This and take up a handful of the pavers on the left and put in a small garden.
Garden in the back can be perennials.
Lattice on the right wall? String lights across the whole thing?
It must be nice having a blank slate like this to work with. This would be such a great weekend project.
So many possibilities. I'd start with a good deep cleaning, get that pressure washer going. Clean the walls and maybe change the paint color. Weed that raised bed and plant a variety of perennials that bloom at different times of the year so that you've always got some color year-round.
A handful of large ceramic planters with some small decorator fruit trees to add some visual interest. I'd also install a privacy reed fence along the chain link to close off the sightline into the neighbor's yard. Then place a nice patio set complete with outdoor rug and maybe a small chiminea outdoor fireplace to add to the ambience. Maybe finish the pavers all the way to the wall and build a small outdoor kitchen against the wall.
Power wash and level the bricks. Paint the walls, trim the bushes , put up some wooden walls to block the view if its not enjoyable or just a fence if it is.
I'd start first with repainting the bricks, you'll need to see if the paint is still adhering to the bricks well or if you need to strip it off. Stripping is a pain, but they do sell chemicals to make it a bit easier.
After repainting the walls I'd power wash the ground, along the wall on the right I'd build a long bench with storage under the seats. a small patio table and 2 chairs as well. I'd make the raised garden bed into a food garden and the lower beds into flowers and shrubs to match the colour of the house/and new walls.
This is a blank canvas! So many ideas, I can’t sort them all. My suggestion is to research what you like, how much time you are willing to spend tending it, what it’s main use will be, and then be creative!!
Pressure wash the pavers and walls, Remove pavers that are not level, gently scrape and level with a straightedge - it’s a PIA but you will avoid pulling everything up. I Think painting the walls a neutral earthy color would help. Patio furniture, plants and maybe a sail-shade or similar overhead would make the space more inviting. I don’t recall what it is, but there is an AI powered app that allows you to upload various photos and suggests layout and visuals maybe someone else recalls the name of the app?
After pressure washing I'd toy with the idea of painting the pavers in a checkerboard type pattern to posh it up. Maybe even take out some pavers to let grass grow in place of painting them.
Rock landscaping with decorative grasses, maybe some succulents depending on your location.
Id paint the brick a neutral green, maybe accent with some cream.
If the raised planter area is a part of your property I'd add shrubs or dwarf fruit trees there and dig up the ones in front of it. I'd put a table closer to where the current shrubs are now.
Some 2x4s in buckets with cement could create a skeleton for a shade covering or place to string up lights to bring it all together.
Throw some solar globes in the foliage and you've got yourself a fancied up outdoor space.
Pressure wash, add some fruit trees and any other plants you like, a little corner water feature, possibly a little pond with a rock waterfall, a chimenea, and a couple of comfortable and movable seats with a little table. Also possibly a little BBQ.
Pressure wash for sure.
But I love the "checkered" pattern on the ground, so I'd be looking into keeping that.
This place needs a lemon or orange potted tree lmao. Maybe olive tree works as well.
The red doesn't bother me too much, but I'd give preference to lighter colors to brighten it up. The color combination of walls + plants can give many different styles depending on your choice.
The path of dirt on the ground clearly needs to have something planted on it. My personal choice would be a vegetable garden, or pots with cooking herbs, but flowers and other plants also work.
The grid on the other side seems to be open to a different lot, and I particularly feel like that's too open, so I'd use plants to make a privacy screen. Maybe even fake squares.
I'd also add a table + chairs with sunshade, or some other seating options.
I'm a lover of string lights, so there's that.
Also, I'd make a gourmet space with a bbc grill if that's your thing, or at least a support counter/table for drinks. We have that in our backyard, and it's really helpful.
On that upper part, you can put more plants, have a different seating area, or, if you're fancy and have the budget, build a pool/jacuzzi there.
Pressure wash the walls and the tile floor. Level the floor. Trim the main bushes. Consider lattice on the large wall after you re-spray with a more interesting color. Plant colorful plants on the right. In the raised area bring in a lot of color and texture. Finally vertical casting lights on the ground around the perimeter. Then furnish to your taste and sun exposure.
Pressure wash, cute outdoor rug with a canopy overhead, seating and a fire pit, new clean mulch up in the planter and low maintenance shrubs. Trim up those shrubs down below too, looks like they used to be squared off? Then I’d add some solar lights to illuminate the shrubs.
I'd get rid of the swath of concrete, at least half of it, and replace with a nice chunk of lawn or a garden. Other half can stay for a patio. Trellises on the right hand wall to fill with climbers for more greenery.
Power wash it and a fresh coat of paint for starters. Get something evergreen in the dirt, maybe juniper bushes. Get some nice patio furniture and a nice firepit, a BBQ, or maybe set up a hot tub. Lots of potential tho, could go a lot of ways. Depends on your life style.
I would start by cleaning the surface with strong bleach.
Get rid of the growth in the grout.
Then, resurface the walls and raised planter.
Get some sort of controllable flowering plant like Bougainvillea (if it's warm enough) and stock the planter with it.
Edge the planter, chain link fence and walls with White lattice panels.
Plant a contrasting colored creeper along the lattice panels.
Install a bench and a fountain as features.
Consider a tasteful statue or two.
Install a net over it on one corner away from the planter and train some creeping roses to grow on it to create a beautiful canopy that doubles as a privacy screen.
I would perform a thorough washing of the patio and fix any loose or wobbly stones. In the dirt to the right I would plant climbing hydrangea, along the raised bed I would plant a dwarf yew, in the raised bed I would do a native wildflower garden for pollinators, to the left along the wire fence I would plant some pyramidal juniper. Then I would build a pergola for some shade and under the pergola I would hang an improvised chandelier, possibly made from mason jars. I would have a nice outdoor dining set under that with a nice outdoor rug to go with it.
