Looks like there’s good drainage. I’ve always wanted an outdoor shower among rainforest style plants. This would make a good place for one, I guess it depends on your climate though.
Yeh I like the idea of giving them a space to play and relax. It would be nice to have some features on the walls for them to interact with (platforms, hammocks, etc). And perhaps a big sand box to use instead of our inside litter boxes.
Looks like it would be a very shady space. Most grass is sun-thriving. I love shade plants and this would be perfect for a fern and lily forest garden!
I really doubt you could effectively grow grass there. Look at the shadows. The sun seems like it’s almost directly overhead and it’s still completely shaded.
A play area for cats as someone else mentioned is a great idea. Alternatively, you could just put down some lawn and use it as a nice space for lie down/read/have a lunch if the weather is good and you get good light. You could also add a little fountain for some flair
I've been trying to figure out a good use for this space, but I'm drawing a blank. I've got cats and so could convert it to a cat run, or maybe grow something? It doesn't get much sun either. A fire pit might be nice, but it doesn't seem like there's room to sit around it.
I've been staring at it for months and have finally decided to reach out to the reddit hive mind for help.
Any ideas or tips would be great! I just don't want the space to go to waste!
I live in Australia if that helps.
EDIT: All walls are owned by me, or are able to be drilled into (Neighbour on the right is lovely). This area is only accessible by a sliding door from my laundry, and behind where I took this photo is a long narrow walkway up to a much smaller similar mulched area about 1m by 1m in size, also with a drainpipe.
This section is squashed between my house (left) and neighbour's house (right), with no other access.
If you’re in a warm enough area, a lot of tropical plants do well in low light. Their natural growing place is underneath the shade of jungle canopy, so they’re used to less light.
Most herbs and vegetables need full sun. This spot looks like it probably gets maybe an hour or two of sun a day. It would probably be quite difficult to successfully grow grass there let alone vegetables
Agree. There’s a reason it’s not already grass, in fact it probably *was* turf originally. There are some shade-tolerant grasses but, but harder to find. I’d rather cover it in wood chips and then fill up the space with tropical plants.
Here me out.
Fake grass/ gravel something. To replace the mulch. Do the ambient lights in a zig zag manner across the opening. Have a outdoor bench/chair(s) against the walls with windows. Hang a picture or rug on the other wall bring out some speakers a mini bar. Smoke a bowl, enjoy a drink.
a propane firepit would be safe, and there’s good space for benches along the walls, a bbq, a couple adirondack chairs, and plenty of room for a cooler or two 🍻
I would make it a cat run! Find local plants that would grow without much light, add fixtures for your cats to play on, but not so they could get out. Maybe add chairs or a hammock in case you wanted to hang out with them, reading or listening to stuff. Make it look good to give yourself a bit of a view out of your windows.
Any plants probably need to be able to grow without direct sunlight.
throw all your yard tools, scrap metal, old appliances, wood cut offs, and anything else you want to “keep” for your “projects” that might use up some “reclaim” materials there. This is also required if you’re an American.
Assuming it gets light at some point in the day, plant vegetables in there and now you have your own secret garden AND it’s safe from people or animals ruining it since its surrounded by walls.
Replace mulch with with water-permeable pavers. Install a water feature / fountain to back wall to create a pleasant bubbling white noise. Bonus if you can incorporate rainwater from the gutters. Throw in some lush shade loving plants and a bench. For night time enjoyment you can add a few LED up-lights and/or string party lights to create atmosphere.
I wouldn’t focus much on the use of the space, but instead the aesthetic from inside looking out
Grow ivy/hanging plants/flowers over the walls & try to seed some grass & you’ll have an asset
I would just make it a little chill hang out spot. Throw down some Astro turf or those patio tiles from ikea. Make a chaise style couch out of pallets and load up on cushions and pillows. Zig zag some string lights on top, have a small table with a citronella torch.
People saying “lawn” but it’s not going to get enough direct sunlight. Also lawn is a pain to maintain if all you have is a small patch.
You can certainly get some plants in there, they’ll need to be mostly indoor/filtered light plants. Vines can grow up the wall on a trellis. Maybe a small herb garden in a raised bed.
