A narrow backyard features a stone path leading to a raised patio with a black planter. On the left, there's a small garden bed with plants and lanterns. A wooden fence borders the right side, with a gravel strip beside it.
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Landscaping Side Yard Makeover with Paver Hardscaping

ByLisa
2 Comments

We are moving right along with the outdoor projects and now its time for a side yard makeover. Last year when we replaced our fence we extended it to the front of the house. This was something we always wanted to do, however, our north side of the house was a lot uglier than we realized and while it wasn’t a focal point of the yard, it wasn’t usable space either.

Top: A neglected side yard with bare ground, a trash bin, and wood fencing. Bottom: Transformed side yard with a paved walkway, decorative rocks, wood fence, and a brick structure. Text reads "Side Yard Paver Hardscaping" with a website link.

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The Problem

The right side of our yard sits on a slope and doesn’t get much sunlight, yet somehow weeds still manage to grow…..but not grass. Of course not! Next to the gate is also where we store our trash cans, aka Barry’s nemesis. Downhill slope + wheels = problem. It has always been a challenge to keep our trash cans upright hence the bricks supporting them. And since grass does not grow here, the winter provides us with a mud pit when a big snowfall melts. Clearly this small space on the side of the house was the perfect spot for a landscaping overhaul!

A narrow backyard with a stone patio, wooden fence, and a small planter on the left. The ground is covered with small pebbles and leads to the back gate. The sky is clear with a few clouds.

Designing the Plan

The first step was to come up with a design plan. We weren’t working with too much space from side to side, but it is quite long. We thought about this project basically since we re-did the fence which gave us plenty of time to ponder design ideas. Immediately, we wanted to create a walking path that would lead you through the gate and to the front yard and driveway to provide better access to the backyard without going through the house. We also wanted to fix the trash can debacle.

Three trash bins on wheels are lined up outdoors: a blue bin on the left and two green bins on the right. They are placed on dirt, each resting on two bricks. A wooden fence and a house wall are visible in the background.

I know you may be thinking “do you really need 3 trash cans?” YES! One is used for trash, one is for yard waste and the other is there in case we have extra items to dispose, like when we tear out all of our carpet. While we could rent a dumpster, they are expensive and we usually don’t have enough to fill a whole dumpster so it feels like a waste. When we are in project mode and have carpet or something to throw away, Barry cuts it small and uses the third trash can. Problem solved.

Now we needed to give them all a proper home. Because the trash cans roll, the solution could not have steps or large uneven surfaces. This is the part that made things complicated. As many of you know, there is very little we are not willing to tackle on our own, but the obvious solution here would require some sort of built up surface.

Narrow side yard with patchy dirt and scattered rocks. A wooden fence and the side of a house enclose the area. A green garbage bin is near the house. Sparse grass and weeds are visible. A small window is on the house wall. Trees are in the background.

We discussed doing a path with 24×24 step stones and filling the rest in with pea gravel. This would be a great solution and very cost effective……if the area were flat. So I proposed building a “deck like” permanent structure for the trash cans with some sort of ramp to wheel them down. But neither one of us really liked the way that would look. 

Plan B? Pay landscape architects to figure it out! So we scheduled a meeting with the company that put in our new patio to get a bid on the job. While it wasn’t the most cost effective option, it was the most time efficient and it solved all the grade issues. And it would match seamlessly with the rest of our outdoor space and seating areas. Sometimes it’s worth paying for! I did prepare an excel design showing what we wanted to accomplish and the guys figured out how to make it work with the narrow space, slope, and a curve.

A top-down schematic of a building layout featuring a gray structure with a surrounding grid-patterned walkway, small green lawn areas, and four brown squares indicating possible furniture or features.

We came up with a solution that would fix the grade issues and provide a home for our trash cans. We even had enough space in the narrow side yard to add a small garden bed for a few plants. 

We also contracted them to make a pad for a new shed in the back yard near the fire pit outdoor area and lay rock on both sides of the house and in the front next to the driveway.

Backyard area with bare soil and scattered dried branches. Orange spray paint marks lines and shapes on the ground. A wooden fence is on the right, and a house with brick and siding is on the left. A small patio with furniture is visible in the background.

Installation Day One

We scheduled the project and when day 1 of install came I was so excited and luckily we had nice weather!!! The guys started early in the morning and we walked the space and marked out where the path and such would go.

