Create a Dreamy Backyard Oasis in the City with Expert Help

The sound of freeway traffic, a view of the neighbors’ yards, and a patchy, sloped lawn were the defining features of Scot Eckley and Devin Fitzpatrick's small Seattle backyard when they moved into the home 19 years ago. In other words, “It was a dream come true,” Fitzpatrick says with a laugh. The pair—he’s a garden designer; she’s an interior designer—were up for an aesthetic challenge they could tackle together. Here are their tips for layering on the greenery and using every inch of space to create an oasis that feels a world apart from the city.

1. Create Privacy with Hedges

A primary design goal of any backyard that's smack in the middle of a busy neighborhood should be to create a sense of enclosure. To this end, Eckley planted hedges of Leyland cypress, which, at up to 16 feet tall, help provide privacy and muffle noise.

2. Expand a Small Yard with Levels

A smart division of space can create the illusion of a more expansive garden in a city. Eckley achieved this in his 1,600-square-foot yard by creating various levels and zones—including several raised beds, a sunken lounge with a fireplace, and a lawn with a daybed. “We wanted different routes and destinations around the yard, each with its own focal point and reward,” Eckley says.

In the sunken lounge area, Eckley installed a fireplace in the retaining wall. To soften the concrete and steel surround, he framed it with English ivy along the sides and sweet box below.

3. Layer Shades of Green

The couple's yard adheres to a mostly green palette, with a few white flowers occasionally blooming. “It's a calm, neutral palette,” Eckley says. The key to making green-on-green palette looking lush, not one note, is keep it to mix plants and shrubs with different forms and textures.

4. Carve out Relaxation Space

The arbor Eckley constructed is sturdy enough to support a swinging daybed. “It’s a nice spot for our kids to lie down and read," says Fitzpatrick, “or climb and hang upside down.” The couple planted white climbing roses that will eventually train up the structure. A traditional garden stool, oversize pots, and a stone orb complete the area.

5. Soften the Landings

Even a small lawn in a city yard can make a big difference, offering a green counterpoint to hardscaping elsewhere. The steps to the lawn in this couple's yard reflects their merging of styles. Eckley chose the sleek Corten steel edging, and Fitzpatrick came up with the idea of tempering its modernity by continuing grass up the steps.

6. Link to Indoors

The best urban backyard, of course, is one you actually use. Eckley and Fitzpatrick installed French doors from their family room to the lounge area, encouraging more outdoor time. It also allows the green view outside to permeate the indoor space.

7. Evoke a Mediterranean Escape

Fitzpatrick chose the teak dining table and chairs for their subtly European look. The pieces also fold down for storage in the winter. The couple also opted for warm-tone gravel for the dining area. “It gives you that Mediterranean feel, plus, because it’s pervious, you don’t have to worry about water runoff when it rains,” Eckley says. An espaliered apple tree and oversize containers holding tomatoes add dimension against the hedges.

8. Set the Tone at the Front Door

The sense of escape is even evident at the front of the house, where a rose plant climbs across the archway and herbs are planted along the gravel driveway. Fitzpatrick selected Benjamin Moore Brewster Gray for the trim on the house.