Big ideas for small backyards: common problems and solutions for hillsides, narrow property lines, odd-shaped backyards and terraced spaces

Pool & Spa News, July 25, 2003 by Rhonda J. Wilson

Location, location, location.

These are the top three guidelines Terry Broussard uses when incorporating pools, hot tubs, swim spas, waterfeatures and backyard accessories into small backyards.

"Location is important with small spaces," says the president of Broussard Associates Landscape Architects in Clovis, Calif. "The smaller the space, the more important the details and scale of the pool or spa become." And the more important backyard accessories become, say experts.

Like an optical illusion, creating spaces for patios, barbecues and other outdoor rooms actually makes a small space feel bigger.

Take the time Broussard integrated three odd-shaped spaces on a small, pie-shaped lot with an arbor structure. "We linked together a pool and formal dining space with a kitchen garden and informal dining area and an arbor walk with wisteria and hydrangeas," he recalls.

This technique also allowed Broussard to bring the feel of the indoors to an outdoor environment. "I enjoy breaking up a larger space into smaller spaces," he says. "The smaller spaces become 'rooms' or garden areas with a specific use, which are similar to the rooms inside your house."

Close to 30 percent of his projects include such small backyard challenges, says Broussard, who used a rustic Italian theme to enhance the look of the pie-shaped property. "It lent the garden design to a more formal space," he says. "But the result was that the garden was functional, with little or no wasted space."

Odd-shaped backyards

Such backyards open the door to designs with natural-looking pools and surrounding yard elements. Depending on the dimensions of the property, freeform or lagoon-shaped pools usually fit the bill, according to top landscape designers contacted by Pool & Spa News.

"There are no rules to these designs versus using Grecian or geometric shapes," says Bill McElhaney, senior design consultant at California Pools & Spas in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.

"The freeform shapes can utilize normally unused areas with just a little creativity," McElhaney adds.

While small backyards of odd sizes present a variety of challenges, they also represent an opportunity for landscape designers to think beyond traditional, tired techniques from the past. "When you look at nature, there is nothing uniform in shape and size," says Steve Terry, regional manager and landscape designer at California Pools & Spas in Santa Clarita, Calif.

"Pools and landscapes should be designed to fit right in, as they were meant to be," Terry says.

Pools shaped in geometric, freeform patterns--combining a sleek linear look with classic curves--also complement small, strangely shaped backyards. "If it is Zen-like, minimalist or contemporary, this design theory works well," says Billy Derian, vice president of sales and design at Derian Quality Pools Inc. in Santa Monica, Calif.

"Do not fight the unusual shapes of the property lines," he advises. "Conform and unify them."

Narrow property lines

Narrow property lines demand designs that create balance without overwhelming the backyard. Most landscape designers seek to seamlessly blend pools, spas and equipment storage units with hardscapes, landscapes and entertainment areas.

"I recently designed a pool in which I only had about 25 feet to work with, from house to property line," says Carissa Blocker, pool and landscape designer at California Pools & Spas in Temecula, Calif. "But on one of the side yards, the property line allowed for a little extra room."

Blocker ended up wrapping the pool around the corner of the house to maximize available space. "This allowed the homeowner to have an entertainment area with a barbecue area, lounge chairs and patio furniture," she says.

Geometric lines also work in concert with narrow property lines. "Usually a formal or contemporary design fits best because a more strict geometry works in tight spaces," Broussard says.

"Natural, flowing curves take up space, which could hinder the maximum function of the space," he says.

Other landscape designers take a smoke-and-mirrors approach when working with narrow property lines. "By cutting decks into diagonal squares at 45-degree angles to the house, you can create depth and width," says Kerri Derian, owner of Derian Quality Pools Inc. in Santa Monica, Calif.

"It's trickery to the eye and critical," she adds.

Hillsides

Hillsides provide ideal opportunities to create backdrops for pools and spas. Due to the desire to maximize usable space in smaller areas, landscape designers commonly cut into a hillside or build out over the edge as far as possible.

"Tucking a pool into a hillside by utilizing the back wall of the pool as a retaining wall will greatly maximize your outdoor living space," Terry says. "This enables you to push the pool back away from the house, giving you more patio living area. It also enables you to add in features such as barbecue islands, outdoor fireplaces, patio covers and additional seating areas to maximize usability of the yard."

When a hillside slopes down from the yard, Terry says pushing the pool away from the house toward the incline increases the possibility of building a negative-edge pool. "Negative-edge pools are an incredibly dramatic and beautiful design feature," he says.