One Backyard Makeover, Six Budgets

Yardzen’s mission is to deliver the most delightful landscape design and build experience available, and ultimately improve our clients’ quality of life by helping them spend more time in their outdoor spaces. One of the ways we do this is by providing unbiased information about landscape construction costs upfront to potential clients, so they have a better idea of the budget they need for the project they envision. 

Client’s backyard top view before Yardzen transformation

We also go through a budget exercise with all new clients during onboarding—and design their yard to that budget. We have landscape contractors with many years of experience on staff, and have reviewed countless landscaping estimates from our nationwide network of vetted landscaping contractors in our Pro Network. We don’t set installation costs, contractors do, but we share what we know from our wealth of firsthand experience around landscape installation costs to help clients plan a successful project. 

Potential clients frequently ask us what different budgets will afford them: “What will $10,000 get me?” or, “What does a $50,000 yard even look like?”. So, we tapped one of our top designers to design one yard at six different budgets, from $10,000 to $125,000. As you’ll see, budget can be exhausted quickly in landscape design, but with smart choices and good planning, you can make the most out of any budget.

Keep in mind that these estimates are if the landscape is installed top-to-bottom by a contractor. A majority of our clients phase large projects so that payments (and installation) are completed in manageable chunks over time. Many of our clients also choose to DIY certain small projects or features of larger projects as well, which would also bring down costs. Lastly, the following designs and budgets do not include the cost of any furniture pictured—furniture costs vary wildly depending on where they were purchased or if they are vintage finds vs new. Or it may cost nothing if you already own furniture!

THE HOMEOWNER’S EXISTING YARD

The “before” of this client yard. The client’s top priorities: overall refresh, more functional space, and replacing water-intensive lawn and plants.

Any landscape design or budget exercise starts with the existing yard. Gather all your backyard ideas and inspiration then take note of what you’d like to keep, remove, or add. This backyard’s primary existing features were:

• Junipers in corners

• Decorative rock garden

• Natural-shaped stepping stones

• Lawn (in struggling condition)

• Concrete steps off back door

• Concrete patio

A $10,000 BACKYARD MAKEOVER

Lower-budget projects like this rely on the strategic use of plants, gravel, and mulch. This budget does not allow for any construction, demolition, or new design elements, so it’s best to make the most of what they already have in the yard.

• Irrigation & site preparation
  $3,000

• Gravel pathway
  $500

• Planting
  $3,500

• Bark mulch
  $2,000

• Wood edging
  $1,000

The $10,000 design stays very simple, surrounding the existing patio and lawn with widely spaced new planting. Installation costs include fundamentals like irrigation and site preparation, along with necessary details like bark mulch and edging. Material costs are minimized: bark mulch for planting areas, gravel for the new path. Plants are purchased at smaller sizes, and vines and groundcover species spread widely to green things up while keeping plant quantities low. Notably, three young canopy trees replace the junipers; even with a restricted budget, trees are a priority investment.

A $20,000 BACKYARD MAKEOVER

• Prefab steppers
  $600

• Irrigation & site preparation
  $6,000

• Planting
  $8,500

• Bark mulch
  $2,000

• Wood edging
  $1,000

• Solo stove fire pit
  $700

• Gravel
  $2,000

• Water feature
  $1,800

• Electrical
  $1,400

The $20,000 design makes a big leap in planting density, and adds a second seating area, furnished with a Solo Stove and surfaced with gravel. A new prefab water feature tucks into the planting nearby, as do two additional trees. Across the yard, 2’x2’ prefab concrete pavers upgrade the gravel path. Installation costs include an expanded irrigation system and electrical connections for the water feature.

A $50,000 BACKYARD MAKEOVER

• Prefab 2’x2’ concrete pavers
  $600

• Irrigation & site prep
  $6,000

• Planting
  $4,500

• Bark mulch
  $2,000

• Steel edging
  $2,500

• Solo Stove fire pit
  $700

• Gravel between walkway
  pavers & for fire pit area
  $2,000

• Water feature
  $1,800

• Electrical
  $1,400

• Concrete demo
  $1,500

• Sand set paving
  $7,000

• Kitchen
  $5,500

• Gas line
  $2,000

• Lights
  $3,000

At $50,000, new herringbone pavers replace the old concrete patio and stairs, and a space-efficient G5 RTA outdoor kitchen drops into the patio’s north end. Basic black lights illuminate the path and seating areas, while edging upgrades to steel throughout the yard. Trees are now purchased at a more mature 24” box size, while several tall 15 gallon shrubs tuck along the north fenceline to improve privacy. Utility connections for the outdoor kitchen and lighting factor into installation costs.

A $75,000 BACKYARD MAKEOVER

• Prefab 2’x2’ concrete pavers
  $600

• Irrigation & site prep
  $7,500

• Planting
  $8,500

• Bark mulch
  $2,000

• Steel edging
  $2,500

• Solo Stove fire pit
  $700

• Gravel between walkway pavers
  & for fire pit area
  $2,000

• Water feature
  $1,800

• Electrical
  $3,000

• Kitchen
  $10,000

• Gas line
  $2,000

• Lights
  $3,000

• Deck
  $21,000

• Artificial turf
  $5,000

The $75,000 design trades the paver patio for a new TimberTech composite deck, complete with wraparound stairs and recessed step lighting. The deck expands beyond the footprint of the original patio, the better to accommodate a more expansive G7 RTA outdoor kitchen, spiffed up with more counter space and a mini-fridge. New artificial turf replaces the remaining patch of existing lawn.

A $100,000 BACKYARD MAKEOVER

• Custom poured-in-place concrete
  paver walkway
  $4,000

• Irrigation & site prep
  $7,500

• Planting
  $8,500

• Bark mulch
  $2,000

• Steel edging
  $2,500

• Custom hard-lined fire pit
  $4,000

• Gravel between walkway pavers
  & for patio
  $3,000

• Water feature
  $1,800

• Electrical
  $3,000

• Kitchen
  $17,000

• Gas line for kitchen & fire pit $3,000 

• Lighting
  $3,000

• Deck
  $21,000

• Artificial turf
  $5,000 

• Pergola
  $12,500

• Raised garden beds
  $2,200

At $100,000, the design adds a prefab pergola above the lower seating area, lit up by Edison string lights and a new custom fire pit with a hard-lined gas connection. Up on the deck, the kitchen upgrades again, subbing in a custom L-shaped design with an added sink. Both the lower gravel patio and artificial turf areas expand, with new custom raised vegetable beds tucking into the expanded gravel patio. The path swaps in larger, custom-poured concrete pavers.

A $125,000 BACKYARD MAKEOVER

• Custom poured-in-place concrete paver
  walkway & patio
  $14,000

• Irrigation & site prep
  $7,500

• Planting
  $8,500

• Bark mulch
  $2,000

• Steel edging
  $2,500

• Custom hard-lined fire pit
  $4,000

• River rock between pavers
  in walkway & patio
  $1,500

• Water feature
  $1,800

• Electrical
  $3,000

• Kitchen
  $17,000

• Gas line for kitchen & fire pit
  $3,000 

• Lighting
  $3,000

• Deck
  $21,000

• Artificial turf
  $5,000 

• Pergola
  $12,500

• Raised garden beds
  $2,200

• Hot tub
  $8,000

• Shower with small deck platform
  $8,500

The $125,000 backyard transformation further expands the lower patio, and re-paves it with oversized concrete squares. In place of gravel, decorative river rock laces between the paving in both the patio and the path. For a luxurious final touch, a new above-ground hot tub and adjacent outdoor shower nestle among plants at the lower patio’s north end. TimberTech stairs and ground-level decking, colored to match the upper deck, complement the hot tub and shower zone.

DESIGNING TO YOUR LANDSCAPING BUDGET

At Yardzen, we discuss your budget at the start of the landscape design process to minimize surprises when it comes time to build. We want to make sure our design team can personalize your yard, delivering a vision that includes what’s most important for your outdoor living space and unique environment—while keeping costs within range. We do this by utilizing our in-house Build Team made up of former contractors and our Pro Network of vetted professional landscapers across the country.

Ready to level up your home improvement and bring your backyard paradise to life with a professional landscape design? Create your design profile or explore our design packages today!

10 Reasons to Consider a Stock Tank Pool

Installing a private backyard pool doesn't have to break your outdoor renovation budget with a traditional ground swimming pool or above ground pool. Stock tank pools have been the rising star of social media and for good reason! Space-saving, water-wise, and budget-friendly, metal pools made of an inexpensive and durable stock tank provide maximum fun with minimal maintenance. Check out our top ten reasons why you should consider adding a stock tank pool to your backyard oasis.