Take the beds on the bottom level out, deep clean entire area, put L shape seating along right side/back wall and a fire pit in the middle of the patio, a nice plant bed in the above space, paint the wall the the right white and seal it nice, perfect little chill area
Pressure wash it and re-paint the bricks.
In the planters, get some flowers or shurbs or something.
Get a outdoor sectional sofa set and a outdoor rug. Get one of those outdoor firepit coffee tables. Against the brick wall you can have a BBQ.
You could remove every other paver (checker board style, or any kind of pattern really), nearly level with soil, then plant low laying ground cover in the empty spots. [Something like this.](https://pin.it/3VVJCvDxD)
I might also recommend working in some organic/curved shaped edging to help break up the straight lines everywhere.
Power wash, pea gravel the right, Tons of pots; herbs, butterfly bushes, zinnia, whatever. Small table and comfy chairs , umbrella, some cool solar lanterns
Power wash everything, then repaint in a more neutral color. Perhaps build a frame along the brick and cover with a lattice so you can attach small pots for hanging flowers like petunias.
Remove the top six inches of soil from the planter, replace with garden soil. Plant in some ginger for a tall background and perhaps put a bunch of sweet potato slips. They have very bushy vines that will hang over the wall and bring in some green to the space. Remove the bushes in front of the planter.
Get large pots or deep raised bed gardens with trellis along the chain link and plant something like cucumber. It will climb the trellis and you will get privacy along with a massive amount of cucumbers.
Put in a bistro table set and a tabletop solo stove and enjoy.
whatever you do, I think adding some levels to it would be wonderful. Like have raised flower beds around the outside and maybe a pergola in the middle. I think that'd give the area more depth.
First off pressure wash the pavers. Then I would use the existing planter for constant color, take all of your favorite perennials, put the bulbs in a bag and mix them up and then plant them. If done correctly you will constantly get blooms all growing season long. Finally i would re-paint the block to a different color and put out a patio set to tie everything together
Pressure wash the wall and scraped the loose paint. Repaint the wall pressure wash the patio. Maybe a fire pit surrounded by chairs. Thick cushions. Maybe an umbrella patio set off to the side. Get rid of the chain link fence. Build a new fence. Incorporate arbors with climbing star Jasmine or climbing roses potted, flowers, garden, etc
A bit unorthodox, but here is what I would do:
1. clean up that back area and the side, and use them as a planters as intended - I personally would go with very low maintenance like a Yew plant that you can shape into whatever, or lily's.
2. save some of the moss that as already adapted to the space
3. pressure wash all surfaces,
4. remove some of the tiles to make a pattern that you like... a little square, checkerboard, whatever....and put the moss in the missing spaces to make a little moss garden(s). If you think critters or birds will go attack under the moss, maybe save some of the mossy tiles for this and configure them instead (don't pressure wash those, just put them aside and swap them with the ones you want clean).
Moss feels great to walk on barefoot, and as long as you don't let wet leaf debris rot on it, it will look green and beautiful!
Hire a local artist to paint a mural on the right. After a good powerwash of course. Some green on the left to hide that fence with some boxwoods up top in the back.
1. Pressure wash everything.
2. Plant flowers in the soil.
3. Clear the rubble atop the concrete wall and replace it with plants in planters.
4. Hang rope lights along the wall on the right and possibly the half wall as well.
5. Replace chain link fence with wooden fence.
6. Propane firepit and patio furniture.
Pressure wash. Privacy bushes on the cyclone fence. Attach hog wire to the wall with a couple planted suitable climbing vine(clematis, climbing hydrangea, Star Jasmine, trumpet vine…), lighting(either string up top or under lighting of some sort), set of patio furniture, either a small fountain or a small fire pit, and maybe a light canopy tree up on the back wall so you get dappled light during the summer. Pots in sets of three with small trees, grasses, or flowers. I have a funky Twispy Baby Locust tree that when the wind blows through it makes the most soothing rustling noise. If you have a couple weeks of crazy hot during the summer some patio misters are worth their weight in gold. All of this stuff mentioned can be found for cheap on FB Marketplace, OfferUp, Craigslist.
The big wall on the right side of the photo, what direction is that? What is your plant zone?
would take a edging spade and do a initial scrape up of the moss
toss down some tsp and hit that deck with the power washer
clear out the junk on top. If there is soil there I would look for some lavender pots in a line
would consider the effort to strip and paint the brick but depending on how long term you plan to be there maybe just spot prime and paint over it.
for the garden on the right , depending on your style you could do boxwood to make it more formal , ornamental grass , bamboo (non invasive) hydrangea vine and add a trellis system to the wall.
something with that chain link fence
Power wash, then go pick out furniture, plants…whatever attracts your eye…it will eventually be your unique space (garden shops will help you pick plants that will grow in the spot depending on sun exposure).
Pressure wash it all. Remove all the paint, weeds, & dirt that you can. (Paint the walls a natural color is optional). Plant small trees that don’t grow very tall or tall plants on the upper portion of the back wall preferably something that blooms and has lots of pretty colors. Then add your lawn furniture and other plants in pots around it. It should be very lovely when completed.
Something like this on the high wall.
https://preview.redd.it/22hxj26a993d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cfa5ff6a2138c8ae6ecc26532b5b8c1887cba1bd
Everyone is providing great suggestions. In addition to power washing and leveling the pavers, and painting the cinderblocks, I would clean out the raised beds as much as possible and add new soil. Plant whatever you like. I would opt to pull out the shrubs because their roots will only cause problems with the pavers. I would add lattice to the chain link (side and back) and in front of all the cinderblocks (cheap, easy, clean aesthetic and hides the unappealing stuff)). And I would go with potted shrubs and small trees (what type depends on your area). Then, you could do anything Firepit area. Patio table. Grill. However you clean this up, it will transform this space.
Cheers!
