12 Hardscaping Ideas to Structure Your Outdoor Space

12 Hardscaping Ideas to Structure Your Outdoor Space

by — Andra DelMonico
Published on March 4, 2021
Updated on January 27, 2025

To have a beautiful design for your backyard, you need to use a combination of soft and hardscaping. Soft landscaping is the soft materials, such as grass, mulch, shrubs, trees, and soil.

The hardscaping is the concrete, stones, pavers, and gravel. When you combine them, you create varying textures and variety that adds visual interest.

These hardscaping ideas will get you inspired to upgrade your backyard. Perhaps you’d love to add a fire pit to your backyard. Or maybe you’ve always wanted a water feature.

Turn your small yard into a useable space and increase the value of your home with luxury materials.

1. Incorporate Natural Stones

Using large boulders and rocks as a part of your landscape design can give your property a natural and rustic feel. This is perfect if you want to create a natural feel to your outdoor space. Look for large natural stones that you can have brought in and professionally arranged.

Backyard hardscaping design featuring a natural rock stream, wooden fence, greenery, and a tiled walkway — Source: @beckisemb via Instagram

Garden hardscaping with stone pathways, flower beds, trees, and a serene backyard view featuring a white house and greenery — Source: @greenjaylandscaping via Instagram

Japanese-inspired backyard hardscaping with a wooden bridge, stone lantern, decorative rocks, evergreens, and lush greenery — Source: @ilija2001r via Instagram

You can look at landscape ideas to get inspired. Use the large stones to build a privacy wall. Pile earth behind them to build a retaining wall. Stack them around a pool and build a fountain into them.

2. Create Inviting Outdoor Fire Pits

Adding an outdoor fire pit to your concrete patio can give you an additional outdoor entertaining space. This hardscape design is perfect for adding an outdoor entertaining space to your backyard.

Outdoor fire pit area with circular stone seating, layered steps, built-in lighting, and a cozy backyard setting near a house — Source: @bold_designbuild via Instagram

Modern fire pit with stone seating, decorative cushions, built-in lighting, and a spacious tiled patio surrounded by trees — Source: @burncolandscape via Instagram

Elegant fire pit area with stone benches, warm lighting, herringbone brick patio, and a scenic view of trees and a river — Source: @dandrhardscapes via Instagram

Modern backyard fire pit with sleek stone seating, tiled patio design, and a scenic open field view during sunset — Source: @evolve_design_build_llc via Instagram

Aerial view of a geometric backyard fire pit design with modern stone seating, lush greenery, and wooden privacy panels — Source: @silverstonelandscaping via Instagram

Contemporary backyard fire pit area with wooden seating, gravel base, landscaped greenery, and a sleek, modern design — Source: @smartchoicelandscapesandpools via Instagram

Simple backyard fire pit with stone seating, a paved patio, wooden privacy fence, and suburban neighborhood view — Source: @viskantas_custom_landscapes via Instagram

Build your firepit out of paver or natural stone. Then have a flat stone pad around it that’s large enough to place chairs on. Make it larger so that people can move their chairs closer or further away to adjust how warm they get.

Consider building a stone bench around the fire pit. It can have a curved shape that matches the curve of the fire pit. Building the bench out of stone makes it look like it’s a part of the landscape.

Read more: Fire Pit Ideas

3. Enhance Curb Appeal with Stylish Driveways and Paths

Don’t forget about landscaping your front yard. You can use hardscape ideas to add curb appeal to your home. Start with the driveway.

A basic option is to have a concrete driveway. This isn’t very stylish, but you can make it look nice by pressure washing it and keeping it looking fresh and clean.

Front yard hardscaping with stone steps, black mulch landscaping, a small tree, and a navy blue house surrounded by greenery — Source: @demott_stoneworks via Instagram

Elegant front yard with herringbone-patterned pavers, a manicured lawn, trees, and stone steps leading to a classic-style home — Source: @nrx_landscaping via Instagram

Stylish front yard pathway with curved pavers, stone steps, garden edging, and lush greenery alongside the house — Source: @titan_interlock via Instagram

For a modern and elegant look, replace the concrete driveway with natural stone tiles or pavers. This can improve the look of your driveway while also improving drainage and having a long usable lifespan. Be sure to pick a stone with a tumbled or hammered finish so that it isn’t slippery when wet.

