Shira Gill in her minimalist yard. Photo by Vivian Johnson

One of LawnZ’s early projects was with organization guru Shira Gill for her Berkeley, California home. In her words, LawnZ provided exactly what she was looking for: “a simple and transparent process,” which aligns perfectly with her minimalistic approach (read the makeover story on LawnZ and her review on her blog). Without the hassle of blueprints, samples, and swatches, or the challenges of mid-day meetups—Shira was able to visualize her outdoor space entirely online with LawnZ’s photorealistic renders. When it came time for installation, Shira appreciated our design team’s minimalist approach: “I didn’t want a lot of stuff or messy plants to maintain. I wanted an open, easy-to-care-for space where we could host family and friends.” Over a year later, the yard still looks fantastic and has become one of the family’s favorite spaces at home.

Our team recently caught up with Shira to see how she’s enjoying her yard—“we love it”—and to discuss her upcoming book, Minimalista, which is available for pre-order now! This stunning coffee table book encapsulates everything she’s learned as a professional organizer over the past decade. Minimalista is divided into two sections: 1) Shira’s Five-Step Organization Process and 2) Room-by-Room Hacks and Projects. It aims to help readers “clarify their goals, values, and priorities to create a home that truly reflects what is important to them.”

Five-Step Process for Organizing Your Yard
Our main question (no surprise here) is how to adapt Shira’s streamlined approach from the interior to your outdoor spaces. Minimalista outlines her five-step organizing process, which she describes as a strategy to “shift your relationship to your space and feel less overwhelmed.” Here’s how to apply that process to your yard:

Clarify
Determine the function you want your space to serve, including how you want it to look, feel, and function.

Every successful project starts with a well-thought-out plan, which is why LawnZ’s process begins with questions about how you envision using your outdoor space. In Shira’s yard, she had two main goals: creating a play area for the kids and designing a space for entertaining, complete with seating for several families.

Edit
Remove the clutter and excess that doesn’t align with your vision.

In the yard, this could involve getting rid of old furniture, broken pots, outdated sports equipment, or that neglected pile of cardboard. Be sure to donate or recycle anything you can!

Organize
Develop a simple storage solution that’s easy to maintain.

In Shira’s yard, they repurposed a large emergency kit that still had ample storage space. It now holds pillows and throws along with the emergency supplies. In other yards, we’ve seen options like custom shelving—both open for plants and weather-resistant pieces—to keep things tidy. Weatherproof trunks, which can double as seating, and durable garden sheds are also excellent solutions. Your LawnZ design team can help you source these options and incorporate them into your plans.

Shira’s backyard features functional and stylish touches, such as a hammock and a rug, all set against a timeless, neutral palette. Photo by Vivian Johnson.

Elevate
This is the fun part! It’s all about adding decor and styling elements so that you truly love your space.

In Shira’s yard, she opted for a neutral palette to achieve a timeless look and selected high-quality furniture that her family can enjoy for years. To infuse personality into the yard, she incorporated pillows, throws, and rugs. The hammock, a stylish and functional favorite, has become a beloved spot for her pre-teen to relax and hang out.

Maintain
This is often the most challenging part of any organization or yard project.

One of Shira’s top tips for maintaining your space is to shift your habits. For instance, use the one-in-one-out method, always tidy up before heading indoors, and find better solutions for discarded cardboard and furniture that often ends up outside. Shira also recommends what she calls the “15-Minute Win.” Rather than letting your yard collect clutter, spend 15 minutes regularly clearing unwanted items to ensure you always enjoy your space when you step outside.