Image Credit: Sarah Sherman Samuel

01 SPACE SAVING

Adding a stock tank pool to your renovation wishlist is the perfect solution for anyone looking to maximize limited outdoor space. Clocking in at eight feet in diameter, this small but functional oasis can help save significant square footage compared to a traditional pool size of eighteen by thirty-six feet. Their minimal footprint brings the same refreshment without taking over your entire backyard.

This Yardzen landscape design for a tiny home in Joshua Tree has a with pergola-covered living area and stock tank pool on a concrete paver patio.

02 LONG-LASTING

The stock tank's original purpose was to serve rough and tumble patrons, like cattle and horses, all while holding up to extreme weather conditions in the field. Galvanized metal stock tanks are built to last in the most unforgiving situations, so you can rest assured that your galvanized stock tank pool will host years and years of mini pool parties when properly cared for.

Image Credit: Arrows & Bows

03 BUDGET-FRIENDLY

If you're looking for a way to beat the heat without overextending your outdoor renovation budget, a stock tank can help check that box. The average cost of an in-ground pool installation can run between $35,000 to $55,000, depending on the size, location, and materials used. In stark comparison, finished installation of stock tanks offer a more manageable price tag from $600 if you plan to go the DIY stock tank pool route (there are a TON of tutorials online) or $2,000 to $5,000 for professional installation depending on the size and extras. The cost of the stock tank itself can be as little as $300 to $400 at a local farm supply store like Wilco or Tractor Supply Company, or online retailer like Amazon.

04 LESS WATER

Similar to water-saving xeriscaping , installing a stock tank pool instead of a swimming pool can help save thousands of dollars on your water bill. An eight-foot stock tank pool holds about seven hundred gallons of water compared to a whopping eighteen thousand to twenty thousand gallons required to fill up a traditional swimming pool. Don't forget to factor in regular top-offs in both style pools to account for evaporation!

Our stock tank pool and backyard design for our client in Oregon

05 QUICK INSTALLATION

With just a few supplies needed, a stock tank pool can be a relatively quick installation at about one to three days. Not to mention, an eight-foot stock tank can be filled up and ready for lounging in under an hour! A swimming pool install can take anywhere between six to twelve weeks and usually requires a water truck to fill.

06 LESS MAINTENACE

While stock tank pools aren't zero maintenance, they are certainly less than a traditional swimming pool. At minimum, stock tank pool owners should remove large debris when needed using a skimmer, and periodically drain and scrub down the interior to keep the tank buildup and algae-free.

It's important to note that going with a stock tank pool doesn't mean safely forgoing a pool pump and pool chemicals. Installing a pool filter pump and using chlorine tablets or a float with a chlorine dispenser can significantly reduce the number of times you'll need to change out the standing water in order to keep the pool sanitary and safe by preventing mosquitos and germs from breeding. This filter pump combo from Intex is the most popular and widely available for the amount of water typically in an 8-foot round stock tank pool.

Image Credit: Jay Carroll WSJ

07 VARIETY OF SIZES & SHAPES

Stock tanks are typically two feet deep but come in various diameters and shapes, ranging from two feet to as wide as ten feet in elliptical or circular shapes. You'll be able to find a tank that fits your space and pool party regulars.

08 PORTABLE

Is the tank better under the pergola or closer to the back fence? Let's find out! Quickly move it around your yard to visualize how your space will flow. Once a traditional pool is installed, there's no moving it a few feet to the left or right. If you enjoy changing up your outdoor space periodically, a stock tank pool is a great way to keep flexibility.

Above-ground stock tank pool surrounded by drought-tolerant plants and seating area with loveseat, lounge chairs, and fire pit

09 DUAL PURPOSE

While stock tank pools are a popular choice for our clients in the balmiest places like Texas and Florida, they can also be converted to a hot tub for year-round soaking, making them great for any climate. When the mercury starts to dip, your petite pool can transform into a toasty tub with an on-demand propane water heater and transfer pump. When warmer days return, grab your pool noodles and easily convert back to a cool pool. If you’re looking for a low-energy alternative to help warm up the water, check out solar options to get a comfy soaking temp in milder climates.

10 CUSTOMIZABLE

New paint is a low-cost way to completely change how a room feels, and the same goes with painting a stock tank. If the modern farmhouse vibe doesn't fit in with your outdoor space, update the look with exterior paint. Make sure to properly prep the metal with a vinegar wipe down and choose an all-in-one exterior acrylic paint. A fresh color can help it blend into the background or become the backyard focal point with a vibrant color; it's up to you!

Stock tank pool with deck in Naples, Florida backyard.

Stock tanks are a budget-friendly way to enjoy a refreshing dip and can fit into any style of landscape design. What’s on your backyard wish list?

WORK WITH A YARDZEN DESIGNER TO CREATE A VISON FOR YOUR DREAM BACKYARD

If you’re needing help with a vision for your yard outside of the pool, we’re here for you. Yardzen's award-winning online landscape design is tailored to homeowners in all fifty states in the US.

Our design process begins with understanding your space, your aesthetic preferences, and a discussion of your budget and vision to minimize surprises when it comes time to build. 

Our top-notch designers then develop a personalized vision for your yard, shared through 3D renderings, 2D plan drawings, and plant and material lists. Your design will capture the look, feel, and function you are hoping for, all while keeping costs within range. 

Once your design is complete, we'll help you connect with a local contractor from our Pro Network of vetted professional landscapers to install your new design.

Ready to see a plunge pool in your dream backyard? Create your design profile or explore our design packages today!

Yardzen’s Philosophy on Drought

Drought is a critical issue across the country. Virtually all of the American West is experiencing prolonged, extreme drought conditions. Historically wet regions scattered across the South, Midwest, and East Coast are also experiencing persistent drought conditions, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic and Gulf areas.

Drought tolerant front yard landscaping via Sunset Mag

Drought tolerant landscaping offers many easy and effective ways for homeowners to decrease their water consumption:  

• Removing or downsizing lawns can offer the greatest water savings, particularly in dry regions like the West. 

• Replacing thirsty ornamentals with low water native and climate-adapted plants can also yield major water savings. 

• Increasing tree canopy keeps plants cool and helps them require less water. 

• Mulching planting areas keeps soil cool and prevents moisture loss to evaporation. 

• Minimizing dark, heat island-inducing paving while maximizing permeable surfaces like gravel and planting beds lowers ground-level temperatures while helping to restore groundwater supplies. 

• Maintaining a water-efficient, leak-free irrigation system ensures that you don’t use any more water than you need to keep your plants healthy. Water should be applied at night, and weather sensors should be used to shut down systems during rainfall.

A drought tolerant front yard landscape design with Bear Grass, Cape Mendocino Reed Grass, Century Plant, and Emerald Carpet Manzanita.

Yardzen’s team of designers, horticulturalists, and landscape contractors have years of experience and expertise in designing and building drought-tolerant yards. We’re committed to doing right by the planet by helping every homeowner design a water-smart yard. 

Water-wise front yard designed by Yardzen in Los Gatos, California

Yardzen’s team can translate any landscaping style into a drought-tolerant space that pairs beautifully with your home, your lifestyle, and your vision for your yard. Whatever your needs may be - porch to pool deck, planting to play space - we’ll design a solution that works as well for you as it does for the planet.

12 Functional Front Yard Ideas that Add Livable (and Beautiful) Square Footage

Front yards are having a moment.

As the theory goes, pandemic isolation put pressure on our homes to meet all our functional needs. Strapped for space and cuckoo with cabin fever, homeowners started spilling indoor activities out into their yards. Outdoor living became essential to well-being.

Pandemic isolation has relaxed, but our taste for outdoor living has not. Having experienced first-hand how time outside improves our quality of life, we’re re-configuring our yards to help us spend more time in our outdoor spaces.

What does this mean for front yard landscape design?

For generations, front yards were little more than decorative foregrounds, but standards are evolving quickly for what we can do with them. More than ever, it’s fair game for front yard designs to meet homeowners’ needs by providing spaces to work, play, eat, grow food, or simply socialize with friends and neighbors.

Ready to get more from your yard? Looking for front yard landscaping ideas? Great! Let’s take a look at several designs that re-imagine the front yard as a space not just for looking, but for living.

01 SIMPLE & SOCIAL FRONT YARD

Planting, clear views inside, and a comfortable place to sit are all it takes to give your front yard a social makeover.

How can I make my front yard more inviting and social? We get this question all the time.

The answer depends on your yard and your goals, but, as this design demonstrates, attractive planting, clear sight lines to the street, and a comfortable place to sit are a great place to start.

Garden beds with flowering perennials and shrubs envelop the front patio, which is surfaced in crunchy decomposed granite for a casual, rustic feel. Bold Bougainvilleas and a specimen olive tree create a triangle of focal points, implying boundaries while preserving open edges around much of the patio’s perimeter.

