Backyard Ideas That Need No Introduction
If you need some inspiration for some modern backyard ideas and landscaping designs on a budget to give your backyard a much-deserved makeover you’ve come to the right place.
I’ve put together a list of more than 194 amazing backyard ideas and designs for spaces large and small that are beautiful and pocket-friendly.
If your backyard is sloped, too dark, or just plain boring I have some great ideas and solutions you can DIY yourself or have implemented using professional help.
Beautify your backyard and add comfort and utility with these sometimes slightly extreme and modern landscaping backyard ideas and designs on a budget.
From modern backyard ideas to a more casual or low-maintenance backyard design you will find an abundance of great concepts and ideas to build the backyard of your dreams.
Let’s get started.
DIY Backyard Ideas With Directional Signs
Image: ©stanciuc via canva.com
While directional signs usually are intended to help pedestrians and drivers navigate public spaces they can serve a more decorative purpose in one’s backyard.
They often have a vintage look and add to a more whimsical ambiance in your yard. They can point in the direction of real places, such as big cities, or the residences of family members, or to fictional places such as locations in children’s books or fairytales.
Direction signs can be a lot of fun and put a smile on your face every time you look at them. DIY direction signs are also fun to make and they give your home that personal touch.
You can use handmade DIY wood signs for home for anything, from showing your party guests the layout of the land and where everything is, to simply using it as a creative reminder of the places you have visited if you love to travel.
- The first step in the process is to collect your wood pieces. If you decide to use pallets, then your work is made a lot easier as the wooden pieces have been cut to the same width already.
- Dismantle the pallet crate and put together the number of wooden pieces you require. Cut one end in the shape of an arrow.
- If the pieces of wood are smooth then you can use them as they are, but if they are rough you need to sand them to a smooth finish. This will help them look nicer.
- The next step is the fun one, painting your signs. This is where you can let your imagination fly.
- To complete your work, cover the painted wood pieces with a clear lacquer to preserve your work.
- Finally, attach them to a post and stabilize them in the ground.
Hand Painted Vintage Signs For Backyard Ideas With Flair
Image: ©Nuthasak via canva.com
Custom vintage metal signs were commonly used for advertising and street signage during the period 1880 to 1950. Today, vintage signs are used more for decorative purposes, but you will find a few still being used to convey a message or to evoke a smile.
Vintage signs are a great way to add some color and truly unique design touches to your backyard space. There are so many different types of vintage signs available, anything from funny to thoughtful and inspirational.
Flea markets are the best place to look for authentic vintage signs as they are more likely to be genuine. You can buy some amazing vintage signs or follow a tutorial to make your own.
Most vintage signs are made from some type of metal which is good news if they’re regularly exposed to the elements. These unique signs are a great way to add some vintage flair to your yard.
It could be the first thing guests see when they walk into your garden, so having a warm, welcoming spot filled with art and an inviting vintage metal sign gives it a nice touch.
- You can also make the sign the focus of your backyard space and if it is big enough, it can stand on its own.
- To add color to your backyard, add a sign with a bright color. This will brighten up a space otherwise decorated with neutral colors.
- If you have an area where the pieces just do not seem to tie in, you can use a vintage sign to bring them all together.
- Strategically place a humorous sign to give a more relaxed feel.
Backyard Ideas For Outdoor Chalkboard For Playgrounds Or Garden And Yard
Image: ©jldeines via canva.com
Children love scribbling, drawing, and coloring. These activities are mostly done indoors but on those beautiful summer days, you might want them outdoors. That is where outdoor chalkboards come to the rescue.
With an outdoor chalkboard, you can instantly increase the usability of your outdoor space. Almost instantaneously you’ve added a creative and artistic space as well as an educational platform. And, what’s even better, you can easily make an outdoor chalkboard yourself.
Outdoor chalkboards are very simple to make as they just require some plywood cut to the size of the board you need, outdoor wood putty to seal the knots, and some chalkboard paint which, with the right ingredients you can make at home.
The boards can be as big as 3 feet high and 4 feet long and you can choose to hang them on your fence, on the side of the shed, or any other place that works for you. To complete the board, add a small bucket for the chalks.
Your child or children will love the outdoor chalkboard as it gives them a huge canvas on which to create a masterpiece, and when one is done, they simply erase that and begin on another one (but maybe after you’ve preserved the first one in a photograph).
In addition to spending endless hours having fun, research has shown that working on a vertical surface such as a chalkboard benefits children in several ways. These include enhanced hand-eye coordination, increased core strength, and improved posture, among others.
Finally, instead of hanging your chalkboard on the wall of your house or the fence, you can have it on rollers to move it into the garage, for example, when you don’t need it.
Pretty cool, right?
Backyard Ideas For Funny Yard Greetings
Image: ©KellyvanDellen AND Fayethequeen via canva.com
Surprise yard greetings are perfect for any occasion you would like to celebrate, such as birthdays, anniversaries, valentine’s day, mother’s and father’s day, graduation, retirements, baby showers, promotions, get well soon, new homes; in short, any event that is important to you, your friends or loved ones.
There are so many variations of yard greetings that only your imagination is the limit.
As they say in the business: “Don’t just send a card, express it in the yard”.
A yard greeting has been described as a greeting card that is as big as your yard (or was it as big as “your heart”?).
After you choose your display theme, most professionals in the field will set up the lawn displays in the wee hours of the night so the intended person wakes up to your surprise first thing in the morning.
Each display is customized with a personal message along with 15 to 20 display ornaments surrounding a text sign. Anything from smiley faces, cows, flamingos, birthday candles, playing cards, and much more.
From funny messages such as “Our dad is a blast from the past! Happy Father’s Day!” to more down-to-earth messages like flamingos carrying a message saying: “We flew in for Mary and Peter’s wedding”.
Backyard Ideas For Giant Yard Flamingo Rental Birthday Decoration
Image: ©cbarnesphotography via canva.com
Better than a greeting card, yard flamingos exceptionally convey your message. When you have an occasion that is special, rent flamingos for the yard and see how the presence of those pink birds livens up the venue.
Since the space in your yard is your card, you can create a dramatic greeting for your guests, especially for your guest of honor.
You can have as many as 50 pink flamingos delivered to your yard. The flamingos are brought in the night so that they are in place come morning. After you have had the whole day to enjoy the displays, the company comes to collect them at nighttime, but you can also arrange for a late pick-up.
Most displays include a 2 x 3-foot sign and a 5 by 7-foot card with a personal message. You can even put a custom message on your sign. For Halloween, you can choose to have some black flamingos that go a long way in perpetuating your theme.
You can be sure that this form of greeting will attract a lot of attention.
If you are an artist, you can collect the flamingos and decorate the yard yourself.
Small Backyard Ideas With Garden Dwarfs
Image: ©AD077 via canva.com
In German mythology, dwarfs were small human-like creatures that were associated with wisdom, smithing, mining, and crafting (Wikipedia).
The origin of garden gnomes, a specific type of dwarf, dates back to the 19th century when they were introduced as lawn ornaments for wealthy Europeans.
A classic garden gnome is a chubby man wearing a red, pointy hat and a white beard. The gnome can be found doing various things like holding a bird or a lantern, praying, or waving.
You can choose a character gnome such as Mordecai, Merlin, Zelda, Lottie, Rumple, a set of Toad Hollow gnomes, or any other character you feel goes well with your garden’s theme. Fishing gnomes and working gnomes, with a shovel or wheelbarrow, are also popular.
Once you get one of these little fellows, where you place it can make all the difference. Gnomes work best as a great welcoming party for your garden space, on the border of your garden, or alongside paths.
For a mischievous touch, you can hide them among the leaves and surprise your guests.
Try placing your gnome in a barren patch where no plants grow to help balance the sense of space if you have a small yard.
Modern Or Metal Garden Sculpture Backyard Ideas
Image: ©phuketisland via canva.com
Garden sculptures are a wonderful way to add art and maybe even a touch of mystique to your backyard space. They make quite an impact and are statement pieces.
Depending on your backyard style or the theme of your backyard, garden sculptures come in all different forms, shapes, sizes, and materials. From angels to animals or historic figures and abstract shapes made from iron or a variety of different metals or stones.
Garden sculptures existed in the ancient world and were found in both private and sacred gardens. In Roman temple compounds, you would find sculptures of gods. They even transported sculptures to Italy to be placed in gardens for ornamental purposes.
Today, with tails formed to the left and the right, you can get garden fish sculptures with tails that curve in response to landscape and architectural elements, contributing line, color, and a sense of motion. A fish sculpture, for example, can be used to make a bold statement.
The style of your home or garden can influence which sculpture you pick.
- For example, if you have a Japanese-style garden, it is best to decorate it with lanterns, or a Buddha statue to enhance and maintain that theme.
- For a contemporary-style home, an abstract sculpture fits well.
- For a traditional style home, you might choose a formal statue or an abstract art piece.
The size of your sculpture also matters. Larger pieces act as a focal point and draw the eye to an area while smaller sculptures bring you close to the garden.
Place smaller sculptures in a mass of flowers to surprise and encounter wonderful works of art on a stroll through the garden.
Magical Backyard Ideas With Solar, Bamboo, Or Large Wind Chimes
Image: ©druvo via canva.com
If you want to use your backyard as an outdoor oasis to relax, you might want to consider adding some wind chimes for that special zen ambiance.
Wind chimes are a set of hollow metal or bamboo pipes that are hung somewhere where they can be moved by the gentle breeze of the wind.
Over time, wind chimes have grown greatly in popularity and usage. Today, not only are wind chimes known as pretty decorations that make a lovely sound in the breeze, they are becoming an art form and a beautiful way to accent your patio or garden.
Hitting each other, wind chimes produce a pleasant and relaxing sound that can help calm the mind and relax the body while in some way evoking memories of the sound of a Tibetan singing bowl used for meditation.
They are designed to resemble everything from fountain-like trickling to fuller, rich bell-like tones and can help release stress and provide a sense of balance and well-being.
In the traditional Chinese practice of Feng Shui, wind chimes were used to attract prosperity into your home. They were also used to keep away evil spirits or to scare away birds from farming lands even though the effectiveness of the latter is probably more anecdotal.
In either case, wind chimes are a great decorative and relaxing addition to your backyard you should consider.
The best quality wind chimes range from minimalist to ornate in style and are made from a variety of materials. Wooden or bamboo wind chimes generate a natural, calming tone, while metal chimes deliver a precise tone.
Tone details are determined by
- size,
- type of striker, and
- the number of tubes,
so keep this in mind when making your ideal chime which does not need to be expensive to be charming.
There are many simple wind chimes that you can make for yourself with a variety of materials, ranging from old forks and spoons hanging from a piece of driftwood to colored pencils, painted keys, flat glass, wood, or metal pieces.
Outdoor Small Backyard Ideas For Mystical Garden Mirror Design
Image: ©IKALSEMI via canva.com
Garden mirrors are a magical tool that you can use to achieve some unbelievably stunning results. If you have not yet thought of having mirrors in your garden, you will be surprised how even a single mirror when placed in the ideal spot can transform your garden.
But, let’s start with the obvious.
Mirrors are used to give the illusion of space which can help small backyards seem more spacious. They can also reflect light which can be used to lighten darker, more shadowy areas of your yard.
If you want to attract birds to your garden, however, you should probably avoid any outdoor garden mirrors for the sake of the birds.
But garden mirrors come to the forefront and dramatically transform your area by adding a new dimension to your backyard when used as illusion mirrors.
If you use a mirror shaped like a window or a gate and put it on or against a wall, the reflection will give the illusion that your backyard continues on the other side of that wall.
There are many more magical ways to use garden mirrors to make your backyard an unforgettable experience. To personalize the look, you can decide to create custom mirrors that blend into the look of your garden.
Depending on the look you are going for, you can choose from a variety of mirrors.
The antique mirror will add a rustic feel to your garden, while a modern white framed mirror can make the garden feel a little more upbeat. A mirror on a wall will make the wall interesting.
Depending on the type of mirror you use and how you hang it, you can also get a country look.
A window pane mirror if placed right can look like a secret mirror, while a colored mirror ball gives the garden a surprisingly fresh look.
There are almost endless possibilities with garden mirrors. Just walk into your garden with an open mind and let the ideas flow.
Backyard Ideas For Stylish Designs With Rustic Outdoor Chandeliers
Image: ©TanyaRyno via canva.com
There is a new design term that keeps coming up, and that is “rustic chic design”.
The ability to delicately balance these two styles, rustic and chic is what makes this design so appealing. It brings everything together in a way that feels both effortlessly current and cozy.
Rustic outdoor chandeliers are a wonderful design element if you want to build an indoor-like space, i.e. an “outdoor room” in your backyard space. Rustic outdoor chandeliers are just what you need to give your patio a country feel.
You could hang a chandelier over a big table on your patio to enhance the atmosphere for your al fresco dinner parties on those lovely warm summer nights. Rustic outdoor chandeliers can also add a cozy glow to your space warming up the ambiance for any casual family meal.
You can buy a rustic outdoor chandelier in a variety of durable designs or, if you’re handy, even make your own. Maybe some of the great ideas below will ignite your imagination and your limitless creativity.
- Choose to add a classic retro style to your outdoor yard with some rustic exposed bulbs. These old-style exposed filament string bulbs fit very well with a natural setting.
- Another brilliant idea is mixing different types of lights such as rustic exposed bulbs with some traditional string lights, making you feel like you are in an enchanted forest.
- By combining string lights with other rustic-inspired items like old-style wire birdcages or lanterns, you can accentuate the antique items, bringing out their endearing features.
- Enjoy a combination of natural lights and rustic lights. One way of doing this is to hang globe lights with tea candles in them. Use your imagination to hang them with the rustic lights for a fairy-like appearance and enjoy their warm glow.
Backyard Ideas For Outdoor Lighting Design With Solar String Lights
Image: ©GCShutter via canva.com
String lights are a great and cost-effective way to add lighting to your backyard space that is not only functional but can also evoke certain moods. They provide unique welcoming lighting and make a wonderful addition to any backyard or patio area.
String lights are primarily used as decorative lighting fixtures, featuring small light bulbs linked together and encased in a PVC jacket to create a string.
They are the answer to providing proper illumination to open spaces, patios, gardens, decks, and other outdoor areas. You can also use outdoor string lights to decorate existing structures such as fences, pergolas, or even a garden gate.
The best solar-powered string lights stay on for a long period, for up to 15 hours on the steady mode while they can last up to 20 hours on the twinkling mode.
The solar-powered lights soak up the sun’s energy during the day through the solar panels and automatically turn on at night, requiring no additional electricity.
Low-voltage electric string lights are a proven, time-tested lighting option. This innovative lighting system offers a lot of benefits and is widely used not only in homes but also in commercial and industrial buildings for its unique and brilliant luminance and cost-saving benefits.
Aside from being energy efficient, low-voltage lights also last longer than conventional light bulbs such as incandescent ones.
String lights are flexible, allowing you to change the design and layout of your yard according to the season, occasion, or a spur-of-the-moment decision.
They’re a great way to highlight (another pun intended) certain elements in your yard, for example, a path or a walkway, the roof of your house, or a pergola.
Exterior House Uplighting Ideas
Image: ©JohnnyWalker61 via canva.com
You have pulled all the stops to make your house and yard look first-rate and now you can let the whole world see the beauty of your home with house uplighting.
Uplighting is a popular lighting effect that can dramatically improve the appearance of your home and yard during evening and night times. With a few strategically placed landscape lights, you can push back the darkness and put it all on display.