Read more: Landscaping Ideas for the Front of the House

4. Elevate Garden Spaces with Decorative Elements

Having a garden is about more than growing plants. You should create an atmosphere by developing a landscape design theme. You can incorporate this into your garden for a cohesive look throughout the entire yard.

Charming garden with raised wooden planters, stone pathway, Adirondack chairs, and a cozy fire pit on a wooden deck — Source: @foggy_gardener via Instagram

Beautiful outdoor patio with stone seating, lush greenery, a grill, and a dining area surrounded by a serene wooded backdrop — Source: @landscapecreationsdupage via Instagram

Modern front yard with a spiral topiary, stone landscaping, paved walkway, and a contemporary home with large windows — Source: @mapleridgelandscapes via Instagram

Small front yard landscaping with a tropical tree, decorative white and black stones, curved edging, and a potted plant accent — Source: @miamiexclusiveborders via Instagram

Modern garden design featuring wooden vertical panels, gravel landscaping, boulders, and neatly arranged greenery in a minimalist layout — Source: @pauljlandscaping via Instagram

Rustic fire pit surrounded by large boulders, decorative gravel, and a circular stone patio in a wooded outdoor setting — Source: @wjapatio via Instagram

Start your hardscape project by building solid concrete or stone planter boxes for your garden. Then build off of these with stone or gravel walkways around them.

If you prefer a more freeform style of garden, you can add hardscape elements to it. Place a bench among the flowers. Add a few statues to fill in empty areas.

5. Maximize Small Yards with Clever Hardscaping

Using hardscaping in your small backyard can help you make the most of your space. Build out your backyard patio with concrete pavers. This lets you smoothly transition from the seating area to the lawn. Now you can have a diverse outdoor living area, no matter how small it may be.

Modern small courtyard with vertical garden, cozy wooden bench seating, artificial grass, and soft lighting for a relaxing ambiance — Source: @ashley_james_gardens via Instagram

Backyard design with a multi-level deck, outdoor dining area, lounge chairs, fire pit, and privacy fencing in a modern setup — Source: @blue.aspen_.inc_ via Instagram

Charming small backyard with wooden raised planters, paved patio, wooden fencing, and lush greenery for a cozy outdoor space — Source: @culverlandscaping via Instagram

Cozy backyard with a small wooden deck, Adirondack chairs, lush greenery, stone accents, and a sliding door leading to a cedar-shingled home — Source: @illuminateelectric via Instagram

Aerial view of a modern backyard with clean white concrete paving, raised planters, and neatly trimmed greenery for a minimalist design — Source: @royalstone.ca_ via Instagram

Cozy patio with outdoor seating, a fire pit table, umbrella, potted plants, and a white privacy fence decorated with hanging planters — Source: @thefontaineflat via Instagram

Stylish backyard with a circular plunge pool, wooden deck seating, lush succulents, and a brick privacy wall featuring cacti — Source: @thefontaineflat via Instagram

Build raised garden or flower beds along one or two of the walls. This adds varying heights to the space and makes it feel bigger. You’re also adding built-in decor. Install a pole or column and string lights from it overhead. This illuminates the entire space and helps it to feel bigger.

6. Build Opulent Outdoor Spaces with Premium Materials

Turn your hardscape into a luxurious outdoor lying space. Build large patios that you can turn into an outdoor kitchen, swimming pool platform, or outdoor living room.

Cover these areas with a pergola and create some shade. This makes them more enjoyable to use during the hottest months when the sun is shining bright.

Luxurious backyard with a wooden deck, illuminated privacy panels, fire pit area, lush greenery, and a scenic sunset view — Source: @burncolandscape via Instagram

Luxury outdoor space featuring an elevated patio with modern seating, a fire pit, a stone-lined pool area, and lush landscaping — Source: @gibsoncontracting via Instagram

Luxury outdoor setup with a sunken fire pit lounge surrounded by a modern pool, stone accents, and a stylish pergola dining area — Source: @the_credit_connect2 via Instagram

Use more expensive materials that you would traditionally find in higher-end homes. Pavers are a popular choice. You could also use slate tile. If you want to create a traditional look, use red bricks.

