You'll Love These Texas Side Yard Ideas

Your side yard has so much potential for outdoor living. But there are some obstacles to overcome — whether it’s a narrow space, has an awkward layout, or sits in full view of the street or your neighbors. We’re here to help with some expert Texas side yard ideas!

At Allied Outdoor Solutions, our design-build experts see past the limitations and imperfections of your side yard. With expert design, custom craftsmanship and some design inspiration, your Texas side yard transforms into a functional, stylish outdoor space.

Let’s put our 25,000+ projects worth of experience to good use. We’ll cover the simple steps to a great side yard concept, inspire you with successful local designs, and offer 6 excellent design features to consider for your new project.

4 Steps to a Winning Texas Side Yard Idea

Crafting a perfect side yard requires changing obstacles into strengths. 

Where you see a narrow yard, we see an opportunity to set clear, specific intentions for its use. Your “awkward layout”? That simply defines the unique footprint that truly personalizes your space.

Our outdoor living designers suggest 4 simple steps for creating a great side yard idea:

Consider Your Space

Begin by thoroughly assessing your side yard's unique dimensions and characteristics. Be sure to evaluate these 5 aspects of your space:

1. Length
2. Width
3. Sun exposure (morning, noon, afternoon and early evening)
4. Existing structural features (fences, walls)
5. Underground utilities (water lines, gas lines, etc.)

Note any existing challenges in the space:

1. Poor drainage (pooling in your yard, clogged gutters or downspouts)
2. Limited access from inside the home
3. Unobstructed view from the street or neighbor’s yard

Speak with your dedicated outdoor living designer about your existing space, its dimensions and challenges. We’ll collaborate on design solutions that are both effective and attainable.

Turn your outdoor dreams into reality. Book your design consultation today.

Set a Specific Intention

Side yards often offer less space than a backyard. Set a clear, singular purpose for your new side yard space:

Is it a quiet pergola? A decorative pathway and fire feature? An outdoor dining space? Even a small, structured inground pool and spa area is possible.

A clear intention takes confusion and clutter out of the ideation process. It also provides clarity to every design decision you make — every feature will be functional and focused.

Reflect Your Home’s Aesthetic

Ensure your side yard design complements your home's existing architectural style and materials. 

Choose building materials, structural elements, colors and textures that form a seamless visual connection between your house, existing outdoor spaces and your new side yard design.

This approach ensures your side yard feels like an intentional extension of your entire property. Here are some simple ways to extend your home’s aesthetic into your new space:

Create Enough Privacy

Side yards frequently border neighboring properties and side streets, making privacy a key consideration. 

Incorporate privacy screens, privacy curtains, or taller fencing to create secluded zones. 

You’ll transform your side yard from an open view into an intimate retreat, allowing you to relax without the outside world looking in.

Dreaming of all your backyard possibilities? View our before & after project gallery for more ideas.

5 Texas Side Yard Designs to Inspire Your Project

We reviewed thousands of successful Texas outdoor living spaces in our project portfolio to find the best examples of diverse, effective side yard designs.

You’ll discover 5 types of side yard projects in our gallery:

1. Covered patio and hardscape design
2. Side yard inground pool and spa
3. Covered outdoor dining space and furniture
4. Pathway and custom fire feature
5. Side yard pergola with privacy curtains

Side Yard Splendor

Intention: Relaxation and entertainment

Concept: A holistic outdoor grill, patio and combination hardscape/landscape design

The Finished Space: Where to begin? This side yard is packed with amenities and unique outdoor zones. The covered outdoor kitchen space offers two grills and a dining area. The attached patio creates a dedicated lounge space, and it’s all tied together by the effective heat, moisture and pressure resistance of Carvestone.

And there’s plenty of room left for a visually intriguing landscaping and hardscape design. Large, square modern pavers are built into a turf lawn — no mowing needed! A curved natural stone wall separates the yard from further landscaping and trees.

Modern Minimalist Pool

Intention: Side yard entertainment and relaxation

Concept: A high-end escape with geometric structure to maximize a narrow side yard

The Finished Space: Yes, you can have a gorgeous inground pool and spa in your narrow side yard. We used clean, geometric lines and modern building materials to refinish this small-but-impactful oasis just off the side porch.

Lush evergreens provide tons of privacy from the neighbors, and three pool waterfall features create enough ambient noise to block out external sound.

Side Yard Patio Dining

Intention: Functional al fresco dining

Concept: A quaint, neutral-toned al fresco dining patio with gable roof structure

The Finished Space: A quick lunch, round of drinks or freshly-grilled dinner — it’s all possible on this charming side yard covered patio with dedicated dining space for 6.