When done right, landscape lighting makes the best of what you have by highlighting your home’s architectural features and drawing attention to prized plantings and trees.
With uplighting, you can truly present your house, your trees, and the architectural elements in your yard in a different light (another pun).
To “uplight” you install a lighting fixture or directional light at or near the bottom of an object and then face the light upwards instead of directly at an object. It produces a truly mesmerizing almost majestic effect for you to enjoy any night of the week.
Should you be hosting a wedding reception, a party, or other special celebration, some stores offer uplighting rentals where you can rent lights that are perfect for illuminating specific features of the house or garden, shining beauty all around.
Uplighting creates a magical ambiance that sets the atmosphere for your occasion.
To illuminate pathways and create dramatic lighting around the plants and trees, lights can be placed throughout both the front and back yards of the home.
Lights built into the pool deck of the house will brighten the area surrounding the pool adding an element of safety to the deck.
So whether you are renting them or want to have permanent uplighting, you are guaranteed a creative, artistic lighting experience.
Outdoor Solar Lights For Fence Or Backyard Ideas
Image: ©ridgers via canva.com
Interested in reducing your electricity bill? Installing outdoor solar lights in your front and back yards is a very effective way to reduce your energy bills while still being able to enjoy your backyard at night time.
With the use of solar cells, backyard solar lights convert sunlight into electricity. These little gems are easy to install and virtually maintenance-free.
The best solar string lights are both functional by helping you find your way in the dark, add a touch of softness to your yard, and help highlight the features you want to show off, lending a bit of mystery and romance to your space.
They are environmentally friendly, easy to maintain, and weatherproof and because they have sensors they turn on and off automatically based on the sunlight.
You can buy different types of solar lights specifically made for your patio or your walkways and paths. They come in many different shapes and sizes and you’re sure to find some that perfectly enhance your overall backyard design.
- The Moonrays Solar Powered Hanging Light is made of stained glass, plastic, and metal. It is raised 24 inches above the ground and can light up your yard for 8 hours.
- As the name suggests, the Moonrays 91381 Payton Solar LED Plastic Path Light is best for pathways and is 2 times brighter than a normal path light. It measures 16 inches.
- The InnoGear Solar Spotlight is just right for that area that requires a little more security. It has an inbuilt motion sensor that can detect people up to 23 feet away.
Backyard Ideas To Illuminate Your Outdoor With Inground Path Lighting Designs And Solar Rope Lights
Image: ©bruev via canva.com
Path lighting is another great option for adding a lighting source to your backyard space.
Solar-powered path lights are an economical and environmentally friendly solution to guide visitors safely through your backyard at night time. Another option is rope lights installed along a walkway either on one or on both sides.
Rope lights usually comprise a large number of individual miniature bulbs, either incandescent or LED lights which are encased in flexible PVC tubing and connected as one long string or wire. As a result, they are very quickly laid out and just as quickly removed again should the need arise.
The lights can be bent and customized to suit your lighting needs. Because of how flexible, affordable, easy to use, and simple to install rope lights are, they are perfect for lighting up your walkways.
- They are great for guiding people along a certain path on your property after the sun has set and they add a lot of character to your backyard as well.
- They highlight safety concerns beautifully and add a decorative edge.
- They allow you to create a graceful nature path that lights the way to your pool or create a one-of-a-kind shine in a new way.
- Unlike traditional landscape lights, rope lights can light up a large section of the yard, accentuating your yard’s special features and giving it an inviting look.
Especially (but not limited to) Christmas you can use rope lights in many different ways to decorate your yard.
Installing rope lights to the underside of your deck railing, for example, is an easy upgrade that gives your outdoor space instant beauty when the sun goes down. The lights will illuminate the perimeter and give the space a festive atmosphere and you can choose to use solid white or color-changing LEDs.
It adds a modern design element to your yard without interfering with the overall look and feel.
Shining Backyard Ideas To Showcase Your Yard Design With Trees Wrapped In Lights
Image: ©bmcent1 via canva.com
There are many ways of transforming your outdoor party, wedding, or Christmas display from great to spectacular, but the most magical is having trees wrapped in lights.
Wrapping an entire tree in lights is an awesome way to enhance the atmosphere in your backyard during any season (not just during Christmas).
Using string or rope lights you can easily transform your backyard into a fantastic zen space that oozes tranquility and helps you relax after a long and stressful day.
It’s an affordable way to decorate your outdoor space without losing any flexibility should you want to change the look and feel of your yard.
Whether you are the type that likes to wrap every inch of their trees with lights, or you just want something subtle, you will discover that there are a variety of lights in the market.
The first thing you need to do, of course, is to choose the lights you will be using.
While there are no hard and fast rules for selecting lights for this purpose since trees can be wrapped in just about any kind of decorative light, it is generally agreed that the smaller bulbs are the best lights to wrap around trees.
This is because they are perfect for highlighting and accenting the natural symmetry of the tree without overwhelming it. They are also easier to maneuver than bigger lights.
The 4 or 6-inch spaced LED-type lights work very well for tree wrapping as the bulbs are set at the right distance apart.
LED lights are brighter and do not give off as much heat as normal lights.
The brown wire will blend better with the tree trunks.
Backyard Ideas For Flower Pot Makeover Designs
Image: ©caojianxiong via canva.com
After we have been using our flower pots for some time, you may notice that they are beginning to show signs of wear and tear. Before throwing them out, inspect them because all you might need is just a few sessions of flowerpot makeovers to have them looking as good as new.
Prettying up your planters is a great way to add some decorative design elements to your backyard. Nothing says new like shiny colors so, if your pot is faded or you want to change your color scheme, you can get some outdoor spray paint that is recommended for flower pots and re-paint your pots.
It’s an artistic yet inexpensive way to add some color to your backyard design.
Whether you’re using plastic or terracotta flower pots there’s an absolute abundance of adorable yet affordable ideas that are also incredibly easy to implement.
Anything from using pencil, paint, rope, twigs, seashells, boards, clothespins, bark, burlap, or even lace and many, many other materials and items can be used for a miraculous transformation.
Turning your flower pot into a candle holder design, for example, is ingenious. There are 2 ways of doing this.
You can choose to use individual candle holders in which case you paint each one. Depending on your vision, you can paint them all the same color or different colors.
Get a planter and, if necessary spray paint it as well, and then after planting your flower inside the planter, put it on top of the candle holder and place it at a strategic point.
You can also choose a setup that uses a unit with multiple candle holders and then spray paint your soon-to-be-amazing planter.
Just let your fantasy run wild!
Affordable Painted Tire Planters Design Backyard Ideas
Image: ©marianceccarelli via canva.com
Tire planters are one of my favorite artistic ways to recycle old tires and add some fun elements to your backyard.
While I wouldn’t use them to grow anything edible like vegetables, they can be a real focal point in your backyard design.
And you don’t just need to use them as planters.
Old tires can also be transformed into the most amazing sculptures, for example.
Let your fantasy run wild and turn your backyard into a unique piece of your design. For more ideas read my post with more than 200 tire planter ideas.
Backyard Ideas For Outdoor Hanging Tire Planter Designs On A Budget
Image: ©via youtube.com
Tire planters are an innovative way to upcycle tires.
Tire Swing Planters are one type of tire planter. They’re usually hung with some rope or maybe even a metal chain.
Because of their hanging feature, they take up less floor space and they make use of otherwise unused vertical space. They can be used as dividers or just to add some color to your backyard.
Tire swing planters are a super easy DIY project that is fun and allows you to use your creativity, and best of all it is very cost-effective. With a little ingenuity, you can transform your space into a colorful, sweet-smelling area.
If you need some extra inspiration head over to my collection of more than 200 surprising tire planter ideas.
All the things you require can easily be found in your home or at the local store. These are potting soil, fabric weed barrier, paint, and of course your old tire and flowers.
For hanging, you can choose to use twine, rope, or chain and s-hook depending on your taste and where you are hanging the planter.
You can even paint the tires with any color of your liking or keep them in their original condition for a more rustic look.
Using non-toxic spray paint, turn your tire into a tube of your favorite color.
You can choose to use single tires scattered around the compound or you can stack the tires in a colorful, creative way to create a bright spot in your garden.
Upright tires with some flowers trailing down give an airy, welcoming look, while stacked tires make a great flower garden that displays different flowers.
You can also transform the unused tire swing into a flower planter and leave it hanging on the tree for added attention.
Low Maintenance Hanging Plants Outdoor Backyard Ideas
Image: ©epicimages via canva.com
Add beauty and style to your home with some outdoor hanging plants either on your porch or around the garden.
One of the main benefits of hanging plants is that they only take up limited floor space if any at all.
You can use plants such as ferns or begonias as decorative items but hanging plant baskets can also have a real practical use case.
Even in a small backyard, using hanging plants you can not just grow some of your flowers but also your veggies and fruits. Some suitable vegetables include cherry tomatoes, eggplants, and small peppers. Strawberries and even lemons are examples of fruits that can also successfully be grown in hanging plant baskets.
If you have a few potted plants but need some help in the creativity department, I will soon publish some creative hanging plants ideas that make you realize that your plants do not have to be in the ground for them to survive.
Bottle plant hangers have a very original and interesting look. They are made from recycled bottles and become a great DIY project that can be easily carried out. You can choose to leave the bottles as they are, or you can choose to paint them for a unique look.
The hanging basket plant stand is a great way to hang a small plant in your home’s entryway, and you do not need to mess up your wall by putting in screws.
If you have a pot, you can use it to hang your plant by using a rope holder. This gives your plant a natural appearance.
For a more dramatic effect, you can use upside-down planters where the plant grows from a hole punctured at the bottom of a pot. This particular type of plant hanger works well for those short on gardening space.
Backyard Ideas For Birding And Bird Watching
Image: ©Carlos Alberto Romanelli via canva.com
If you love nature and animals it might be time you started paying attention to all the different birds that frequently visit your backyard. Through birdwatching, you can develop a more intimate connection with nature and enjoy its de-stressing and calming effects.
There are many ways in which you can attract more birds to your property.
Why not start by installing some charming bird feeders and birdbaths?
For more designs, I have just published an article with some amazing and unique bird bath ideas.
A pond is also a great idea together with some plants that allow for birds to land on.
Backyard Ideas With Cool Unique Stone Solar Or Heated Birdbaths And Fountains
Image: ©Tammi Mild via canva.com
If you love the idea of attracting lots of different birds into your backyard using birdbaths can help make your garden a more desirable destination fo birds in your area.
Birdbaths are an attraction for many different species of birds to visit your garden, especially during the summer and relatively dry periods. I have lots of Bird Bath Ideas for you to explore in a new article that’ll be published here very soon.
Birdbaths come in many different shapes and sizes and they can be a real eye magnet and add a sense of charm and tranquility to your backyard.
Watching different bird species having a great time in your backyard is not only exciting and entertaining. It might also help in lowering your stress or anxiety levels.
Traditional Birdbaths Backyard Ideas
The traditional cool bird baths are made of molded concrete or glazed terra cotta formed in two pieces, the bowl, and the pedestal.
These are very traditional and something you would find in a vintage garden or a courtyard.
Traditional birdbaths have a basin elevated a few feet off the ground by a thin base. They attract various species, depending on the size of the bath.
In natural landscape gardens, rocks and boulders with natural or stonemason-carved basins can fit in unobtrusively.
Ground Birdbaths Backyard Ideas
A ground birdbath is one of the simplest birdbaths. It is essentially just a basin you put on the ground, but you can also have it slightly elevated off the ground.
Ground birdbaths tend to attract larger water birds like ducks. However, it can also appeal to smaller birds as well.
Fountain Birdbaths Backyard Ideas
The fountain birdbath uses a recirculating pump as part of a fountain or water feature and this is particularly useful as birds are attracted to the sight and sound of running water.
This can also have a calming effect on us humans.
Hanging Birdbaths Backyard Ideas
A hanging birdbath is usually a smaller basin that you can hang from a porch with wires and they attract smaller songbirds.
These can be fairly inexpensive and easy to put up.
Clear And Window Birdfeeder Designs For Small Backyard Ideas
Image: ©IKALSEMI via canva.com
Bird feeders are another effective way to turn your backyard into a popular hangout for the local bird community. Modern birdfeeders are just what you need to attract birds to your yard and for adding beautiful yard decorations to your backyard design.
In addition to being both functional and beautiful, the modern bird feeders add excitement and fun to the aesthetic appeal of your yard landscaping and turn gardens into a paradise.
By keeping bird feeders filled with seeds or suet you will attract birds to your garden at all times. Especially during winter times, these food sources can be a real live saver.
And since different species have different feeding habits there’s a whole plethora of different bird feeder designs available to choose from.
- Compared to classic birdfeeders, modern feeders are the best squirrel-resistant bird feeder types.
- Hopper feeders are enclosed feeders that can hold several pounds of food and do not need to be refilled for several days. They attract a wide variety of bird species.
- The colorful semi-transparent bird feeder design adds color to your yard and can be attached to a branch or under an overhang. This bird feeder is easy to clean and allows you to observe the bird as it feeds.
- The bronze fly-through Bird Feeder has a unique circular design that combines simplicity with elegance. It is easy to hang from its ring and you will love watching the birds perched in its center.
- The colorful plastic bird feeders are attractive and make your yard colorful.
I’d recommend placing a few different birdfeeders in selected spots around your backyard to avoid rivalry and to make your birdwatching experience that much more pleasurable.
Modern Backyard Ideas With Water Feature Designs
Image: ©jatuphol via canva.com
Incorporating water features into your backyard design is a fantastic way to harness water’s therapeutic benefits and dramatically improve your overall backyard experience, especially during those warmer months.
There’s a plethora of different water features and designs available to suit your requirements.
From garden fountains to ponds and koi ponds, from spout water features to drilled or bubbling rocks, and from streams and brooks to waterfalls with or without ponds. The choice is yours.
With a water feature, you can also add an artistic touch to your yard design.
But water features are not just an optical treat. The sound of trickling water can contribute to a more relaxing and calming ambiance. Add a cozy seating area and a small coffee table nearby and enjoy a very relaxing early morning coffee before getting ready for your day.
Fountain Backyard Ideas
Image: ©Kadek Bonit Permadi via canva.com
Since time immemorial, water has been associated with peace and calm, and by placing fountains in outdoor spaces, one is replicating the effect of water on the soul.
A backyard water fountain is a beautiful water feature that can truly lift the experience of your backyard.
A fountain combines the movement of water with the relaxing sound of water coming out of the fountain. Depending on the surface this can either be a running garden hose or a more trickling sound.
There are numerous different sounds you can have your fountain produce, such as running, bubbling, falling or raining, pouring, and even cascading.
Fountains can be made from a variety of materials such as fiberglass, metal, ceramic, and stone.
Outdoor stone water fountains are just what front and backyards need to give them that wow factor. It is amazing how even a small water fountain can change the look and feel of your yard, proving that it is not the size that matters.
Stone has a truly natural look that blends in perfectly with any landscape and there are many stone fountain designs to choose from.
- You can’t go wrong with the cascade as your centerpiece, a simple yet elegant fountain design that is small enough to be placed in a seating area. Because of its beige color, it blends well with its surroundings.
- The Alpine Rock Waterfall with LED light will look great in any garden. The appeal of this fountain is the grey color of the stones which makes them look like they have been around for some years. They are piled on top of one another in a natural yet artistic way.
Small Backyard Ideas With Waterfalls
Image: ©TimAbramowitz via canva.com
I don’t know about you but for me, having a water feature in my backyard adds a calming and relaxing atmosphere that I enjoy. Backyard waterfalls are a great way to bring that peaceful, calm, and tranquil environment to your home.
