32 Ideas for Creating the Ultimate Backyard Oasis

Turn your backyard into an oasis designed to help you relax, entertain, and recharge with clever layout, furniture, landscaping, hardscaping, lighting, and decor choices. Whether you are setting up an al fresco dining area, outdoor living room, pool deck, or garden patio, there are strategies and solutions to suit any style or size backyard.

Check out these backyard oasis ideas to create a space that you'll want to stay in all summer long (and beyond).

Plant a Zen Garden

Cathie Hong Interiors created a tranquil backyard oasis outside this Northern California home that includes a low deck with built-in bench seating and zen garden-style landscaping. The minimalist and organic feel invites relaxation and creates an indoor-outdoor feel.

Keep It Timeless

This property from Fantastic Frank in Hamburg, Germany has a private and welcoming feel. Simple seating, manicured landscaping, and vintage garden decor such as weathered planter urns lend the space a timeless backyard oasis ambiance that is effortlessly elegant and looks like it's been there forever.

Set Up a Conversation Area

Brian Brown Studio created a spacious fire pit patio with comfortable seating in the corner of this Southern California backyard. Located on the edge of a green lawn protected by a high privacy wall and landscaped with tropical plants and vibrant pink flowers, the hang out space has a relaxed modern feel for casual entertaining or cozy summer nights with the family.

Embrace the Surroundings

This rustic backyard oasis from Leanne Ford Interiors befits the tranquil hillside setting. A stone patio built around the organic shaped watering hole-style swimming pool echoes the massive cabin chimney, and landscaping complements the natural surroundings to create an ideal spot to get away from it all.

Keep It Manicured

Marie Flanigan Interiors created a private, clean-lined backyard oasis that includes a poolside seating area, a patch of manicured lawn, and a pair of trees. The orderly setting and neutral colors highlight the landscaping, creating a place to relax or entertain that's as polished as the interiors.

Landscape Around Trees

This Northern California backyard oasis from Seed Studio Landscape Design is designed around a pair of mature redwood trees that shade and structure the space. A black hanging chair between the trees offers a place to relax on your own, while an adjacent dining table anchored by an overhead pendant light creates a spot for communal meal. A deck with a fire pit conversation area is perfect for enjoying the calming modern space after dark.

Let the Hedges Grow

This small backyard garden from Fantastic Frank has a small patch of lawn and a patio edged with flowers and tall slightly overgrown hedges that give it a secret garden feel. A simple table and patio chairs makes the space perfect for outdoor refreshments or al fresco remote work, proving that it isn't the size but the quality of the space that counts.

Add Comfortable Seating

A poolside cabana outfitted with a large comfortable modern outdoor sofa gives this backyard oasis from Cathie Hong Interiors a focal point and a gathering space that is protected from views and helps to filter harsh rays.

Zone It Out

This backyard oasis in Austin, TX from Ashby Collective and Furman + Keil Architects is anchored by a series of porches and shaded by tree canopy that diffuses light and adds privacy outside of this remodeled 1950’s ranch house. Multiple zones make the space usable for a large group while giving people room to relax.

Use a Minimal Color Palette

This tropical backyard oasis from Handsome Salt includes an above-ground pool with an adjoining patio seating area made up of a U-shaped built-in banquette that's surrounded with tropical plants and decorated with seat cushions and back pillows in a black-and-white print. A black-and-white-striped umbrella adds shade and a square black fire pit is perfect for cozy nights in the company of family and friends.

Enclose It

Tall white lattice fencing adds privacy to this NYC townhouse backyard from PJCArchitecture while retaining a light and airy garden feel. Modern hardscaping including built-in bench seating beneath a large tree completes the urban oasis setting that's perfect after a long day of running around the city.

Keep It Sleek

This midcentury modern Palm Springs backyard oasis from Joshua Smith Inc. has high walls for privacy, a view of swaying palms and sunset skies, and streamlined all-white furnishings that make the green hedges, lawn, and grasses pop.

Hedge It In

This spacious backyard oasis House of One has the feel of a private resort, with a large central pool decorated with statement tile and zones for lounging and dining.

Hang a Hammock

The Home Consultant hung a hammock in a corner of the compact backyard of this Los Angeles home to create a place to relax and refresh. The peaceful backyard oasis has a modern Mediterranean feel, planted with agave plants and olive trees and surrounded by natural wood fencing to make it feel private and secure.

Set the Table

A large dining table shaded by a pair of mature trees gives this al fresco dining space from Marie Flanigan Interiors an outdoor oasis feel that encourages intimate gatherings and memorable meals.

Blur the Lines

Erin Williamson Design blurred the lines between indoors and out by adding walls of black steel-and-glass grid doors between the eat-in kitchen and the large patio outside. High walls and lush landscaping around the large pool area creates a private and tranquil backyard oasis feel that feels connected to the house.

