Welcome to another installment of Ask a Pro! Today Dream Team member and outdoor design expert Carson Arthur shows us how to transform a small townhouse backyard to a cozy space for dining and entertaining!
Q: How would you set up a small townhouse backyard that is approximately 16 feet wide and 11 feet deep? The fence on the far side is wrought iron fence with bushes in 2-foot border (not included in measurement). We would like this area to be cozy and inviting, and have space to eat outside. Lots of squirrels in neighborhood!
-Marcia A.
A: Pave it or deck it! The whole back space! If you try to section the space into areas, it will be too small to really make any kind of impact. By making the whole backyard into a beautiful patio, you will have lots of useable space. Invest in some big planters to add lots of greenery so that it doesn’t feel like a parking pad. Take advantage of the rod iron fence and put some vines in the planters which will climb on the fence and give you a little privacy. And the best part… useable space is a fantastic way to increase your home’s value! Check out the backyard I did. It was 18×18 and I decked the entire space. Do you miss the grass? Me neither!
-Carson A.