Plan a backyard you can move through easily, with clear paths, shade where you need it and outdoor features you can maintain.
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Lay out the paths first
Mark the routes from the house to the gate, shed and seating area. Follow the routes you already walk, then check where water pools after rain. A frequently used route may need a continuous surface. Stepping stones can suit a quieter garden path if everyone using it can move across them comfortably.
Fit the dining area around real furniture
Measure the table with the chairs pulled out and leave room for people carrying food to pass. Check how far it is from the kitchen and where the late afternoon sun hits. For a patio that gets too hot at dinner time, try a movable shade option first and see where it actually casts shade. YourHome’s guide to shading explains how orientation affects the choice.
Screen the view that bothers you
Stand or sit where you want privacy and mark the sightline. One screen near the table can be enough. For a planted screen, check mature height and width, how often it needs trimming and whether there’s room to reach both sides.
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Allow for cleaning a water feature
Pick a position you can reach to remove leaves or service a pump. Think about how close it will be to paths and seating, especially if it splashes. Where children use the yard, check the design and local safety requirements before installing a pond or other open water feature.
Use irrigation where it saves you work
Plan where hoses or irrigation lines will run before paving. Put pots and thirstier plants together so you can water them separately from established beds. Choose a controller you can adjust easily when it rains or the weather changes.
Keep the parts of the yard that already work
Keep healthy shade trees and sound paving where they fit the layout. If you’re adding hard surfaces, ask where the runoff will go in heavy rain. Leave room for planting where the ground can absorb water. The Australian Government’s landscaping and garden design guide explains how planting and hard surfaces affect runoff.
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Check the site before adding a fire pit
Work out where people would sit and how they would move past it. If you’re considering an open fire, check local council and fire authority rules before you buy or use one. A sheltered seating area can make the space more comfortable on cool evenings even if you skip outdoor heating.
When asking a landscaper to quote, separate the jobs you need now from additions that can wait. Ask who handles drainage, old paving removal and reinstating garden beds after the work.