Affordable backyard designs


Backyard ideas on a budget: Create an outdoor retreat for less

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(Image credit: Grit and Polish)

Are you searching for backyard ideas on a budget? You are not alone. For anyone who lives in a metropolitan flat or tiny cottage, a backyard seems like a luxury – one that requires time, energy, and, above all else, money to maintain. 

But, while an outdoor space is a great bonus to any beautiful home, it doesn’t have to cost you a small fortune. 

Need proof? Have a look at these innovative yet cheap backyard ideas, all of which are beautiful too. Turns out, all you really need to have a gorgeous garden space is time, elbow grease and some creativity.

Backyard ideas on a budget

Our beautiful but cheap backyard ideas will inspire you to update your space and create your ideal outdoor retreat, whatever your style and budget.

1. Create a vegetable garden

(Image credit: Rocky Hedge Farm)

If you’re looking for a budget-conscious backyard idea that will also allow you to save money on your grocery bill, consider adding some raised garden beds to your space.

The beauty of raised beds is that they can be tailored to your specific size requirements, meaning that a vegetable garden can be fitted into even awkwardly shaped spaces and easily integrated into small backyard ideas.

Sarah Blankenship, the blogger behind Rocky Hedge Farm , created several in her yard with a few wooden planks. Once you’ve constructed the raised beds, fill each one with soil and seeds for a homemade vegetable garden.

2. Add an arbor

(Image credit: Farmhouse on Boone)

Another way to dress up your backyard is with an arbor, perhaps incorporated into your garden fence ideas like in this yard's design. This garden detail can add a whimsical charm to your garden, plus it might discourage critters and nosy neighbors from infiltrating your space.  

An arbor might look like a fancy feature, but Lisa Bass from Farmhouse on Boone proves it can be an affordable undertaking. Once you invest in a drill and saw, all you need is some planks of wood, screws, and a fresh coat of paint.

3. Add interest to your patio – on a budget

(Image credit: Hayley Stuart )

Whether you’re curling up with a good book, enjoying a meal al fresco, or simply admiring your garden, a patio never fails to offer an excellent vantage point. But, if you're looking for some fresh patio ideas, consider stenciling a cool design on the floor. 

Not only is this an easy project that can be completed in a weekend, but it can also be done for a fair, affordable price. Let blogger Hayley Stuart show you how it’s done.

4. Build your deck from the ground up

(Image credit: I Spy DIY )

Or, if you don’t have a deck or patio in your backyard, you can always build one from scratch. 

Admittedly, this budget-friendly backyard requires time and a close attention to detail. In fact, levelling a sloped backyard can take a few days. But, as this final product from home decor blog I Spy DIY proves, the results are so worth it.

5. Give your small garden the textured treatment

(Image credit: The Grit and Polish)

Want to make a patio from scratch, but not willing to put in that much elbow grease? This patio refresh from the Grit and Polish offers the best of both worlds, making it the perfect backyard idea on a budget.

Here, husband-wife duo Garrett and Cathy used pea gravel to landscape a backyard with visual and textural distinction from the rest of their grassy plot. For a makeshift patio, the couple covered a portion of the gravel with large pavers.

6. Make a splash with a stock pool

(Image credit: Emerson Grey Designs)

Pool ideas offer endless fun and for many they are a backyard staple. However, building a pool can get expensive. If you’re looking to make a splash for less, add a stock pool a la Bri Moysa of Emerson Grey Designs .  

The designer accessorized a stock tank with homemade steps, tropical plants, and a fresh coat of black paint to make it feel like an intentional addition to the backyard, not an afterthought.

7. Introduce solar garden lighting 

(Image credit: Sugar Maple Notes)

A few strands of twinkling lights are an easy, affordable way to add some style to your backyard. But, unless you have a few trees to hang them from, you might be out of luck. 

Fortunately, this idea from Sugar Maple Notes is a good one, creating clever backyard ideas on a budget by using a planter as a base for a post to drape string lights from. Not only aesthetically pleasing, solar garden lighting ideas will also save energy and keep costs down.

