Glancing out of your window at your backyard, you sigh and set down the backyard swing set catalog that captured your attention. The bit of green your fence encircles isn't much, but it's all you got, and you really wanted to put a fun, outdoor swing set in that space for your kids.
Never fear, oh ye parents who have a small backyard, King Swings offers many space-saving swing sets. Our designs conserve space but don’t skimp on fun. Even with your postage-stamp backyard, big fun can be yours!
Often, however, a small backyard equals a strangely shaped backyard or, even more commonly, a crowded backyard (think basketball hoop, shed, etc). When our sales team at King Swings deals with small, strangely shaped, or crowded backyards, we often recommend customizing a set to maximize your available space.
Customizing is easy, costs nothing extra, and allows us to help you pack as much fun into your space. If you want to deep dive customizing, check out our Ultimate Guide to Customizing or check out our Best Selling Swing Sets Shrunk. Visiting our customize page also provides information and great examples of custom swing sets!
For all my visual learners out there, here is a video that has a lot of great tips and tricks for fun, small-footprint swing sets.
In this blog post, we will explore how to use customizing to get the most fun in the least space possible. My tips include:
Let's get started!
Of course, every yard is a bit different, and depending on your design, any slide might work. However, in general, using super spiral slides saves the most space.
Why is this?
On average, a waterfall or avalanche slide sticks out 8’ from a 5’ tall tower and that only increases the taller the tower. The super spiral slide, regardless of tower size, only sticks out 5’ from the side of the tower and, depending on the direction of the exit needs very little buffer space beside it (more about buffer space later).
Sidewinder slides also are great space-saving slides. The elbow allows the slide to go at a right angler alongside your tower, meaning it can run parallel to a climber or other side. The Flagship Swing Set shows how a sidewinder slide runs parallel with the set. The elbow of the slide only sticks out 3’ from the tower, making it an excellent option for weird or small backyards.
For more information on slides, watch our Ultimate Slide Guide.
Our standard three-position swing beam sticks out from the tower 12’. Removing a swing position decreases the 12’ down to 9’. It's surprising how much that 3’ of space can really make the difference between the set fitting or not.
If you need to save even more space, consider using the two-position cross beam. With this beam, you have one swing on either side of your tower. This means your swing beam takes up a total of 6’ (sticking out 3’ on each side). If you are having problems imagining this, visit the Lodge Playhouse. It showcases the 2-position cross beam.
The disadvantage of using the two-position cross beam is that two sides of your tower are taken up with swings. You only now have the front and back to work with. This may constrain your access and slide options, but this is the way to go if the goal is to save maximum space.
A caveat: This section only applies to residential swing sets and playhouses. Don’t cheat on buffer space in a commercial setting.
First, what is buffer space? Buffer space is empty space around your swing set or playhouse, allowing your kids to swing, slide, and play safely. The standard dimensions on our swing sets allow 3’ of empty space around your swing set. This is the ideal setup. However, some buffer zones can be shortened if you are tight on space.
The swing beam's A-frame (the end support framing) is the perfect example. Yes, you need lots of room for the back-and-forth motion of the swings, but no one is going to be playing around the end of the A-frame. You can snug the end of your swing beam pretty tight to a fence, garden, or anything else.
Another good example is using a 5’, 7’, or 9’ super spiral slide. The slide's exit opens to the left or right, depending on the size, meaning you don’t need much space next to the slide as long as there is adequate space next to the opening. If you look at the Star Board Escape, imagine scooting the tower about 1’ away from a fence on the right side of the set. Although children could not run around that side of the swing set, they still could safely exit the slide.
There are a few places you cannot cheat. Don’t make your swings tight. Kids want to jump off or lean back; provide plenty of room for that fun. Also, leaving plenty of space infront of the exit of any straight or fast slide. No one wants to come shooting out and collide with an AC unit.
Combo climbers are a great option when space is limited. It takes many of our popular climbers and combines them. The most popular is the rock wall/ladder combo (as seen on the Family Favorite Cubby’s Fort), but you can also have a rock wall/cargo and cargo/ladder.
Let’s be frank here. Full-width climbers are more fun than half-width climbers, BUT if your space is tight, doing a combo climber allows you to have a rock wall and a ladder. That means you have both a challenging side and an easy side. This is perfect for a family with both a three and six-year-old plus.
Combos save space because you get easy access and more fun/challenging climbers in the same location. Depending on your swing set design layout and tower height, combining can save you up to 5’ of space or make room for other additional items.
When space is in tight supply, sometimes the best option is to add a lot of fun to the bottom of your tower. Almost everything you add below the deck doesn’t increase your dimensions but increases the play!
Our favorites include ball pits, picnic tables, decking with chairs, and games. Each option brings its unique charm. The beauty of customizing is you can prioritize what your family wants in this space! A good set to check out to see how much fun can be packed into the bottom of your towers is the Cosmic Launcher. Yes, this is a massive set, but check out the clubhouse, ball pit, and other below tower features this set shows off, and then imagine them on your design.
Imagine a backyard with two open spaces, but a shed/pool/garden or some other obstacle separates the two locations, making both too small to fit in the massive playhouse swing set design you had in your dreams.
An excellent option for backyards with unique layouts or are split up by obstacles is to separate the swings from the tower or playhouse. In one section of your yard, your stand-alone swing beam could bring out the giggles and cheers as grandpa gives the children underdogs, while, in another section, your playhouse tower with rock walls and slides keep the rest of the little cousins and nieces busy.
Sometimes, it makes the most sense to split your design into sections. Don’t fret; our design team can help you determine the perfect layout and which pieces should go where.
At King Swings, our teams help bring the playground home, even to tiny backyards. We will partner with you to maximize every square inch of your space and create a play masterpiece that keeps the kids outside and entertained year after year.
With 35+ years of experience and 100s of 5-star reviews, King Swings continues to bring the play to backyards nationwide. If you are looking for a playground for your small backyard, visit our small playset series to get started, then talk to one of our skilled designers. Together, we will bring big fun to your small yard!