These open edges are key - sight lines link the sidewalk and seating area, beckoning neighbors to pull up a chair. Widening the DG as it meets the sidewalk also implies permission to enter the property.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t have to take much to create an inviting, social outdoor living space. In fact, the light touch we see here has advantages, like lower installation costs and greater flexibility - this movable furniture can be added to or whisked away at will, whatever the situation calls for.

02 OUTDOOR LIVING ROOMS

A series of outdoor rooms flow around this front yard, weaving effortlessly around the paver axis that terminates at the front door.

The owners of this modern Austin rental wanted their front yard landscape to feel like an extension of the home itself. This goal is most strikingly achieved by the pergola, which note-for-note matches the house’s black and blonde exterior while extending a wall-less room off its front facade.

Process the initial “wow” of the pergola, though, and you quickly perceive that the three principle landscape spaces - dining area, lounge area, and fire pit a seamless progression of rooms for outdoor living.

The deck makes this possible, knitting the separate spaces together with a shared surface material.

Careful boundary design also plays a role. The semi-transparent pergola separates the lounge and dining areas, otherwise all edges are left wide open, establishing a sense of shared space and easy circulation that makes the spaces feel larger and more interconnected.

Crucially, each space has direct views of the front yard planting design, whose dappled canopy and swaying ornamental grasses lend softness and charm to the overall atmosphere.

This is hardly as simple as the previous design, but no less inviting, thanks to cohesive aesthetics, a flowing layout, and strong integration between hardscape and planting.

03 TRADITIONAL ENTRYWAY REDUX

A limited color palette in both planting and hardscape design establishes a cohesive feel while pointing the spotlight at the showy architecture.

This lovely landscape applies traditional aesthetics to a similar design strategy.

As with the previous project, the design provides several seating areas across a shared surface. Instead of a deck and grasses, however, we get ivory herringbone pavers and a handsome blend of shrubs and perennials, not to mention a substantial front lawn.

Within the paved area, the furniture is arranged to imply separate zones, which are themselves emphasized by material changes in the house facade.

As with the previous project, the design minimizes physical barriers between spaces, opting instead to maximize openness and interconnection. This creates an expansive, flowing feel across the patio. It also makes for a nice uniform foreground, allowing the complex house design to take the spotlight - a nice trick for boosting curb appeal.

04 THE ORIGINAL SOCIAL FRONT PORCH

Porches were designed for outdoor living and socializing. We say: let them do their thing!

Here’s another question we commonly receive: Will an HOA allow a functional front yard?

The answer? Depends on your HOA, but if you want a functional front yard, it’s almost always possible.

Clients in neighborhoods with more traditional aesthetics, including many HOA communities, may encounter a little more resistance to the idea of migrating functional spaces to the front yard, particularly if they float detached from the home.

If this describes your situation, lean on our old friend the Front Porch. By integrating functional spaces into porch designs, front yards can retain a traditional look while ramping up their functional performance.

Here, the classic porch swing on one side is countered by cushy lounge seating on the other. The design is simple, inviting, and ready for social encounters.

05 PORCH-ADJACENT RELAXING

Where there’s a will there’s a way. If you have a porch but it’s tight on space, try adding functional areas next to it.

Some functions, like fire pits or dining areas, require a bit more room than some porches can provide.

Not to worry! Try placing new functional zones next to the porch, as they’ve done in this design.

Repeating motifs from other parts of the porch will lend your new space a sense of belonging. In this case, the design repeats an ornamental grass planting motif and a light neutral color palette in the furniture and groundcover material. This visual consistency helps the new functional space to feel like an extension of the porch.

06 KID-FRIENDLY FRONT YARD SPACE

Front yard fences intended to create front yard play spaces should balance inviting design and visual permeability with a need to effectively contain kids and pets.

Another great question we get all the time: How do I create a safe front yard space for my kids or dogs?

Dogs and kids, bless their hearts, can’t be counted on to think twice before dashing into the street.

Solution: include a safe play space in your front yard design.

Unless your dog is a leaper, all it takes is a low fence with a dense enough design to keep kids and pups from slipping through. We suggest fence designs that use hogwire or boards with moderate (under 3”) gaps, which keep your loved ones contained while allowing light through and maintaining an inviting feel to passers-by.

This design takes just this approach, running attractive planting beds along the base of the fence on the street side, while providing an abundant lawn area for kids to run wild within the safe confines of the fence.

07 COME OUT (THE FRONT) TO PLAY

Rather than invest in large, permanent play structures that children will eventually grow out of, we suggest a flexible space where lighter play features can be cycled through to meet kids’ - or adults’ - changing needs.

This kids’ zone throws in some natural wood play features, both for kids and adults. We all need to have fun, right?

Instead of using fencing, these homeowners rely on planting to keep their kids safe. The garden design features robust, kid-safe (not toxic or sharp) shrubs and perennials, densely planted to avoid gaps that little ones could wriggle through.

For their part, adults get a custom seating area at one end of the lawn, where they can kick back while keeping an eye on the kids. A water feature positioned along the entry way path at the other end of the lawn creates a soothing atmosphere while offering the kids some splashy fun.

08 A CAMPFIRE UNDER THE STARS

This design cleverly balances modern and rustic features. Its treatment of privacy - blocking some views while allowing others in - takes a similar approach, offering a sense of retreat to nature without total disconnection from the urban surroundings.

Privacy may be the biggest concern clients grapple with when it comes to functional front yards. Homeowners love the idea of getting more use from their front yard area, but don’t necessarily want to be on display to the neighborhood.

Fair point.

The good news? You can tailor your front yard design to provide as much or as little privacy screening as you wish.

Often, planting alone gets the job done. Ground level greenery paired with understory trees like Japanese Maple or Dogwood can create an attractive, layered planting design that also blocks most incoming sight lines. Those seeking a more complete blockade of prying eyes can enlist a privacy fence or dense evergreen hedge. Key views can often be obscured with a well-placed tree, tall grass or shrub, or even a trellis panel planted with a climbing vine.

Your privacy solution should be tailored to suit your home’s style. To protect your leisure time, it should also enlist low maintenance plants.

This design, which pairs modern pavers, decking, and lighting with rustic gravel and shaggy, naturalistic planting, uses tall, evenly-spaced evergreens and a 4’ tall fence to establish a semi-private atmosphere in this outdoor fire pit area. The fence blocks views of those who are seated, while gaps between evergreens allow some glimpses of the elevated deck and living room.

A canopy tree overhead casts dappled shade for daytime enjoyment, while landscape lighting and the fire pit itself create a pleasant space for enjoying an evening under the stars.

09 A FAMILY FRONT YARD AFFAIR

A row of bamboo provides maximum privacy while requiring minimal footprint, leaving extra room for functional front yard spaces.

We tend to favor the inviting first impression one gets from planting designs that allow some limited views between the street and functional front yard spaces, there is certainly a time and place for more robust privacy in front yard designs.

For this young family’s front yard, the design uses bamboo to create a tall, narrow, and quite dense privacy screen. The result allocates minimal space to planting, allowing plenty of room for the family to enjoy their outdoor dining and fire pit zones in comfort and privacy.

10 DON’T FORGET YOUR VEGGIES

Vegetable gardens are underrated as design elements. Keeping them in view adds a lived-in charm to landscapes, and helps you remember to tend them!

Growing your own food is a rewarding experience in its own right, but doing so out front creates a social opportunity as well. There is something magnetic about vegetable gardens - many clients report that, while working out front on their gardens, neighbors routinely approach for a chat.

A well-tended garden can be a source of pride worthy of displaying to the neighborhood. It doesn’t hurt that vegetable beds can also evoke the romance of European orchards and cottage gardens.

As long as they get enough sun, raised vegetable beds can go just about anywhere, including your front yard. They can also be built to be just the right size and shape to fit your preferred space.

Here, a blank zone next to the driveway is livened up with a pod of four square beds - a significantly more charming scene to welcome you home than just another expanse of lawn.

11 SECRET (VEGETABLE) GARDEN

This design de-emphasizes the veggie bed by tucking it into the background of the front garden design. At the same time, it takes full advantage of available space.

Where the previous design dedicates a specific zone for vegetable beds, this design integrates a vegetable planter into a robust front garden. Perched atop a hill supported by a retaining wall, the bed is barely visible upon approach to the house, but easily accessed from the side yard.

Not sold on showing your veggies off to the neighborhood? Take note of this approach. Just a few well-placed plants can be all you need to keep your vegetable garden discreet while utilizing available front yard space for a functional purpose.

12 FLOWERS ON-DEMAND

Cutting gardens are a fun and (if you choose the right species) simple way to get more functional value from your front yard. As an added perk, they’ll give your front yard a healthy dose of color.

For those who prefer home-grown flowers to home-grown vegetables, front yards can be equally productive. Simply incorporate cut flower species into your planting design, as this client has done along both sides of their driveway.

