Not every backyard in Broken Arrow or Tulsa is a sprawling acre with unlimited space. Many Oklahoma homeowners have compact lots, small side yards, or oddly shaped outdoor areas that seem impossible to work with. The good news is that a small backyard doesn’t mean a small outdoor living experience. VistaScapes Design & Build has transformed dozens of tight, challenging spaces into incredible outdoor rooms. Here’s how we approach small backyard design in Oklahoma — and how we can do the same for you. Call 918-779-1317.
Think Vertically, Not Just Horizontally
In a small backyard, the vertical plane is your friend. A pergola with climbing vines, a tall privacy screen with climbing plants, or a board-on-board privacy fence creates enclosure and a sense of “room” without consuming any floor space. String lights or pendant lighting hung from a pergola overhead draw the eye upward and make the space feel more expansive and intimate at the same time.
Built-in vertical planters or a living wall along a fence line bring greenery into the space without sacrificing patio square footage. Stone or brick veneer on a single accent wall adds architectural depth to a flat fence backdrop.
Right-Sized Features for Compact Spaces
A full outdoor kitchen may not make sense in a 12×14 patio. But a single built-in grill station with one counter wing and a mini-fridge absolutely does — and it gives you everything you need to cook outdoors without overwhelming the space. Similarly, a small round fire pit (36-48 inches in diameter) is far more proportionate to a compact backyard than an oversized fire pit that takes up half the patio.
VistaScapes specializes in right-sizing outdoor features to the available space. We’ve built 8-foot outdoor kitchen runs in tight side yards and circular fire pit areas on 15×15 patios that feel perfectly scaled and functional.
Define Zones Within the Space
Even a small backyard benefits from defined zones. Use a change in patio material to separate the dining area from the conversation area — concrete pavers in one zone, stamped concrete in another. Use a pergola to cover one zone and leave the other open to the sky. Use planter borders or low retaining walls to separate levels or areas of use.
When a space has multiple defined zones, it feels larger because your eye has different areas to move between rather than taking in the entire space at once.
Privacy Without Bulk
Privacy screening is critical in close-in suburban lots. But a solid 8-foot block wall will make a small backyard feel like a prison yard. Instead, VistaScapes uses layered privacy approaches — a 6-foot cedar fence topped with a pergola beam system that adds height without mass, or a combination of strategic plantings and a partial masonry screen wall that creates privacy without fully enclosing the view.
Small Backyard Projects VistaScapes Builds
- Compact concrete or paver patios with decorative borders
- Single-grill outdoor kitchen stations
- Small round or square fire pits with built-in seating walls
- Attached pergolas that add overhead structure without floor footprint
- Landscape lighting to extend usability into evening hours
- Privacy screen walls and fencing with integrated planters
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a small backyard you’re not sure what to do with? Call VistaScapes Design & Build at 918-779-1317. We love a design challenge — and we’ve turned many of Broken Arrow and Tulsa’s trickiest lots into outdoor spaces homeowners absolutely love.
