It's not unusual to see salvaged railroad ties being offered up for little to nothing on Craigslist. They're an extremely common landscaping material, but that doesn't mean they have to be used in common ways. Here are some ideas for using them in your landscape with a contemporary twist:

If you need some simple storage for your garden but don't quite need a potting bench, this eco-minded Etsy how-to upcycles a wooden pallet into outdoor shelving.

While there has been some debate over the idea of bringing the television outdoors, we're sure that this guide to bringing tech outside will be met with more joyous sounds - the sounds of music, that is. Today we'll talk about options to bring audio outdoors.

Shirley Watts had impressive artistic vision when she planned this garden. Each element, from the paving to the furniture to the plants, displays an attention to detail that makes this small garden something special. 

Isabelle Palmer founded The Balcony Gardener because she wanted to make the most of her small balcony in North London; she wanted to create a space where she could "look, sit, relax and grow my own little bit of green in the city." From ready made container gardens to gardening tools and outdoor furniture, The Balcony Gardener has an array of products you can use to create a garden escape of your own.

As warmer weather emerges, the backyard becomes the destination where many of us go to enjoy entertaining, grilling, and even escape to enjoy music. Some homeowners are bringing the full home entertainment experience outside, with television sets situated in backyard "living rooms". But weather is no friend of your standard television set...we'll show you how to set yourself up with a TV outdoors safely!

When it comes to making use of a small outdoor space, it's best to start with the basics. A bistro set, with a small table and a couple of chairs, is perfect for an alfresco wine and dine. As an added bonus, most bistro sets fold for quick storage.

Last week I talked about design dilemmas common with the quintessential rectangular urban yard, and space (or should I say, lack thereof), is usually at the top of the list. From inspiration to DIY's, tips on products available on the market and where to source them — this post will surely have you dreaming up new ways to best utilize a small footprint in the garden.

We used to have this one family on our apartment block, who, in all kinds of weather, you would find playing out front: mom, dad, and their two daughters. Not out back of our building, where there are trees and grass and picnic tables, but out front, where there is an ugly parking lot and a shriveled, sad attempt at a garden. Why were they out there? What was with that?