A backyard waterfall is one of the more exciting and spectacular water features due to the constant movement of the water, isn’t it?
Did you know that a backyard waterfall can contribute to better health? Due to an increase in humidity caused by water evaporation the surrounding air becomes cleaner and healthier. Amazing, right?
You can purchase a backyard waterfall kit like the Aquascape Backyard Waterfall Landscape Fountain Kit or build your own with a great online tutorial.
With a little bit of professional help, backyard waterfalls are simple and straightforward to install and the various designs blend convenience and eye appeal.
Should you choose to go the DIY route, it’s easy to find suggestions that will make your construction process a fun opportunity to add something amazing to your front or back yard.
Rough stones are the best material if you want a natural-looking waterfall and you can make it amazing using a staircase design, a cascading design, or any other design that you wish.
The secret is for you to set your creativity free because you can make a fountain out of just about anything, even a stack of rocks. The rock stack waterfall is a playful, flexible design as you can stack the rocks in any design and place them almost anywhere.
Oversized pots fit well into landscape designs by adding texture and color in unexpected places. They give you a waterfall that offers unparalleled grace and style to your outdoor space.
You can also go for a smaller waterfall which gives you a more intimate and soothing environment.
Small Backyard Ideas With Pondless Waterfalls
Image: ©SunyawitD via canva.com
Whether you want to add a little intrigue to a small backyard space or just want to appreciate the peace that the sound of running water gives you, a disappearing or pondless waterfall is the answer.
Pondless waterfalls are low-maintenance and water-efficient options with all the benefits of a pond and none of the hassles that go with maintaining a pond. Simply put, a pondless waterfall is a re-circulating waterfall or stream which does not end in a pond, but instead disappears, sometimes into some rocks.
It requires very little maintenance, is easy to install, and is ideal for families with young children or pets that love to play in the water.
You do not need a lot of space to set up your waterfall so you can put it pretty much anywhere; along a garden path, in an unused corner of the property, in a flower bed, or even in a small entranceway or patio.
They use very little water as the same water is pumped in a not ending circle back to the top of the waterfall.
If you live in a sunny region, the pump can be set up to be run by solar and so save power and reduce your energy bills.
Water Garden Backyard Ideas
Image: ©IgorSPb via canva.com
A water garden, also known as an aquatic garden, gives life to your backyard. Your small water garden will provide you and your family with countless moments to cherish.
When you install your water garden, it should look like Mother Nature carved it into the landscape herself.
There are different types of water gardens, some of which are above ground, others in the ground.
You can choose what accessories you would like in your garden, such as a fountain, and the size and shape is up to you, too. Use floater plants such as water lettuce, azolla, duckweed, and water hyacinth for added beauty.
By getting a water garden that is low-maintenance and naturally balanced, you can spend more time enjoying the outdoors with friends and family, and less time cleaning it and pulling weeds.
Garden ponds do not have to take up lots of ground space. If you cannot find a space in your yard for a water garden, you can opt for a pond in a pot. All you need for this is a container, water plants, water, and liquid fertilizer.
This inventive small garden water feature adds an unexpected touch of life and color to a tight space.
Backyard Ideas For Pond Landscaping Designs
Image: ©AnthonyRosenberg via canva.com
Backyard ponds are some of the best ways to make your yard look more nature-like. Landscaped backyard ponds in particular can be an extremely beneficial addition to your property.
Did you know, landscape experts say ponds can do more for your backyard than dry land? Many plants thrive in wet conditions and ponds can even help land plants grow on their edges.
With a landscaped backyard pond you also invite native biodiversity into your yard. Birds might be attracted by the water and you can even add fish and other small animals to your backyard pond.
- Try a pond near your entrance or house with a well-designed path above it for a more refined look.
- For a more organic design choose stones, moss, pond plants and carp, or other fish, and a water cascade or a fountain.
- Greenery helps to blend your pond area with the surrounding garden or lawn and several plants fit comfortably into the best pond plants category.
Pond plants serve two main purposes, adding beauty to your pond while also filtering the water to keep it fresh.
- Corkscrew Rush
- several Iris varieties
- Cattail
- Cyperus alternifolius or umbrella papyrus as it is more commonly called
are perfect examples of bog plants that are planted underwater near the edges of the pond.
Among the floating plants
- Pistia or Water Lettuce
- Ivy-leaved duckweed
- Frogbit
- Salvinia minima or Water velvet
are some of the top ones.
Then, there are those plants that can be potted underwater at any depth. They grow long stems so that above the surface of the water you can see beautiful blooms. The most popular are
- water lilies and
- lotus.
Koi Fish Pond Backyard Ideas
Image: ©Larry Stickney via canva.com
Your garden will become an instant attraction with the presence of a fish pond. Koi fish ponds are the most popular because koi fish come in many vibrant colors.
Many people are surprised to hear that backyard Koi ponds help to de-stress, relax and promote a more positive outlook on life. With their natural beauty, Koi ponds are also a great landscaping element as well.
Koi fish, a type of carp, mesmerize the spectators with their very special coloring and lineage.
A Koi pond could be a great environment to breed, raise and keep strong and healthy Koi fish on your property.
Combining style with function, ponds with fish require very little maintenance after their initial installation.
The building of Koi fish ponds for personal enjoyment is a hobby that dates back hundreds of years in Japan. If you decide to build the pond yourself but are not sure what design to go for, I’m here to help with a selection of designs.
- A Reflecting View Pond is great for beginners as it is simple to construct. This is especially recommended if your space is small because the reflective surface gives the illusion of a pond double its size, while also creating a picturesque reflection of your landscaping.
- A pond has a garden bed all of its own and when you let the water flowers grow, it adds beauty to an otherwise plain fish pond.
- Natural-looking ponds like the Puddle Drop Pond are small in size but great in beauty. Shaped like a drop of water, the boulder border gives it an authentic feel.
Backyard Ideas With Bridges
Image: ©DAPA Images via canva.com
Having a bridge in your backyard can be a very charming landscaping feature that adds to the appeal of your overall design.
Especially if you have a pond or even a small stream in your garden, adding a small curved bridge with elaborated railings can immediately enhance the beauty of the setting.
I especially love Asian-inspired bridges as they give a zen-like, meditative touch to your backyard space.
But there are many different bridge designs for you to choose from to place a nice accent into your backyard.
Backyard Ideas And Designs For Landscaping With Dry River Beds
Image: ©adonal01 via canva.com
A dry river bed is an easy-to-build landscaping feature that adds beauty to gardens, and that’s also a great way to give a good backdrop to plants.
Dry river beds are natural-looking features often used for decoration as they create the illusion of a once-upon-a-time river that has dried up.
This feature creates a great focal point for your garden and you can use it to divide space up in your landscape and add interest in an area that is hard to grow.
The rocks are of different sizes and add color and texture, visually organizing a landscaped area. It works well in both sunny and shady areas.
Dry river beds are attractive landscaping elements that look awesome but that also have some practical use. If installed correctly, dry river beds can be an effective drainage solution that requires very little maintenance.
When linked to the water that runs off your roof, the river bed can help direct the runoff in an organized manner instead of having the water flood and cause erosion.
For optimum drainage effects, dry river beds are best placed in a spot that usually collects rainwater such as the base of a slope, or in a position further up the slope to collect the rainwater as it runs down.
Constructing an aesthetically pleasing, functional dry river bed is simple and the first step is to study how water moves naturally and mimic the action.
By constructing your dry river bed you get to decide how wide you want it, how long and even what you want to line it with, giving you the freedom to be as creative as you wish.
Backyard Ideas and Designs With Benches
Image: ©PPAMPicture via canva.com
By adding backyard benches to your property you can easily provide a comfortable place for you to rest and admire your landscaping and backyard design.
Backyard benches can be great design elements and decorative items.
You can use garden benches to highlight other features in your backyard, such as a koi pond, for example.
You can also use a garden bench near your kids’ sandbox so you can relax while keeping a watchful eye over your loved ones.
If you place your bench under a tree you gain additional shade and protection.
Backyard Ideas For Outdoor Designs With Tree Stump Table And Chairs
Image: ©AlexanderZam via canva.com
A tree stump table can be an amazing design element to add to your overall backyard layout.
You can either buy one or make one yourself if you can get hold of an old tree stump somewhere.
There’s something wonderful about using things that nature provides us for free and that are often just thrown away, isn’t it?
It’s a more sustainable and eco-friendly way to decorate your backyard, right?
Modern Adirondack Chairs Backyard Ideas
Image: ©onepony via canva.com
The Adirondack chair has long been a favorite for anybody looking to relax for long periods outdoors.
Adirondack chairs are outdoor lounge chairs that are known for their wide armrests, tall slatted back, and a seat that is higher in the front than the back.
Originally invented by Thomas Lee in the early 1900s the Adirondack chair still to this day is the ideal outdoor seating option.
High-quality Adirondack chairs are the best for relaxing outdoors with their slanting design that automatically places your body in a natural relaxing position.
With its solid construction and weather-resistant finishes it’s extremely comfortable to sit for hours and truly relax no matter what kind of terrain you find yourself on.
You can also use it as a lawn chair and given that Adirondack chairs are available in multiple different colors and materials you’re sure to find one that matches your backyard design perfectly.
Based on the traditional design, many designers have created their version of the chair and provided you with how-to directions.
You can choose between the classic Adirondack chair with a rounded back or a straight back which is easier to make and gives the chair a modern look.
If you want a teak Adirondack chair make sure it’s pre-treated to resist wear from sun, heat, and rain. Also, the Teak Shield finish gives the wood an aged appearance.
If you want to add some color to your garden, how about a weather-resistant Adirondack chair made of recycled plastic, for example, milk jugs and painted in different colors?
Or how about a red, white, or natural teak Adirondack chair?
If you are wondering where to store your chair when not in use, you can opt for a folding Adirondack chair which as the name suggests is perfect for folding away.
Backyard Ideas And Designs With Outdoor Daybed For Relaxing
Image: ©ben-bryant via canva.com
Unlike a chair or a bench, an outdoor daybed offers more options to comfortably relax in your backyard. Depending on your mood you can sit on it alone or with friends or you can lie down for a quick afternoon nap.
It’s important to choose materials for your daybed that can handle the elements. In particular, your daybed should be resistant to mildew and able to drain water and dry quickly after the rain has stopped.
It should also be able to handle sunlight exposure without the colors fading too quickly.
Popular materials for your daybed are powder-coated aluminum or solid teak wood for the frames, and all-weather wicker or solid teak wood for the outer materials.
Hammock With Or Without Tree Or Stand Backyard Ideas
Image: ©StudioMikara via canva.com
Hammocks are a welcomed addition to any backyard, especially during siesta time. Relaxing in a hammock on a fine day is everyone’s idea of the ideal way of spending that precious leisure time.
They’re a sling made of fabric suspended between two or more points and used primarily for swinging, sleeping or just resting. Hammocks are great to read in or simply take a nap in as the light breeze rocks you back and forth ever so gently.
You can attach a hammock between 2 strong trees or on a stand so you can place it anywhere in your backyard.
However, while I love the idea of a Hammock I wouldn’t consider them a permanent design element because they shouldn’t be left out in the open. UV rays can fade the material and humidity such as rain or even early morning dew can produce mold on the fabric.
Cool hammocks are in plenty, but you need to think through some things before buying one.
The most basic thing is whether you want a single or double hammock, and this will depend on how many people will be using it at a time. The weight capacity of the hammock simply looks at how heavy a load you would like the hammock to bear.
The material of your hammock is also important. In warmer weather, a simple, light, polyester, or cotton rope weave hammock is best as it will keep you cool. Fabric hammocks are colorful and add a sparkle to your space.
We are all aware of the traditional hammock, but, as mentioned above, those with no trees on which to hang their hammock can use the hammock with a stand and enjoy the same level of satisfaction.
The triple hammock is as great to behold as it is unique. The perfect setup for your family.
Backyard Ideas And Designs With Tree Swings For Adults And Kids
Image: ©bebecom98 via canva.com
A tree swing is, as the name suggests, a swing that’s attached to a tree. It’s probably one of the oldest types of swings and might even trigger happy childhood memories.
Swinging is one of the best recreational activities for both children and adults. One can relax on a swing for hours.
If you have a beautiful garden, yard, or space with trees, then tree swings are the best option.
With a big tree and a little creativity, you can make your own tree swing, and if you are short of ideas, I will soon share with you 10 of the best tree swings, all of which are easy to make.
It’s wise to be cautious when setting up a tree swing since the tree and its branches have to be strong and sturdy enough to support the swing and the weight of the person using it as well as the centrifugal forces working on it when the swing is in use. Mature hardwood trees like oak, sycamore, or maple are probably the best choices.
It’s also important to use a weather-resistant type of rope and to attach it to the tree carefully to avoid damaging the branch or the bark each time you take a swing.
In addition to the usual wooden tree swing, another easy-to-make swing are tire swings which can be painted to make them look attractive.
The swings can be hung vertically using 1 peg at the top of the tire, or horizontally using 4 pegs placed around the tire, 2 on each side. You can have your child help with the painting.
With just a piece of rope and a plank of wood, you can make a simple swing where the rope is passed through a hole in the center of the plank. The rope is securely knotted to stop it from slipping off.
A small hammock with a pillow also makes a comfortable swing, especially if you intend to swing for a long time.
If you want more tree swing inspiration I have assembled a special collection of 218 amazing and surprising tree swing ideas you can build yourself.
Backyard Ideas And Designs With Outdoor Bench Swings Sets From Wood Or Metal For Adults And Kids
Image: ©Rene Asmussen via canva.com
Bench swings or swinging benches are a great way to add a sense of tranquility to your backyard garden.
Unlike a regular swing that only seats 1 individual, a bench swing offers seating for more than one person.
It’s a great way to unwind and slow down after a hectic day while enjoying the scenery.
Often, bench swings are installed on porches but they’re also a popular option to hang underneath a strong tree which can provide welcomed shade during sunny summer days.
Backyard Ideas With Outdoor Day Bed Swings
Image: ©Deb Drury via canva.com
Backyard bed swings are probably the ultimate backyard relaxation and indulgence.
Instead of a bench to sit on, you’re having an entire bed to lie on while you’re swinging.
How awesome is that, right?
Adding a comfortable mattress and maybe some nice pillows or cushions to your backyard bed swing and you’re ready to take a nap whenever you fancy it.
Or how about sleeping under a starry night sky?
Fantastic, isn’t it?
Wooden Farmhouse Front Porch Swing Backyard Ideas
Image: ©Jupiterimages via canva.com
Porch swings are an inexpensive way of enhancing your porch.
A porch swing is a perfect place to hang out for a lazy afternoon. The gentle swinging motion can calm your nerves and help improve your overall well-being. It’s like a safe haven, a peaceful outdoor space that might quickly turn into everyone’s favorite seat in the house.
Porch swings usually can seat at least 2 people so you can enjoy them in the great company of family or friends. They are functional and attractive and come in several styles and sizes.
There are many free porch swing frame plans from various designers available. Many of these swings are relatively easy to make and will provide lots of fun times.
The plans are accompanied by very detailed instructions and blueprints making it a project that can be carried out by even the most elementary woodworker.
A pallet swing is probably the easiest to make as all you require are two pallets, rope, paint, and some basic carpentry tools. When you throw a few cushions onto it, the swing becomes both comfortable and attractive.
You can also use primarily 2×4’s to create a comfortable, classic-looking swing that gives your porch a lived-in feel.