Add Privacy

Michelle Boudreau Design used high walls and black metal doors and gates to create a private feel in this backyard desert oasis with its views of the nearby mountains and open sky.

Grow a Tree Canopy

This backyard pool area from Matthew Carter Interiors has a watering hole-style swimming pool anchored by a guest house, green lawn, and delicate tree canopy that offers shade and gives the space a luxurious and secluded backyard oasis feel.

Embrace the Landscape

This tranquil backyard oasis from Crisp Architects includes a patio that is surrounded by a sloping lawn and a stone staircase and wall that gives the outdoor space a grounded and timeless air that feels protected from the outside world.

Add a Tree Bench

This tranquil backyard oasis from Fantastic Frank has tall privacy hedges, a manicured lawn edged with soft landscaping, and a geometric dark wood bench built around a large tree that gives it the allure of a manicured park without the prying eyes.

Use Natural Materials

Michelle Boudreau Design created a warm and inviting feel in this desert backyard by decorating the seating area with natural textures like a woven pendant light and rattan furnishings.

Add Modern Comforts

Marie Flanigan Interiors created a backyard oasis feel by outfitting this covered patio on the edge of the lawn with modern comforts like an outdoor fireplace, a wall-mounted TV and sound system, comfortable furniture accessorized with soft textiles, and colorful flowers.

Mix White and Gold

Michelle Boudreau Design created a tranquil backyard oasis that's dressed up enough for company using all-white furniture and gold accents like the rolling bar cart and side table that echo the sun and blur the lines between indoors and out.

Plant an Herb Garden

Most Lovely Things planted a small herb garden using raised galvanized stock tank beds set on a backyard gravel patio. A dining table set in a garden theme and decorated with fresh herbs is perfect for memorable dinner parties in your backyard oasis.

Lay a Garden Path

Finding Lovely built a winding path that connects the deck, fire pit patio, and backyard to the greenhouse and gardens, creating an enchanted garden feel that's perfect for the whole family to relax and unwind in.

Build a Two-Tiered Deck

If your property is located on hilly or uneven ground or you prefer your outdoor space to have wood floors rather than grass or gravel, a two-tiered deck will help you maximize outdoor space. Desiree Burns Interiors placed a dining table and chairs in the shade of a mature tree and anchored it with a large pendant light hanging from one of the branches for an indoor-outdoor feel.

Create a Quiet Corner

Blanco Bungalow built a U-shaped banquette fire pit conversation area in the corner of this Los Angeles backyard that is set on a detached gravel patio. The surrounding large-scale plants and large tree create a chill hangout space for day or night.

Make It Multifunctional

Brian Brown Studio created a multifunctional backyard oasis built so that you never have to leave, with zones for dining, cooking, watching TV, lounging, swimming, or soaking in the hot tub. Neutral colors and simple lines keep the space looking pulled together but easy, perfect for low key family time or weekend barbecues.

Try an Outdoor Living Room

Set up an outdoor living room on a backyard patio to create a dedicated space to lounge and entertain. Interior designer Alvin Wayne used modern furniture with a warm wood finish that echoes the wraparound privacy fence, with bright white upholstery to make it feel as comfortable as an indoor space.

Create an Organic Feel

Use natural landscaping to create a backyard oasis that is integrated with its setting. Desiree Burns Interiors installed rustic stone patios on the lawn by this outdoor swimming pool surrounded by lush greenery for an organic feel.

Set Up Lounge Seating

Set up a comfortable lounge space on a floating deck with a view of the surrounding landscape to create a relaxed space for entertaining.

Tyler Karu Design and Interiors outfitted this tranquil outdoor space with modern furniture in neutral colors that don't compete with the view.

Build a Yoga Studio

Convert the backyard shed into a yoga studio if your space and budget allow. This backyard yoga room from Brophy Interiors is open to the backyard thanks to large bifold doors, and usable year-round thanks to the Southern California setting.

How do you create a backyard oasis on a budget?

Create a backyard oasis on a budget by incorporating decorative elements like an outdoor rug, LED string or pendant lights, and cozy seating styled with throw pillows in outdoor fabrics. Use landscaping or potted plants and flowers to add color. Hang a hammock for a boho-style space to nap or read. Set up a portable fire pit with simple seating and stock a bar cart to create an entertaining space.

What's the best way to maximize space in a small backyard?

Optimize a small backyard space by defining zones for relaxing, playing, dining, gardening, or whatever it is that you like to do to unwind. Create a focal point with a small fire pit area or a pergola. Choose small-scale furniture and accessories that won’t clutter up your available space. Utilize vertical space on a small backyard patio with hanging planters.

Read the original article on The Spruce.