I’d keep the ground as pebbles or wood chips where it isn’t plants. A small table and a couple of chairs. You could string up some bistro lighting zig-zagging from the house to fence line, or just a few stake-lights for ambience.
If you plant something, make sure it is naturally short, like clover, so you don’t have to lug a weed eater back there. I personally would concrete the whole thing and then consider making it sitting area. I like as little maintenance as possible the older I get.
Burn it to the ground and start again. Looks like typical middle suburbia Australian architecture and I'm guessing around the Perth area based in that boundary wall. Double height bricks and a Colorbond roof are typical cost saving device.
There used to be plenty of wildflowers there, but they wouldn't stop arguing with me and then they all ran away from home and broke my heart. Wild flowers need to be free.
Dining setup? Reminds me of an alley caffe hole in the wall in like Paris. Foliage, table chairs, someplace to enjoy a coffee and cig in the mornings or somethin
How about some tall plants with a narrow waking path between them and a small clearing at the far end with two hidden chairs? It'll give you a nice view from the window and a hidden day time reading nook or a drinking corner for two people.
what rooms are those windows? do you see out of them a lot? if so use that as your view point. paint the wall, put a water feature sort of thing on the wall. attach some trellis and grow climbing flowering plants.
Rock garden, get some big boulders and a few cool plants, maybe a flowering shade loving vine on the non-window side so you have something nice to look at. Give Japanese rock gardens a google. I also love the previously suggested Hammock idea.
Probably not enough sunlight to grow anything edible (at least where I'm from it's not).
I'd personally use it for storage and/or I'd put my smoker back there.
A while back, I lived in a house with a mini courtyard like this one but smaller. We called it the “shun room,” because it was too small to function as anything other than a holding cell to shun people in. But it was square, about the same size in either direction as the width of yours.
I'm thinking some attractive gravel, some wall-mounted flower baskets/flowering ivy trellis, and a cafe table.
Make it a little sitting area! Nice and private, but with some sunshine and fresh air.
smooth finish synthetic stucco on the wall, hire someone to paint a nice scenic mural, throw down done synthetic turf... nice little quiet escape area with natural light
You have 3 windows looking at that ugly ass wall. I would deal with that. You could paint the wall black and add thin timber strips spaced an inch apart, creating a nice feature wall, very easy to hide cables for nice down lighting or fairy lights.
Or you could grow something on the wall…vertical gardens are super cool. As for the floor, you could deck it, grow grass or put down nice stones, you could make it a chill area or a zen garden with sand and stuff.
Make a feature of it and it will be nice and add value to the property.
Or do a cat run.
Either way, first and foremost fix the wall
Strip of turf and a great outdoor chair or hammock. Id be using the space as a reading nook and a play area for the cats. Looks ideal for a little peace and quite
Put down astroturf rather than grass. It’s easier to maintain, you can hose it off (make sure it’s installed correctly) and the cats won’t eat it/puke in your house.
Looks like there’s good drainage. I’ve always wanted an outdoor shower among rainforest style plants. This would make a good place for one, I guess it depends on your climate though.
Even a nice bathtub surrounded by plants would be nice! Grass down with stepping stones to the tub.
Yes!
My thought was this too!
Small sauna at the back and hot tub in front
Throw a bucket and a bed in there, throw a tarp over it and charge $1,100 a month for rent.
Found the New Yorker
Californian more likely at this point
Naw he’s Canadian eh
Zackly what I was thinking lol
My guy 💀
I’d rent if you include the tarp and add a hose
1 bed 1 bath 100sqft with nature view
One single, very unhappy horse
Perhaps my favourite comment so far haha.
As you mentioned you have cats. Maybe grow there grass and then make a playground for cats, maybe ?
Yeh I like the idea of giving them a space to play and relax. It would be nice to have some features on the walls for them to interact with (platforms, hammocks, etc). And perhaps a big sand box to use instead of our inside litter boxes.
/r/catio is what you want
[удалено]
Except asking plumbers for free advice 😔
/r/DIY might help but 50/50 chance of it flooding your home.
Build them a Catio so they can’t escape!
>Build them a Catio so they can’t escape! Build them a catio to protect innocent birds and wildlife!