Blue Porch Ceiling Design Ideas
Image: ©Unknown Artist via canva.com
Painting your porch ceiling in a light blue color is a great way to lighten up the space by reflecting more of the natural light coming from the sun. It also adds a fresh yet calming element to your porch which can further add to its relaxing nature.
Surprisingly, there’s a long tradition, especially in the southern United States, to have blue porch ceilings to repel “haints” or evil spirits that are set to harm the house or the people living there.
This dates back to the early nineteenth century and is based on the tradition of the Gullah people, enslaved African Americans in the coastal areas of Georgia and South Carolina. Over the years, this tradition started picking up in various other regions.
In those early times, the blue color was used to keep ghosts at bay. Ghosts could not cross water and the blue color of the ceiling resembles water. This was highly superstitious.
Haint blue, a green-blue hue is said to be the best blue for a porch ceiling. This is due to several reasons.
- There’s anecdotal evidence that a blue porch ceiling might help in keeping unwanted insects away. However, it is now believed that the insects were kept away because the paint was mixed with some lye which is a natural insect repellent.
- Sky blue porch ceilings had another benefit – that of creating the illusion of extended daylight. Thus, anyone on the porch at the end of the day could look up and see a blue sky instead of a dark one.
Regardless of why you want to paint your porch ceiling blue, it certainly looks great and adds more curb appeal to your home.
Paint your porch ceiling any shade of blue from powder blue to aqua, teal, cobalt, robin’s-egg, periwinkle and gray, and join the cultural bandwagon.
Outdoor Backyard Ideas With Curtains On Porches
Image: ©cassp via canva.com
Adding curtains to your porch has 3 main benefits.
- Firstly, curtains add a more homey feel to your porch.
- Secondly, curtains, when drawn, can help protect you from the elements, such as extensive sunlight or drizzly rain.
- Thirdly, curtains can give you more privacy to enjoy your porch without having to worry about your neighbors or any potential by-passers.
With curtains, you can transform your porch into your little oasis at a moment’s notice.
Backyard Ideas With Hanging Or Mounted TVs
Image: ©kadirkaplan via canva.com
Hanging a TV in your backyard space or maybe having a backyard gazebo with TV is kind of like the ultimate in having the best of both worlds.
You can be outside enjoying the weather and nature without having to give up watching your favorite show or sports. Instead, you can watch TV with your friends on your patio.
You can choose between slightly more expensive Outdoor TVs that are specially made to be placed outside and to withstand the elements and still deliver good image quality.
Using indoor TV outdoors is generally not recommended, but you can buy one of these smart TV enclosure boxes and combine it with a cheaper regular smart TV.
The 43″ Insigna Smart Fire TV is the perfect size for the Storm Shell Outdoor TV enclosure that holds a 32-44″ TV. You might also want to add protective anti-glare film so there’s no annoying reflection of light on the TV.
Of course, you might also want to consider special wireless headphones that not only give you better sound when watching outside but also let you continue listening to the broadcast while you go to the bathroom or the kitchen to get another cool beer.
What’s more, they also prevent you from becoming a noise nuisance to your neighbors which the latter might especially appreciate.
Hanging TVs is not a difficult thing to do, you just need to plan it properly.
You should first consider where in your backyard you would like to place the TV, making sure it is shielded from the elements as much as possible. Ensure that it is away from water and direct heat.
There are at least 3 ways of mounting the TV with wall mounting being the simplest as the existing wall gives you a sturdy base.
Pole mounting gives you the flexibility of placing the TV anywhere without relying on walls as you just position the pole on your patio, a deck, or outdoor space and then stabilize it with concrete. This gives you a unique stand-alone placement for your outdoor TV.
Hanging your TV from the ceiling is another option. This offers even more flexibility, allowing tilting and angle adjustments, and its height off the ground means it can be viewed by large crowds.
Backyard Ideas For Outdoor Room Divider Designs Using Walls
Image: ©kosheen87 via canva.com
If left untouched, any wall in your backyard can seem intrusive or downright ugly. But, luckily, many clever backyard landscaping ideas can turn boring walls into attractive and artistic design features.
With the right concept and a few finishing touches, you can transform your plain old wall into an eye-catching feature that gives a real design boost to the outdoor space of your property.
You could use a wall as part of an outdoor dining area, fireplace, or kitchen, for example.
You can add a waterfall feature or add a sense of mystery by cleverly using a few mirrors.
Why not grow a living wall to add some lush greenery or, if you’re artistically gifted, paint a beautiful mural on your wall?
Backyard Ideas For Contemporary Deck Design
Image: ©filo via canva.com
Adding a deck to your property not only increases its value but also adds additional functional space that you can use to relax, entertain friends or dine with your family, and much much more.
But a deck is also a design element that you can use to give your property its unique personality and character.
With a contemporary deck, you add a modern feel and look to your yard that might be both refreshing and stylish at the same time.
- If your deck is elevated you could add steps leading down to a beautiful patio with benches that provide comfortable seating.
- Another option is the wrap-around deck design.
- Adding an attractive fire pit can change the ambiance of your deck and backyard area, too.
- For additional privacy why not place a pergola on the side or use trees and green plants?
But not every deck has to be in your backyard. You can even put a deck on your roof. By adding a few eye-catching pieces of hardwood furniture your rooftop deck will be as durable as it looks stylish.
Elevated Deck With Shade Backyard Ideas
Image: ©opulent-images via canva.com
A deck is a great outdoor living space that extends the usability of your backyard space tremendously. But it also means you depend largely on the weather and the elements.
If it’s too hot you’d need shadow and if it rains you’d need some cover for rain protection.
That’s why an elevated deck with shade might be a great solution.
A shade is a fantastic design element in its own right that adds a tremendous amount of functionality as well.
Backyard Ideas For Deck Around Tree
Image: ©nty via canva.com
If you like the idea of adding a deck in your yard but you have trees that you’re unwilling to cut there’s a simple solution. You can have a deck that’s built around a tree, kind of like the best of both worlds, isn’t it?
Trees are a work of art and building decks around trees gives your backyard garden a hint of artistic nature. Being able to incorporate trees into your deck space allows you to have a unique deck because no 2 trees are alike.
Keeping your trees can provide some welcomed shade during hotter days and the sound of the wind moving gently through the leaves is also a great way to unwind and relax after a long day.
Decks around trees need to be constructed carefully to prevent damaging the tree or its roots, but once you take care of those details you will find that the caution was well worth it.
You can choose to build around one tree, and you can opt to put the tree either at a corner of the deck or in the center.
Should you decide to use a single tree whose branches are not hanging too low, it works well to build a circular table around the tree and use it as an outdoor dining table.
If your space is small and runs between 2 trees, you can incorporate the 2 trees into your deck, one on either side, giving your deck a superficial frame.
Outdoor lights hung on the tree give it that mystical, magical look, especially at night.
If you would like to roof your deck, have the tree go through the roof for an interesting look.
Backyard Ideas For Deck With Pergola Design On A Budget
Image: ©irina88w via canva.com
Not everybody has a lot of greenery in their backyard space, especially in smaller yards and gardens.
But this can be easily remedied by adding a pergola to your deck and allowing vines to grow up vertically.
These vines will eventually offer not just shade in the summer but also added privacy all year round.
They’re easy to grow and visually very appealing while offering a great sense of security and protection.
Small Backyard Ideas For Outdoor Patio On A Budget With Firepit Fireplace Or TV
Image: ©alabn via canva.com
Did you know that In a recent survey, 87% of home shoppers said they wanted a patio at their new home?
It’s a trend that’s only going to get stronger, especially after the recent developments.
People like to spend more time at home and a patio is a great recreational outdoor space that invites you to relax, hang out with friends or have dinner with the family.
Modern Backyard Ideas For Pea Gravel Patio Design Pros And Cons
Image: ©GCShutter via canva.com
Gravel patios are an excellent choice if you’re looking for a more inexpensive option while still building a very stylish base for all your outdoor living needs.
Regardless of whether you choose crushed stone, marble chips, pea gravel, decomposed granite, or even lava rock, you can have a patio that brings beauty and harmony to your backyard.
- Gravel is a natural solution for your patio that has the added benefit of being low maintenance.
- Gravel patios are some of the simplest and most cost-effective types of patios to construct.
- The pea gravel patio border is constructed to keep the gravel from scattering.
- The border is made from some 2 x 6 lumber pieces which are nicely bound together around the edge of the patio space.
- The gravel is available in colors like buff, brown, and shades of white, black, and gray.
Some of the reasons pea gravel is an excellent choice for your patio is that it is easy to walk on. Its rounded edges do not cause any discomfort even if you walk barefoot on it.
- Pea gravel is easy to install and can be mixed with other stones and gravel materials to give a unique design.
- If the gravel is laid at least 4 inches from the ground it prevents weeds from growing so it maintains its beautiful look throughout.
- It does not take much to maintain a pea gravel patio because, unlike other gravel materials, pea gravel does not become muddy even in the rain.
- It is also known to keep rodents away so you can relax knowing that you will not have any field mice running around.
Modern Backyard Ideas For Stamped Concrete Patio Designs Pros And Cons
Image: ©lillisphotography via canva.com
Concrete patios are considered the best choice for gardens because of several reasons.
Concrete patios are a great choice if you’re looking for more design choices for your backyard patio.
Concrete is such a versatile material that gives you a wide array of design options. You can cast and shape it into any shape you wish, such as patterns for stamped concrete to achieve different geometric designs, staining concrete surfaces in solid or blended colors and patterns, embossing or engraving patterns, and complex faux finishes to achieve the look of natural stones from slate to marble.
With so many different design choices you should have no problem designing a concrete patio that is stunning and unique for your backyard space.
Concrete has smooth, broom-swept cleanliness and is also very versatile. Concrete patios are durable and will continue looking good for many years.
Of all the materials used to construct patios, concrete is one of the most cost-effective.
If you want some color other than the traditional gray, there are tints that you can put in the mixture to make it colorful. In addition to looking pretty, the concrete will also keep away the weeds making it easy to maintain.
Depending on your preference, you can choose to have a solid block or you can opt to separate the stones leaving a little exposed ground. When the spaces are set, you can pour some pea gravel or small pebbles into the spaces for a classy look.
Another advantage of the concrete patio is that it blends in nicely with a lot of furniture and is suitable for all sorts of outdoor activities.
Concrete is good for warm climate landscapes that do not experience extreme freeze conditions which is the cause of cracking.
Backyard Ideas And Designs With Natural Blue Paver Stone Patios
Image: ©khwanchais via canva.com
Many people are constructing stone patios for the simple reason that stone gives a natural look to your garden, blending well with your garden’s surroundings.
While Pea Gravel technically is also a stone, here we’re talking about slates made from materials such as granite or quartzite, for example.
These natural stone patios are not just absolutely beautiful but they also have the added benefit that stone doesn’t trap heat as much as other materials might. So, the surface of your patio doesn’t get too hot in the summer but is also not too slippery when it rains.
It’s a great solution for your patio in almost any weather condition.
A stone patio is also easy to maintain as all it requires is a broom to sweep it clean.
You do not need to worry about having to re-paint the stone as stone can be found in a wide variety of colors and styles, giving you the power to customize your patio in any way you would like.
There will be no need to think about dealing with cracks as stone is highly durable and will maintain its aesthetic beauty for a long time.
Working with stone is refreshing as you get to design the look that you want as there is no limit to what you can create with stone.
There are several stone patio styles to choose from such as the gray flagstone patio, or you can choose to use the bluestone which gives the patio a more homely look. Cobblestone and limestone are other options.
Whatever you settle for, a stone patio is a perfect addition to your home, allowing you to enjoy your outside space to the full.
Modern Backyard Ideas For An Enclosed Patio On A Budget
Image: ©PC Photography via canva.com
While any outdoor patio increases the usability of your backyard space, with an enclosed patio you’re adding considerable living space to your property as well. Throw in an AC unit and you’ve added another room to your home.
You benefit from more privacy and add another dimension to your backyard garden.
It’s the perfect sunroom to relax or entertain while being protected from the elements.
With the clever use of glass, you can feel like you are outdoors any time of year.
Personalize your backyard and take control of its atmosphere with these 163 unexpected and surprising enclosed patio ideas.
Backyard Ideas For Paver Patios With Firepit On A Budget Or DIY
Image: ©Irina88w via canva.com
Paver Patios are another great way to enhance your backyard space.
Pavers are small pieces that can be made of a variety of different materials, such as concrete, natural stone, clay brick, or even porcelain, for example.
You can buy them in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, textures, and patterns to fit your design ideas and your budget.
Even though a paver patio might cost slightly more in the beginning you’ll save money in the long run because a paver patio doesn’t need to be stained or sealed regularly.
And repairs are also easier since you can replace individual pavers one stone at a time.
Brick Paver Patio Backyard Ideas
Brick paver patios are sturdy, last a long time, and have a neat, classic look that goes well with many landscape and architectural styles.
Brick works well with both formal and rustic landscapes.
Popular brick patterns include herringbone, running bond, and jack-on-jack.
For more patio ideas with bricks head over to my comprehensive compilation of 61 awesome brick patio ideas.
Flagstone Paver Patio Backyard Ideas
Flagstone pavers are available in various colors and stones and because of their slightly roughened surface, they provide good traction when wet.
The irregular shape of the stones gives off a creative vibe.
Concrete Paver Patio Backyard Ideas
A concrete paver patio floor is a time-tested recipe and offers many options.
Concrete pavers are not as strong as real cobblestone but they can work well with most backyard designs.
By using well-constructed forms, concrete can mold and conform to nearly any surface shape.
Its durable and easy-to-maintain finish can be anything you want it to be, from smooth, stamped, colored, painted, or decorated with inlays.
They can even be made to look like brick, cobblestones, or cut stone.
Ceramic Paver Patio Backyard Ideas
Unglazed ceramic tiles are also used and they come in lots of colors and designs.
Backyard Outdoor Paver Patio Stairs Ideas With Bricks
Image: ©anna-m. w. via canva.com
When you decide to build your patio, you need to pay attention to the stairs. If you want to connect different levels of your backyard space in a stunning way you might want to consider using brick patio stairs, too.
Brick patio stairs are the perfect solution for how you get onto and off your patio. Adding stairs made from brick can add to the visual impact of your patio, making it look more detailed and thereby more interesting.
Stairs also add textural structure to your patio design that invites a more intriguing observation.
Brick patio stairs can also serve as a great focal point and give your backyard space more depth.
The red brick patio stairs will add a homely look to your patio, while still maintaining the patio’s elegant look.
You can choose from the concrete and block style, and the paver slab method, and you can also construct your stairs using railway sleepers.
Whether there is an actual slope or not at your patio site, you can have stairs that add style to the patio.
You also have the option of using brick and mortar or setting your stairs with just brick with no mortar.
Paving brick is durable and is not liable to cracking or chipping, meaning that you can expect your stairs to maintain their attractive look for many years.
If you decide to use mortar, I’ve come across a suggestion that instead of using traditional brick mortar, simply make your own using sand and cement; this is guaranteed to hold better. I haven’t yet tried this myself but I’d appreciate your feedback if you have any experience with it.
Because the color of the bricks is natural, your stairs will quite easily withstand sun and snow without fading or changing color.
Best Small Backyard Ideas For Outdoor Patio Ceiling Fans
Image: ©Unknown Artist via canva.com
Patio Ceiling Fans are amazing design elements that can provide a touch of classic sophistication to your outdoor space and backyard. They often have a historic flavor, in my opinion, which adds charm and style.
Small or large, patio ceiling fans are a blessing during those long hot summer days and nights. They can be quite effective in keeping you cool during hot weather.
