Side Yard Garden Design
6 side yard designs across 3 styles
Side yards are the most overlooked space in most properties. Done well they become a useful passage with planted interest; done badly they collect bins, hoses, and dead grass.
Decide first whether the space is a path, a garden, or storage, and commit to one. For a path, a permeable surface (gravel, stepping stones, decomposed granite) works better than turf. For a garden, treat the narrow proportions as a feature: a single line of espalier trees, a long mixed border, or a runnel of water down the middle. Storage zones should be screened with a slatted panel, not pretended to be planting.
Side Yard garden gallery
Cottage Side Yard with Shed, Apple Tree & Tabby Cat
Cottage Side Yard with Stepping Stone Path, Snake Plants & Glowing Path Lights
Cottage Productive Side Yard with Vegetable Beds, Yellow Fence & Water Hose
Modern Xeriscape Side Yard with Boulders & Dry Creek Bed
Modern Minimalist Side Yard with Stepping Stones, Boxwood Spheres & Gravel Border
Mediterranean Side Yard with Pine Tree, Raised Brick Planter & Mountain View
Side Yard design by style
The same side yard in 3 different styles — see which look fits your house and climate.
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Start RedesignSide Yard garden design — frequently asked questions
How do I start designing a side yard?
Decide first whether the space is a path, a garden, or storage, and commit to one. For a path, a permeable surface (gravel, stepping stones, decomposed granite) works better than turf. For a garden, treat the narrow proportions as a feature: a single line of espalier trees, a long mixed border, or a runnel of water down the middle. Storage zones should be screened with a slatted panel, not pretended to be planting.
What is the best garden style for a side yard?
Every major garden style works in a side yard — the right one depends on your house, your climate, and how you want to use the space. The "Side Yard design by style" section above shows the 3 styles represented in this gallery so you can see each one applied to a side yard before committing.
How much does a side yard redesign cost?
Side Yard redesigns vary from $3,000–$10,000 for refresh-level projects (new planting, furniture, lighting), $15,000–$40,000 for full mid-range builds including hardscape and structural work, and $50,000+ for premium builds with custom features. Use AI Garden Design to preview the look before spending a cent.
Can I get an AI redesign of my own side yard?
Yes. Upload a photo of your current side yard, pick a target style, and AI Garden Design returns a photorealistic redesign in under two minutes that keeps your structural elements and reimagines the rest.