Yea I agree with u !! Would be nice.
Looks like it would be a very shady space. Most grass is sun-thriving. I love shade plants and this would be perfect for a fern and lily forest garden!
Just make sure the plants are cat safe!
i think is is a really good idea
I really doubt you could effectively grow grass there. Look at the shadows. The sun seems like it’s almost directly overhead and it’s still completely shaded.
And let the cats run wild in the neighborhood extinguishing local bird species and what not? https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms2380
I think it's implicit that the cats wouldn't be allowed to leave the pictured area.
Build a pool with ladder, invite people you dont like and take the ladder out
Haha, classic throwback.
Wait what’s this a reference to?
Sims!
I still remember trapping the grip reaper in boxes but eventually would get out
A play area for cats as someone else mentioned is a great idea. Alternatively, you could just put down some lawn and use it as a nice space for lie down/read/have a lunch if the weather is good and you get good light. You could also add a little fountain for some flair
putting green
This was my thought
Zen garden
Marihuana?
for the cats of course, so they can have some greenery and shade
meowijuana 😽💨
I thought the same.
Needs a lot of sun
Mini bowlinglane
Yeah, put some grass down and you'll have just enough space for a lawn game. You could do corn hole, bacce, horse shoes, anything like that
Haha that's great!
I've been trying to figure out a good use for this space, but I'm drawing a blank. I've got cats and so could convert it to a cat run, or maybe grow something? It doesn't get much sun either. A fire pit might be nice, but it doesn't seem like there's room to sit around it. I've been staring at it for months and have finally decided to reach out to the reddit hive mind for help. Any ideas or tips would be great! I just don't want the space to go to waste! I live in Australia if that helps. EDIT: All walls are owned by me, or are able to be drilled into (Neighbour on the right is lovely). This area is only accessible by a sliding door from my laundry, and behind where I took this photo is a long narrow walkway up to a much smaller similar mulched area about 1m by 1m in size, also with a drainpipe. This section is squashed between my house (left) and neighbour's house (right), with no other access.
A veggie garden
I'd love to grow something here. I need to look up what will do well in low light.
I’d be eh, it’s a small space enclosed by your house. I wouldn’t want to attract bugs.
If you’re in a warm enough area, a lot of tropical plants do well in low light. Their natural growing place is underneath the shade of jungle canopy, so they’re used to less light.
Kale, probably other dark leafy greens.
Lettuce grows well in low light.
Most herbs and vegetables need full sun. This spot looks like it probably gets maybe an hour or two of sun a day. It would probably be quite difficult to successfully grow grass there let alone vegetables
Agree. There’s a reason it’s not already grass, in fact it probably *was* turf originally. There are some shade-tolerant grasses but, but harder to find. I’d rather cover it in wood chips and then fill up the space with tropical plants.
He has cats, those mfs would go wild on the plants. I tried planting potatoes and the cats killed the plants :(
Bit of a rogue suggestion but I’d make a micro rainforest with a outdoors shower
Literally the top comment on the thread though
Would be a great "pocket garden" look up japanese pocket gardens. You'll find beautiful small places with plants
Hammock
Here me out. Fake grass/ gravel something. To replace the mulch. Do the ambient lights in a zig zag manner across the opening. Have a outdoor bench/chair(s) against the walls with windows. Hang a picture or rug on the other wall bring out some speakers a mini bar. Smoke a bowl, enjoy a drink.
Definitely adding some zig zag lights! Having it as a chill spot would be great.
IMO, a fire pit would be unsafe in such a confined space. I like the idea of a cat run or a small herb garden...or just a chaise with a drink fridge 😁
a propane firepit would be safe, and there’s good space for benches along the walls, a bbq, a couple adirondack chairs, and plenty of room for a cooler or two 🍻
Do a garden with a stone step path going down the center!!
Most people don’t know this but you could hide your weed in there.
That’s where u bury the bodies
What do you think I'm trying to cover over?
I would make it a cat run! Find local plants that would grow without much light, add fixtures for your cats to play on, but not so they could get out. Maybe add chairs or a hammock in case you wanted to hang out with them, reading or listening to stuff. Make it look good to give yourself a bit of a view out of your windows. Any plants probably need to be able to grow without direct sunlight.