A person in a red shirt works on a backyard patio construction project, surrounded by fencing. The ground is covered with dirt and straw, and there are trees and houses in the background.

Then they got to work. And let me tell you, they work fast. It started off looking like this.

A backyard landscaping project with a partially completed stone border curving along a flower bed. A wooden fence stands in the background. Several construction tools and materials, including bricks and buckets, are scattered around.

And the beginning of the walking path taking shape.

A backyard under construction with a partially built stone retaining wall alongside a wooden fence. Various construction tools, including a compactor, are present. The ground is uneven and shows exposed dirt and gravel.

By the end of the day, they were almost done with the path!

A narrow, paved walkway runs beside a brick house, leading to the backyard. A wooden fence and a block wall border the path. A large black planter and gardening tools, including a wheelbarrow and buckets, are placed along the path.

Installation Day Two

On the second day they started on the 8×8 pad in the backyard for the shed and the rock on the other side of the house. 

A backyard area with stacks of bricks, a red wheelbarrow holding sand, and a yellow compactor. Two wooden fences form a corner behind the workspace, with a patch of green grass in the foreground. Sunlight casts shadows across the scene.

By the end of the day, everything was done! Including spreading rock on both side yards. Can you believe it!?

A narrow pathway covered with small gray stones runs between a wooden fence on the left and a beige-sided building on the right. Two round, black drainage covers are embedded in the stones near the building. A patch of grass is visible at the end.

And the new patio pad for the shed. 

A newly constructed square patio made of stone pavers is set in a backyard, surrounded by dirt and grass. A wooden fence stands behind it, and a couple of red flags mark the area.

The Finished Side Yard

Finally a proper home for our trash cans and an attractive side yard that isn’t a mud pit! This may very well be our favorite part of this project, as crazy as that sounds. But when it snows, this is a big deal! We couldn’t be happier with this amazing side yard makeover. 

A narrow backyard features a curved stone walkway bordered by round white pebbles. A wooden fence runs alongside, and a brick house with a small garden bed and a blue recycling bin is on the right. A trailer is visible in the background.

And this is what it looked like after I got around to adding some plants in the raised planter bed.

The raised planter bed filled in with new plants alongside the stone path.

This was exactly was we needed! We are so glad we had it done and it matches our paver patio ðŸ™‚ And the best part was it only took 2 days! Stay tuned to see how our shed turns out!

A walkway made of brown paving stones borders areas covered with small gray stones. The path curves slightly, contrasting with the light concrete sidewalk in the background.

A closer look at the curve of the path in the front that leads to the driveway. 

A curved stone path with interlocking pavers runs between a wooden fence and a gravel area with small stones. The fence is partially open, revealing more gravel beyond. A brick building is visible to the left.

And how the new path connects seamlessly to the existing patio and outdoor bar area.

Outdoor patio with stone bar counter and three bar stools featuring patterned cushions. A small grill is on the counter. The patio has a paver floor, wooden fence, and a potted plant on a gravel path. Nearby houses and trees are visible.

One more look at the retaining wall detail that built up the area for the trash cans. 

Curved stone retaining wall made of stacked bricks, adjoining a smoothly curved brick walkway. The bricks are a mix of dark gray and brown tones, and the sunlight highlights the texture of the masonrywork.

Looking for more great ideas and outdoor projects, check out how our stone patio has evolved and the design elements I have added, how we painted our exterior, the outdoor kitchen we added, or the container garden I added in unused space. 

A narrow backyard features a stone path leading to a raised patio with a black planter. On the left, there's a small garden bed with plants and lanterns. A wooden fence borders the right side, with a gravel strip beside it.

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Top image shows a narrow side yard under construction with a partially built stone path next to a wooden fence. Bottom image reveals the completed yard with a curved stone path and raised stone flower beds against a house. Text reads "SIDE YARD Hardscaping MAKEOVER".

This post, Landscaping Side Yard Makeover with Paver Hardscaping, appeared first on Garrison Street Design Studio.

2 Comments

  1. Wow! You all did an excellent job! My husband and I are getting a fence installed in our new backyard this spring, and then we’re upgrading the rest of our yard including the side. It’s such an awkward space and I had no idea what to do about it, but you completely transformed the space! I’m hoping to use some of your ideas for our project.

    Reply

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