The best patio fans are those that correspond to the conditions of your patio.
When buying a ceiling fan for your outdoor space, you need to be aware of the different types. Ceiling fans are categorized into two groups, wet-rated and damp-rated.
Wet-rated ceiling fans are used in outdoor spaces that are exposed to harsh weather elements like heavy rain.
Once you decide on the category of ceiling fan you require, you can go ahead and choose from the different available designs.
Lantern ceiling fans as the name suggests are designed to look like lanterns. They are reminiscent of lighthouses on the coast, making them perfect for ocean-side patios.
Coastal ceiling fan designs will bring the coolness of the ocean right up to where you are. Some have wicker blades that pair beautifully with wicker porch furniture and end tables. Others have hand-painted striped glass in white and blue with rustic wood blades which highlight the coastal theme of your patio.
A Pergola ceiling fan is a stylish fan that has an authentic vibe to it and is best placed in an open-air pergola setting.
Many patio ceiling fans come with an additional light source which can produce a cozy and relaxing atmosphere once the sun has set.
Best Electric, Gas, Or Natural Gas Patio Heaters Backyard Ideas
Image: ©ronstik via canva.com
Patio heaters are a great way to make your patio more desirable during the fall and spring months, allowing you to get more from that special outdoor area.
With a few stylish patio heaters, you can truly turn your backyard into a cozy outdoor space even during colder weather. They also come in handy during the evenings when the sun has gone down and temperatures are plummeting.
Many patio heaters are easy to move around and relocate if you want to change the layout or design of your backyard space.
They’re most often powered by propane gas with an equally portable gas tank.
Patio heaters can be categorized into 3 groups depending on how they work.
They come in a variety of creative designs and are safe enough for your children and pets to get near.
Natural Gas Patio Heater Backyard Ideas
Natural gas patio heaters can heat a large space and are simple to connect to your natural gas outlet.
They come in either a floor or a self-supporting model.
Propane Patio Heater Backyard Ideas
Propane heaters are the most commonly used and come in easily portable tanks, making for the most versatile heater since you can place the heater anywhere.
Propane heaters have a place for the propane tank to be stored in the base so the tank is out-of-sight and does not take up room on your patio.
Electric Patio Heater Backyard Ideas
With electric heaters, you simply plug them in and turn them on.
They are made to be weather resistant.
They come in different styles such as the floor, tabletop, or wall-mounted ones.
They are the simplest type of patio heater and are best suited for small areas.
Best Outdoor Backyard Ideas For Lounge Designs With Chairs And Cushions
Image: ©pixelshot via canva.com
An outdoor lounge area is, as the name suggests, an informal, casual area in your backyard dedicated to lounging, relaxing, and leisure.
Choose quality furniture for comfort and style.
Enhance the atmosphere and mood with wonderful lighting and add flowers for color and fragrance.
Ensure sufficient protection from preying eyes and unwanted noise pollution from neighbors or nearby streets.
Grab a good book and maybe a fresh cup of coffee and you’re all set.
Backyard Ideas For Indoor Outdoor Room Dividers And Designs
Image: ©DAPA Images via canva.com
When you feel you need someplace where you can relax and connect with nature, build a room in the backyard.
An outdoor room can act as an extension of your home, or it can have a feel of its own; it all depends on you.
There are many ways in which you can utilize an outdoor room; you can use it as a family games room, a study or office, or a place of solace, the uses are endless.
But for whatever you decide to use it for, your outdoor room will transform an ordinary outdoor space into an open-air room that adds value and comfort to your home all year round.
You can even turn your carport into an amazing outdoor room. What a great idea, isn’t it?
The way you accessorize the room will give it character and personality.
A rustic swing held up with rope for a natural look adds a nice touch, while an old wrought iron gate at the entrance of your room gives it a dramatic look.
Potted plants, a wool rug, mirrors, a canopy of climbing plants, a bold backdrop or intense colors all have a place in making a big impact, especially if you are working with a small space.
And all this can be done on a budget.
Backyard Ideas For Indoor Outdoor Living Room Designs Even With Fireplace
Image: ©DAPA Images via canva.com
To ensure you make the most of those fine summer days, invest in outdoor living facilities. An outdoor living room is a special type of outdoor room.
With an outdoor living room, you can take the entertaining outside so that your guests can enjoy comfortable seating while taking in the greenery.
If you have a lot of space, you can create an attractive spacious terrace or if you have limited space, enjoy the charm of a cozy living room.
Outdoor living rooms are more laid back and casual compared to those indoors, which makes them more relaxing spaces.
A lot of natural light is important if you want to make your room glow, and the light lends a sense of serenity. Dimmer lights will give your room a soft, welcoming feel when the sun goes down.
Nature is known to have a calming effect on us and so placing your full-length windows in a way that allows you to have a great view of the rest of your garden is a great idea.
When choosing your color scheme remember colors affect our senses. Bright colors are energizing while muted colors are calming.
To personalize your outdoor living room, use décor that accentuates the look you desire.
Small Backyard Ideas For Room Designs For Family
Image: ©VioletaStoimenova via canva.com
A backyard family room is almost like a bonus space you can add to your property.
It offers the opportunity to spend more time around nature without having to sacrifice modern luxury.
It can be a great space for having fun with your loved ones or entertaining some friends.
Did you know that spending more time outdoors can help reduce stress, blood pressure, and muscle tension?
Luckily, you can build your own family room regardless of the size of your backyard.
Backyard Ideas For Great Outdoor Entertaining Spaces For The Whole Family
Image: ©zstockphotos via canva.com
Outdoor entertainment spaces for the whole family allow you to spend more time with your loved ones.
Being outside has tremendous benefits for our well-being and it can help get your children temporarily away from their computers and phones.
Outdoor entertainment spaces also increase the value of your home, especially during these very challenging times when many people prefer to stay home while still spending time outdoors.
Fun Backyard Ideas On A Budget For Adults, Kids, Toddlers, Tweens, Or Teens
Image: ©Todd Warnock via canva.com
If you have kids you most definitely want your backyard to be kids-friendly, right? But you might also want to use it to entertain your grown-up friends, don’t you?
Luckily, there are plenty of ways in which you can have the best of both worlds.
A simple solution might be to have separate areas for kids and adults.
If that’s not possible, having great toy storage facilities like a chest or even a shed can help to quickly tidy up your backyard before your guests arrive.
There’s a plethora of great options out there so there’s no reason why you can’t have your cake and eat it, too.
Small Backyard Ideas For A Screen Room On A Budget
Image: ©Gregory_DUBUS via canva.com
Mosquitoes, ants, flies, and other bugs can turn a fun afternoon on your patio or outdoor relaxation area into a time of stress. These bugs are not just annoying, they are also a health hazard.
A screen room is one guaranteed way of ensuring you can enjoy your tranquil period and your barbecue party is held in a fun, enjoyable and pest-free environment.
In a screen room, you and your family and friends can enjoy the warm breeze without having to worry about keeping the bugs away, while also getting an unobstructed view of the outdoors.
With multiple sunroom options and styles to choose from, it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for you and your home.
Screen room installers can help you choose the right type of screen room for your yard whether you are looking to add a brand new patio enclosure to your home or want to enclose an existing patio or porch space.
They offer various roof types such as the single slope and gable, or you can use your existing porch or patio roof.
Do not compromise your view of the moon and stars or the luscious green nature all around you.
Best Backyard Ideas For Small Or Large Children’s Sandboxes With Covers Or Lids For Toddlers Or Kids
Image: ©Canetti via canva.com
If you have small children, you should be on the lookout for the best backyard sandbox because a sandbox is one of the must-have items in your backyard.
It’s at the sandbox that a lot of creative thinking, sensory playing, and of course “pie” making takes place.
There are many types of sandboxes and the type you choose will depend on the age of your children, the space you have available, and your personal preference.
A portable play-and-store sand box with cover is a great solution for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners. It has 4 molded-in seats and plenty of space for multiple children to play. It’s perfect for families with small yards or small patios.
Regardless of whether you choose a wooden or a plastic sandbox for your backyard your kids will most likely love it either way.
And don’t forget to add a cover to keep the valuable sand protected from the elements.
With a sandbox in your yard kids can enjoy a great fun-filled playtime without having to leave your property giving you the peace of mind you crave and deserve.
Sandbox play can also make a significant contribution to your child’s development which in itself is already enough to buy one right now, isn’t it?
Portable Sandbox Backyard Ideas
A portable play-and-store sand box with cover is a great solution for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners.
It has 4 molded-in seats and plenty of space for multiple children to play.
It’s perfect for families with small yards or small patios.
Tractor Tire Sandbox Backyard Ideas
Also great for small yards and patios is the colorful tractor tire sandbox which is easy to make, pocket-friendly, and provides you with bonding time as you and your child fix it together.
When the inside of the tire is cut out, the play area becomes even bigger.
Tent Sandbox Backyard Ideas
The tent sandbox has enough room for children to sit inside, is shaded, and can be zipped at night to keep bugs and cats out.
Wooden Or Plastic See Saw Backyard Ideas For Children Or Adults
Image: ©salihkilic via canva.com
A see-saw is a fun activity that is enjoyed by children as young as 2 years. The whole experience of going up and down on a see-saw brings many happy hours to children.
It is not expensive to make a kids’ see-saw, some designs will cost you less than $30.
Your child’s safety is prime so when choosing the timber for the see-saw, you need to ensure that it is sturdy, straight, and without any flaws such as knots, cracks, twists, or decay.
Since the see saw will be outside throughout, it is important to use timber that is weather resistant, such as cedar.
With all the materials in hand, it is possible to have the see-saw finished in just one day.
Pay special attention to the finishing so that everything is smooth to avoid accidents.
To fancy up the see-saw, paint or stain it. This further protects it from weather damage. Cover the seats with outdoor fabric.
After this, you won’t have to tell your children again to go play outside. Your problem will now be how to get them back in for meals and the like.
Best Backyard Ideas For Affordable Wooden Outdoor Playhouses With Slides For Kids, Toddlers, Or Adults
Image: ©digitalhallway via canva.com
What kid wouldn’t be thrilled to have its own playhouse in the backyard? It’s probably every child’s dream, right?
Children’s playhouses are fun for children. They can spend hours playing inside it with their toys and friends instead of staying indoors playing computer games and watching cartoons.
Your kids’ backyard playhouse could easily become the main attraction for other kids in the neighborhood as well.
In a backyard playhouse, your child’s imagination can truly run free and their creativity can take flight while still remaining on your property and under your supervision.
With a children’s backyard playhouse, you give your child its own space without giving up control.
It is the best of both worlds, isn’t it?
If you want something unique, you can get custom-built playhouses that will incorporate all your specifications.
Should you opt to make your child’s dream come true with an off-the-shelf playhouse, you can choose from a very wide range of fun-looking designs.
According to reviews, the Timberlake All Cedar Wood Playhouse from Backyard Discovery tops the list of off-the-shelf playhouses. This is because of how solid it is as it is made from cedar which is a hardwood.
The design incorporates a real half door, flower pot shelves on the outside and waist-high openings making it possible for children to play house with ease. It is also reasonably priced.
The Princess Cape Cottage Playhouse from Little Tikes is ideal for little girls. It comes painted with pink walls and a purple roof, the favorite colors for girls.
This closed design playhouse resembles a real house. It is made of high-quality plastic, is sturdy, and can survive active games.
Small Backyard Ideas With Treehouse Design For Kids Maybe With Zipline
Image: ©effevi via canva.com
If you’ve got kids you’re on a surefire way to becoming “parent of the year” if you decide to build a treehouse in your backyard.
It’s a magical place where kids can have fun and a great time while still being on your property and under your supervision.
But treehouses are also popular amongst adults. They provide welcomed and often needed space to relax, think, write, or maybe paint.
It’s a gathering and hangout space for the whole family.
And you don’t even need a tree in your backyard since treehouses can also be built on stilts.
Backyard treehouses for kids have come a long way, evolving from crude treehouses to fairytale like designs.
Whatever the style, one thing is for sure, your child will spend many happy hours in the treehouse you put up for them.
When trying to decide what treehouse design to put up, remember that this will greatly depend on the tree that you have. It is also important to involve your children when choosing the design as they are probably the ones who will be spending most of their time in it.
There are many ways of enhancing the treehouse and these are ideas you can incorporate into any treehouse, even one that was constructed earlier.
- You can choose to add a tire swing which goes very well with the natural look of the treehouse.
- By building an elevated gazebo you are ensuring that even as the children grow older and “outgrow” treehouses (honestly, though, does anybody ever really outgrow treehouses?), they can still have fun in the gazebo.
- A Hansel and Gretel treehouse is any little girl’s dream while a castle treehouse is just what your boys have been dreaming of.
Playing in a treehouse helps to stretch your child’s imagination while at the same time enhancing their creative skills.
Upgrade your outdoor living game and take treehouses to the next level with my list of 66 innovative treehouse ideas.
DIY Backyard Ideas For Outdoor Toy Storage Box, Bin, Bench Or Shed Designs
Image: ©sampsyseeds via canva.com
Toys are expensive so you want to look after them well to avoid unnecessary wear and tear.
Outdoor toys, especially those made from plastic, are particularly prone to become victims of the summer sun. They can fade and look unattractive or worse the plastic might become weakened.
That’s where DIY outdoor toy storage solutions come to the forefront.
They not only help to keep your backyard looking sharp and organized. They also keep your outdoor toys cool and well-protected from the sun, the rain, etc.
It’s a win-win, isn’t it?
Toy storage units are also a good way to teach your child the “put it away” lesson by providing a place for them to put their toys.
There is a large variety of DIY outdoor toy storage designs so you can be sure of getting one that will fit into your particular space.
A DIY outdoor toy storage facility can come in the form of a bin hanging off the fence.
You can use milk crates, wooden crates, or even tough plastic containers.
To make it even more fun, if your child is just learning to read, you can label the boxes.
You can also construct a small colorful garage for all the outdoor ride-on toys with parking areas demarcated with playful colors. This will truly brighten your yard.
The garage will not only help to keep toys organized, but it will also keep them away from the elements, making them last longer.
You can also design a big compartmentalized toy box that can easily accommodate anything from skateboards, hockey sticks, footballs, and helmets.
All these ideas are simple to make and cost-effective.
By putting up an outdoor storage area, you will transform your yard from a messy one to a well-manicured one.
Are you ready to win the war against outdoor clutter? Create your dream backyard play area without the mess! Uncover my top picks of 68 amazing outdoor toy storage ideas.
Best Small Modern Backyard Ideas For Sheds Designs For Office, Man Cave, Bar Or Gym
Image: ©KenWiedemann via canva.com
Sheds are a great way to store tools, utensils, and other things you want to keep out of sight. They also make for great design pieces that not just add storage but also a lot of character to your backyard.
You can even use sheds as a home away from home, some quiet office space, or a relaxing oasis of tranquility, perfect for meditation or that early morning Yoga routine.
The possibilities are almost endless.
Plastic Sheds Backyard Ideas
Sheds come in different sizes and appearances and are made of different materials.
The best plastic sheds utilize heavy, UV-resistant molded plastics such as PVC and polyethylene and can be less expensive than sheet-metal sheds.
They allow for easy extensions, peg boards, shelving, attic storage, windows, skylights, and other accessories to be added later.
Plastic sheds are rot-proof and not susceptible to termite or wood-boring insect damage.
They require very little maintenance.
Metal Sheds Backyard Ideas
Metal sheds are made from galvanized steel, aluminum, or corrugated iron attached to a metal frame.