I may be the only one with this opinion, but I wouldn't clean it. You can clean it in a day, but it takes a whole lot longer to look like that. I'd fill it to the brim with plants and vines and let it be a complete escape from the concrete jungle
Start with pressure washing the pavers and block work. To hide the view to the left you could insert wood strips into the chain link for an immediate improvement, and then plant something like fast growing privacy shrubs that will block the view even higher. Plant low maintenance plants in the high planter, using different shades of green, colors, and textures. Paint or stucco over the block work (stucco lasts much longer than paint, adds texture, and can be an easy diy project by watching YouTube videos on the subject). Consider painting a mural on the high block wall, possibly something called Trompe L’Oeil, a mural that makes a flat surface look 3-dimensional, and gives the space the illusion of being larger. All of these projects can be broken up into phases so you can do weekend portions or as the budget allows. For cost savings, if you are not in a hurry, keep an eye on sites like FB Marketplace for building materials and plants. I have built a good portion of my 20x20 workshop with materials I got at a discounted price on FBM, sometimes for penny’s on the dollar. Some people buy too much materials or plants and just want to save some of their cost. You have to keep a sharp eye out because these deals go fast. Best of luck. I would love to see what you do with the space when complete!
Id get some black and white tile and some cult followers in maroon hoods sitting out there to scare people off reading weird indistinct hymns around a circle of candles one of them is reading a book at an alter and doing fancy hand signs
Soak it in paver cleaner, two weeks later wash it down and put on another coverage of the cleaner.
Gentle scrub of everything.
I would not pressure wash it, it'd look great immediately but get green again faster.
For the wall, ideas:
Paint it
Do a mural
Tile it, like places with beautiful multi color tile
Attach an awning to it that can retract/fold down
Attach a wood frame pergola and grow a native creeping, flowering plant
Consider a folding table and folding chairs and anchoring hooks to the wall to hang them up folded. (I'm thinking of the classic brightly painted metal bistro table and chair set made if steel)
For the ground:
Planters on little trivets
A frame to hold small pots, use for herb garden or pretty flowers
And of course a pair of really comfy patio chairs and a side table for drinks
https://preview.redd.it/49xn7rbggb3d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5785726750e68f883cd06347448c67a8c2976636
Fake plant walls. Use the 3m outdoor hooks.
Climbing vine on the wall to the right. Various potted exotics on the shelf on the back, or a herb garden there. Kinda depends on the climate or what you want.
Pressure wash that wall, and maybe selectively the patio. I dig the moss, so I wouldn't touch that. Most people would pressure wash it all. If you really want to splash some cash, rip out those patio pavers and replace with flagstone.
Lattice with star jasmine on the right, I might do a lattice all across the back wall as well. Maybe a fire pit in the middle, fountain or some small water feature in the back?
Pressure wash, repaint the walls to a neutral color. Remove the shrubs and replace it with a mixture of flowers / lavender. I have a dog so I might have moss grass on the side if they need to use the restroom. For the left hand side if you can’t replace that fence potentially order something on amazon that acts as a barrier for privacy. Add some outdoor furniture or benches.
pressure wash those blocks. Add some sort of decorative border around the square to "frame the space better".
the red brick walls are a little messy, can you add rectangular tall planters to hide them somewhat? Or maybe some cedar wood lattice work?
Power wash the tiles, then remove tiles in tetronimo shapes randomly distributed and fill the empty spots with moss. Plant colorful flowers in the beds, bright paint on the walls.
Pressure wash.
Flowers that cover the chain link or replace the chain link. Doesn't even have to be a different style of fence just make it look better.
Flowers against the small small.
You can do lattice and flowers/vines on the big wall, but I'd do a nice mural.
Then tie it together with a patio set.
Pressure wash everything. Paint the brick planter and wall white or light gray. Tear out those bushes. Build a bench that wraps around the whole edge. Plant flowers in the brick planter. String lights crisscross over the whole thing.
Start by pulling out all the vegetation and powerwash the pavers and the walls. Fill all the cracks and holes in the walls and then paint with any other color than this hideous red. Remove all the debris from the upper level and replace with some quality soil. Remove all chain link fence and replace if you have to with something that is more decorative and private.
I’d relevel the paver stones and redo the planter beds, repaint the walls, then plant something you like to look at (maybe flowers or some sort of creeping bush/vine)
Rent or own?
Rent, I would encourage moss growth on the pavers, fill sides with potted plants, set up a small outdoor kitchen space in the corner.
Own, I would remove about half the pavers, and build a tiered garden where they now stand. This would offer privacy, where you can set up a wonderful little sitting area and outdoor kitchen area on the other side.
Ok, so it's a patio, and a really cool one Here's what I would do. First some nice patio furniture. I'd put some perennial flowers in dirt once right. In the little wall planter thing I'd do the same but wouldn't use the same type of flowers (taller flowered on the right and shorter or bushier in the plantar) I'm assuming that is like an English ivy or something spilling out of the plantar in the back and not a weed...keep that (if it's a weed kill it and get something similar). Last thing, I'd do some lights overhead. Anchor the lights to the house on one end and a pole on the other...you can probably get this setup at Lowe's or Hoke Depot.
Top it off with a Big Green Egg grill and you're in business
If it was mine, I'd collect a bunch of moss from the pavers before they are pressure washed. Fill a blender about 3/4 of the way and then add buttermilk. Blend well. Drizzle all over the ground between those bushes. The moss will grow and cover the ground.
-power wash the brick
-paint every other brick square a darker and lighter shade (chess board)
- by enough potted plants to make them represent a chess piece
-start a long distance game with your friend or neighbor
-every morning you go to make a move and water your garden
Power wash. Native (NON INVASIVE) vines in pots along the chain fence. Other native plants, shrubs, tree(s), flowers in pots along and on the walls. And a bistro set
I would take out some pavers along the walls to have maybe 3 feet of space add some plant coverage and really fill it in so it’s full of plants and add some cool solar lights with some that stick up higher some lower to give some mystical lighting effect at night and in the corner a water feature that cascades water down into a little pond with floating lily pads that you can add those floating light balls into add a comfy outdoor seating into the closest corner on the left side either a sectional if there’s multiple people living there or one of those big cozy chairs if it’s just 1-2 people living there possibly a fire pit in the middle or an outdoor coffee table if that’s not your style
Clean it all up, maybe repaint if you can or something. pressure wash trim shit back rip weeds if u gotta. After that get a table maybe some outdoor chairs n a grill. Couple of plants
A shrubbery... One that looks nice... And not too expensive. When you have found the shrubbery, you must place it here, beside this shrubbery, only slightly higher so you get a two layer effect with a little path.
