How to decorate outdoor space under stairs without permanent changes
Renters restricted from making heavy modifications can transform empty spaces like stairwells by focusing on non-permanent layouts. Without the ability to install permanent fixtures or do major construction, people struggle to blend these awkward zones with the rest of their yard, ultimately leaving the area wasted.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1storing bikes elsewhere because they are visible from the street
- 2leaving the space empty
- 3dumping a yard of rich soil and planting shade grass
- 4putting down rocks, mulch, or pavers and spraying roundup for weeds
- 5Choosing pavers instead of concrete to handle ice, thaw, and root intrusion.
- 6Using AI to clean up photos to visualize the space
- 7Planning a DIY project with a few friends
- 8Hiring a landscaper to lay down a new sod installation
- 9Making garden or flower boxes on the perimeter concrete and getting turf for the pool part
- 10Outlining the space with boxwoods, leaving an entrance, and creating a seating area with a water feature
- 11Putting down pebbles for a fire pit and seating area
- 12Building a raised platform using deck blocks without digging
- 13Filling the area in with mulch
- 14Planting a fern garden with rhododendrons and azaleas
- 15Leaving the area as-is to enjoy the trees
- 16Asking online forums for design ideas
- 17Considering basic options like grass, mulch, or rock areas
- 18Taking the roof part off, mounting it on 4x4 posts, removing the tin roofing, and adding 2x2 purlins.
- 19installing a privacy wall along the side of a deck
- 20using outdoor rugs or wearing shoes on hot composite surfaces
- 21hiring a landscape designer
- 22doing a test garden first
- 23Looking for alternative landscape design vendors and reading subreddit suggestions
- 24Consulting online forums with CAD drawings and sketches for layout ideas
- 25Covering the area with temporary outdoor turf or astro turf
- 26Installing interlocking deck tiles that can be uninstalled and moved
- 27Adding complementary trees or shrubs in groupings or rows
- 28Asking online communities for specific plant and tree recommendations based on region
- 29buying a prefab shed and hiring someone to do insulation and electricity
- 30using prefab metal buildings after pouring a concrete slab
- 31powering the outbuilding with an appropriately sized extension cord
- 32installing a wood stove for winter heating instead of a mini-split
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“we are at a loss about what to do here.”source ↗
“I have little kids so would love so create a place they can play and be outside but right now it’s just dirt/bark. Any ideas how to make this more functional?”source ↗
“Trying to figure out what to do with this area of my friend's back yard. He just got that fence put up and a bunch of stuff cleared out so kind of have a clean slate.”source ↗
“We recently bought a home with a pool that’s been filled in with sand. We have no interest in bringing the pool back 😅 We would rather turn this into useable yard/garden and/or patio space.”source ↗
“We have roughly $10k ....what would y’all do here?”source ↗
“We'd like to put in a concrete patio on this side of the house (North side).”source ↗
“We have been racking our brains for the last 12 months on what to do with our backyard in our first home.”source ↗
“Other than that, we are completely frazzled on what kind of options or opportunities we can do.”source ↗
“Still our patio feels really small, especially with kids toys and being the grill area.”source ↗
“I’m thinking about removing the garden bed by the house and extending the patio by pouring concrete there, and getting some furniture to have a hang out space.”source ↗
“Now I would like to make it useful and turn it into a pergola. Suggestions?”source ↗
“Trying to figure out optimal ways to set up the patio/lounging area of our backyard.”source ↗
“I can appreciate the size of the trees but I feel the property could look much nicer than it does. Any suggestions as to what trees / shrubs could complement the curb appeal?”source ↗
“I have this empty space in front of my house under the stairs, and I really don't know what can I do with it.”source ↗
“i am not the owner of the house so I cannot do heavy work here.”source ↗
“I’ve been struggling to figure out what to do with this side yard. Ideally I want a hot tub and pavers but I have no idea how to tie in the grass with this side section.”source ↗
“I definitely regret using rock on the other side yard. It has been a nightmare. But I was hoping to get a hot tub this winter and wanted it to look nice”source ↗
“it just looks weird to have this patch of dirt so wanted to do something to it”source ↗
“Our puppy also now is rolling in the dirt which may have random leftovers from the chicken coop”source ↗
“Thank you, I don’t know much about landscaping at all.”source ↗
“I got fun one for you guys recently moved here and I would love to give the backyard the life it deserves any tips on how to start I’m young and don’t know a lot about landscaping idk where to start any tips are appreciated it”source ↗
“Wondering what I should go with? Deck or Patio?”source ↗
“patio all day, being 4 feet up and on display to the neighbors kills the whole point of a backyard hangout, and composite gets stupid hot in that kind of summer sun.”source ↗
“Wife and I are looking for someone to help design the layout of our yard.”source ↗
“I’m open to doing the work, excluding concrete, including: existing demo, sprinklers, planting, etc. but we want help with what’s feasible with our space, native to the area, and will look good.”source ↗
“I have seen Yardzen on Instagram but want to get this subs suggestions. Is Yardzen worth it? Are there other vendors we should be looking at?”source ↗
“Oof that crawlspace door well is in a rough spot, punches right through your prime patio real estate”source ↗
“We have enough room to add some kind of building that I could use as a home office, and I would like to do so as cheaply as possible.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2How to prep a garden bed after removing weeds and gravel
- 2How to fill deep holes in the yard from removed structures
- 3How to landscape a small and busy front yard
- 5How do you fix a backyard patio with mismatched paver sizes?
- 7How to raise low spots in a backyard with fill dirt
- 4How to start planning a large sloped yard landscaping project