Be sure to select species that will thrive in the site’s light and climate conditions present (we suggest starting with natives), and don’t forget to leave a little space to access the plants for clipping.

While these homeowners opted for traditional favorites like Hydrangea, we also recommend blending in native cut-flower all-stars like Purple Coneflower, Yarrow, Black-Eyed Susan, or Joe-Pye Weed into your front yard flower beds.

DESIGNING A FUNCTIONAL FRONT YARD THAT MATCHES YOUR NEEDS AND STYLE

Yardzen's award-winning online landscaping design is tailored to clients in all fifty states in the U.S. Our design process begins with understanding your space, your aesthetic preferences, and a discussion of your budget and vision to minimize surprises when it comes time to build. 

Our top-notch designers then develop a personalized vision for your yard, shared through 3D renderings, 2D plan drawings, and plant and material lists. Your design will capture the look, feel, and function you are hoping for, all while keeping costs within range. 

Once your design is complete, we'll help you connect with a local contractor from our Pro Network of vetted professional landscapers to install your new design.

Ready to level up your curb appeal and create additional space for outdoor living with a professional front yard design? Create your design profile or explore our design packages today!

Our Dreamiest Plunge Pool Yard Designs

An installed Yardzen design in Austin, TX with a plunge pool by Texas Tiny Pools.

What is a Plunge Pool?

Our current obsession: the plunge pool. The small backyard’s (or any outdoor space’s) alternative to a traditional pool. Also called a cocktail pool, these are small, deep water features that are perfect for a dip and a float if you have limited space!

Plunge pools are popular not only because they allow backyard pool lounging on smaller lots—they are also commonly used for at-home fitness since they are the perfect size for someone to practice water aerobics or other low-impact workouts on your own from home. If you’re into getting fit in the water, but aren’t a distance swimmer looking for a lap pool, a smaller pool like a plunge pool is perfect.

Another reason many homeowners prefer a plunge pool is that obviously, they use less water. This is especially compelling for areas affected by drought where cutting gallons of water used by a regular pool is top-of-mind.

What Types of Plunge Pools are There?

Plunge pools come in many shapes, sizes, and configurations, but options range from concrete, vinyl, or fiberglass in-ground or above ground swimming pools to alternatives including stock tank pools and higher-end hot tubs.

What Does a Plunge Pool Cost?

Costs vary widely, from $600 for a “hillbilly pool” (aka stock tank pool) to $40,000 - $50,000 for a top-of-the-line concrete pool that is the same quality as a traditional custom full-size pool, but is “cocktail” or “plunge”-sized (called a ground plunge pool). The price of your plunge pool primarily depends on square feet, material, features, and amount of labor required for installation.

Above-ground plunge pools and hot tubs are usually the mid-range budget solution that can still provide the smaller size water feature for relaxation—and can also look just as “finished” as a ground pool if designed properly.

A fiberglass or vinyl ground plunge pool typically costs less than a concrete pool, but homeowners shouldn’t be surprised by contractor estimates that are over $20,000 for ground pool installation using any material.

Our Favorite Plunge Pool Designs

Here we’ve gathered our favorite landscape designs completed for real Yardzen clients that include plunge pools of all types.

Ground Plunge Pool Designs

This in-ground cocktail pool is absolutely gorgeous! It provides the perfect place to cool off without taking up the entirety of this smaller backyard. It is important to keep in mind that in-ground plunge pools are expensive—generally topping out around $40,000 - $50,000.

An absolutely stunning plunge pool is the star of this Santa Cruz, CA backyard.

This custom, in-ground plunge pool carries a higher price tag, but it looks incredible in this tranquil backyard—serving as both a place to cool off and a water feature.

This cocktail pool in Austin utilizes a pre-fab, one-piece fiberglass insert— a great option for a lower-cost, in-ground pool. We love how our designers made use of the awkwardly shaped yard. The long rectangular shape of this cocktail pool still provides plenty of room for splashing and floating.

This traditional landscape design for a backyard in Shaker Heights, OH includes an in-ground concrete plunge pool with paved lounge seating area and surrounding lawn.

An Oceanside, CA backyard design uses fun tile in a custom ground plunge pool to complement tropical plantings.

An Altadena, CA backyard design that makes the most of limited space with natural stone hardscaping around a tiled plunge pool.

This lush backyard in Charlotte, NC surrounds a ground plunge pool with outdoor living spaces including a dining area and lounge.

In-Deck Plunge Pool Designs

This in-deck plunge pool on a steep slope is the epitome of modern cool.

For this backyard, we enclosed an above-ground pool in a simple wood deck, which creates an elegant, custom look at more affordable price point.

This Playa Del Rey, CA backyard makes space for a modern in-deck cocktail pool flanked by easy-care potted plants and turf.

A small backyard in San Diego, CA makes the most use of space with an in-deck plunge pool nestled between planter boxes and a paved dining area.

Above Ground Plunge Pool AND HOT TUB DESIGNS

This Connecticut backyard utilizes a Soake Pool, one of our favorite companies for small pools. Soake Pools are precast above-ground concrete plunge pools and can be the most expensive above-ground option starting at $24,500. However, this pool gives you the best of all worlds—they have heaters so they play double duty as a plunge pool on warm days and a Jacuzzi-alternative during chilly days or evenings!

This zen backyard utilizes an above-ground cedar hot tub. We absolutely love the different models from Gordon & Grant—the smell of the wood and the heat of the water will instantly transport you to your favorite spa. There are also wood-heated cedar tubs out there, too!

Another example of a cedar tub!

This backyard design for a Yardzen client in Katy, TX has a plunge-sized hot tub with wood deck surround for seating while soaking your feet.

An above-ground stock tank pool, like the one pictured above, is an easy, affordable option for adding the functionality of a plunge pool to your yard. Made out of a galvanized drum (used to water cattle!), they can be purchased at retailers like Tractor Supply Company, hardware stores, and H20 Tank Avenue.

To keep the water fresh, consider adding a filtration system—we love this filter DIY from our friend Ashley Petrone.

If You’re Saving Up for Your Dream Plunge Pool...

But seriously—don’t discount blowup pools! There are several attractive and durable options on the market, like this beauty from Mylle. Blowup wading pools are a backyard-favorite for casual parties and socializing among many Yardzen staff!

For more inspiration, check out this DIY, and these articles from Sunset, Apartment Therapy, and Dwell!

WORK WITH A YARDZEN DESIGNER TO CREATE A VISON FOR YOUR DREAM BACKYARD

Yardzen's award-winning online landscape design is tailored to clients in all fifty states in the US.

Our design process begins with understanding your space, your aesthetic preferences, and a discussion of your budget and vision to minimize surprises when it comes time to build. 

Our top-notch designers then develop a personalized vision for your yard, shared through 3D renderings, 2D plan drawings, and plant and material lists. Your design will capture the look, feel, and function you are hoping for, all while keeping costs within range. 

Once your design is complete, we'll help you connect with a local contractor from our Pro Network of vetted professional landscapers to install your new design.

Ready to see a plunge pool in your dream backyard? Create your design profile or explore our design packages today!

The Best Exterior Paint Colors in 2022: Choosing the Right Hue for Your Home

Painting the exterior of your home is a big decision. Unlike painting your kitchen, there is no room for mistakes when changing the color of your home’s facade—it’s an expensive endeavor that should last for decades and create curb appeal that will be visible to all passersby.

Yardzen’s new exterior design service helps homeowners reimagine their home’s potential and avoid the mistake of picking the wrong paint or stain color.

We partnered with Benjamin Moore’s Director of Color, Andrea Magno, to choose a highly curated list of exterior paint color schemes available to clients as part of our exterior design packages.

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Benjamin Moore Exterior Color Schemes Created Exclusively for Yardzen

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How to Select a New Exterior Paint or Stain

Yardzen’s CEO, Allison Messner, sits down with Andrea to learn more about how to select a new paint or stain for your home’s exterior. The goal: creating a home that looks “well-considered.” (Andrea’s wise words) Here’s what we learned!

Look Toward Your Landscaping

“When it comes to exterior paint color, many people don’t know where to start,” says Benjamin Moore’s Director of Color, Andrea Magno. Andrea’s advice: “look toward your landscaping.” Think about the color palette of your softscape and hardscaping choices to decide on home colors. If you lean toward cool-colored hardscapes, like pea gravel, bluestone, or concrete, and plants, like sage, grasses, olive, or agaves, choose a cooler color for your home, like Nimbus Gray or Decorator’s White. If you’re drawn toward warmer toned hardscaping and plants, opt for color combinations for your home exterior that reflect that—like warm taupes, mauves, dark browns, greiges, and greens.

