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Designs and plans for the backyard will focus more on usable living space than in the front yard and other areas of your property.
The front yard generally centers on appearance and appeal while backyards focus more on ideas for gardens, living, entertaining, enjoying, and where landscaping for privacy is most generally a main concern.
As with all plans, it's suggested that your backyard design begins with a question of what elements and functions are necessary before concentrating on recreational areas and functions related to lifestyle.
Next, as you begin to form ideas and a plan, give some thought to your personal needs and wishes for your backyard that will address such things as access, entertaining, and lifestyle. These can be broken down into many different areas that need consideration in your analysis such as -
These basic design elements can also be broken down into several other areas as well such as swimming pools, patios, outdoor kitchens, and other areas such as garden paths, utilities, pets, walls, fences, etc.
You should also begin with a Site Analysis and by becoming familiar with The Principles of Landscape Design.
Generally, our first thoughts for any backyard ideas would be the question of necessity that was mentioned earlier. The next question would be from sort of an architectural standpoint. We usually take a view of the backyard as though it was a building with a floor plan, walls (boundaries or property line), and a ceiling. We also should start thinking right away of the other "rooms" that can be created for specific purposes.
The floor plan is obviously your basic structure. It contains your basic ideas, necessities, and wishes for your new backyard haven. It may help to read the planning your landscape page to get this in order.