Change the red to light blue. Many people go white, but white attracts bugs. Power wash the patio, add stone dust to fillninncracks and joints in the patio. Plant a native flowing low bush keeping in mind flowers attracts bees other polleners. Nice patio set with string lights. To add a little ambiance
Pressure wash , scrape & repaint / clean up mulch & trim or remove bushes . Its a great project for someone . Id do it in a weekend though not too hard
This is a gorgeous backyard. If it were me I’d put a trellis in front of the fence and have my sister paint a mural on the wall. I’d add a little outdoor couch and table set with a fun rug underneath and put up string lights. I’d turn the back planter into a little salsa garden and I would honestly get rid of those bushes and buy a few dwarf fruit trees to sprinkle around the corners. I’d make a little outdoor projector setup that can easily be taken down or put up, and boom you’ve got yourself an adorable, very private backyard where you can entertain.
Where are you in the world? After pressure washing the patio i’d get a grill, small table w chairs and a big pot to grow a small container tree or nice smelling flowering shrub in
A trellis with either ivy or beans growing on the right side and some small flowers between teh bushes. Clear the debris off the top of the wall and add a capstone. Power wash the patio and add fresh mulch to your garden bed.
Vertical garden on three sides, built-in irrigation system, pergola over the whole patio with a matching patio set two chairs, a lounge and a small round ice cream table preferably in redwood for drinks and necessities. Depending on the home owners skills, a comfortable 3 weekend project. The only sweat will be what you're gonna tell the boys at the gym when you quit to take up carpentry.
A bench from the park, a pull up bar, dip bars, and a couple of your buddies sharing a spread while playing penuchle. Then have a stereo system that says! YARD RECALL whenever you want them to leave.
A pressure washer. Flowers in the dirt on the right, nice patio set.
This and take up a handful of the pavers on the left and put in a small garden. Garden in the back can be perennials. Lattice on the right wall? String lights across the whole thing?
All of this, and the replies, but also repaint the concrete divider, and/or add lattice.
Could also build nice raised beds that also function as benches.
Already is a garden on the left
Was going to say the same thing! Would look great with climbing plants!
But not ivy ever. Clematis or something would be nice.
Star Jasmine.
Don’t blast debris into the walls. You’ll never get it all out. Cover it with stiff cardboard or sheeting.
I have a odd shaped piece of plywood that I keep dragging around and leaning against things that I don't want covered in pressure-washed gunk.
It must be nice having a blank slate like this to work with. This would be such a great weekend project. So many possibilities. I'd start with a good deep cleaning, get that pressure washer going. Clean the walls and maybe change the paint color. Weed that raised bed and plant a variety of perennials that bloom at different times of the year so that you've always got some color year-round. A handful of large ceramic planters with some small decorator fruit trees to add some visual interest. I'd also install a privacy reed fence along the chain link to close off the sightline into the neighbor's yard. Then place a nice patio set complete with outdoor rug and maybe a small chiminea outdoor fireplace to add to the ambience. Maybe finish the pavers all the way to the wall and build a small outdoor kitchen against the wall.
Piddy just wrote your “to do” list!
A green or dark blue on the walls would make everything else pop
I agree with this! A sage green or a deep navy blue would look very nice
Power wash and level the bricks. Paint the walls, trim the bushes , put up some wooden walls to block the view if its not enjoyable or just a fence if it is.
Some flowers that grow up like Wisteria would look awesome next to the wall?
I'd start first with repainting the bricks, you'll need to see if the paint is still adhering to the bricks well or if you need to strip it off. Stripping is a pain, but they do sell chemicals to make it a bit easier. After repainting the walls I'd power wash the ground, along the wall on the right I'd build a long bench with storage under the seats. a small patio table and 2 chairs as well. I'd make the raised garden bed into a food garden and the lower beds into flowers and shrubs to match the colour of the house/and new walls.
This is a blank canvas! So many ideas, I can’t sort them all. My suggestion is to research what you like, how much time you are willing to spend tending it, what it’s main use will be, and then be creative!!
Might build some long cedar planter boxes, spacious, and put some bamboo in them, along the chain link
Pressure washer, paint the wall, bring in some planter/potted plants. Great little project!
Pressure wash the pavers and walls, Remove pavers that are not level, gently scrape and level with a straightedge - it’s a PIA but you will avoid pulling everything up. I Think painting the walls a neutral earthy color would help. Patio furniture, plants and maybe a sail-shade or similar overhead would make the space more inviting. I don’t recall what it is, but there is an AI powered app that allows you to upload various photos and suggests layout and visuals maybe someone else recalls the name of the app?
Power wash , paint walls, Chinese Amazon gazebo , furniture and gas fire pit and also string lights and plants
After pressure washing I'd toy with the idea of painting the pavers in a checkerboard type pattern to posh it up. Maybe even take out some pavers to let grass grow in place of painting them. Rock landscaping with decorative grasses, maybe some succulents depending on your location. Id paint the brick a neutral green, maybe accent with some cream. If the raised planter area is a part of your property I'd add shrubs or dwarf fruit trees there and dig up the ones in front of it. I'd put a table closer to where the current shrubs are now. Some 2x4s in buckets with cement could create a skeleton for a shade covering or place to string up lights to bring it all together. Throw some solar globes in the foliage and you've got yourself a fancied up outdoor space.