Cool-colored exterior and landscaping

Warm-colored exterior and landscaping

Consider YOUR Region

“We see many people choose a color palette based on their region’s landscape and weather,” says Andrea. “The vista becomes a point of inspiration.” In the Southwest, many homeowners opt for a mix of organic and invigorating colors, which they see in the natural world around them. In the Pacific Northwest, “we see a lot of stains and deep colors that mimic the local forests, sky, and ocean.”

A moody home in the Pacific Northwest

Do Some Research

It’s also helpful to research your home’s architectural style. For example, Craftsman-style homes often make use of earth tones and gem tones for exterior house paint colors while traditional homes lean more toward cool neutrals with high-contrast trim and Spanish homes look great with warm neutrals. At Yardzen, we often see that people make landscaping choices based on their home’s architectural style, too, although we also love to see people switching it up—a modern home with a traditional English garden can look awesome. We also see many people in traditional homes gravitating toward modern, low-maintenance yards.

A historic Spanish bungalow with stucco siding and terracotta shingles

Find Inspiration

There is no “right” choice when it comes to exterior paint color or stain—choose something that “sparks joy.” To find the seed, consider what inspires you, whether that’s the painted doors in Italy or rustic cabins in Montana. Or, maybe the white exterior of farmhouses you grew up with (like the Yardzen home above). Let that inspiration guide your color ideas.

Modern farmhouse in California

Make a Sustainable Choice

One thing that many people don’t realize is Benjamin Moore classifies their paints by LRV, which stands for Light Reflectance Value. Andrea explains:

“Light reflectance value (or often abbreviated to LRV) refers to the amount of light that is reflected from a surface when illuminated by a light source, such as the sun. LRV is measured with a scale of 0 to 100, which 0 being the lowest LRV and 100 being the highest. The LRV of each color is noted in the Benjamin Moore fan decks.”

To help mitigate energy consumption, it’s of the utmost importance to keep LRV in mind when selecting a paint color for your home. In hot climates, choose a high-LRV paint to reflect light, which keeps a home cooler, requiring less air conditioning. The reverse is true in cool climates. For those of us farther north, consider a low-LRV paint that will absorb heat and help offset heating costs.

Don’t Forget Accents

Architectural details are often what brings a home to life, so it’s important to not overlook accents. Using high-gloss paint to highlight your trim, windows, and front doors can make a big difference in the overall appearance of your outdoor spaces. And, no, the trim color doesn’t need to be white—black accents and trim are trending! Consider a bold exterior color that you love, but one wise piece of advice: make sure that your home’s base and accent color have the same undertones for the home to feel “well-considered.”

Accent idea that Andrea’s loving right now: paint the ceiling of your outdoor porch. It adds unexpected personality and pop of color to your home’s exterior.

A Word on Black Houses

Black houses aren’t going anywhere! If you love the trend but fear that it’s too, well, "trendy," Andrea now thinks of dark blues or blue-grays, blacks, and charcoal or dark gray paint colors as timeless neutrals.

A deep charcoal home by Yardzen

One Last Piece of Advice

Just as you can use paint to highlight your favorite features of your home, you can use it to conceal elements too. Consider painting the exterior of your AC unit or an unsightly downspout to help it fade away.

10 Exterior Paint Colors Most-Loved by Our Clients this Year

These are the Benjamin Moore colors that Yardzen clients have chosen most often for their final exterior designs in 2022. Use them as inspiration for your next painting project!

Favorite Mauve: Amazon Soil

Used in 12 Yardzen exterior designs in the last month

Favorite Gray: Graphite

Used in 44 Yardzen exterior designs in the last month

Favorite White: Super White (not pure white, but a cool and radiant white)

Used in 44 Yardzen exterior designs in the last month

Favorite Red: Caliente (imagine this hue used for an exterior red door!)

Used in 4 Yardzen exterior designs in the last month

Favorite Green: Lafayette Green

Used in 8 Yardzen exterior designs in the last month

Favorite Blue: Newburyport Blue

Used in 8 Yardzen exterior designs in the last month

Favorite Orange: Rust

Used in 12 Yardzen exterior designs in the last month

Favorite Black: Black Satin

Used in 116 Yardzen exterior designs in the last month

Favorite Taupe: Fairview Taupe

Used in 12 Yardzen exterior designs in the last month

Favorite Beige: Greenbrier Beige

Used in 12 Yardzen exterior designs in the last month

DESIGNING A LANDSCAPE AND HOME EXTERIOR TAILORED TO YOUR STYLE

Yardzen's award-winning online home exterior and landscaping design is tailored to each of our client's local climate and design preferences. Our design process begins with understanding your space, aesthetic preferences, and a discussion of your budget and vision to minimize surprises when it comes time to build.

We want to make sure our top-notch designers can personalize your yard, delivering 3D and CAD renders that reflect what’s most important for your outdoor life and unique environment, while keeping costs within range. We do this by utilizing our in-house Build Team made up of former contractors and our Pro Network of vetted professional landscapers across the country.

Ready to turn your color inspiration into reality with a professional landscape and exterior design? Create your design profile or explore our design packages today!

Our Favorite No-Grass Front Yard Ideas

For the better part of a century, lawns were the default for American front yards. They remain incredibly popular today, but standards are shifting quickly.

So far in 2022, 80% of Yardzen clients requested a landscape design that did not maximize the use of lawn—and 37% requested no traditional lawn at all, instead preferring artificial turf or grass-alternative planting and hardscaping.

No grass front lawn via Houzz

WHY GO GRASS-FREE?

Lawns are the most maintenance-intensive part of a landscape, requiring regular mowing, weeding, fertilization, and a great deal of irrigation to stay green and tidy. With all this upkeep comes fuel consumption and exhaust emissions from mowing, pollution from fertilizers and pesticides, and excessive water consumption in the midst of record drought.

The sheer ubiquity of lawns also represents a staggering missed opportunity. Replacing just a modest fraction of our lawns with native plants has the potential to restore habitat and ecosystem function on a massive scale.

Realizing all this, many homeowners are thinking twice about front yard lawns. But what does a lawn-free front yard look like? Being so accustomed to lawns, it can be difficult for us to conceive of alternate approaches for our front yards.

Time for some inspiration! From meadows, forests, and desert oases, to outdoor living spaces, vegetable gardens, and fire pits, front yard landscape design is expanding in delightful new directions.

Below, we’ll take a look at several lawn-free front yard landscaping ideas to get your wheels (but not your lawnmower wheels) turning.

SHAGGY CHIC

A cost-effective, transparent hogwire fence maintains an expansive feel while presenting an inviting scene to passers-by. It also allows plants to poke through, ramping up the sense of wildness.

Low water groundcover plants like Ceanothus ‘Carmel Creeper’ or Emerald Carpet Manzanita are a cost-effective solution for filling space between taller plants. Groundcovers make designs look dense and naturalistic, and, when native, can offer great habitat value.

A limited list of species, arranged in low masses with organic edges, lends a compelling, wild feel to this parkway strip. Tip: always leave a gap or two for people to walk through!

This Southern California front garden lets groundcover plants do their thing, spreading widely to plug gaps between taller accents of ornamental grasses, potted Agaves, and decorative boulders. Blue Spruce Sedum, Emerald Carpet Manzanita, and Huntington Carpet Rosemary split the groundcover duties, creating an impressionistic mosaic of shifting colors and textures that is low maintenance and easy on the water bill.

Contrast is beautifully controlled across the design: grasses blow in the wind next to stock-still boulders and Agaves; rangy plants breach the crisp edges of the oversized paver path; the strict geometry of the porch-path axis is countered by fluid masses of planting.

As icing on the cake, canopy trees cast dreamy, dappled light across the whole scene.

BRING THE WILDERNESS HOME

Balancing natural details (boulders, native planting, river rock-colored gravel) with modern flourishes (oversized pavers, concrete fire pit, horizontal fencing) provides compelling contrast.

The path establishes distinct zones while avoiding any vertical barriers. This keeps circulation wide open, and helps spaces feel larger and more interconnected.

Aligning the fire pit with the French doors creates a composed view of the outdoors from the living room, beckoning people outside.

This design passes on lawn in favor of a wilderness-inspired scene, right down to a front yard “campfire” zone.

A blend of drought-resistant plants, including several native species, occupy a sizeable chunk of the perimeter, welcoming birds and other pollinator species while establishing a calming, natural backdrop to the seating area. Gravel, selected to evoke the colors of river rock, provides a cost-effective groundcover and a satisfying crunch underfoot. Decorative boulders play a similar trick, looking like they were plucked right from a national park (don’t worry, they weren’t).

To balance out all this naturalism, the design weaves in several modern hardscape features: oversized concrete pavers, sleek path lights, embedded stair lights, and horizontal wood fencing.

CLASSIC COTTAGE STYLE GARDEN

The cottage garden style can adapt to any region. Densely plant natives and other species suitable to the local climate, emphasizing many different flowers, heights, and textures.

