Landscape Inspiration: A Dozen Lush & Lovely Townhouse Backyards

published May 6, 2016
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(Image credit: Megan Pflug)

The outdoor design for an urban dwelling is something totally different to a sprawling suburban or country yard. There’s much less space, to be sure. But you also have to take in mind your neighbors (and how much you want to see of them) and also what feels appropriate for your area and even your type of home.

What’s on your side, though, is that you have a lot of elements to play with in not a lot of space, so you can afford to get really creative with materials and layout, like these 12 modern courtyard-style gardens did.

Above, designer Megan Pflug‘s Brooklyn garden makeover.

(Image credit: Andrew Twort)

A London terrace by Candy & Candy on Architectural Digest.

(Image credit: Marianne Majerus)

A hot pink, family-friendly space featured by Stuart Craine in The Guardian.

(Image credit: Chris Cooper)

The top view of a Manhattan townhouse courtyard from architects Anne Marie Lubrano and Lea Ciavarra on Dwell.

(Image credit: Lori Cannava)

A long Bed-Stuy backyard from New Eco Landscapes on Houzz.

(Image credit: Robin Stubbert)

A courtyard design by Neil Attenborough from Style at Home.

(Image credit: KB Harper)

KV Harper’s Bed-Stuy abode on Aphrochic.

(Image credit: Paul Dyer)

A San Francisco Victorian townhome from Feldman Architecture featured on One Kind Design.

(Image credit: Eric Piasecki)

The landscape architects at Nelson Byrd Woltz designed this NYC outdoor space from Dwell.

(Image credit: Reddoor)

A patio space from Reddoor‘s landscape design portfolio.

(Image credit: Pia Ulin)

The yard of Catbird founder Rony Vardi’s Brooklyn home on Vogue.

(Image credit: Bruce Buck)

A peek behind a Victorian brownstone from Architect Julian King and featured in International Architecture & Design Magazine.