Timeless neutral tones dominate the color palette, which allows the homeowners freedom to add splashes of colorful decor. It’s all protected by a dramatic gable roof structure that’s pure Texas, with an overhead smart fan to keep the space cool.

Rustic Fireside

Intention: Aesthetic gathering space

Concept: A rustic pathway and custom fire pit to accent a gorgeous stone landscape

The Finished Space: You’re immediately drawn into the custom fire pit area with a hardscape pathway made with cream-colored, textured Carvestone. The path surrounds the circular fire pit, made from gorgeous Texas flagstone (limestone).

It’s a lovely space for gathering and fireside chats, as well as roasting marshmallows with the kids. Evergreens were planted to grow into a natural “privacy wall” on the property line.

Pergola Daydream

Intention: Relaxation and privacy

Concept: A quiet nook with heightened privacy to read and enjoy the scenery

The Finished Space: What this property lacked in square footage, it more than made up for with that spectacular view. We maximized the yard’s best feature with a lightweight, breezy aluminum slatted pergola that offers an unbeatable vantage point.

Curl up with a book, glass of wine or cup of coffee, and draw the privacy curtains — you’ll forget the next-door neighbors and get lost in miles of lush, green scenery.

Create the outdoor space you’ve always wanted. Book a complimentary design consultation!

6 Design Features That Work Well in Side Yards

Make the most of narrow, under-utilized side yards by adding features that maximize functionality, beauty, and privacy. 

Use these 6 design features to transform your yard into a purposeful, engaging outdoor area.

Shade Structures

In the Texas heat, shade structures are essential for making side yards comfortable. Custom pergolas and patio covers provide necessary protection from direct sunlight, heat and moisture.

Solid patio covers are an ideal option to mitigate against the oppressive humidity of Houston and the UV radiation in San Antonio. They also provide greater protection against increasing freezing and hail events in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Use a solid shade structure to extend the lifespan of your outdoor furniture, appliances, decking and flooring. Protect these features against fading and direct moisture damage.

Privacy Walls and Shades

Privacy walls offer more than a barrier from prying eyes — they also define the boundaries and layout of your side yard space. 

Custom privacy walls look great in a variety of materials, from modern lightweight aluminum to classic treated cedar or masonry walls.

Privacy shades don’t offer as much seclusion or protection for your space, but they’re highly effective around a lattice or slatted pergola or small, freestanding shade structure.

Visual Focal Points

Use a smaller side yard space to your advantage! Frame your outdoor design around a singular focal point to create visual intrigue and a natural gathering area.

Whether it’s a small water feature, custom fire pit or hardscape design, your design element gives your side yard purpose and personalizes the space.

Have a bit more room to play? Consider an outdoor fireplace or handcrafted fire table as a mesmerizing gathering space for friends and family.

Hardscape Pathways

Durable hardscape pathways help guide flow and enhance the usability of side yards. Materials like natural stone, decorative pavers, or Carvestone (modified concrete overlay) create a clean, functional route between outdoor living zones, or from side yard to backyard.

Pathways look especially beautiful winding through a side yard garden, or leading to a unique fire feature.

Built-In Storage

Side yards often become catch-all areas for patio furniture, toys and outdoor equipment. Avoid the cluttered mess with smart, built-in storage solutions in your new space.

Think beyond the shed! Integrate thoughtful, stylish storage solutions into your newly designed outdoor living areas:

• Custom cabinetry
• Built-in storage for outdoor kitchen islands
• Integrated storage benches
• Compact patio storage drawers 

These features will keep tools, supplies, or outdoor cushions neatly organized and out of sight.

Vertical Layouts

Maximizing vertical space is key in narrow side yards. This is especially paramount in the rolling terrain of Austin’s Hill Country and the smaller lot sizes of Dallas.

Use a system of terraces and retaining walls to create more usable square footage in your side yard. These features transform a sloped yard into multiple outdoor living zones — one hill becomes separate patio, fire feature and garden spaces.

Love a green space? Implement vertical gardens, climbing vines on trellises, or tiered planters to introduce plant life and color without consuming valuable ground space. 

We Make Your Texas Side Yard Ideas a Gorgeous Reality

The key to successful side yard ideas in Texas is turning your limitations into strengths.

Overcome small yard sizes with thoughtful layouts and dramatic visual focal points. Reflect your existing home’s aesthetic to create a seamless indoor-outdoor feel. 

If this article inspired you, give us a call — we provide a personal design-build team to collaborate on your side yard design, then turn it into a breathtaking new reality.

Your consultation is free — but making the most out of your side yard? That’s priceless.