Upgrading your backyard doesn't have to be costly or time-consuming. A few cheap backyard ideas for small yards or expansive landscapes can turn basic green space into the ultimate outdoor retreat.
Try these backyard ideas on a budget, including DIY furniture and affordable landscaping tips, to create a yard you'll love (and never want to leave).
1.Make DIY Planters
Container gardening adds interesting color and layers to your backyard, but large outdoor planters can be expensive. Save a little cash and create DIY geometric planters. These easy-to-make containers are made from corrugated plastic, costing just a few euros.
2.Cozy Backyard Ideas
Make your backyard more inviting by piling on pillows to give wood and metal patio furniture a cozy touch. Choose durable outdoor fabrics in bright colors and eye-catching patterns for style that will last throughout the season. To make this backyard idea more budget-friendly, consider stitching together pillow covers from outdoor fabric to recover old pillows.
3.DIY Backyard Fire Pit
Enjoy warm summer nights spent around a backyard fire pit. You'll need a few inexpensive materials to build your own, including angled pavers and gravel for the base. This easy DIY outdoor project can be completed over a weekend, and your family can enjoy bonfires for years to come.
4.Living Fence Idea
Try this budget-friendly backyard idea: Espalier a tree to create a living fence for a low-cost, high-end look. The simple technique involves planting a tree and training it to grow in a pattern. The result is a custom look that adds visual interest and texture to a blank wall.
5.DIY Outdoor Seating
Furniture can be an expensive investment for backyards, but you have options for affordable backyard patio ideas that still look modern and trendy. To furnish your backyard for less, rely on DIY outdoor furniture, such as benches, chairs, and tables. One of our favorite budget backyard ideas uses low-cost concrete blocks, dry-stacked and covered with a foam pad. The DIY bench offers lots of seating in a high-traffic spot outside the home's back door.
6.Backyard Lighting Ideas
Outdoor lights remain a perennial favorite for porches and patios with good reason: They're celebratory and fun, with a warm glow that keeps the light from being distracting. For creative backyard ideas starring string lights, use them to wrap a tree or drape them down a table for a twinkling centerpiece.
7.Vintage or Handmade Backyard Decor
Utilize fabric and vintage finds for cheap backyard ideas for small yards or patios. Sweeping fabric curtains—made from yardage, sheets, or other suitable material—add elegance and beauty. Plus, they can shield family and friends from intense rays at key times of the day. Repurpose vintage elements into decorative backyard focal points instead of a more expensive light fixture. Here, nonworking chandeliers are outfitted with candles and trailing vines.