'Our DIY planter posts project is so simple, yet makes a big impact in our backyard,' explains blogger Sarah Harmsen. 'The string lights add just the right amount of twinkle to our patio – much needed for summer evenings on the porch.' 

8.

Set up a spot for outdoor lounging – and garden shade

(Image credit: Future)

A cooling spot for relaxing, entertaining or designed purely as a retreat will make your backyard a joy to use all day long. Think about a planning a shade garden that includes multi-sensory experiences of sight, sound and scent – all that's needed is some draping fabric, wooden posts and a bit of creativity.

If your budget allows, invest in a small pond or water fountain. The trickling water will feel cooling and add a relaxing soundscape to your sensory garden.

9. Enhance a sense of garden privacy

(Image credit: Diana Elizabeth)

For a backyard ideas on a budget that are both affordable and space-efficient, consider decking out your privacy fence.   

'Because of the small footprint, we decided to use vertical garden ideas – and add plants in unique vessels on the fences,' explains Penny D. Francis, designer and owner of Eclectic Home . 

'Half -round brass wall vessels were perfect for the succulents. We created a planter made from white oak that extended the length of the fence that also doubled as a bench for guests.' 

The result? A small yard that doesn’t sacrifice style.

10. Defy gravity with a trellis 

(Image credit: Eclectic Home)

Speaking of your privacy fence, you can also spruce up often overlooked fence or garden walls with a DIY trellis. 

Blogger Diana Elizabeth used floral wire to create a diamond-shaped trellis on her wall, allowing her jasmine plants to reach new heights. It’s a budget-conscious idea that can appeal to all of the senses.

Kelsey Mulvey is a New York-born, San Francisco-based freelance journalist who covers lifestyle and design content. She started her writing career while studying magazine journalism at Boston University, where her work was syndicated by top digital publications like USA Today and MSN. Upon graduation, Kelsey covered lifestyle content The Wall Street Journal, Off Duty and Business Insider. In 2017, Kelsey started her freelance journalism career, where she contributes to design publications like AD PRO, Elle Decor, Wallpaper*, and more. W

11 Beautiful Backyard Ideas On a Budget

Looking to upgrade your backyard without breaking the bank? We have you covered. From hardscaping to softscaping, use our 11 DIY landscaping ideas on a budget to complete this project without taking out a second mortgage.

11 Cheap Backyard Landscaping Ideas

1. Use Mulch Alternatives

While mulch reduces the amount of water and weeding your garden needs, it’s expensive and takes time to install. Try these mulch alternatives for landscaping to spruce up your backyard for a fraction of the cost.

Low-Cost Mulch Alternatives:

“Stone mulch works especially well in clean environments like around in-ground pool decks, traffic islands and narrow beds between buildings and pavement. This is because grass clippings and other organic matter won’t be as likely to soil the stone mulch in such places. Also, stone mulch is less likely than wood mulch to wash onto pavements or blow into swimming pools.”

Steve Boehme | GoodSeed Farm Landscapes

If your heart is set on traditional mulch, it’s best to go with pine mulch, says Gene Caballero of GreenPal. “It’s way cheaper than hardwood mulch and is easier to transport and spread.”


2. Repurpose Old Tires

Tires are bulky and difficult to get rid of, as many waste haulers won’t accept them. Why not put them to good use in your backyard?

According to Michelle Bull of Lakin Tire, recycled tires are inexpensive and easy to find. “They can be picked up at a local recycling plant for a few dollars, but most people are willing to give away any old tires that they have on hand,” she says. Here are a few budget landscaping ideas using tires:

How to Landscape With Recycled Tires

3. Go Vertical With Your Gardening

If you’re looking for simple backyard ideas to spruce up a small outdoor space, vertical gardens are a good place to start.”