7. Modernize Your Yard with Contemporary Hardscaping

Give your outdoor living space a modern feel by incorporating landscape lighting. Add lights in the ground that will point upward to brighten up the landscape. Have the lights line the walkway to help people navigate your yard.

Modern backyard with geometric hardscaping, a wooden dining set, neatly trimmed shrubs, and vibrant plants bordered by wooden fencing — Source: @earthandsole via Instagram

Chic modern backyard featuring sleek paver flooring, a dining area, contemporary seating with lush planters, and black privacy fencing — Source: @fossil_landscapes via Instagram

Modern backyard design with built-in wooden seating, a sleek square firepit, artificial grass, and ambient lighting on a horizontal wood-paneled wall — Source: @infinity_home2 via Instagram

Contemporary front yard with tiered stone steps, sleek black accents, colorful flowers, and a modern facade with large windows — Source: @spruceitup_landscaping via Instagram

Modern backyard design featuring white raised planters with decorative rocks and greenery, large gray pavers, and outdoor seating against a gray fence backdrop — Source: @the_white_house18 via Instagram

To make this hardscape feature work, you should use a variety of hardscape materials. White or dark grey gravel works well as a ground cover around square concrete pavers and blocks of lush green grass. Line the different elements with a solid black piece of metal instead of pavers.

8. Transform Patios and Walkways with Elegant Pavers

Use brick pavers to cover your plain concrete patio. This dresses up the patio and makes it look more luxurious. You can also cover the patio in flagstone for a natural feel of rustic stones arranged together to create a smooth surface.

Natural stone paver patio with irregular dark stones, a tropical pool surrounded by greenery, and decorative rock accents — Source: @crackorjackconcrete via Instagram

Patterned stone paver patio with geometric designs and gravel inlays, featuring a wooden bench, round table, and potted plants — Source: @quietvillagelandscaping via Instagram

Large backyard patio with interlocking stone pavers, decorative pillars, and landscaping around a modern blue house — Source: @sequoia.stonescapes via Instagram

Cozy backyard patio with stone pavers, outdoor seating, a large umbrella, and vibrant greenery — Source: @stonearchlandscapes via Instagram

If you need to create a walkway in your yard, consider using concrete pavers. These are large square or rectangle-shaped pavers that you sink into the ground. Leave some space between them for a modern look.

Properties that have drainage problems need permeable pavers. These leave gaps between each of the pavers to allow water to flow through. This prevents standing water from pooling on the pavers.

9. Functional Elegance with Retaining and Garden Walls

Property that isn’t perfectly flat presents a unique challenge. You can accept the property as-is and its limited use. Or you can build a stone wall to function as a retaining wall. This levels the ground and allows you to create a step-down design.

Elegant curved retaining wall with brick and stone design, featuring lush green plants and a small ornamental tree — Source: @cantellano_inc via Instagram

Beautiful backyard with a curved retaining wall, stone steps, circular fire pit area, and Adirondack chairs surrounded by lush greenery — Source: @crevinalandscaping via Instagram

Vibrant backyard garden with colorful flower beds, a lush green lawn, black brick retaining walls, and stone steps leading to a storage shed — Source: @davidlovestogarden via Instagram

Elegant stone house exterior at night with illuminated retaining walls, garden beds, and pathway lighting — Source: @inlitedesign via Instagram

Backyard patio with stone retaining walls, pergola, and outdoor seating area featuring a red umbrella — Source: @unilock_phil_carlson via Instagram

When building your retaining walls, you can use metal, wood, stone, or concrete. The height and thickness of your retaining wall will depend on how much earth it needs to hold.

If you aren’t experienced, it’s smart to seek out the assistance of a professional experienced in building these walls. Otherwise, you risk the wall collapsing under the weight of the earth it’s holding.

10. Creative Solutions for Sloped Yards

Instead of building retaining walls, you can embrace the slope in your yard. Create a backyard hardscape design that slopes down the property. You’ll need to build water channels into the hardscape to allow for property drainage.

