7 Beautiful Ways to Boost a Big Bad Blank Backyard Wall

Curb appeal is a magic phrase in the spring, as is thinking up ways to make your home exterior look better to visitors and passersby. But what about the backyard — the place where you spend your time? First off, yay you. You have actual outdoor space. Now go make it pretty to enjoy all summer long, and start with any blank wall.

If you have an unsightly wall, cover it up with some horizontal boards, then paint everything a deep bold color. Sarah Sherman Samuel black-walled backyard, shown above, is stylish and pulled together —and that wall really grounds the space and makes any other color stand out.

Sarah Hearts talks about her bright yellow dipped IKEA bench, but I’m focused on the chalk design on her concrete wall —which is both adorable and doable.

Hang a large piece of waterproof artwork to add color to the flat surface. Nalle’s House created this hanging banner using waterproof Marimekko laminated cotton. She says the project is super easy and took her no time at all.

Whitney Leigh Morris’ small Venice canal house has an equally small outdoor space which she covered in white lattice. It’s a great base from which to hang plants and other decor.

This black and white line drawing at La Banane (via Yellowtrace) is a pretty patio backdrop.

Jacinda of Prudent Baby went for something functional when she built this outdoor storage —good for potting plants or a bar during parties.

You’ve heard of vertical gardens, but what about espaliered trees? It’s a tree you train to grow flat against a wall. They don’t take up a lot of space, and are damn impressive. (They also might be mostly aspirational for most of us, but I’m including it anyway.)