Vertical gardening, simply put, is using vertical space to grow plants. If you’re looking for small backyard landscaping ideas on a budget, vertical gardens are a good place to start. Not only do they make the most of limited space, but they can be inexpensive too, especially if you’re using recycled materials like old plastic bottles to make it.

DIY Vertical Garden Ideas

4. Add a Splash of Color

Sometimes all it takes is a splash of color to make your backyard pop.

This can be as simple as painting planters to give your garden a contemporary look, or giving wood and metal chairs a fresh coat of paint. To save even more on this budget backyard landscaping project, reuse leftover paint instead of buying new ones.

You can also add a quick splash of color in the form of flowers or foliage, positioning them on a deck, patio, at an entryway or tucked into a planting bed.

5. Plant a Functional Garden

Cut grocery costs in the summer time by growing your own vegetables and herbs right in your own backyard. From DIY herb gardens to plants that repel bugs, you can easily turn your backyard into a space that’s beautiful and functional with a few terracotta planters and the right placement.

6. Opt for Natural Perennial Ground Covers

Tired of weeding the lawn? Skip the weed killers and opt for dense spreading perennial ground covers instead.

According to Jonas Sickler of ConsumerSafety.org, weed killers can be both costly and hazardous to your health. “Harsh chemicals in Roundup can sicken pets and has been linked to cancer,” Sickler says. “Weed killers aren’t just bad for your health – they also pack a punch to your bank account at over $20 [per container].”

Check out these cheap ground covers that are beautiful and low-maintenance:

Cheap Natural Perennial Ground Cover Options

Pro Tip: If your backyard is full of big, beautiful trees, you may want to choose shade plants that can handle living in their shadow, as not all plants can tolerate full or partial shade.

7. Build an Outdoor Fire Pit

There’s no better way to bring the family together than with s’mores over a fire pit. But you don’t need to spring for a contractor to put one in – with one trip to the home improvement store, you can have your own backyard campfire station in just a few minutes. If you need to get rid of rocks from another project, building a fire pit with them is a great way to do it.

Here are a few ways to make your own fire pit without overspending:

Fire Pit Ideas on a Budget

8. Plant a Tree

Planting trees is one of the easiest, least expensive backyard landscaping ideas of all. All you need are a few digging tools, some mulch and the tree. Plus, you’ll end up saving even more if you plant trees in the right places.

“Planting shade trees is a common-sense solution that will save you money and make you more comfortable. Trees are simply a wise investment in future comfort and energy savings. Just take a minute and sit under one on a ninety-degree day and you’ll understand this perfectly.”

Steve Boehme | GoodSeed Farm Landscapes

9. Use Affordable Lighting

Outdoor string lights are a staple budget backyard idea. Their soft, ambient glow can turn any patio into a chill summer hangout. White twinkle lights cost about $6 per strand, or for a more modern look, you can pick up a strand of clear globe lights for around $9. Though slightly more expensive, globe light strands are usually more durable than twinkle lights, and the bulbs are easily replaceable. Once you’ve picked the kind of lights you want to install, get creative with your backyard lighting using these tips.

Cheap Backyard Lighting Ideas

10. Spruce Up Your Frence

Not crazy about how your fence looks? Whether you have a wooden or chain link fence, there are several ways to make it visually appealing. Use these budget landscaping ideas to beautify your fence, especially if it encompasses your entire backyard.

Ways to Upgrade Your Chain Link Fence
Ways to Upgrade Your Wooden Fence

11.

Buy (or Build) Low-Cost Seating

After you’ve beautified your backyard, you’ll want to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. But there’s no need to run to the furniture store – you can easily search for used pieces online or make outdoor seating in the comfort of your own home.

Cheap Outdoor Seating Ideas

Additional Budget Backyard Ideas to Consider

When it comes down to it, the most effective backyard ideas are the simple ones. Once you’ve made these small but impressionable changes to your outdoor space, you can move onto bigger projects. Whether you’re looking to install a new patio or plant a new flower bed, we have you covered.

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