Terraced garden with wooden retaining walls, artificial green privacy screen, and outdoor staircase leading to a raised patio area — Source: @cascadelandscapes via Instagram

Tiered stone retaining walls with built-in steps, landscaped greenery, and a sloped yard adjacent to a brick and white house — Source: @aronebrothers via Instagram

Multi-level wooden retaining walls with vibrant landscaping, tropical plants, a lush green lawn, and a patio area with pavers — Source: @cascadelandscapes via Instagram

Stepped concrete retaining walls with modern landscaping, featuring trees, shrubs, and mulch, bordered by a clean walkway and wooden privacy fencing — Source: @imperialhardscape via Instagram

Backyard patio with a wooden pergola, raised stone retaining wall, and neatly landscaped garden featuring mulch and flowers, set against a traditional house — Source: @jc_outdoors_capetola via Instagram

Tiered slope garden with rusted metal retaining walls, vibrant plants, and flowers, surrounded by lush greenery and a wooden deck — Source: @londongardendesign via Instagram

Rustic stone pathway and staircase in a slope garden with surrounding greenery and shrubs near a house — Source: @timelessconstruction5867 via Instagram

Modern house exterior at twilight featuring a lit pathway, steps, and spacious patio with contemporary design and surrounding greenery — Source: @tlc_gardens via Instagram

Build it into your lawn to encourage rich growth of the lawn and prevent depriving your lawn of moisture. Steps can also look good because they will follow the slope of the ground.

Large natural stones are perfect for this because they can be set into the earth. You could also use concrete to form the steps.

11. Design Distinctive Walkways for Practical Elegance

A stone walkway gives you a designated place to walk through your yard. This prevents your yard from getting trampled on or killed. It also helps you define the space by having paths that lead to each area of your yard.

Curved stone path with black gravel on both sides, bordered by a wooden fence and a beige building, leading to a residential area — Source: @evergreencustomlandscaping via Instagram

Minimalist garden with square concrete slabs, gravel paths, and a tree in the center, surrounded by green hedges and a white house — Source: @floresartscape via Instagram

Stone pathway with circular design, surrounded by shrubs and rocks, leading to a garage and green lawn in the background — Source: @sonnenberglandscaping via Instagram

Start the walkway at your back door or leading off of your patio or deck. Then have it end at your raised planter garden, fire pit, pond, or pool. You can also have it wrap around your house to the front of your yard. Lay a walkway down in your front yard to increase your home’s curb appeal.

12. Introduce Serene Water Features for Relaxation

Adding a water hardscaping feature to your backyard adds a natural soundtrack to your yard. You can do this with a fountain or small pond. Add natural stones around the edge and under the running water. This tumbles the water and creates more sound.

Garden with a brick wall fountain, water spilling from spouts into a narrow pool, surrounded by lush greenery and potted plants — Source: @melissagerstledesign via Instagram

Tropical courtyard with tall plants, warm lighting, and reflecting water pool in a modern building setting at night — Source: @la_2d via Instagram

Outdoor patio with a small rectangular pool, surrounded by lush green plants and pottery — Source: @la_danesa via Instagram

A serene garden pond with cascading waterfalls, surrounded by lush greenery and colorful plants — Source: @melissagerstledesign via Instagram

Modern backyard with illuminated water feature, stone tiles, and ambient lighting, fenced garden and townhouse in the background — Source: @scenicstone via Instagram

Backyard patio with hexagonal tiles, a modern water fountain, orange seating, and lush greenery — Source: @vbpatios via Instagram

Scale the water feature to the size of yard you have. A small patio with limited space will look good with a pedestal fountain. A large sprawling property can support something larger, such as a koi pond.

For a modern look and increased privacy, add a water wall to your patio or deck. The cascading water will block your neighbor’s sight while also creating a relaxing atmosphere.

FAQs

What is an example of hardscape?

Hardscape elements are the solid or hard elements of the backyard. These are solid and unchanging elements in your backyard. Examples of hardscaping are retaining walls, pavers, patios, outdoor kitchens, decks, driveway, stone, gazebo, outdoor fireplace, or the base of a water feature. It could be paving or a structure.

Does hardscaping add value to your home?

The right hardscaping can add value to your home. It can create more living space outdoors and increase the homeowner’s enjoyment and use of the home. To add the most value to your home, add hardscaping that creates functional spaces, such as a patio, deck, or stonework.

Is hardscaping a good investment?

Yes, investing in hardscaping projects is a smart idea. It will give you more usable space outside. You’ll also enjoy a high return on investment when you go to sell your house. This type of home improvement project is as popular as a bathroom or kitchen renovation.