 square meters)
Landscape architect: Gilmore Landscape Architecture
Architect: Sarah Walker
General contractor: Harper Elm
The design team at Gilmore Landscape Architecture turned a backyard being used primarily for parking into a relaxing contemporary retreat the homeowners can enjoy with friends and family. The new deck at the back of this Somerville, Massachusetts, yard includes a built-in L-shaped sofa with a bench that flips up for storage. A freestanding fountain nestled in a niche to one side helps mask noise from a rails-to-trails path that runs past the back edge of the property. A small lawn bridges the space between the deck and the dining area next to the house.
The new plantings that complete the space are mostly native species chosen to help welcome beneficial wildlife. “She wanted her backyard to be a stopping point for birds,” landscape architect Robert Gilmore says of one of the homeowners.
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4. Year-Round Outdoor Living
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 1,500 square feet (139 square meters); 60 by 25 feet
Designers: José Roberto Corea and Jeff Fletcher of Austin Outdoor Design
Two Pacific Northwest transplants in Austin, Texas, asked designers José Roberto Corea and Jeff Fletcher to transform their underused outdoor space into a year-round destination. Half of the compact space is now home to a dining area with a nearby outdoor kitchen, and a sunken lounge featuring built-in cantilevered benches and a midcentury fireplace.
On the other side of the yard, a 9-by-17½-foot plunge pool is the perfect spot for hanging out on a hot afternoon. “The pool maxes out at about 4½ feet [deep], so you can engage with the space beyond,” Corea says.
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Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 1,500 square feet (139 square meters); 60 by 25 feet
Designers: José Roberto Corea and Jeff Fletcher of Austin Outdoor Design
Two Pacific Northwest transplants in Austin, Texas, asked designers José Roberto Corea and Jeff Fletcher to transform their underused outdoor space into a year-round destination. Half of the compact space is now home to a dining area with a nearby outdoor kitchen, and a sunken lounge featuring built-in cantilevered benches and a midcentury fireplace.
On the other side of the yard, a 9-by-17½-foot plunge pool is the perfect spot for hanging out on a hot afternoon. “The pool maxes out at about 4½ feet [deep], so you can engage with the space beyond,” Corea says.
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3. Multifunctional Focus
Landscape at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a weekend retreat for a couple and their college-age children.
Location: On Lake Michigan near Port Washington, Wisconsin
Property size: About 3½ acres
Landscape architect and builder: Chris Miracle and Rob Holly of LandWorks
The owners of this lakefront weekend house had plenty of ideas for how they wanted to use their outdoor space, and they also wanted to honor the location’s spirit and the nature around them. The design team at LandWorks responded with a backyard bar and dining spot, seen here, along with an open lawn area for sports, a large meditative labyrinth and a multifunctional yoga studio. The different garden areas are scattered throughout the sprawling property. The team then used large sweeping planting beds to break up the huge expanses of outdoor space while still providing a connection to nature. The native, wildlife-attracting plants are low-maintenance and offer a natural palette that complements the surroundings.
See more photos of this yard
Landscape at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a weekend retreat for a couple and their college-age children.
Location: On Lake Michigan near Port Washington, Wisconsin
Property size: About 3½ acres
Landscape architect and builder: Chris Miracle and Rob Holly of LandWorks
The owners of this lakefront weekend house had plenty of ideas for how they wanted to use their outdoor space, and they also wanted to honor the location’s spirit and the nature around them. The design team at LandWorks responded with a backyard bar and dining spot, seen here, along with an open lawn area for sports, a large meditative labyrinth and a multifunctional yoga studio. The different garden areas are scattered throughout the sprawling property. The team then used large sweeping planting beds to break up the huge expanses of outdoor space while still providing a connection to nature. The native, wildlife-attracting plants are low-maintenance and offer a natural palette that complements the surroundings.
See more photos of this yard
2. Immersed in Plants
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with grown children
Location: Southwest London
Size: 1,120 square feet (104 square meters)
Designer: Joanne Bernstein Garden Design
A curving path that leads through this London backyard to an inviting patio with a borrowed view of adjacent trees is a far cry from the original lawn that ended at a run-down shed. Designer Joanne Bernstein also added drifts of perennials to fill in the rest of the space and softly spill over onto the path and patio. “The owners wanted a garden filled with plants — an immersive experience,” she says.
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Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with grown children
Location: Southwest London
Size: 1,120 square feet (104 square meters)
Designer: Joanne Bernstein Garden Design
A curving path that leads through this London backyard to an inviting patio with a borrowed view of adjacent trees is a far cry from the original lawn that ended at a run-down shed. Designer Joanne Bernstein also added drifts of perennials to fill in the rest of the space and softly spill over onto the path and patio. “The owners wanted a garden filled with plants — an immersive experience,” she says.
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1. Private Family Oasis
Yard at a Glance
Location: Denver
Size: 5,720 square feet (531 square meters); 65 by 88 feet
Designers and builders: Ashley Stevens and Jonathan Stevens of Evoke
These Denver homeowners looked to Ashley Stevens and Jonathan Stevens to turn their backyard into a space that the entire family, along with their friends, would want to spend time in. The resulting design features two large covered patios, one for dining and one for hanging out. A smaller grill area connects the two spaces, and a stunning custom water feature can be viewed from every corner of the yard. Dimmable lights that crisscross the yard, a dedicated kids’ space and planters for veggies and herbs complete the design. Lush plantings around the perimeter provide privacy.
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More on Houzz
Read more stories about landscape design
Browse outdoor photos
Find pros in your area
Shop for outdoor products on Houzz
Yard at a Glance
Location: Denver
Size: 5,720 square feet (531 square meters); 65 by 88 feet
Designers and builders: Ashley Stevens and Jonathan Stevens of Evoke
These Denver homeowners looked to Ashley Stevens and Jonathan Stevens to turn their backyard into a space that the entire family, along with their friends, would want to spend time in. The resulting design features two large covered patios, one for dining and one for hanging out. A smaller grill area connects the two spaces, and a stunning custom water feature can be viewed from every corner of the yard. Dimmable lights that crisscross the yard, a dedicated kids’ space and planters for veggies and herbs complete the design. Lush plantings around the perimeter provide privacy.
See more of this backyard
More on Houzz
Read more stories about landscape design
Browse outdoor photos
Find pros in your area
Shop for outdoor products on Houzz
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: Bea and Tom Schumacher
Location: Pasadena, California
Size: 4,570-square-foot (425-square-meter) backyard; 4,500-square-foot (418-square-meter) front yard; 700-square-foot (65-square-meter) parking strip
Design and build team: Isara Ongwiseth, lead designer, and John Cook, landscape installation manager, both of FormLA Landscaping
Homeowners Tom and Bea Schumacher worked with FormLA Landscaping to convert their backyard into a lush, low-water landscape of outdoor living rooms connected by a series of paths. The homeowners now enjoy outdoor meals on a gravel patio just off the back of the house. The new backyard also contains an outdoor kitchen, which includes a grill and a pizza oven. A separate fire pit area sits in one corner of the yard. And just outside the master bedroom, a spa lounge with a soaking tub and privacy walls offers a private retreat.
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