Keep plants shorter in front, and taller in back. Here, tall plants help to integrate the porch into the planting design, presenting a single cohesive design.

Framing is a great trick in any landscape style. Here, two Maples lend grandeur by framing both the front gate and front door.

Go flowers go! Cottage gardens are on the rise, characterized by abundant blooms, densely planted flower beds, and long lists of annuals and perennials (we prefer perennials - less maintenance).

This design packs the flowers in, but sticks to a restrained color palette of mostly shades of pink and lavender, save for a few pops of yellow. Plant heights swoop upward as you approach the front door, helping to stitch the front porch into the overall scene.

Wisely, the path lets the plants hog all the complexity, opting for a clean and simple straight lines that contrast nicely with the billowing fullness of the garden design.

MODERN MAKEOVER

A narrow blue-green color range and repeated fine textures help the different species fit together cohesively while making accents like the broad-leaved Agave and the bright Bouteloua ‘Blonde Ambition’ pop with extra force.

Repeating species in different planting areas carries a theme across the yard, presenting the disparate spaces as parts of a single unified design.

Arranging the grasses in masses makes height layering more legible and expresses a naturalistic feel.

Speaking of restrained color palettes, this stunning design goes all in on silvery blues, with a few blonde accents to guide your eye from sidewalk to door.

The emphasis is on fine textures, namely from layered masses of ornamental grasses and a spread of pea gravel mulch. Thick-leaved Agaves pop boldly against this backdrop.

The undulating edges of the planting are framed by elegant concrete paths. The main path is spruced up with strip lighting along the stairs, a small but powerful detail to express an upscale, modern feel.

Interested in these blue species for your landscape? Consider Festuca glauca, Leymus ‘Canyon Prince’, Senecio mandrilascae, and Agave attenuata.

DRY & ON THE ROCKS

Gravel gaps visually integrate this precast paver path into the surrounding gravel, while the alternating layout adds a graphic kick to the scene.

A strong central axis with a tree at each end to pull you along the path - classic design moves embedded in a modern-rustic landscape design.

The combination of the arbor and the classic “X” patterned rail fence establish a traditional farm feel, which is counterbalanced by paving and modern details like the streamlined path lights.

This design boosts curb appeal while keeping costs to a minimum. Tan gravel - cheap, attractive, and reminiscent of the regional landscape - spreads across the yard, while decorative boulders provide low maintenance accents to punctuate open spaces.

Two stately olives hold court, casting dappled shade on the porch and fire pit while providing focal points to visitors coming in from the sidewalk. Low water planting graces the edges, joining forces with the rocks to evoke the feel of the regional landscape.

A precast paver path adds graphic appeal while defining a few sub zones within the expansive front yard. The fire pit and fun blue water feature help to establish a pleasant outdoor space for evenings under the stars.

FLORAL & FUN

The dark house color pulls the eye to the bright wood panel and robust planting along the sidewalk - it’s the same principle as a dark curtain at the back of a stage.

Artificial turf is best in limited doses, and looks sharpest when ornamental planting steps in to divert the spotlight, as it does here.

There’s no denying it: lawns are great for games.

Not to worry! Lawn alternatives have come leaps and bounds since the old days. Today’s artificial turf is a fabulous surface for games, sports, and general merriment of all stripes.

This yard dedicates sizable space to a play area for adults and kids (we all need to have fun, right?). Waist-high, layered planting and a showpiece wood panel shield the turf from the street, while mixed rows of Yarrow, Lavender, and the low water Boxwood replacement Olea ‘Little Ollie’ establish a formal boundary around the play space. Further back, taller grasses and bold red blooms add a little zing to the planting design, luring visitors around the corner to the backyard.

SOCIAL FRONT YARD

Decomposed granite offers a more stable surface than gravel, but it drains more slowly. Surround DG with permeable areas to catch runoff, and provide another walking surface to knock DG off your shoes before it can scratch interior floors.

Tall Bougainvilleas break up the blank expanse of the exterior walls, and help the planting design to compete with the vertical scale of the house.

A repeating pattern of shrubs and blooms lends formality to the otherwise simple gravel path.

Crunchy gravel and decomposed granite, stone retaining walls, undulating edges, abundant plants and abundant space? Sitting here seems quite nice, indeed.

And that’s the point. Whether spending time with family, friends, or soon-to-be-friends, this social front yard uses simplicity to its advantage, adapting effortlessly to whatever social occasion may arise.

The dense, drought tolerant plants - heavy on Rosemary, Lavender, and Westringia ‘Grey Box’ and presided over by a showpiece Olive tree - are varied but cohesive, establishing a welcoming garden scene that invites the neighbors to join the fun. Those big, bold Bougainvilleas don’t hurt, either.

DREAMY DESERT

Grasses and delicate perennials soften out the stiff, sharp look of desert succulents.

Uplighting takes full advantage of the Yucca and Candelabra Cactus - just be sure to turn the lights off when you go to bed to avoid disrupting the local ecosystem.

The big vertical gesture of the Yucca lends power to this planting area while establishing a connection with the Yucca on the opposite side of the yard.

Succulent Agaves, a focal Candelabra Cactus, and an even bigger Yucca tree hold up the stiff and spiky side of things in this design. Soft grasses and delicate perennial flowers counter with inviting softness. Boulders, meanwhile, evoke both the flagstone facade of the house’s front wall and the textured gray of the driveway.

All together, these elements produce an exceptionally cohesive desert design that feels of a piece with the architecture.

And if that isn’t enough, this landscape comes with the added perks of low water demands and no mowing.

MANZA-NEATO!

Ground level planting stays low along paths and beneath the tree, but swoops upward to embrace the porch and partially mask the tall porch walls.

Despite a long species list and tremendous textural variety, the planting design feels cohesive thanks to a consistent, limited color palette.

Multi-trunked trees and large shrubs are an easy win for sculptural showpieces.

A pair of Howard McMinn Manzanitas steal the show in this Oakland front yard. Their architectural form and ruddy bark cut an artful figure, flanking the front path as if it led through a sculpture garden.

The ground level plants don’t slouch, either. The dense design boasts a broad array of textures but a restricted color palette. Plants start low at the sidewalk and gradually swoop upward to embrace the elevated front porch. Drought tolerant favorites like Lavender Cotton, Foxtail Fern, and Atlas Fescue comingle with traditional staples like Iceberg roses, Baby Gem Boxwoods, and Agapanthus.

The result is an eclectic blend that leans on greens and pale blooms to create a varied yet cohesive foundation, all in support of those showstopper Manzanitas.

SCRUB UP NICELY

Trees emphasize either end of the driveway, seamlessly integrating formal framing into an otherwise naturalistic planting design.

Planting designs benefit from a little breathing room, especially in larger planting areas. This design loosely alternates between moments of density and openness to achieve a look that is full, but not overwhelming.

Decomposed granite suggests rustic trails or woodland clearings. Coupled with decorative boulders, the material supports the planting design in replicating the look and feel of regional wildlands.

This Texas Hill Country design emulates and elevates the regional scrub landscape, blending natives like Sideoats Grama and Mexican Sage with well-adapted, low water all-stars like Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’, Fragrant Sumac, and Russian Sage.

As a whole, the design offers an alternating sequence of enclosed rooms and open clearings. Plants cluster in naturalistic masses, interspersed by low canopy trees, boulders, and open spaces surfaced with decomposed granite. You could do a lot with these open spaces: let kids run wild, entertain friends, or have a meditative moment.

It’s not easy to design spaces this large, but by cuing off nature, the design succeeds at providing a space that balances naturalism with function.

FRONT PERCH

Slopes often feel like a burden to overcome, but they can also present opportunities. Here, the slope offers a measure of privacy from street view, and the pleasant experience of looking out from a high point.

Color is as important for hardscape as it is for planting. Here, the gravel includes both from the house and grays from the concrete fire pit, while the dark chairs embrace the same bold contrast as the garage door.

Less is more with lighting. A breadcrumb trail of embedded stair lights leads the eye to the main event: the front gate, which is lent drama by two bold uplights.

As anyone who has built a retaining wall will attest, it’s best to work with slopes, not against them.

This yard does just that, perching a simple-yet-stylish seating area atop a front yard hill

Tan gravel provides a cost-effective surface that echoes the warm neutral color of the house. Charcoal Adirondacks and a concrete side table and fire pit remain cohesive with the scene while pushing things toward a more modern aesthetic.

The hill itself is reimagined as a sloped garden bed, planted with a range of ornamental grasses and shrubs that blow in the wind, or whenever a car drives by. Understory trees loosely flank the seating area, offering a little privacy while implying the limits of this inviting outdoor room.

CLEAN & CALM

Though the layout is rigidly symmetrical, the elements - planting, cushioned chairs - are soft. This interplay balances graphic strength with a comforting, inviting atmosphere.