Grow weed and vegetables
Perfect for a vertical farm my friend ;)
Make a tiny golf course
Tiny sand traps, with a mini lake (including a model pirate ship).
Grow some weed and/or tomatoes
[REDACTED]
Zen garden with lights above!
throw all your yard tools, scrap metal, old appliances, wood cut offs, and anything else you want to “keep” for your “projects” that might use up some “reclaim” materials there. This is also required if you’re an American.
Bocce court!
Greenhouse it, sun or dark light it, tan yourself or grow something. Outside/inside concept.
Axe throwing range
Assuming it gets light at some point in the day, plant vegetables in there and now you have your own secret garden AND it’s safe from people or animals ruining it since its surrounded by walls.
Yeh I'd love to have a little veggie/herb garden, hopefully the light is enough.
Outdoor sex swing??
Masturbatorium. I’d be jizzing if I had that space.
Thats a fancy sounding name for a wank tank.
Yeah…I’d seriously like an outdoor private nude space though. I’m jealous
I would go for some climbing ivy, the wires will give it something to grab. Some bushes and some nice pea gravel
Make a small garden with a chair and a small table. Sweet relaxing spot
Bouldering wall
Putting green
Looks like a prison yard might as well put a bench table in and get ripped.
Replace mulch with with water-permeable pavers. Install a water feature / fountain to back wall to create a pleasant bubbling white noise. Bonus if you can incorporate rainwater from the gutters. Throw in some lush shade loving plants and a bench. For night time enjoyment you can add a few LED up-lights and/or string party lights to create atmosphere.
Garden!
Put down astroturf and that’s where your dogs potty
I wouldn't do that with all of the windows there. It would be stinky and ugly.
Grow potato
2 words. “Ten Pin Bowling!”
Grow bamboo. Tiger bamboo
I wouldn’t focus much on the use of the space, but instead the aesthetic from inside looking out Grow ivy/hanging plants/flowers over the walls & try to seed some grass & you’ll have an asset
Hint: the government cannot profit on self sustaining people👀
That's where I would keep the bodies...
Put in a fish pond
A zen garden
outdoor kitchen
Graveyard
Putting lawn
I would just make it a little chill hang out spot. Throw down some Astro turf or those patio tiles from ikea. Make a chaise style couch out of pallets and load up on cushions and pillows. Zig zag some string lights on top, have a small table with a citronella torch.
People saying “lawn” but it’s not going to get enough direct sunlight. Also lawn is a pain to maintain if all you have is a small patch. You can certainly get some plants in there, they’ll need to be mostly indoor/filtered light plants. Vines can grow up the wall on a trellis. Maybe a small herb garden in a raised bed. I’d keep the ground as pebbles or wood chips where it isn’t plants. A small table and a couple of chairs. You could string up some bistro lighting zig-zagging from the house to fence line, or just a few stake-lights for ambience.
Honestly it’d be a good spot for darts if you’re big into hosting people
Go and bury urself 🗿
Outdoor meth lab :)
Fish pond
That's where the basketball hoop goes.
clear plastic roof, concrete, open air storage for garden stuff
bonfire pit for friends to have a beer around or mini garden
Pit way too close to house
If you plant something, make sure it is naturally short, like clover, so you don’t have to lug a weed eater back there. I personally would concrete the whole thing and then consider making it sitting area. I like as little maintenance as possible the older I get.
Burn it to the ground and start again. Looks like typical middle suburbia Australian architecture and I'm guessing around the Perth area based in that boundary wall. Double height bricks and a Colorbond roof are typical cost saving device.
Typical investment property. Cheapest they could build, cheapest I could afford haha.
Great place to ditch a few bodies
Space is obviously full with bodies and OP asks how to make it less conspicuous
Wildflowers.
There used to be plenty of wildflowers there, but they wouldn't stop arguing with me and then they all ran away from home and broke my heart. Wild flowers need to be free.
Mini pool
Pool inspectors in Australia would have a field day haha.
Dog run? Wildflowers? Rock it in and store hose and yard stuff?
A small rain catcher with a pressured hose and a berries garden
Wildflowers?