Metal sheds are a good choice when long-term strength and resistance to fire, rot, or termites are desired.
Wood Sheds Backyard Ideas
Wood sheds are by far the most commonly used.
Wood has a natural look that makes it blend in well with any garden environment.
All wooden sheds should be treated for protection with stain, varnish, and preservatives for them to look good for a long and avoid damage.
There are 2 ways to treat wood.
The drip is a quick and simple process that keeps costs down.
Pressure treatment is the other method where the moisture is sucked out of it under vacuum conditions and a powerful preservative is then forced into the wood at high pressure.
Best Small Backyard Ideas For Wooden, Plastic, Or Metal Outdoor Storage Sheds Designs
Image: ©Björn Forenius via canva.com
If you want to organize your backyard you might want to consider using an outdoor storage shed.
These handy little helpers come in a variety of different shapes, materials, and sizes.
- The wooden storage sheds are probably the most traditional ones.
- The metal storage sheds have the advantage of durability and weather resistance. However, they can be quite heavy and expensive.
- Resin sheds are the latest addition and are quickly gaining in popularity. These sheds are made from a special kind of plastic that is light but strong and more durable than wood.
If possible, I’d recommend making the shed not larger than 6×8 so you don’t require a foundation.
However, even if not required, placing your storage sheds on a foundation adds support and ventilation which might be worth considering.
Best Backyard Ideas For Plastic Outdoor Shelving Unit Designs
Image: ©PhonlamaiPhoto via canva.com
Your patio has been constructed, your arbor is in place and all this is done to enhance the beauty of your outdoors. Now, you want to put up some outdoor shelving.
There are 2 main reasons why people put up outdoor shelves:
- to keep everything organized and
- to further add to the beauty of their space.
Shelves are an amazingly effective way to add a sense of order and organization to your backyard. Having a clutter-free outdoor space in your backyard also helps you to relax and unwind.
- Outdoor shelving is a great way to stash your gardening necessities and keep your garden tools, pots, and other rough or bulky objects all neat and tidy.
- With outdoor shelving, you can also create an inexpensive outdoor bar and a real talking point for your guests.
- With outdoor wall shelves for plants, you can display pots of flowers and add some more color to your yard.
You can buy ready-made outdoor shelving or make your own with a great tutorial.
There are lots of inspiring ideas allowing you to choose the best shelving units for your space.
- A pallet crate shelf is certainly a bit different from the common market-based wall shelf. You can paint it any color that either blends in with or adds a splash of color to your space. This style is perfect for potted plants, is simple to construct, and will not drain your wallet.
- If you like rustic pieces, you can also consider nature-inspired shelving with planks and tree stumps. You can choose the size of tree stumps to use and the shelf can be as long or short as you wish. A very versatile idea.
- Instead of throwing out an old ladder, recycle it into a shelf. You can paint it and hang potted plants for an interesting look.
Low Maintenance Backyard Ideas For Pet Friendly Outdoor Pet Area Designs
Image: ©AprylRED via canva.com
A dog is a man’s best friend, so it is only fitting that your dog gets to enjoy your home just as much as you do.
One way of ensuring this is by having one or multiple designated and well-designed pet areas. You can have the attractive backyard of your dreams, a backyard that you and your dogs can enjoy together.
Pet-friendly gardens allow dogs, cats, and other pets to be themselves while their owners can enjoy healthy green lawns, colorful flowers, and thriving fruit and vegetable gardens.
It is best to demarcate the pet areas, and one way of doing this is to have a pet fence. The best pet fence system can help keep your pet safe and secure in the garden.
Make sure it is in good repair. Otherwise, your pet might be able to squeeze through any gaps or holes and go on an unwanted adventure. The fence also needs to be tall enough that your pet cannot jump over it.
When designing a pet-friendly garden, use an organic approach so that the garden is safer and healthier for both your family and your pet(s).
When adding plants, larger-sized trees and shrubs and perennials will be enjoyed by your pet.
Best Large Backyard Ideas For Outdoor Doghouse Designs With Grass Rooftop
Image: ©ilyaska via canva.com
If you love dogs and maybe even have one yourself you might have already considered adding a dog house to your backyard.
Because your dog is your best friend, you would like to ensure that you give it a sturdy dog house to live in.
This small shed usually built in the shape of a house is intended to provide dogs with a sense of security. But why not go one step further and add a dog house with a rooftop garden?
Adding a garden on the roof of your doghouse helps to insulate it, keeping your loved one cooler inside during hot and sunny afternoons.
The plants soak up rainwater, too, which can help to keep the inside of your doghouse dry.
The plants also reduce the runoff you might otherwise have when using asphalt-impregnated roofing paper (tar paper).
With its clean lines and green roof, the Garden-Roof Doghouse designed by the full-service architecture, interior design, and consultancy firm Studio Schicketanz in California, is guaranteed to catch the eye of every dog owner.
They have taken advantage of new technology which they have innovatively incorporated into the house so that the design of the dog house is unique and far from the ordinary houses we are used to.
The house features a smoothly sanded timber construction with a sloped canopy and along the side, is a planted ramp that leads to a grass roof equipped with a motion-activated watering system to keep your dog hydrated.
Below the walkway is a pull-out drawer to put away toys and treats.
Inside the house is a rubber floor that makes for a cozy spot for your dog to relax while a solar-powered fan keeps it cool.
For easy cleaning, the front door opens wide and the rubber floor inside has a drain.
Backyard Ideas For Separate Outdoor Seating Area With Cover Or Firepit
Image: ©Unknown Artist via canva.com
It’s great fun to add multiple seating areas to your backyard each with its specific purpose.
With a bit of ingenuity, even smaller yards can accommodate more than one seating area.
Each seating arrangement serves as a destination, inviting visitors to explore different parts of your garden while tempting them to stay for a while and relax.
You could have a seating area to serve meals, another one to enjoy a glass of wine, or a different more secluded one to read a good book or take a well-earned nap in the afternoon.
Backyard Ideas And Designs For Birthday Party, Wedding, Halloween, And Other Events
Image: ©Sisoje via canva.com
A unique garden and landscape are what you can expect when you decide to adopt a multi-use yard.
A multi-use yard is, as the name suggests, a backyard that can be used for a variety of different activities and purposes by all members of the family.
A multi-purpose backyard design specializes in the creation of interesting living spaces and elements including fire and water features.
These unusually beautiful gardens and landscape designs utilize native plants and trees so that they can blend in with the local landscape.
Regardless of your backyard’s size, there are many ways to turn a yard into a multi-use yard and I have designs for backyards of all sizes, even small ones.
You might want to consider separating different areas and designing them specifically for a unique purpose.
You could have a play area for the kids and an entertaining area for having friends over.
In a smaller yard, having enough storage space can help to turn the backyard into a fun-filled space for the children during the afternoon and into a hangout for grown-ups during the evening.
If your family is into sports, you can construct a multi-purpose home court that can be adapted for a multitude of sports and athletics including basketball, tennis, volleyball, and hockey.
Multi-purpose gardens are a great idea, too. You can have a small patio in one spot, a flower garden in a different spot, and a grass patch as well as a fish pond in another.
Charcoal gray stepping-stone steps in your flower garden will help bring out the brilliant colors of your flowers.
The secret to making your yard appear bigger is to avoid fences and boundaries. The wide open space gives the feel of limitlessness.
Let your family enjoy the outdoors in good weather to enjoy the “playing lawn”, “lounging terrace”, and “dining deck” at the same time, even if you have a tiny yard.
Multi Functional Backyard Ideas And Designs
Image: ©contrastaddict via canva.com
Did you know that the backyard is probably the most under-utilized part of most homes?
While a great yard can add tremendous value to your property many people don’t realize that a garden can be much more than just a place to read a good book (not that there’s anything wrong with reading a book – on the contrary).
Depending on your situation you might want to divide your backyard into different zones, each with its specific purpose.
- You could have an area for the children to have fun and a different zone for adults to relax.
- And how about a spot where you can spend time with the family or entertain guests?
- Maybe having a dedicated place to grow your herbs and veggies might interest you more?
In either case, don’t forget to invest in multipurpose furniture to make the most of your backyard.
Outdoor Backyard Ideas For Movie Night Theater Designs
Image: ©vgajic via canva.com
A backyard movie theater is the perfect setting to invite your best friends over for a fun-filled and exciting backyard movie night. And the good news is, it’s not that difficult to accomplish and set up.
Instead of thinking about dragging your indoor TV system outside, for a real movie night outdoors, you need a portable projector and screen.
The latest outdoor theater and television technology is often specifically developed to be used and stored outdoors. All that’s required are a projector with a video source and a flat surface that can act as a screen.
There are many home projectors and screens available these days at a variety of prices, making backyard movie theaters a truly possible option.
The best inflatable movie screen takes just a few minutes to set up and take down and is easy to store when you do not want a screen taking up space. It self-inflates and is easy to deflate.
They come in a range of sizes, from the 14 feet version to as big as 18 feet, allowing you to choose the size that best suits your backyard.
Some screens are permanently attached to the frame making it easier and faster to set up because you inflate everything together and do not have to worry about connecting the screen correctly.
The downside is that it is difficult to clean. Screens that detach are easier to clean. Many of them are machine washable.
It can also be more comfortable to fold everything up for storage when you are done.
The downside is that you are continually trying to figure out how to clip the unit together.
Finally, add some comfy seating, some snacks, and maybe even a sound system (of course without being a nuisance to any neighbors, right?).
And there you have it. You’re ready for your movie night.
Awesome!
Small Outdoor Backyard Ideas For Stage Designs
Image: ©Abby_Normal via canva.com
An ideal way of encouraging your family to nurture their creativity is to construct a backyard stage. Also, if you or your family love the theater why not build your very own backyard stage?
The backyard stage is where your budding musician can gain stage confidence, and the up-and-coming thespian can enjoy performing before a non-judgmental audience consisting of family and friends.
It can also help children overcome stage fright at a very young age and to deal with high-pressure situations such as exams, for example.
It encourages them to use and develop their imagination by dressing up and re-enacting their favorite bedtime stories and fairy tales.
- You start by prepping the intended stage area, remove any grass and treat it so no grass grows under your stage.
- Build the frame with some solid, pressure-treated hardwood, making it the size that your space will allow.
- Place the frame on secure footings such as concrete blocks or 4×4 inch posts set in concrete.
- After ensuring the frame is level, continue to build the deck and after you paint it, watch your floating stage start to come to life.
- For a professional look, you can accessorize your stage with fairy lights, a make-believe sound system, cheap microphones, and curtains.
The stage is now ready for the children to have fun on.
This innovation will add a special type of fun to your family time as you all take turns entertaining each other with songs, dance, skits, and even magic shows.
As you all become more confident, you can think of putting on a house concert for family and friends.
Modern Backyard Ideas With Outdoor Conversation Pit Design
Image: ©chandlerphoto via canva.com
You might be asking yourself “an outdoor conversation pit? Really?”. Haven’t we moved on since the 70s and 80s? But hear me out on this one.
Despite all technological advances over recent decades and the fact that we spend a tremendous amount of time texting each other on our phones, we still love to get together with friends, we still love to entertain and we still feel the need for direct human interaction.
So, it’s not surprising that having a space in your backyard that is purpose-built to allow you to do just that is seeing a renaissance.
Don’t think of it as an outdoor conversation pit, if you like, but rather a sunken lounge or patio with a fireplace in its center and comfortable seating all around.
With a modern design twist, it can be the perfect secluded refuge where you can go and truly relax.
Steel Or Concrete Indoor Outdoor Backyard Ideas For Fireplace With Pizza Oven Or Chimney Designs
Image: ©PolarLights via canva.com
You don’t need a very large backyard to install an amazing outdoor fireplace.
They serve as a great focal point and by adding some additional seating they are also ideal for get-togethers with family and friends. If you have limited space you can opt for a bistro set or just a bar cart.
You can roast your smores and share a story or two while having an ice-cold beer.
You can choose between in-ground and above-ground installations to fit your taste and requirements.
Outdoor fireplaces are the ideal solution for homeowners who want to add warmth and security to their outdoor space.
There are several ways of categorizing prefabricated outdoor fireplaces.
Backyard Ideas For Fireplaces Made From Scratch
Those that are made from scratch are constructed from CMU block or poured concrete clad in attractive veneer – enhancing its beauty.
Backyard Ideas For Fireplaces Made From A Kit
A fireplace created from a kit is simply a prefabricated unfinished unit that can easily be assembled on-site and veneered.
Both of these are built by contractors ensuring that they’re professionally constructed and both require a building permit.
Backyard Ideas For Fireplaces Made From A Portable Finished Unit
The portable finished unit is set onto an existing slab or patio where it is immediately usable.
Using lightweight building materials such as composite concrete, fiberglass, and super-thin stone veneer, these fully assembled units are delivered on a forklift right to your house.
There is no need for a contractor, but assistance in moving the fireplace to the final location may require strong laborers or special equipment.
This fireplace does not require a building permit because it is not built but simply placed.
The elimination of the building permit makes it a perfect fit for planned communities that may not approve outdoor fireplaces due to CC&R regulations.
Backyard Ideas And Landscaping Designs For Fire Pit With Seating
Image: ©altmodern via canva.com
Fire pits are just what you need to pull your deck, patio, and backyard decor together. They are kind of like the smaller version of a fireplace.
They are often portable but offer an equally relaxing atmosphere where you can hang out alone or with friends and neighbors. Sitting around a bonfire and exchanging stories with friends and family is a great way to relax outdoors.
For the best wood for your outdoor fire pit, you need to consider what you intend to use your fire pit for.
Various kinds of wood perform differently and are used to serve different purposes such as smoking food, cooking, repelling insects, or just providing some warmth during a cool evening.
- Seasoned or cured firewood is firewood that has been left out to dry for some time. It is easy to ignite and generates a lot of heat.
- Hardwoods are dense and are the best type of firewood to use if what you are looking for is highly intense heat with very little smoke. Hardwoods include red or white oak, ash, almond, beech, apple, birch, hickory, hard maple, and dogwood.
- Softwoods like spruce, fir, and yellow pine will generally ignite faster than hardwoods, produce medium heat, and are good for cooking or smoking food.
- For repelling away mosquitoes and insects pinyon pine is the best. It produces a sweet smell that naturally repels mosquitoes and insects.
Adding a fire pit to your backyard can increase the value of your property while keeping you warm and the mosquitos away. It’s a win-win situation (except for the mosquitos, of course).
You can find more inspiration in my exhaustive collection of 215 amazing and unexpected outdoor fire pit ideas.
Round Outdoor Brick Fire Pit Backyard Ideas
Image: ©moodboard via canva.com
After a full day get ready to settle down and unwind in your own private outdoor space.
There hasn’t been a time when creating a cozy environment to enjoy was this easy.
A circular brick fire pit is just one of the many designs that are available that will provide a casual place for friends and family to create some lasting memories.
With the small outdoor fireplace kits that are offered by all the major stores, you can put up a fire pit of your choice at a reasonable cost. With decorative touches as well as a practical application, you can enjoy the freedom of outdoor living for many hours.
There are 4 main types of fire pits which are defined by the fuel source they use.
There are traditional wood burners that allow you to enjoy the reassuring crackling of a real wood fire.
The propane gas burner is one of the popular choices. It is clean and convenient and creates a lovely, soft, and cozy flame.
With the natural gas burner, you won’t run out of fuel any time soon, while the gel fuel burner is versatile and flexible and can still create a nice sense of ambiance suitable for small spaces.