Keep it simple: two chairs, a few lanterns for evening use, and some tall plants to draw the eye upward and soften the corners. The space feels uncluttered but totally complete, and leaves plenty of space for foot traffic.

This small front courtyard design keeps things simple and pretty flanking a wide herringbone path with drought tolerant winners including Creeping Thyme, Little Bunny Dwarf Fountain Grass, Aeonium, and Bush Anemone.

The design works with the long and narrow shape of the space by embracing axiality. A broad herringbone path forms the spine of the space, terminating at a low profile front porch, whose weathered hue compliments the white walls and blonde wood of the house and furnishings.

The porch space boils down to the essentials: two comfy chairs, and two potted white Bougainvilleas, which lend both softness and height to the space. The lack of clutter keeps the the doorway clear and the atmosphere peaceful.

GORGEOUS GRASSES

By limiting the planting design to single species, parallel rows of grasses, the design expresses power through restraint. Stripped of distraction, the design encourages viewers to savor the few, deliberate choices that did make the cut - this is a bullet train to a meditative headspace.

Two focal trees, each on their own stage, command attention as the only vertical accents within matrix of ornamental grasses.

Across the design, the softness and fluidity of the plants contrasts with the hardness and sharp rectangularity of the hardscape.

Minimalism is the rule in this austere front yard landscape for a modern country home.

Monolithic rows of grasses stair-step toward the front facade, entering the frame without blocking the view out from the windows.

Silver-blue Festuca glauca repeats the strategy along the base of a pale stone retaining wall, hiding a few cylindrical path lights in its midst.

The planting is showy and restrained at once, free from ornament but undeniably eye-catching.

The hardscape practices similar restraint. A simple concrete paver path interlaced with gravel branches off the existing gravel driveway, sticking to the limited color palette of bleached grays and steely browns.

FRONT YARD FOREST

Rich brown wood and midnight blue paint shrink the visual footprint of the house, allowing it to recede from the spotlight and allow the forested landscape to command attention.

Trees are a fabulous asset, and designs do well to embrace them.

The second story deck has a prime view directly into a birch grove canopy. Much nicer than view of the driveway!

Why not go big? This Utah design certainly does, showcasing a mixed grove of existing Birches and conifers. With such dramatic bones in place, the design was able to take a light touch, clearing out underbrush to offer plenty of open mulched space for kids to frolic and adults to stroll.

Tough evergreen shrubs maintain some ground-level color through the winter months, while a few patches of low groundcover and select decorative boulders provide just enough added detail to lend interest to the scene while keeping circulation open and flowing.

For kids, this is a dream come true setting for a game of tag. For adults, it’s a stylized and dramatic immersion in nature.

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GET STARTED WITH YOUR LAWN-FREE (OR LOW-WATER) LANDSCAPE DESIGN BY YARDZEN

Yardzen's award-winning online landscape design is tailored to clients in all fifty states in the US. Through the American Rewilding Project, we are committed to creating designs with climate-adapted plants and water saving landscaping in drought-prone regions unless homeowners specifically opt out.

Our design process begins with understanding your space, your aesthetic preferences, and a discussion of your budget and vision to minimize surprises when it comes time to build. 

Our top-notch designers then develop a personalized vision for your yard, shared through 3D renderings, 2D plan drawings, and plant and material lists. Your design will capture the look, feel, and function you are hoping for, all while keeping costs within range. 

Once your design is complete, we'll help you connect with a local contractor from our Pro Network of vetted professional landscapers to install your new design.

Ready to level up your curb appeal and sustainability with low-water landscaping ideas? Create your design profile or explore our design packages today!

How to Design a Fire Pit Area for Your Yard

Yardzen co-founders, Allison and Adam Messner, at home in the Bay Area with their Solo Stove

At Yardzen, we love fire pits for many reasons: they serve as the perfect focal point in a yard (both front and back), they encourage day-to-night, year-round alfresco enjoyment, and they are a low-cost way to add functionality to your outdoor space. For this reason, over 60% of Yardzen designs have a fire pit or fireplace.

When designing your outdoor fire pit, there are a number of things to keep in mind to maximize safety, style, and enjoyment. Here’s a breakdown of what to think about when planning your new favorite yard space.

Adam Messner with their Solo Stove

Choose a Fire Pit!

When you consider cost, environmental impact, and versatility, Yardzen’s top choice is Solo Stove, which comes in a number of styles with versatile functionality, including adaptations for outdoor cooking. Our favorite thing about Solo Stove is that they are ultra efficient and low smoke, making them the most sustainable wood-burning fire pit available.

Our favorite Solo Stove options for the yard are Bonfire, pictured above, and the Yukon, which is their largest option. Both look beautiful as the focal point in a yard.

Dream Up Where You’ll Enjoy Your Fire Pit

Yardzen’s design team will help you figure out the best spot for your fire pit (Learn more about Yardzen’s Yard Builder!), but when starting to plan your new yard, it’s fun to think about how all of the elements will flow together. Yardzen clients love to get creative about where they congregate with friends, including putting fire pits, dining tables, and pergolas in front yards and side yards to maximize the footprint of their outdoor living space.

A well-placed Solo Stove in a Yardzen design that takes into our safety principles of “look above” and “look below.”

Prioritize Safety

When selecting a spot for a fire pit, consider the following safety guidelines:

• Look above – Fire pits should not be placed under solid-roofed structures, including pergolas and shade structures. 

• Look below – The best place for a fire pit is on aggregate, like gravel or concrete. Avoid placing a fire pit on mulch, artificial turf, or an outdoor rug. Solo Stoves are an exception– they can be safely placed on a deck with a stand.

Adirondack chairs surround a Solo Stove in this traditional yard

Outfit Your Space

Make your new fire pit your favorite place in your yard by outfitting it with comfortable furniture and cozy styling. A plush, low-slung sofa like the The Sofa from Neighbor pairs beautifully with a Solo Stove and creates an inviting vignette. We also love the look of placing Adirondack chairs around a fire pit, which invites conversation and s’mores roasting long into the evening. Cafe lights overhead help transition your space from day to night, and don’t forget a throw and a couple of pillows for a beautiful, lived-in look!

More Inspiration From Yardzen x Solo Stove

The Best Outdoor Chairs in 2022 (Chosen by Yardzen Clients)

It comes as no surprise that outdoor chairs are the outdoor furniture item most often included in our clients’ final landscape designs. If you’re renovating an outdoor space, chances are you plan on lingering to enjoy it—and beautiful, functional seating is required.

Neighbor The Chair outdoor chair

What is surprising to us this year is the number and variety of outdoor seating applications in our client designs. Historically, outdoor social and living spaces have been reserved for the backyard, but no longer. 

Functional front yards and side yards are hugely in demand in 2022. Our clients not only want spaces to recline and enjoy the view from their front porch, but also patio furniture and dining sets for front yard hardscapes, elevated lawn chairs for side yard fire pit lounges—and more.

As the leading landscape design firm, we’ve been able to crowdsource (via our clients) a list of the most popular outdoor chairs in 2022. Out of over 171 chairs available from our partner retailers, the following 10 are the most-popular in our clients’ shoppable landscape designs so far this year (we threw in a few staff favorites as well). These chairs are all popular because they are beautiful, functional, and durable.

10 Outdoor Chairs Most-Loved by Our Clients

1. CB2 Lecco Teak Outdoor Chair: Best Lounge Chair

2. CB2 Acapulco Black Outdoor Chair: Best Patio Chair

3. Highland Dunes Woking Solid Wood Folding Adirondack Chair: Best Folding Chair

4. West Elm Portside Outdoor Adirondack Chair in Weathered Grey: Most Versatile Chair

5. Crate and Barrel Vista II Black Outdoor Adirondack Chair: Best Sustainable Chair

6. RH Outdoor Balmain Teak Lounge Chair: Best Minimal Modern Chair

7. West Elm Solid Pine Folding Chair in Light Brown: Best Modern Boho Chair

8. Neighbor The Chair: Best Overall

9. Hati Home Bali afternoon lounge chair: Best Rattan Chair

10. RH Outdoor Balmain teak dining chair - Best Dining Chair

    STAFF PICKS

    • Neighbor The Chair: Best Overall

    • Infiniti Swing Chair with Stand: Best Hanging Chair 

    • RH Outdoor Capri Teak Swivel Lounge Chair: Best Swivel Chair

    • Yardbird Eden Outdoor Swivel Rocking Chair in Silver: Best (not your grandmother’s) Rocking Chair

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01 Lecco Teak Outdoor Chair by CB2

Used in over 80 Yardzen designs so far in 2022

Price: $899 (on sale now for $764.15)

Lounge chairs, like this one, are included in over 70% of our clients’ designs. They are super versatile and work for a porch or patio, poolside, or around a fire pit. This chair in particular is used more often than any other outdoor chair in Yardzen designs and has a more modern boho style, but also works for tropical, desert, or coastal designs.

