We’ve all been there–tired of the same old view out of the back window. Just like the rooms in a home, the yard outside can get too familiar and stale. Do you need some fresh inspiration on how to revamp the look of your backyard while keeping it affordable? Then check out these 10 ideas on how to give your yard the much-needed facelift it deserves.
1. Break Up the Space
You can create spaces within your garden with items such as one or two sections of fence, a section of brick or stone wall. They can also give you more privacy if your yard backs up to someone else's. This homeowner did just that by purchasing one section of fence, then decorating it with inlaid marbles. It serves to break up her yard space, block wind, and provide shade with canopies she added to the mix. The artistic flair of her fence design personalizes it and makes it a conversation piece.
2. Repurpose That Yard Furniture
Have you ever visited a home where the family has old, rusting furniture sitting in a corner of
the patio, or a wooden piece badly in need of paint?
These kinds of items can be easily found
at yard sales or flea markets, or even from a neighbor. With a little TLC (sanding, spray-painting, staining, or the addition of fresh seat covers), you can create your own piece of original yard furniture and garner praise from visitors. Here’s an example of an old rocking chair repurposed into a backyard swing.
3. Cover It Up with a Rug
Perhaps your patio has been worn by the elements. There are multiple ways to resurrect the space and make it a draw. A nice outdoor rug can give it a whole new look at an affordable price, such as this reversible one featured on Amazon. If it's a wood deck, a fresh coat of stain can also do wonders. Or you can get creative with a drab concrete patio by staining it to look like tile.
4. Let There Be Light
If you're looking for a way to create some ambiance in the evening, try different types of lighting like string lights, lanterns, candles, or even solar lights. They come in many varieties, are quite affordable, and can be the perfect accent to entice you outdoors when dusk approaches.
5. Create a Path
There's many ways to create a series of paths in your yard, from inexpensive stepping stones, to gravel beds, to brick, to paths of mulch. You can make it very functional, leading from your patio to the tool shed at the back of your yard; or go for a winding approach, lining the path with flowers, shrubs, or ground lights.
6. Direct Your Garden Upwards
If your yard space is limited, you can invest in some vertical planters or cultivate climbing flowers, vines, or shrubs. There are actually nice benefits to a vertical garden. For example, it can function as a calming space, as green spaces help to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Vertical gardens also act as a natural draw--you will be more inspired to spend time outdoors with beautiful foliage rising above you. Another key benefit of vertical gardens is noise reduction, as plants and shrubbery can absorb sound by up to 40%. Strategize how you can maximize on these benefits and more when you plan how you will build it.
7. Relax in a Hammock
Maybe it's a no-brainer. Have you considered adding a hammock to your garden space? The old-fashioned approach would be to
hang it twixt two strong trees. For those of you that have an abundance of trees in your yard, that's a fairly easy task. But what if you don't? Another place to hang one is from a porch, but you must make sure the overhead support columns are strong enough to handle the weight. A third option is to buy a hammock stand, which can be placed in any appropriate nook or cranny in the yard.
8. Install a Fire Pit
Who doesn't love a hot, crackling campfire? Bring the magic home with a fire pit.
A fire pit can be the perfect gathering place for family and friends to warm up on a chilly night, roast marshmallows, or just relax. It can also be a great spot to utilize some yard furniture like Adirondack chairs, stools made from logs, and more. A DIY fire pit can be built with materials like retaining wall blocks on a concrete or brick patio floor, or on a safe spot on the ground. Other creative ideas can include a suspended cauldron, a fire ring, a converted garden pond, or even an old metal wheelbarrow.
9. Build a Box or Pot Garden
You can do wonders for a patio or yard with boxes and pots filled with colorful flowers. Go for a Bavarian flair with geraniums, impatiens, begonias, or petunias enhanced by cascading lobelia or lantana. Keep some tulip or daffodil bulbs buried in the soil to break out in spring, or plant other bright, fresh seasonal flowers like daisies, pansies, mandevillas, or fuchsias. Great non-blooming plants include ivy, elephant ears, fountain grass, or agave. Or go for plants that produce edibles like tomato plants, ornamental peppers, or Baby Cakes blackberry.
While clay or plastic pots would require a trip to a nursery to purchase, you can get creative with inexpensive containers at your home or the nearest flea market like old jugs, basins or buckets. And wooden flower boxes would be a great DIY project, built from scrap wood or even old wood pallets.
10. Go Artistic with Paint
Bring out your inner artist by painting a garden wall mural, fencing, or items in the back yard to bring them to life. It would make for a great creative project from conception to design to execution. While you may not be very artistic, there are alternatives such as using stencils, or even hiring an artist to paint it. And things like garden chairs or tables can be livened up by simply adding a coat of brightly-colored paint.
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