Streamline Your Design: How to Measure a Backyard

1. Draw a rough sketch of your property with your pencil and plain paper. Include these items on the sketch, and leave enough space between them to record your measurements:

   1. Your house

   2. Fences, sidewalks, and streets

   3. Walking paths and driveways

   4. Patios, decks, and other constructed spaces

   5. Trees, shrubbery, and other landscaping

   6. Utility poles and septic systems

   7. Sheds, in-ground swimming pools, and other permanent structures

2. Measure the property's boundaries, including fences, walls, or natural barriers. Round all dimensions to the nearest inch.

3. Measure all sides of your home.

4. If your home sits parallel to the property's boundaries, measure the distance from each corner to the nearest edge. If it’s at an angle, start at the center of each side of the house and measure to the closest boundary.

5. To correctly place elements on your property, measure the distance between them and the two closest boundaries that form a 90-degree angle.

   1. For example: If there's a tree in the northeast corner of your yard, measure the distances between it and the north and east boundaries.

6. Include the square footage of all elements on your property that are larger than a tree (e.g., driveways, swimming pools, garages, etc.).

7. Use a compass to determine which direction is north and mark this on your sketch.

8. Place a clean sheet of graph paper next to your sketch, and orient it so north faces upward.

9. Before drawing anything, determine the appropriate scale.

   1. For example: 1/4 inch = 1 foot.

   2. This means an eight-foot wall will be two inches long on the paper.

10. Draw the property boundaries on your graph paper, keeping the measurements to scale.

11. Place each yard element onto your graph paper using its two distance measurements from the property boundaries (see Step 5), and draw it to scale using its length and width. A carpenter's square can help make accurate 90-degree angles.

12. Compare your landscape plan to your yard and make any necessary corrections.

13. If a balcony or upper deck overlaps a first-level space, draw two separate landscape plans to create clear views of all your outdoor areas.

14. Note the promising spots on your property that could be future relaxation, dining, or entertaining areas. 

1. Open the Google Maps app on your phone and enter your address or GPS coordinates.
2. Tap the X in the top right-hand corner to remove the address, then tap the screen to select a starting point and drop a pin on your property.
3. Select Measure distance in the lower menu. A dotted line will appear that leads to a second point in the center of the screen.
4. Using your finger, drag the second pin to your desired location, then tap Add point or the blue plus (+) symbol in the bottom-right corner of the screen to make another dotted line appear.
5. Repeat Step 4 until you've encompassed the perimeter of your property. Jot down the square footage.
6. Select the ellipsis (...) symbol at the top of the screen, then tap Clear in the drop-down menu to remove the dotted lines.
7. Repeat this process to find the remaining dimensions of all the elements on your property.

Quickly calculate the square footage of your lawn or distances with this free, user-friendly app. This tool is similar to Photoshop in that the measurements are shown in color-coded layers that you can edit. 

This app is loved by land surveyors, gardeners, and homeowners alike. Find a variety of measurements for items on your property, from square footage to GPS coordinates. You will need to pay a nominal fee to use the app.

Measure your yard and everything in it with Global Syn-Turf’s lot size checker—it’s free, intuitive, and easy to use. Bonus: You don't need to create an account to enjoy its benefits. 

Create a relaxing space where friends can gather, swap stories, and reminisce about the good ol' days. Casual seating like Adirondack chairs coupled with a few side tables for snacks and beverages is all it takes to section off a designated conversation area in your backyard.

Combine deep seating sofas, chaises, and chairs and pop in a few functional end tables to fashion a multipurpose lounge space. Get lost in a new podcast, watch your grandkids play, or curl up for a cat nap—the options are endless.

You can stretch out, soak up the sun, and keep an eye on your swimming kiddos from the comfort of a poolside Adirondack chair or chaise lounge. Just make sure you’re choosing all-weather furniture that can handle the splish-splash setting. 

Nestle a single bench or glider along a secluded garden path or beneath a weeping willow to create a serene retreat. This idyllic, private area will give you the space to unwind and admire nature.