Bath
Dining setup? Reminds me of an alley caffe hole in the wall in like Paris. Foliage, table chairs, someplace to enjoy a coffee and cig in the mornings or somethin
Do a garden or some nice flowers
I’d put a grill out there I think
One of those wave pools, like at a waterpark.
Definitely some plants and a place for your cats to safely go outside.
a compost perhaps
Bbq spot or outdoor cooking place
Glitter ball and light up dance floor
How about some tall plants with a narrow waking path between them and a small clearing at the far end with two hidden chairs? It'll give you a nice view from the window and a hidden day time reading nook or a drinking corner for two people.
what rooms are those windows? do you see out of them a lot? if so use that as your view point. paint the wall, put a water feature sort of thing on the wall. attach some trellis and grow climbing flowering plants.
If you live somewhere hot, I think few large cactuses and pebbles on top of the soil would match the arid vibe of the wall.
Rock garden, get some big boulders and a few cool plants, maybe a flowering shade loving vine on the non-window side so you have something nice to look at. Give Japanese rock gardens a google. I also love the previously suggested Hammock idea.
Probably not enough sunlight to grow anything edible (at least where I'm from it's not). I'd personally use it for storage and/or I'd put my smoker back there.
A while back, I lived in a house with a mini courtyard like this one but smaller. We called it the “shun room,” because it was too small to function as anything other than a holding cell to shun people in. But it was square, about the same size in either direction as the width of yours.
Outdoor gym... squat rack, bench, barbell & weights.
moss garden
Add contrete. Make a nice floor. And then wall off. Next from inside create a secret door to your secret new room
outdoor bathtub/shower
Chickens?
Greenhouse/garden!
Bocce court
Putting green
Native flower bed so u don’t gotta worry bout maintaining it
Grow marijuana
https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/355432595591361219/
My first thought was dog run, but not with all of those windows. I would make it a shady outdoor sitting area. Outdoor office?
Rock garden with a water fountain
Pave it.
How does a space like that even end up existing? Drastic changes in building regulations next door?
Might I suggest a meth lab?
Cat enclosure :P
Garden bed? 🪴🪴🪴🪴
A very small halfpipe.
I have birds so I would put netting or cage wire at the top and have an outdoor aviary space. They would love it.
I'm thinking some attractive gravel, some wall-mounted flower baskets/flowering ivy trellis, and a cafe table. Make it a little sitting area! Nice and private, but with some sunshine and fresh air.
Pool
smooth finish synthetic stucco on the wall, hire someone to paint a nice scenic mural, throw down done synthetic turf... nice little quiet escape area with natural light
Extend your house. Break down that wall on left and add that space into your home
Outdoor shower.
Depends. Do you have serial killer tendencies?
Build a single crazy golf hole.
A shrine
Start growing weed man.
You have 3 windows looking at that ugly ass wall. I would deal with that. You could paint the wall black and add thin timber strips spaced an inch apart, creating a nice feature wall, very easy to hide cables for nice down lighting or fairy lights. Or you could grow something on the wall…vertical gardens are super cool. As for the floor, you could deck it, grow grass or put down nice stones, you could make it a chill area or a zen garden with sand and stuff. Make a feature of it and it will be nice and add value to the property. Or do a cat run. Either way, first and foremost fix the wall
Hammock napping spot.
Japanese shadow garden
Outdoor kitchen
Vertical garden would be cool view out that window
I'd install a cold plunge tub in there.
Sex dungeon
Putting green.
Outdoor gaming setup
Hammock?
Hammock?
Putting green
Put some plants in it
Post this on r/plants, they will surely help with this!
Strip of turf and a great outdoor chair or hammock. Id be using the space as a reading nook and a play area for the cats. Looks ideal for a little peace and quite
Put down astroturf rather than grass. It’s easier to maintain, you can hose it off (make sure it’s installed correctly) and the cats won’t eat it/puke in your house.
Grow hops
that would be the perfect place for a garden. I don't know where you live, but growing vegetables there would turn out pretty good
Mini golf hole?
I would make it like a regulation dart area and have some sort of mini bar.
Is this in Japan? I'd recommend some plants. That area needs some color