We love the casual vibe and that the frame is built with FSC ®-certified teak. Although this chair is suitable outdoor use, CB2 sells a cover separately that should be used during inclement weather to keep the chair looking great for years to come.

The Lecco Teak Lounge Chair is perfect for large and small spaces, like this side yard fire pit lounge design for a Yardzen client in Los Angeles, CA

02 Acapulco Black Outdoor Chair by CB2 

Used in over 69 Yardzen designs so far in 2022

Price: $299 (on sale now for $254.15)

This unique outdoor chair is perfect for patios because it’s space-conscious, affordable, and versatile. It’s easy to group a few of these chairs in contemporary, traditional, or modern outdoor living spaces and looks especially great in retro, modern bohemian, moditerrananean, tropical, or craftsman style landscapes.

The Acapulco chair is constructed with a black powder-coated steel tube frame and handwoven PVC cord—so it will hold up over time, especially if you use a chair cover (sold separately by CB2).

Acapulco chairs make the most of a slender side yard in a Los Angeles, CA landscape design.

03 Natural Woking Solid Wood Folding Adirondack Chair by Highland Dunes 

Used in over 65 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Price: $399

This popular adirondack not only has perfect traditional classic style, but is foldable for easy storage. With armrests that double as cupholders, these chairs are perfect for relaxing spaces that overlook a yard or waterfront view. This outdoor chair is heavy-duty and made of solid wood.

Woking folding adirondacks in a social front yard design for a Yardzen client in Burbank, CA

04 Portside Outdoor Adirondack Chair in Weathered Grey by West Elm 

Used in over 63 Yardzen designs so far in 2022

Price: $399

This adirondack chair from West Elm is a designer (and client) favorite because of its versatility in design. It’s not only good for a variety of outdoor living spaces, but design styles as well—it works just as well on a traditional front porch as it does in a modern farmhouse patio or moditerranean poolside lounge.

This high-quality reclining chair is made with moisture-resistant solid mahogany and solid eucalyptus wood that is FSC®-certified and from responsibly managed forests.

Portside Adirondack chairs surround a Solo Stove Bonfire smokeless fire pit in a backyard design for a Yardzen client in Denver, CO.

05 Vista II Black Outdoor Adirondack Chair by Crate and Barrel 

Used in over 58 Yardzen designs so far in 2022

Price: $499

The black finish on this traditional classic adirondack gives it a modern edge. While we do love how the Vista II looks—what we really love is that it’s made of Polywood—a weather-resistant high-density polyethylene recycled from plastic bottles. Crate and Barrel also sells a matching ottoman if serious relaxation is your goal.

A social front yard design with gravel seating area for a Yardzen client in Roswell, GA.

06 Balmain Teak Lounge Chair  by RH Outdoor 

Used in over 54 Yardzen designs so far in 2022

Price: $1,795

This contemporary teak outdoor lounge chair isn’t the cheapest on this list, but holy cow is it gorgeous. Our clients with moditerranean or modern farmhouse yards especially love the Balmain, which is part of a line that includes a sofa, ottoman, chaise lounge, sectionals, coffee tables, side tables, outdoor dining sets, and bar seating.

The Balmain sofa is actually one of the most popular outdoor sofas with Yardzen clients, and the whole set is also available with an aluminum frame. 

A Yardzen design for a client in Poulsbo, WA with a backyard seating area created with four Balmain lounge chairs and coffee table.

07 Solid Pine Folding Chair in Light Brown by West Elm

Used in over 54 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Price: $249

This solid pine folding chair from West Elm is perfect for informal spaces and looks great in modern bohemian style landscape designs. It comes in a variety fo colors, but our clients are fans of the natural pine wood finish. Another plus—it’s made and assembled in the USA.

Four pine folding chairs around a modern fire pit in a Yardzen design for a client in Burbank, CA.

08 The Chair by Neighbor 

Used in over 51 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Price: $1,100

The Chair by Neighbor is a super-unique lounger with an FSC ®-certified teak frame and cushion covers made of durable Sunbrella® solution-dyed acrylic outdoor fabric (which also comes in a dark Coal color, but our clients love the light Canvas version). 

The round legs and woodgrain texture are eye-catching and work well in modern farmhouse landscapes and the hand-stretched weather-resistant polyester rope back gives the piece interest from all angles. And as of last year, Neighbor offers the cushion covers in beautiful additional colors that are made using post-industrial recycled fiber. The Sofa by neighbor is just as cool and is one of the most popular outdoor sofas with our clients.

Neighbor outdoor furniture on a paver patio in a landscape design for a Yardzen client in Long Beach, CA.

09 Bali Afternoon Lounge Chair by Hati Home 

Used in over 49 Yardzen designs so far in 2022

Price: $895

Bali Afternoon is our favorite outdoor rattan chair and is perfect for laid back modern boho landscape designs (maybe alongside a hammock). The frame is high-grade teak, and the rattan is 100% recyclable synthetic with UV treatment for endurance. This chair is sure to lend some natural vibes to your outdoor space.

Four Bali Afternoon lounge chairs on a back deck design for a Yardzen client in Watsonville, CA. 

10 Balmain teak dining chair by RH Outdoor 

Used in over 48 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Price: $693

The 10th most popular outdoor chair in our clients’ designs this year is a dining chair! So far in 2022, 28% of our clients requested an outdoor area that includes dining chairs for their landscape design. Outdoor dining rooms, bistro sets, or bar seating that allow for al fresco meals or outdoor entertaining are more popular as ever.

The Balmain teak dining chair from RH is part of the same collection as our beloved lounge chair earlier in this list, and the Balmain outdoor couch in included in our roundup of most-loved sofas. 

A Yardzen client in San Lorenzo, CA loves to host and used 8 Balmain dining chairs to create multiple spaces for dining outdoors.

Yardzen Staff’s Favorite Outdoor Chairs

The Chair by Neighbor 

Used in over 51 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Price: $1,100

Neighbor’s The Chair is not only a client favorite, but a staff favorite as well! Our Growth Director adores the two she uses alongside the outdoor sofa from the same set on her backyard patio—pictured above.

Swing Chair with Stand by Infiniti Furnishings

Used in over 34 Yardzen designs in 2022 so far

Price: $1,599.99

7% of Yardzen clients this year are asking for a hanging chair in their landscape design, and this wicker rattan beauty, available at Wayfair, is their favorite (and ours, to be honest). Hanging chairs were once a novelty or reserved for eccentrically designed or overtly bohemian spaces, but we’re seeing them being incorporated in more designs across the contemporary style spectrum.

Although this chair looks laid back, it’s well-constructed and has a 300-pound weight capacity—so it can take some abuse (kids find it irresistible and will pile in). The cushions that come with this chair include a headrest and backrest, making it extremely cozy.

A hanging chair is the perfect standalone seat to use in tucked-away spots for relaxation and taking in views, like in this backyard design for a Yardaen client in Scottsdale, AZ.

Santorini Outdoor Teak Swivel Chair by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams 

A gorgeous and unexpected silhouette.

Price: $2,533

This outdoor lounge chair by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams takes its inspiration from the exquisite architecture of the warm Greek island of Santorini. 

We love this swivel chair because of its visually stunning silhouette and unexpected details. Crafted with natural teak, which is ideal for withstanding exposure to the elements, the rounded shape is accentuated with contrasting braided rope details and plush cushions for sink-in comfort.

Eden Outdoor Swivel Rocking Chair in Silver by yardbird 

The most-loved rocker in Yardzen designs this year

Price: $880

This is our most popular rocking chair—far from the traditional wooden rocker loved by grandparents the world over—this rocker has elevated classic style.

The metal frame is sturdy commercial grade aluminum that will never rust and is hand-painted to appear like weather teak, with an additional protective layer to make it scratch resistant, and the cushion covers are Sunbrella fabric—so this outdoor rocking chair will stand the test of time!

CREATING A SHOPPABLE LANDSCAPE DESIGN TAILORED TO YOUR STYLE

Yardzen's award-winning online exterior and landscape design service is tailored to homeowners across the U.S.. Our design process begins with understanding your outdoor space and style—and a discussion of your budget and vision to minimize surprises when it comes time to build. 

Our top-notch designers then develop a personalized vision for your yard, shared through 3D renderings, 2D plan drawings, and plant and material lists. Your design will capture the look, feel, and function you are hoping for, and will be outfitted with materials and elements from our retail partners that you or your contractor can actually purchase.

Once your design is complete, we'll help you connect with a local contractor from our Pro Network of vetted professional contractors to install your new design.

Ready to bring your dream yard to life? Create your design profile or explore our professional exterior, side yard, front yard, and back yard landscaping design packages today!