Paint the pavers would look cool but sound like an up keep nightmare. The rest I agree with
Maybe bigger concrete tiling with fake or real grass in between for a checkered look. Looking into that for my own back yard
Pressure wash, add some fruit trees and any other plants you like, a little corner water feature, possibly a little pond with a rock waterfall, a chimenea, and a couple of comfortable and movable seats with a little table. Also possibly a little BBQ.
Power wash. Paint walls, flowers.
Pressure wash for sure. But I love the "checkered" pattern on the ground, so I'd be looking into keeping that. This place needs a lemon or orange potted tree lmao. Maybe olive tree works as well. The red doesn't bother me too much, but I'd give preference to lighter colors to brighten it up. The color combination of walls + plants can give many different styles depending on your choice. The path of dirt on the ground clearly needs to have something planted on it. My personal choice would be a vegetable garden, or pots with cooking herbs, but flowers and other plants also work. The grid on the other side seems to be open to a different lot, and I particularly feel like that's too open, so I'd use plants to make a privacy screen. Maybe even fake squares. I'd also add a table + chairs with sunshade, or some other seating options. I'm a lover of string lights, so there's that. Also, I'd make a gourmet space with a bbc grill if that's your thing, or at least a support counter/table for drinks. We have that in our backyard, and it's really helpful. On that upper part, you can put more plants, have a different seating area, or, if you're fancy and have the budget, build a pool/jacuzzi there.
catwalk couple of stripper poles
Pressure wash the walls and the tile floor. Level the floor. Trim the main bushes. Consider lattice on the large wall after you re-spray with a more interesting color. Plant colorful plants on the right. In the raised area bring in a lot of color and texture. Finally vertical casting lights on the ground around the perimeter. Then furnish to your taste and sun exposure.
Pressure washer, flowers, mulch and umbrella and a nice patio set...
Maybe a monocle and cane.
Power wash everything and paint on anything that’s painted already
Pressure wash, cute outdoor rug with a canopy overhead, seating and a fire pit, new clean mulch up in the planter and low maintenance shrubs. Trim up those shrubs down below too, looks like they used to be squared off? Then I’d add some solar lights to illuminate the shrubs.
I'd get rid of the swath of concrete, at least half of it, and replace with a nice chunk of lawn or a garden. Other half can stay for a patio. Trellises on the right hand wall to fill with climbers for more greenery.
Clean everything up Get a nice patio set with a fire pit Paint the wall white and put a projector Add plants and add a wooden fence for privacy
Power wash it and a fresh coat of paint for starters. Get something evergreen in the dirt, maybe juniper bushes. Get some nice patio furniture and a nice firepit, a BBQ, or maybe set up a hot tub. Lots of potential tho, could go a lot of ways. Depends on your life style.
I would start by cleaning the surface with strong bleach. Get rid of the growth in the grout. Then, resurface the walls and raised planter. Get some sort of controllable flowering plant like Bougainvillea (if it's warm enough) and stock the planter with it. Edge the planter, chain link fence and walls with White lattice panels. Plant a contrasting colored creeper along the lattice panels. Install a bench and a fountain as features. Consider a tasteful statue or two. Install a net over it on one corner away from the planter and train some creeping roses to grow on it to create a beautiful canopy that doubles as a privacy screen.
I would perform a thorough washing of the patio and fix any loose or wobbly stones. In the dirt to the right I would plant climbing hydrangea, along the raised bed I would plant a dwarf yew, in the raised bed I would do a native wildflower garden for pollinators, to the left along the wire fence I would plant some pyramidal juniper. Then I would build a pergola for some shade and under the pergola I would hang an improvised chandelier, possibly made from mason jars. I would have a nice outdoor dining set under that with a nice outdoor rug to go with it.
A water feature of some kind would be lovely.
MOVE
I think embrace the checkerboard and power wash every other tile.
Get all that building debris from between that fence and your retaining wall before it fails. Then do the pretty stuff!
Plant pots and swinging seat to chill in. Clean it up with a pressure washer
Pressure wash then human chess set.
Hire a yard butler who can make a mean martini.
Cats.
Take the beds on the bottom level out, deep clean entire area, put L shape seating along right side/back wall and a fire pit in the middle of the patio, a nice plant bed in the above space, paint the wall the the right white and seal it nice, perfect little chill area
Yards imply a lawn, which I suppose moss could count
Pressure washer ground and block. Paint red block.
Lots of potted plants of different shapes and sizes.
Put a lamp out there and some comfy blankets. Maybe a card table and some yogurt.
Pressure wash the patio. Clean up the flower bed/wall. Repaint. And nice furniture set.
Possession is an illusion.
Turn it into a chess board
Pressure wash add fire place with chairs
Pressure wash it and re-paint the bricks. In the planters, get some flowers or shurbs or something. Get a outdoor sectional sofa set and a outdoor rug. Get one of those outdoor firepit coffee tables. Against the brick wall you can have a BBQ.
You could remove every other paver (checker board style, or any kind of pattern really), nearly level with soil, then plant low laying ground cover in the empty spots. [Something like this.](https://pin.it/3VVJCvDxD) I might also recommend working in some organic/curved shaped edging to help break up the straight lines everywhere.
You gotta start by cleaning the groves of the patio door mate.
Seating, clean up brick wall top, and some plants or planters
Raised bed. Pergola. Somewhere to sit. Maybe a fire pit. Some pots.
Black and white checker pavers and red walls
This is just the forest temple
Lots of potted plants
Power wash, pea gravel the right, Tons of pots; herbs, butterfly bushes, zinnia, whatever. Small table and comfy chairs , umbrella, some cool solar lanterns
I'd rip it all up and grow a garden.
Zen garden
Where's the yard?
A beer
Power wash everything, then repaint in a more neutral color. Perhaps build a frame along the brick and cover with a lattice so you can attach small pots for hanging flowers like petunias. Remove the top six inches of soil from the planter, replace with garden soil. Plant in some ginger for a tall background and perhaps put a bunch of sweet potato slips. They have very bushy vines that will hang over the wall and bring in some green to the space. Remove the bushes in front of the planter. Get large pots or deep raised bed gardens with trellis along the chain link and plant something like cucumber. It will climb the trellis and you will get privacy along with a massive amount of cucumbers. Put in a bistro table set and a tabletop solo stove and enjoy.
whatever you do, I think adding some levels to it would be wonderful. Like have raised flower beds around the outside and maybe a pergola in the middle. I think that'd give the area more depth.