Outdoor Chimney Backyard Ideas With Grill Or Fire Pit And Clay Chimineas
Image: ©MarkPiovesan via canva.com
The need for efficient heating is important particularly if you have an outdoor living space used for entertaining.
There are different ways of warming up at night such as outdoor chimneys, chimineas, and fire pits.
A chiminea is a modern outdoor chimney that is known for its freestanding, front-loading characteristics. It has a pot belly base and a vertical smoke vent. A laser-cut design in the flue shows off the flames in the night.
Firewood is the most commonly used fuel although charcoal and ethanol can be used in some types of chimineas.
While clay and terracotta are the traditional materials used in making chimineas, they can also be made of copper, cast iron, steel, or cast aluminum.
They come in various designs giving you the opportunity of choosing one that will go well with your backyard theme. You can get one with a paint finish that withstands high temperatures, and a full 360-degree wire mesh fire spark view.
Some designs come with an ash catcher to make cleanup easier.
If you want to heat your outdoor space and get some grilling done, too, some chimineas have a built-in grill and a spark guard screen as well.
Grill and Barbecue Dining Area Backyard Ideas
Image: ©RossHelen via canva.com
A backyard barbecue is a feature that offers lots of fun for your family and friends. Having an outdoor BBQ with people you love can be a lot of fun and also help you de-stress.
A backyard grill and barbecue dining area is the perfect solution if you enjoy eating al fresco or spending more time with your loved ones while also being outdoors.
Grilling can have some health benefits that many people are not aware of. Grilled meat is often leaner because the excess fat melts and drips off the racks which can be great news if you wanted to lose some weight, right?
The first thing you need to consider when thinking about where to locate your backyard grill BBQ is picking the right place, a spot that is away from trees, fences, or anything flammable.
A backyard grill and barbecue dining area is extremely easy to build, cheap and there are many different designs for you to choose from.
Simple charcoal grill designs are a must-have for smaller spaces, ensuring that everyone can benefit from this amazing feature. They are classic in design and easy to use, and they give your food a wonderful taste.
A few concrete blocks and a large piece of metal mesh are all you need for yet another amazing barbecue grill design for your backyard.
If a smoker is more your style than a charcoal grill, then a terracotta pot smoker is what you need. Like the charcoal grill, it is easy to build and costs very little.
With a wood and granite design, you can build a table grill that is perfect for your deck or backyard. You end up with a functional grill, a modern granite tabletop for serving, and a cutting board all in one.
L Shaped And Other Outdoor BBQ Island Designs And Backyard Ideas
Image: ©HPW via canva.com
Your outdoor party is not complete without a barbecue, and that is where BBQ islands come in.
Instead of getting just any equipment, add some personality to your yard by designing a custom BBQ island yourself.
The main thing to remember is that the best BBQ island should combine style and functionality so that you can enjoy all the fun of outdoor cooking without taking away from the beauty of your home or landscape.
The two main things you need to consider when designing your BBQ island? You need to decide on the location as well as its size and shape.
You can choose to have the normal grill top, or you can go an extra step and design a grill with a grill stone.
One of the challenges with grilling is that all the flavorful juices end up falling through the grates.
The grill stone is placed over the grate and you place your meat on it. This ensures that your meat will retain all the rich flavor of the stone, allowing the food to absorb its own flavors and those around it.
To keep your grill stone clean is simple, just flip it over every time you use it.
Outdoor Grill Station Backyard Ideas And Designs With Roof
Image: ©RossHelen via canva.com
Whether you choose to go with the traditional deck or the custom barbecue unit, an outdoor grill station is a great thing to install if you love the outdoors.
There are many designs to choose but the L shaped grill island is the most common because of its convenience.
Regardless of whether you decide to go the DIY route or you go get an expert to install it for you, there are several issues to consider that will help you settle on the right type for you. These include
- your budget,
- your usable space and
- your intended use.
You also need to decide on the materials to use.
Blending your grilling station so it relates visually to the environment is an ingenious idea.
If you feel that using real stone or brick can be costly, maybe too much weight for your deck or patio, or that they require too much maintenance, you can opt to use synthetic materials.
The beauty of synthetic materials is that they perfectly recreate the look of the real thing but are lightweight, durable, and virtually maintenance-free. They are also weather and pest-proof, so outdoor exposure will not cause them any damage.
Backyard Ideas For Hardtop Wood DIY Outdoor Grill Gazebo With Lights Or Roof
Image: ©Eirasophie via canva.com
An outdoor grill gazebo is just what you need to protect your equipment from the rain and the elements. It also ensures that you can continue entertaining even on those days when the rain decides to grace your event.
They also keep the hot sun off your back as well.
An added advantage is that they add a great look to your backyard.
There are DIY grill gazebo designs that you can safely complete in just one weekend.
They vary in style from simple to more elaborate, and most have features to enhance the gazebo experience.
You can get a grill gazebo with a unique, modern shape, and a multi-tiered roof that looks architecturally interesting while providing the gazebo with a ventilated top.
There is a place for everything you are likely to need while grilling –
- hooks for your tools,
- shelving for serving, and
- a rack for your spices.
An overhanging roof and a pair of lights to illuminate the space in the evenings or on cloudy days is another way you can personalize your space.
For those on a budget, you can find a small gazebo that is just the right size and design for your space.
Backyard Ideas For Concrete Or Covered Small Indoor Outdoor Kitchen Designs On A Budget
Image: ©akurtz via canva.com
There is nothing quite like sharing a meal to bind people together and that is the main benefit of outdoor kitchens.
On those beautiful afternoons or nights, you can share a meal with your family while enjoying the delight of nature.
An outdoor kitchen can also be the perfect place to entertain your guests and friends. It provides a wonderful al fresco atmosphere and it also makes washing dirty dishes an absolute breeze with an outdoor sink.
With a backyard outdoor kitchen, you’re effectively increasing the amount of living space on your property. This can have a substantial and positive impact on the value of your home as well.
Cooking outside is not just great fun but also helps you save money on your air conditioner bill because you can turn them off while you’re cooking and eating outside.
Backyard Ideas For Outdoor Kitchen Designs
Creating a space that is perfect for cooking and entertaining is not hard to do, there are so many designs available, it all depends on the look you are going for.
You can choose to have a straight kitchen and island design, an L-shaped design, or even a curved, U-shaped, or corner outdoor kitchen design.
Barbecue Grill Backyard Ideas
And, of course, no kitchen is complete without a barbeque grill.
Today’s grills come with an impressive array of features. From high-end, expensive models that boast all of the modern gadgets to the more humble portable charcoal grill.
The best outdoor kitchen grills are those that come with convection ovens, convenient warming burners, cooking basket skewers, rotisserie attachments, under-drawer storage, and steam cleaner or grill sprayer accessories.
Whether you choose to go the natural gas or propane grill route, or the charcoal or electric way, make your backyard a place where your family and friends can spend fun, memorable moments.
Backyard Ideas For Portable Outdoor Serving Cart On Wheels With Cooler Or Storage
Image: ©GoodLifeStudio via canva.com
If you like to entertain in your backyard, portable serving carts might just be the solution you’ve been looking for.
They look adorable and are so easy to roll out during any festivity to present your drinks, snacks, and other party treats to your guests.
Serving carts work great as a small home bar that, being portable, can easily be moved back inside should the weather suddenly change.
Portable serving carts are a very versatile piece of home décor that can add a touch of sophistication to your yard.
Backyard Ideas For Cool Or Rustic Outdoor Bar
Image: ©hazan akoz isik via canva.com
If you like to entertain guests it might make sense to install a backyard bar on your property.
It’s a great idea if you like your guests to mingle after dinner, for example.
Often, a backyard bar can have a more casual nature than a formal dinner table, encouraging more relaxed conversations.
Done correctly, a backyard bar can even be an optical focal point and serve as a welcomed icebreaker at the start of the evening.
Outdoor Backyard Ideas For Pool Table With Dining Top
Image: ©Flander via canva.com
Your backyard can be whatever you want it to be, a place to relax as you admire your beautiful garden or a place for you and your family to enjoy a bit of sport.
You can have the best outdoor pool table in your backyard without having to dig too deep into your pocket.
Cost, durability, size, and quality are the common factors that differentiate top-quality pool tables from normal ones.
An outdoor pool table guarantees that your friends and family can expect to spend a lot of time out in the open having fun as they engage in some healthy exercise.
Pool tables come in many sizes and shapes making it possible for you to have one even if your yard is small. All that is required, as with everything else, is some proper planning.
There are special pool tables that are designed to be left outdoors all year round, meaning that they will not be adversely affected by the elements.
Everything about them is designed for outdoor use with the metal frame and ball receptacle treated with anti-rust, the carpet treated with anti-UV protection, and screws drilled to allow water to drain.
Backyard Ideas For Foldable Or Creative Outdoor Ping Pong Table Designs
Image: ©BananaStock via canva.com
With a ping pong table in your garden, you, your family, and your friends are set to enjoy many hours of fun.
There are many different types of outdoor ping pong tables, but they all have something in common. The support and legs are usually rust-proofed and the surface is water-proofed to last longer.
To determine the best outdoor table tennis table for you, you will need to consider several issues.
- The first is the size of the area you are working with as there are those suited to large areas and others to a small spaces.
- You should also look at the durability of the table. Look for one that is resistant to all types of damage from weather or intense play.
- Ease of assembly is also an important factor. You should be able to put up the table without any difficulty.
- The table ought to be sturdy and will not start to buckle after some time. A stainless steel table is a lot sturdier than a wooden one.
If your budget is a bit tight but you still want a great table tennis table, you might still be able to find some options that are of high quality but gentle on the wallet.
Backyard Ideas For Outdoor Giant Board Games For Kids Or Adults
Image: ©Glowonconcept via canva.com
Over-sized board games translate to immense fun, especially for those who are more visually oriented. They’re just so much fun to look at and to play. They awaken the child within and are a great way to get a party started or to melt the ice.
With giant yard games, you can turn your backyard into your neighborhood’s amusement park in no time.
You can buy giant versions of popular board games such as
- giant checkers
- giant tic tac toe
- giant Jenga
- giant jacks
- giant Connect4
- giant chess
- giant mikado
- and many more!
Of course, you can also DIY your very own oversized backyard games.
The fun of life-size games is that you can be creative when making the game.
Tic Tac Toe is one such example. You can use a smooth stone to make the pieces and have them resemble ladybugs and beetles instead of the usual X and O.
Giant games allow for physical activity when moving the pieces around meaning that the players also get to exercise, even if it is just on a small scale. Games like giant scrabble, chess, and dominoes fall into this category.
When designing the lawn chess board, you can make the checkered board using different colored stone slabs, or even stone slabs and square grass patches.
The life-size chess board can also be used to play draughts as well.
But probably the most exciting giant yard game is snakes and ladders. The players are the moving pieces and it is fun to watch them as they climb ladders or are swallowed by the snakes. The oversized dice can be painted in bright colors to add to the fun.
All giant board games are guaranteed to provide endless hours of fun for all.
Backyard Ideas For Bocce Court Designs With Size And Material
Image: ©nycshooter via canva.com
Bocce, also known as Italian lawn bowling, is one of the oldest lawn or yard games.
The best bocce ball set is designed for all skill levels, from beginner to expert.
It comes complete with the classic four dark red and four dark green 107 mm balls, each of which is attractive and crafted from a thermo-set composition resin material for durability.
It also has a lighter white jack or target, and a measuring tape for more accuracy.
Backyard Ideas To Build Your Own Bocce Court
Constructing your own bocce court is not hard to do.
Because there is no official regulated size of bocce ball courts, you can construct one in almost any area.
The ideal size for a court, however, is 12 feet wide and at least 60 feet long.
It should be designed for fast play, the surface should minimize bounce, and the court should be easy to maintain.
A processed oyster shell court surface is durable, weather resistant, and best for regulation games. Otherwise, a layer of ordinary sand or artificial turf provides a suitable playing surface.
Remember that no matter how aesthetically pleasing a bocce court is, nor how expensive the drainage system was if it has an inferior surface it is not practical.
Small Backyard Ideas For DIY In-ground Trampoline And Landscaping Designs
Image: ©golero via canva.com
If you and your family love to be active you’d love having an in-ground trampoline in your backyard.
They’re safer than regular trampolines since they are not located above the ground and therefore don’t require a ladder to climb onto them.
However, a safety enclosure is still required to prevent potential injuries.
Because in-ground trampolines take up less vertical space than their above-ground counterparts they generally blend in more easily with the rest of your landscaping producing a more aesthetically pleasing overall backyard design.
You can build your own diy in-ground trampoline or search for “in-ground trampoline installers near me” if you also want to take care of issues such as in-ground trampoline drainage, for example.
Backyard Ideas For Miniature Golf Course Designs And Kits
Image: ©ewg3D via canva.com
If you have kids that are too young for the golf course you can introduce them to the game by building a miniature golf course in your backyard.
With a portable miniature golf course, you are in a good place to practice your own game as well during any opportunity that you get.
You can also opt to build yourself a miniature golf course in your backyard. It does not need to cost you a pretty penny, the materials are all easy to get.
What you need is some 2 by 4’s you may have lying around, probably left over from another project. You can also use cinder blocks if you have them, or get some cutoff lumber from any construction site.
So as not to damage your backyard space, you can use bricks to mark the course and duct tape to mark the hole. Different holes you can incorporate include the maze, tunnel in the sky, jump ball, and volcano.
If your budget allows, you can build your miniature golf course using lumber, baluster supports, some green felt for the surface, and a flexible ramp.
You can add tunnels and water hazards to your course, or just use your imagination to create different ways to enjoy hours of entertainment with your golf game.
Backyard Ideas For Golf Course Design
Image: ©Dmytro Aksonov via canva.com
Transforming your backyard into your private golf course is a fun and fulfilling project to undertake. With the many experts who are willing to help, you can have the course constructed in no time, and soon find yourself teeing off on your backyard golf course.
By following 7 simple steps which begin with you deciding on the space and location of your course, to maintaining it, you can have a perfectly functional and enviable backyard golf course.
If your space is limited, you can still practice your game by undertaking a smaller golf course construction.
You can use your space to create a unique and challenging course that meets your individual needs.
Incorporated into the design and construction of your smaller golf course are all the issues that are essential to making the project a success.
These include
- space restrictions
- budgetary limitations
- the experiences you want to enjoy while playing on your course.
With the inclusion of innovative features, you can make the smaller golf course enjoyable for the entire family.
Your golf course is so well designed, you will feel like you are playing on a real golf course that has been shrunk down to size.
Small Backyard Ideas For Putting Green Design And Installation
Image: ©Unknown Artist via canva.com
If you want to improve your golf game from the comfort of your home, the best way to do this is to work on your short game, and what better way to do this than installing your very own backyard putting green?
This will allow you to practice your game in the comfort and privacy of your backyard, turning your golfing dream into a reality.
Backyard putting greens are becoming increasingly popular and there are 3 ways in which you can get yours.
Choose between
- DIY putting greens
- stand-alone options available for purchase, or
- go for professionally installed greens.
Choose artificial turf to make the installation process simple and easy. Artificial putting green installation can be done in a very short time.
- The beautiful lifelike appearance of the turf ensures that your backyard looks green all year round.
- The turf is easy to maintain, and if installed properly, it will be seamless.
- The turf can be raked with either a leaf or carpet rake, blown, vacuumed with a beater bar, or hosed off or gently pressure washed.
After all, is done, you will have a beautiful putting green, complete with the number of holes you desire.
Small Backyard Ideas For Tennis Court Design, Dimensions, And Cost
Image: ©tylim via canva.com
Having a backyard tennis court is a great way to improve your game, get more exercise, and have fun with friends.
