You’ll often find that the backyard is the most underutilized part of any home. It’s such a shame that this is true because the backyard can be used for just about anything! It’s one of the best ways to enjoy an outdoor living space, as well as the best part of your home for entertaining. If you’re looking to get out into your backyard more often this year, then keep reading! We’ve gathered ten ideas on how you can change your backyard that won’t break the bank. Check them out below!
1. Build a Backyard Fire Ring
One of the best things to do on a cool night is having a campfire! All you need is a few stones and some camp chairs, and you’re good to go! This can be done for free if you’ve already got some landscaping materials and some outdoor chairs. If not, landscaping stones and folding chairs are cheap! You can be roasting marshmallows with your friends over a campfire in no time!
2. Start a Small Garden
Gardening isn’t nearly as expensive as you may think it is. In fact, most small gardens can be started for less than $100! All you really need is some good soil and some seeds to get started. No matter what plants you’re planning on growing, you can also add a composting bin for free, as long as you have access to some wooden pallets. Pallets are easy to come by, and they’re perfect for a composting bin. They allow for adequate airflow in your compost pile and keep everything nice and tidy for you.
3. Add String Lighting to Create a Mood
When you look on social media for ideas, you’ll find string lights just about anywhere. Thankfully, they make outdoor quality string lights that you can put up in your backyard, too! Running string lights above your outdoor living space is a great way to make it usable at night and create an easy-going mood for your next backyard party.
4. Make an Outdoor Movie Theater
Watching movies on the lawn is a great way to get together with your friends and enjoy your backyard. A projector screen can be made with a white sheet and just a few pieces of lumber. It also takes minimal tools to get done! Portable projectors are cheaper than ever, making this an easy way to enjoy movies with friends under the night sky!
5. Give Your Backyard a Makeover with “New” Furniture
Outdoor furniture is expensive. We’re no strangers to that, of course. Thankfully, great-quality outdoor furniture can be found at a bargain pretty easily! Hit the local garage sales and thrift shops, and keep an eye out for some new furniture for your yard or patio. Most outdoor furniture that you’ll find at estate sales or thrift stores will be lightly used and can be touched up with paint without an issue.
6. Do Some Tree Trimming to Create an Airy Space
Some backyards are treeless, while others are very crowded. If you’ve got the latter, then taking some action can help you make your yard feel a bit bigger! Pick out an appropriate chainsaw and get to work, doing some clearing in your backyard. Using the right chainsaw, you can clear low-lying limbs, as well as remove smaller trees and bushes that you may not want any longer. Trimming just a few limbs or plants can make a world of difference.
7. Create a Waterpark for the Kids
You don’t have to have a pool to get the satisfaction of a swimsuit day in the backyard! Summer is the best time to use the backyard, and by grabbing a couple of sprinklers, a slip-and-slide, and some water balloons, you can make full use of it. Pools are expensive, but you don’t have to have one to enjoy the backyard.
8. A DIY Outdoor Bar
Not every backyard bar needs to be big and flashy. It’s often better that your backyard bar isn’t too overwhelming! Grab a bar cart or an easy-to-move shelving set, and start bartending at your next event! All you have to do is grab a couple of buckets of ice and your favorite drinks, and you can get started with a backyard bar of your own. Your friends can bring the boombox, helium balloons, and then you’ve got a certified backyard party!
9. Birdbath Fairy Garden
Fairy gardens are a great way to get your younger kids involved with gardening. These aren’t like your regular-sized garden – they incorporate small decorations to give them a whimsical feeling. When you put a fairy garden in a birdbath, you’re putting it in a confined space, helping to prevent overdoing it. Let kids help you decorate with a fairy house, flashy aquarium rocks, and of course, ornamental plants! It’s a cute idea that the youngsters will love.
10. Dinners in the Backyard
Dining in the open air is one of the best things you can use your backyard for. For fans eating al fresco at restaurants, consider transforming your backyard space into a small dining area. This can be done inexpensively by grabbing a budget-friendly picnic table and some outdoor cushions. For the place settings, get some rustic placemats, outdoor dinnerware, and a couple of lanterns (or some string lights)! To make the space low-maintenance, consider putting down gravel under the eating area or a budget outdoor rug. This makes cleaning up after dinner much easier.
Spend More Time in the Backyard in 2022
Your backyard can be transformed into a beautiful living space easily! Most people think that outfitting their backyard will cost quite a bit, but it doesn’t have to. By approaching things with a do-it-yourself attitude and some time, you can make your backyard into just about anything you can imagine! Have dinner at a bistro, watch a movie on the lawn, or spend a day in the garden with ease! Your backyard is your most versatile space, and it should be used as often as possible in the new year!