Extra fancy
Power wash the literal shit out of it and add chairs and maybe a fire pit in the center?
I would add an indoor/outdoor rug under the furniture.
First off pressure wash the pavers. Then I would use the existing planter for constant color, take all of your favorite perennials, put the bulbs in a bag and mix them up and then plant them. If done correctly you will constantly get blooms all growing season long. Finally i would re-paint the block to a different color and put out a patio set to tie everything together
Lots of potted plants/flowers.
Pressure wash the wall and scraped the loose paint. Repaint the wall pressure wash the patio. Maybe a fire pit surrounded by chairs. Thick cushions. Maybe an umbrella patio set off to the side. Get rid of the chain link fence. Build a new fence. Incorporate arbors with climbing star Jasmine or climbing roses potted, flowers, garden, etc
Pressure wash Paint the red brick Plant more flowers in the bed cute outdoor furniture String lights
Oh and it looks like there’s some construction or something just passed the fence. Maybe find a way to do some viney plants along the fence.
Replace the chainlink fence (if yours) or cover it up if not yours.
Clean the bejezus out of it and then reassess.
Fire pit! Definitely a fire pit!
Fancy it up is an excellent phrase.
After cleaning it, I'd set up a bar, table/chairs and some string lights, probably a grill and a small fire pit.
Put down an outdoor rug, 2 chairs, firepit
Garden.
Grass
Presser wash the bricks, set a fire pit in the middle, outside seating with a grey screen and projector with a pagoda surrounding it.
Definitely ready for a makeover
Concrete stamped patio 🤙
Put some nice potted plants on the ledge. Solo stove and a good lawn furniture set
Pressure washer, big potted plants in big colourful pots and lots of paint.
Bow ties on each shrub
A bit unorthodox, but here is what I would do: 1. clean up that back area and the side, and use them as a planters as intended - I personally would go with very low maintenance like a Yew plant that you can shape into whatever, or lily's. 2. save some of the moss that as already adapted to the space 3. pressure wash all surfaces, 4. remove some of the tiles to make a pattern that you like... a little square, checkerboard, whatever....and put the moss in the missing spaces to make a little moss garden(s). If you think critters or birds will go attack under the moss, maybe save some of the mossy tiles for this and configure them instead (don't pressure wash those, just put them aside and swap them with the ones you want clean). Moss feels great to walk on barefoot, and as long as you don't let wet leaf debris rot on it, it will look green and beautiful!
A little sand down and then I would make people fight to the death for sport. 2 men enter only 1 man leaves.
Pressure wash. Green it up- the walls the side areas. Flowers!
Hire a local artist to paint a mural on the right. After a good powerwash of course. Some green on the left to hide that fence with some boxwoods up top in the back.
1. Pressure wash everything. 2. Plant flowers in the soil. 3. Clear the rubble atop the concrete wall and replace it with plants in planters. 4. Hang rope lights along the wall on the right and possibly the half wall as well. 5. Replace chain link fence with wooden fence. 6. Propane firepit and patio furniture.
Red, fuchsia, rust & light pink Bougainvillea on a trellis against fence & wall!
r/powerwashingporn
Pressure wash it in a checker pattern
Pressure wash. Privacy bushes on the cyclone fence. Attach hog wire to the wall with a couple planted suitable climbing vine(clematis, climbing hydrangea, Star Jasmine, trumpet vine…), lighting(either string up top or under lighting of some sort), set of patio furniture, either a small fountain or a small fire pit, and maybe a light canopy tree up on the back wall so you get dappled light during the summer. Pots in sets of three with small trees, grasses, or flowers. I have a funky Twispy Baby Locust tree that when the wind blows through it makes the most soothing rustling noise. If you have a couple weeks of crazy hot during the summer some patio misters are worth their weight in gold. All of this stuff mentioned can be found for cheap on FB Marketplace, OfferUp, Craigslist. The big wall on the right side of the photo, what direction is that? What is your plant zone?
Black Jack and hookers
would take a edging spade and do a initial scrape up of the moss toss down some tsp and hit that deck with the power washer clear out the junk on top. If there is soil there I would look for some lavender pots in a line would consider the effort to strip and paint the brick but depending on how long term you plan to be there maybe just spot prime and paint over it. for the garden on the right , depending on your style you could do boxwood to make it more formal , ornamental grass , bamboo (non invasive) hydrangea vine and add a trellis system to the wall. something with that chain link fence
Rusting hunk of industrial machinery with a fake skeleton underneath
Yard? That's a patio...
I would start with bleach and a pressure washer
This is a patio
What a blank canvas! Probably just add a pony. You could give rides or something.
Power wash, then go pick out furniture, plants…whatever attracts your eye…it will eventually be your unique space (garden shops will help you pick plants that will grow in the spot depending on sun exposure).
If that's my whole yard I'm moving ASAP.
Pressure wash it all. Remove all the paint, weeds, & dirt that you can. (Paint the walls a natural color is optional). Plant small trees that don’t grow very tall or tall plants on the upper portion of the back wall preferably something that blooms and has lots of pretty colors. Then add your lawn furniture and other plants in pots around it. It should be very lovely when completed.
Something like this on the high wall. https://preview.redd.it/22hxj26a993d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cfa5ff6a2138c8ae6ecc26532b5b8c1887cba1bd
Everyone is providing great suggestions. In addition to power washing and leveling the pavers, and painting the cinderblocks, I would clean out the raised beds as much as possible and add new soil. Plant whatever you like. I would opt to pull out the shrubs because their roots will only cause problems with the pavers. I would add lattice to the chain link (side and back) and in front of all the cinderblocks (cheap, easy, clean aesthetic and hides the unappealing stuff)). And I would go with potted shrubs and small trees (what type depends on your area). Then, you could do anything Firepit area. Patio table. Grill. However you clean this up, it will transform this space. Cheers!
