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Is your backyard looking a little drab? Perhaps you have dreams of hosting some great outdoor gatherings — but with your patio or deck in its current state, you can’t imagine that happening. In addition, you may not have thousands of dollars to spend on decking out your outdoor space.
Fortunately, upgrading your backyard doesn’t have to cost a lot of money — especially if you’re willing to put in some of the work yourself. Not sure where to begin? Consider these inexpensive do-it-yourself projects to help create your ideal backyard oasis!
1. Encourage Gathering With a Firepit
A firepit is a great place to gather around with friends and loved ones on a crisp, cool night. And while there are some pretty extravagant firepits out there, the reality is that a basic firepit doesn’t need to cost you more than about $50. You can even avoid assembly altogether by picking up a basic metal firepit from your local home improvement store. From there, you can set it up wherever you want on your property and move it around as needed.
If you want to get a little fancier, grab a stone fire pit kit from your home improvement store; these are relatively inexpensive and come with everything you need to build a permanent fire pit on your property.
2. Define Space With an Outdoor Rug
Looking to make your patio or deck a little cozier? You might be surprised at what an impact a nice outdoor rug can have. Outdoor rugs are a great way to define an outdoor living space while adding a pop of color and comfort at the same time. Consider setting up an outdoor rug around your patio’s existing seating area, for example, to better define the area.
3. Create Ambience With Lighting
The right lighting can go a long way in beautifying any outdoor space. Specifically, ambient lighting can set the mood for relaxation on a warm summer evening. String lights wrapped around deck rails or a pergola are a great (and inexpensive) source of mood lighting, so consider picking up a set from your local home goods store. Meanwhile, if you do a lot of outdoor food prep and cooking, you’ll also want to make sure you have some bright task lighting.
Adding solar lights along outdoor pathways and walkways is also a great way to beautify your yard while helping guests navigate without tripping at night.
4. Set Up a Simple Water Feature
When you think of backyard water features, your mind may automatically picture extravagant fountains or expansive koi ponds. In reality, a simple water feature such as a small fountain or an inground pool can create the same beauty and tranquility for a fraction of the price. Check out your local home goods store for a selection of fountains and other small water features to see what might suit your backyard.
5. Add Some Greenery
A little greenery can go a long way when it comes to sprucing up your backyard space. Consider picking up a few inexpensive planter boxes or pots and growing some beautiful flowers to add a pop of color to your deck or patio. Likewise, you can hang some flower baskets from a pergola or awning. Even if you don’t have much of a green thumb, you could pick up a few low-maintenance succulents to add greenery to your outdoor entertainment space.
6. Invest in the Right Furniture
Don’t overlook the importance of choosing the right furniture for your patio or deck. If you like to do a lot of outdoor cooking and/or dining, make sure you have a dedicated outdoor dining set to accommodate everybody in your household. You might also consider setting up a small outdoor sectional for lounging and relaxing if you have space. For outdoor entertaining, a small bar area can also be a smart investment. To save money on these pieces, consider shopping for patio furniture during the off-season or look for clearance deals.
7. Don’t Forget the Grill
No deck or patio space is complete without a great grill and/or smoker — especially if you dream of hosting an outdoor barbecue after your space is complete. When shopping for a grill, one of the most important things to keep in mind is that you’ll want to choose a model with the appropriate number of burners based on how many people you need to cook for at once. A four-burner model will be suitable for most people, but a six-burner model may be more appropriate if you like to throw larger parties.
Start Transforming Your Backyard Today
You don’t need to have a lot of money or a lot of DIY experience to tackle these backyard renovation projects. From adding a simple firepit to beautifying your space with greenery and mood lighting, a little bit of effort goes a long way. From there, you’ll be able to confidently host outdoor gatherings for friends and loved ones all year round!
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