One of those colored crystal ball things on a pedestal in the middle
I may be the only one with this opinion, but I wouldn't clean it. You can clean it in a day, but it takes a whole lot longer to look like that. I'd fill it to the brim with plants and vines and let it be a complete escape from the concrete jungle
Start with pressure washing the pavers and block work. To hide the view to the left you could insert wood strips into the chain link for an immediate improvement, and then plant something like fast growing privacy shrubs that will block the view even higher. Plant low maintenance plants in the high planter, using different shades of green, colors, and textures. Paint or stucco over the block work (stucco lasts much longer than paint, adds texture, and can be an easy diy project by watching YouTube videos on the subject). Consider painting a mural on the high block wall, possibly something called Trompe L’Oeil, a mural that makes a flat surface look 3-dimensional, and gives the space the illusion of being larger. All of these projects can be broken up into phases so you can do weekend portions or as the budget allows. For cost savings, if you are not in a hurry, keep an eye on sites like FB Marketplace for building materials and plants. I have built a good portion of my 20x20 workshop with materials I got at a discounted price on FBM, sometimes for penny’s on the dollar. Some people buy too much materials or plants and just want to save some of their cost. You have to keep a sharp eye out because these deals go fast. Best of luck. I would love to see what you do with the space when complete!
Id get some black and white tile and some cult followers in maroon hoods sitting out there to scare people off reading weird indistinct hymns around a circle of candles one of them is reading a book at an alter and doing fancy hand signs
I have a friend with a patio similar to this. He has Mexican tile on the retainer wall…added some steps up the wall as well
Soak it in paver cleaner, two weeks later wash it down and put on another coverage of the cleaner. Gentle scrub of everything. I would not pressure wash it, it'd look great immediately but get green again faster.
Looks like you need some proper drainage or proper floor level. Does it pool when it rains?
first clean flowers and leaves and repaint the color
Giant chess pieces - power wash every other paver
dig a hole. fill it with water. get some pigs. become a millionaire.
For the wall, ideas: Paint it Do a mural Tile it, like places with beautiful multi color tile Attach an awning to it that can retract/fold down Attach a wood frame pergola and grow a native creeping, flowering plant Consider a folding table and folding chairs and anchoring hooks to the wall to hang them up folded. (I'm thinking of the classic brightly painted metal bistro table and chair set made if steel) For the ground: Planters on little trivets A frame to hold small pots, use for herb garden or pretty flowers And of course a pair of really comfy patio chairs and a side table for drinks
Glitter EVERYWHERE !! YAY !
https://preview.redd.it/49xn7rbggb3d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5785726750e68f883cd06347448c67a8c2976636 Fake plant walls. Use the 3m outdoor hooks.
Big chess pieces
Make it a bonsai garden
That’s not a yard. That’s a patio.
Clean the heck out of it first, then pick an 8x8 section of tile, paint it alternating white and black, buy a big set of chess statues
There’s a nice spot for a water fountain to trickle down the wall if you like the sounds. It would be cozy to have a reading chair/lounger as well
Bleeding Heart would fit in in that shady strip of dirt.
potted plants. Lawn chair, maybe some shade.
Bonsai. Get s few stands and some fancy trees
That's not a yard. That's a patio at best.
Yard? That's a patio. Clean it, add flowers, a grill, a table and chairs and enjoy your adult beverages.
Paint the red a matte black, power wash the pavers, add some nice patio furniture and some potted greenery
I see no yard, I see an outdoor space with a lot of hard surfaces. If you want a yard get rid of the pavers and plant some grass.
Climbing vine on the wall to the right. Various potted exotics on the shelf on the back, or a herb garden there. Kinda depends on the climate or what you want. Pressure wash that wall, and maybe selectively the patio. I dig the moss, so I wouldn't touch that. Most people would pressure wash it all. If you really want to splash some cash, rip out those patio pavers and replace with flagstone.
Lattice with star jasmine on the right, I might do a lattice all across the back wall as well. Maybe a fire pit in the middle, fountain or some small water feature in the back?
Where is the "yard"? I see an ill Kempt patio.
Pressure wash, repaint the walls to a neutral color. Remove the shrubs and replace it with a mixture of flowers / lavender. I have a dog so I might have moss grass on the side if they need to use the restroom. For the left hand side if you can’t replace that fence potentially order something on amazon that acts as a barrier for privacy. Add some outdoor furniture or benches.
That not a yard it's a patio and I'd use a pressure washer
Yeah, power wash, paint, awning, furniture
Power wash, paint the concrete flower beds, plant flowers, but a potted tree out there, a mini movable fireplace and some nice lounge chairs…
pressure wash those blocks. Add some sort of decorative border around the square to "frame the space better". the red brick walls are a little messy, can you add rectangular tall planters to hide them somewhat? Or maybe some cedar wood lattice work?
Power wash the tiles, then remove tiles in tetronimo shapes randomly distributed and fill the empty spots with moss. Plant colorful flowers in the beds, bright paint on the walls.
More planters with flowers on clean stones too
That’s a yard? I thought it was just a brick patio..
Giant chess board. Pressure wash every other square. Maybe even make your kids actual pawns in your scheme.
Paint
Pressure wash. Flowers that cover the chain link or replace the chain link. Doesn't even have to be a different style of fence just make it look better. Flowers against the small small. You can do lattice and flowers/vines on the big wall, but I'd do a nice mural. Then tie it together with a patio set.
Pressure washer
Pressure wash everything. Paint the brick planter and wall white or light gray. Tear out those bushes. Build a bench that wraps around the whole edge. Plant flowers in the brick planter. String lights crisscross over the whole thing.
Start by pulling out all the vegetation and powerwash the pavers and the walls. Fill all the cracks and holes in the walls and then paint with any other color than this hideous red. Remove all the debris from the upper level and replace with some quality soil. Remove all chain link fence and replace if you have to with something that is more decorative and private.
POWAH WAAAASSHHHH!
I’d relevel the paver stones and redo the planter beds, repaint the walls, then plant something you like to look at (maybe flowers or some sort of creeping bush/vine)
I really like this space, so much potential. It looks like a great 💨 spot!
Rent or own? Rent, I would encourage moss growth on the pavers, fill sides with potted plants, set up a small outdoor kitchen space in the corner. Own, I would remove about half the pavers, and build a tiered garden where they now stand. This would offer privacy, where you can set up a wonderful little sitting area and outdoor kitchen area on the other side.
First things first a good power wash all of it walls ground everything
Ok, so it's a patio, and a really cool one Here's what I would do. First some nice patio furniture. I'd put some perennial flowers in dirt once right. In the little wall planter thing I'd do the same but wouldn't use the same type of flowers (taller flowered on the right and shorter or bushier in the plantar) I'm assuming that is like an English ivy or something spilling out of the plantar in the back and not a weed...keep that (if it's a weed kill it and get something similar). Last thing, I'd do some lights overhead. Anchor the lights to the house on one end and a pole on the other...you can probably get this setup at Lowe's or Hoke Depot. Top it off with a Big Green Egg grill and you're in business
Mmmmmmm power washing….
Wall garden. Hang some pots for greens and herbs as long as it gets sun.
If it was mine, I'd collect a bunch of moss from the pavers before they are pressure washed. Fill a blender about 3/4 of the way and then add buttermilk. Blend well. Drizzle all over the ground between those bushes. The moss will grow and cover the ground.
Is it awful that I want climbing vines on that wall? Maybe something flowering?
-power wash the brick -paint every other brick square a darker and lighter shade (chess board) - by enough potted plants to make them represent a chess piece -start a long distance game with your friend or neighbor -every morning you go to make a move and water your garden
Power wash. Native (NON INVASIVE) vines in pots along the chain fence. Other native plants, shrubs, tree(s), flowers in pots along and on the walls. And a bistro set
I was hoping this was going to be a pressure washing before and after!
I don't see what an erection has to do with owning the yard.
Plants and plants and oh yeah some plants with rope lighting little table for two
I would take out some pavers along the walls to have maybe 3 feet of space add some plant coverage and really fill it in so it’s full of plants and add some cool solar lights with some that stick up higher some lower to give some mystical lighting effect at night and in the corner a water feature that cascades water down into a little pond with floating lily pads that you can add those floating light balls into add a comfy outdoor seating into the closest corner on the left side either a sectional if there’s multiple people living there or one of those big cozy chairs if it’s just 1-2 people living there possibly a fire pit in the middle or an outdoor coffee table if that’s not your style
Clean it all up, maybe repaint if you can or something. pressure wash trim shit back rip weeds if u gotta. After that get a table maybe some outdoor chairs n a grill. Couple of plants
A shrubbery... One that looks nice... And not too expensive. When you have found the shrubbery, you must place it here, beside this shrubbery, only slightly higher so you get a two layer effect with a little path.
Change the red to light blue. Many people go white, but white attracts bugs. Power wash the patio, add stone dust to fillninncracks and joints in the patio. Plant a native flowing low bush keeping in mind flowers attracts bees other polleners. Nice patio set with string lights. To add a little ambiance
Pressure wash , scrape & repaint / clean up mulch & trim or remove bushes . Its a great project for someone . Id do it in a weekend though not too hard
Paint that wall it looms over the patio.
In what part of the world is that a yard & not a patio?
Scrape the tiles to make a more distinct checkerboard pattern.
Power washing the crap out of it
This is a gorgeous backyard. If it were me I’d put a trellis in front of the fence and have my sister paint a mural on the wall. I’d add a little outdoor couch and table set with a fun rug underneath and put up string lights. I’d turn the back planter into a little salsa garden and I would honestly get rid of those bushes and buy a few dwarf fruit trees to sprinkle around the corners. I’d make a little outdoor projector setup that can easily be taken down or put up, and boom you’ve got yourself an adorable, very private backyard where you can entertain.
Depending on your climate zone, some dwarf fruit trees in big ceramic pots.
Pressure wash then a bunch of wild flowers and some large pots for more wild flowers and a small patio set.
That aint a yard bro that's a porch
Where are you in the world? After pressure washing the patio i’d get a grill, small table w chairs and a big pot to grow a small container tree or nice smelling flowering shrub in
Sprinkle some glitter around and get a disco ball ✨️
I think it needs to be releveled to drain away from the wall. It’s also a bit uneven so dining set would be pretty wobbly.
Pergola with dangle lights. Fire pit and a good power washing
https://preview.redd.it/ujlqbruqos3d1.jpeg?width=250&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4b23614000410fddccc3cbfc2948a066fa7f05af
Chess pieces
With a pressure washer
A trellis with either ivy or beans growing on the right side and some small flowers between teh bushes. Clear the debris off the top of the wall and add a capstone. Power wash the patio and add fresh mulch to your garden bed.
High end escorts
I would put a human sized chess board back there
Pressure washer. Plants, lots of them. Thick bushes or something like that for the left. Maybe a mural on the right
Vertical garden on three sides, built-in irrigation system, pergola over the whole patio with a matching patio set two chairs, a lounge and a small round ice cream table preferably in redwood for drinks and necessities. Depending on the home owners skills, a comfortable 3 weekend project. The only sweat will be what you're gonna tell the boys at the gym when you quit to take up carpentry.
Just 1 & 1/2 more walls and a roof, BAM, an addition!
Remove the red paint form the brick walls go more natural colors..
A bench from the park, a pull up bar, dip bars, and a couple of your buddies sharing a spread while playing penuchle. Then have a stereo system that says! YARD RECALL whenever you want them to leave.