Enjoy the convenience of a backyard court as it is available for your use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Installing a tennis court is a relatively easy process that can be completed without causing much inconvenience to your family.
There are many options when it comes to designing your tennis court.
Most courts have 2 colors, but you can have 3 colors, a color for the tennis court, another for the border, and a third color for an outside perimeter border.
Even as you experiment with colors, it is helpful to remember that the darker the surface color the better the ball visibility. Dark court surfaces also reduce sun glare, too.
There are a variety of materials you can use for the surface. The four most common ones are
- clay courts
- grass courts
- hard courts
- carpet courts.
You can personalize your court by building
- a fence around it
- windscreens
- shade structures
- a score-keeping unit
- hitting walls for practice
- lighting if you want to play at night.
Accessorize with bushes, shrubs, trees, and other features.
Backyard Ideas For Badminton Court Design With Size And Dimensions In Feet
Image: ©Studio Indonesia via canva.com
If the spot you have chosen for your badminton court has a
- grass
- rubble
- sand
dirt
-
- surface, you will have solved one of your problems already.
Although a lot of people who play badminton for fun are not too particular about the court dimensions, for those who wish to play a professional game, a standard badminton court measures roughly 8 feet or 2.4 m up, and 12 feet or 3.7 m across.
A badminton court is designed for singles and doubles play and is sectioned in a fashion that is similar to a lawn tennis court, but the measurements are different.
Cutting right across the center of the court is the net. The net poles should be at a height of 5 feet 1 inch or 1.55 m at the poles, but it should be at a height of 5 feet or 1.524 meters at the net center.
The mesh size of the net should at least be 15 mm or 20 mm at the most. The width of the net must be at least 6.1 meters.
It is important to remember that the net is likely to start sagging over time. To counter this, reset it regularly.
Small Backyard Ideas For Basketball Court Design With Or Without Concrete
Image: ©Oleg Baliuk via canva.com
Installing a basketball court in your backyard is a great way of ensuring that your family gets a lot of outdoor exercise.
Dribbling a basketball and shooting hoops is entertaining and your backyard basketball court offers your family many hours of fun.
Your basketball court design greatly depends on the space available, your budget, and your desire.
If you are on a tight budget, you will be happy to know that there are basketball court designs that provide you with a great court without digging into your pocket.
If you do not have a backyard big enough to fit an entire court, there is nothing to worry about. You can always build a half-court that is either 47 by 50 feet or 42 by 50 feet.
You can either choose to use a pre-made court floor made of rubber sports tiles or a plastic polymer mix either over a concrete slab or without a slab.
To find the best product for the floor of your court, consider how much use your court will get and the amount of foot traffic.
The result will be a safe place for your family to laugh, play, and build a lifetime of memories.
Small Backyard Ideas For Soccer Field Design
Image: ©Kraivuttinun via canva.com
If you love playing soccer but are getting tired of all the driving to and from the soccer field for your practice sessions, there is a completely logical solution: your own backyard soccer field.
This gives you the freedom to practice your free kicks and penalties any time you choose, so you can get to up your game. You can also get to enjoy making the practice time a family bonding period.
Since most of us cannot set up a full-size goal post in our garden, I have looked at some of the best pop-up soccer goals in the market that you can choose and buy (More on this coming soon).
The goals are lightweight and can be put up and pulled down in seconds.
The pop up soccer goals come with a bag to keep them in so you can carry them easily to wherever you want to pitch them up.
They come in several size options so whether you have a small or large backyard, you will get an ideal pop up soccer goal, and you will not have to leave it set up all the time.
Get to take your soccer shooting skills to the next level, and all in the privacy of your backyard soccer field.
Best Backyard Ideas For Lacrosse Field With Rebounder, Goals, And Net
Image: ©vernonwiley via canva.com
The object of lacrosse is to score the most points. This means it is a fast game, and you can expect that players need to be up to speed.
The best way for a player to up their game is through practice, and that is where the Lacrosse rebounder comes in.
The Lacrosse rebounder is a powerful training tool, challenging players to improve
-
-
- coordination
- speed
- precision.
-
The rebounder also helps improve your
-
-
- passing
- catching
- shooting skills.
-
When looking for the best Lacrosse rebounder, there are certain things you need to consider.
- It should be pre-strung so you do not have to fiddle around trying to thread the entire netting on hooks and frames from the beginning.
- It needs to be easy to move so it needs to be portable and fairly lightweight so you can easily carry it from your storage area to your backyard for a game.
- It should be easily disassembled and reassembled and made of metal to make it much more durable.
- Finally, it should be able to withstand small heavy balls, thrown at high velocities.
With your backyard Lacrosse court, you will be able to experiment and grow as a player.
Backyard Ideas For Field Hockey Pitch Court Design And Dimensions
Image: ©RapidEye via canva.com
Field hockey is a popular sport that has two teams playing against each other by trying to maneuver a ball into the opponent’s goal using a hockey stick.
If your family loves hockey, you can make the sport more available to them by building a backyard field hockey court.
Field hockey is played on
-
-
- gravel
- natural grass
- watered turf
- artificial turf
- synthetic field
- indoor boarded surface.
-
The court usually has a rectangular shape with 2 sidelines (the longer edges) and 2 backlines (the shorter edges).
The sidelines measure 100 yds (91.4 meters) and the backlines have a length of 60 yds (55 meters).
If your backyard cannot accommodate a backyard hockey field of that size you can always shrink it while keeping the ratio between sidelines and backlines the same.
If you build your pitch on grass you might want to pay special attention to the drainage system. Otherwise, you might wake up one morning after heavy rain and ask yourself why is there so much water on the field hockey court.
Backyard Ideas For Roller Hockey Rink Design
Image: ©fotojuwelier via canva.com
So, you and your family and friends have decided to up your hockey game – you are now playing roller hockey.
You will agree that this requires quite a bit of practice to perfect your game, and there is no other more convenient training ground than a backyard roller hockey rink.
Building your roller hockey rink does not need to be expensive. To save on costs, you can go for used hockey boards for sale.
Wood floors are said to be better than concrete floors as wood is a little softer so it does not hurt as much when you fall. Additionally, you can get more traction on wood floors, making them smoother.
The best type of wood flooring for roller skating is maple hardwood.
Maple wood floors have much more grip, are smoother, and are more durable. They also hold up better in humidity and have been said to last up to 50 years. Some devoted roller skaters have also said the wood floors have more “give” so it is easier on their ankles, knees, and back.
The polyurethane coating makes it easy to clean and even though the maintenance is higher than a concrete floor, it is well worth it.
Backyard Ideas For Outdoor Ice Hockey Rink Design And Dimensions
Image: ©timmy via canva.com
If you have a passion for ice hockey, you will be glad to know that you can enjoy unlimited playing time by constructing your very own backyard ice hockey rink. The thought of it may seem daunting at first but some experts can guide you through the process so that you complete the task in a single day.
Several professional companies can provide you with backyard ice skating rink kits so you do not need to start from scratch. The design and cost vary, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your backyard and your budget.
The size and slope of your backyard, along with the number of people who will be skating, are important factors in determining the dimensions of your rink.
Some rinks are designed so the water self-levels as it freezes.
With the easy-to-create and assemble ice rink packages, you can transform your backyard into a skater’s paradise and start making your memories.
Liners can be made to order and custom-cut to your exact specifications.
High-strength, tear-resistant, and cold-crack tested, the double-sided ultra-white liners reflect the sun’s UV rays away from your ice so that it stays as cold as possible.
Ice hockey is yet another variant of the hockey game. Contrary to its name you can comfortably play ice hockey even without an ice rink, all you need is a hockey court made of boards.
Whether you are looking to construct a rink from scratch or you wish to transform your existing sports court into a hockey rink during winter, you can get a quick and easy guide on how to make hockey boards.
It is possible to design your own backyard hockey court and customize it in terms of dimensions, colors, and accessories.
You can choose from plywood, 2×12 lumber, or backyard rink-specific boards like the thermoplastic pieces.
Bracing your rink is paramount as water doesn’t like being confined so it will try to escape from your rink.
DIY Backyard Ideas For Ice Skating Rink Design And Kits
Image: ©halfpoint via canva.com
Winter is coming eventually and you would like to make the most of those few months, right?
One way of doing this is to ensure that you and your family can still enjoy some outdoor activities during that time by building a temporary ice skating rink.
A backyard ice skating rink is fairly easy to build with ordinary materials and you can easily manage the costs.
All you need is
-
-
- a flat piece of land
- a snow shovel
- garden rake
- a large plastic tarp
- wooden boards or PVC pipe for the border
- and your water supply.
-
A PVC ice rink is preferred because it
-
-
- is easy to put up
- PVC will not rot
- is cost-effective
- and takes a lot less water meaning it takes less time to freeze.
-
If you are not up to buying individual components to build your ice rink, you can still get to enjoy the benefits of one, by getting an ice rink set built by experts.
These ice rink kits come in different sizes and are easy to put up. You can choose between
-
-
- vinyl
- plastic
- wood
-
side walls, as well as a tarp liner.
They range from the basic skating rink to the more sophisticated skating rink kits.
Backyard Ideas For Obstacle Course Design And Kits For Adults Or Kids
Image: ©Sergey Novikov via canva.com
A backyard obstacle course is a great way to keep your family actively occupied outdoors.
There is the option of building the course with different levels of difficulty and activities depending on how old your children are. That means you can have a course for children aged 3 up to adults.
It is important to choose the right material for your obstacle race course.
You want a course that is not only creative and will push the limits of your participants, but a structure that is cost-effective and able to keep up with the amount of abuse put on it.
Three main types of material can be used to build your backyard obstacle course, especially for teenagers and adults.
These are
-
-
- Kee Klamp pipes and fittings
- welded pipes
- and wood.
-
For preschoolers, you can make a course from
-
-
- rope
- cardboard boxes
- wood
- tires
- anything you can lay your hands on.
-
Grade schoolers will enjoy
-
-
- hula hoops
- balancing on a beam
- monkey bars
- water
- and more.
-
In short, only your imagination and creativity are the limit.
In addition to enhancing motor, balancing, and other skills, obstacle courses also present excellent opportunities to develop language skills.
Backyard Ideas For Ninja Warrior Obstacle Parkour Course Design
Image: ©tunart via canva.com
The level of fun that children get from a backyard Ninja Warrior training course will far outweigh most of their other activities.
This is mainly because the Ninja Warrior training for kids comprises a variety of activities, just what children need, given their short attention span. This is an exciting yet inexpensive way of entertaining children during
-
-
- a birthday party
- a family fun day
- or on a normal summer afternoon.
-
You can make the course from any materials that you have available. To get started, you can provide a simple course made of
-
-
- PVC pipe hurdles that can also be used to crawl under
- wooden stepping stones
- sloped pallet stepping stones
- balance beams
- and a few tree stumps.
-
If you do not want a permanent course in your backyard, you can design an obstacle course set that older children can set up however they want. The whole course can then be broken down and stored on the porch when the children are finished playing with it.
The idea of the Ninja Warrior obstacle course is for the children to enjoy themselves and develop the various skills required.
Constructing the course provides a great bonding time for the whole family, too.
DIY Backyard Ideas For Obstacles Parkour Course Design
Image: ©HIROSHI KUWAMURA via canva.com
When you hear the word “parkour” your mind might instantly conjure up a series of stunning though dangerous-looking stunts.
One thing is clear, for you to become even reasonably good in parkour, you need constant practice, and hence the need for a homemade parkour course.
Parkour training uses movement developed from military obstacle course training. The aim is for the participant to get from one point to another in a complex environment in the fastest and most efficient way possible without the assistance of equipment.
During the world wars, parkour was used as an escape technique but today, it has become a perfect sport for both children and adults who are adventurous and want to experience the thrills.
You can build your own backyard exercise parkour course.
Your typical structure will include various components including vault boxes, dumbbells, plyometric boxes, pull-up bars, and practice railings.
To make your course fun, include ladders that you have to climb up and different types of jumps, small ones and large ones into the water.
You need a good balance between fun and challenging, and between too difficult and boringly easy.
A definite finish line is great for boosting your confidence when you complete the course.
Best DIY Backyard Ideas For Crossfit Gym
Image: ©Armand Burger via canva.com
Training in a gym is fun, but can you imagine how much better it feels when you train in your own backyard Crossfit parkour?
Parkour is an art of movement in which you train the body and mind to overcome everyday obstacles with speed and efficiency.
Unfortunately, most people assume constructing a backyard training gym is an expensive affair. That is not true.
You can use materials that are not costly, and for the equipment, you can use easily available things, like a tractor tire being pushed up the stairs, a tree for pull-ups and dips, and when it comes to the Crossfit jump rope, you have several options depending on your skill level.
They range from ultra-lightweight, plastic polymer handles with dimpled grip for the beginner, to the lightning-fast rope with 1 ounce of aluminum, knurl grip and dual ball bearings, and a built-in toolless resizing system for the expert.
Building a backyard Crossfit parkour will not only increase your enjoyment and help you achieve your fitness and training goals, but it will also help you spend more time with your family, especially if they join you at the gym.
Backyard Ideas For Spartan Warrior Training Course Design
Image: ©doble-d via canva.com
Spartan Race is a series of obstacle races of varying distance and difficulty ranging from 3 miles to marathon distances. Some of the obstacles include
-
-
- cargo nets
- hurdles
- wall hops
- monkey bars
- log carries
- and army crawls underneath a mesh of rope.
-
Whether you are a first-time racer or a professional athlete, there is always a need for constant training and that is why having your own backyard Spartan race course is such a great idea.
You will find the combination of cardio-fitness and upper-body training very satisfying.
If you find you have trouble with the sandbag carry, you can make your own Spartan race sandbag. It is easy to make and a lot cheaper than buying professional sandbags. Materials you require include
-
-
- poly-woven sandbags
- HDX outdoor garbage bags
- zip ties
- gorilla duct tape
- enough sand depending on how heavy you want to make the bag
- and a bathroom scale.
-
Different weighted bags add to the difficulty and offer better training.
Granted, the sandbag does not look as classy as barbells, or kettlebells, but it is a more superior training equipment.
The sandbag is hard to hold on to and sometimes lopsided, offering a specific form of training called dynamic variable resistance.
Backyard Ideas For BMX Bike Display Obstacle Course Design
Image: ©Unknown Artist via canva.com
One of the most important sections of the BMX bike display obstacles is the ramp.
It is possible to build cheap BMX ramps in your backyard space if it is large enough. Building your own ramp will also be a lot cheaper than buying the BMX ramp kits which are offered in the stores.
The ramp will help you concentrate on your grinding, flips, and launching airs. The materials you require include
-
-
- a box of 15/8 inch screws
- 1 piece of ½ inch plywood, sometimes called a 9/16 inch
- four 2×4 feet lumber three of which are 10 feet in length, and the other is an 8-footer.
-
This will make you a ramp that is
-
-
- 14 inches high
- 32 inches wide
- and 30 inches in length.
-
You will also have a ½ inch overhang on either side of the ramp surface.
Next, you need a curve.
Making the curve can be done with a piece of PVC pipe or using a string like a compass, and the leftover plywood, ensuring that it meets nicely with the ground.
Make sure the bend is gentle, as the ramp is small.
Finally, sit the ramp on a level surface for the best results.
DIY Backyard Ideas For Outdoor Baseball Batting Cage
Image: ©kali9 via canva.com
As the name suggests, a batting cage for your backyard is an enclosed area for backyard baseball or softball players to practice and enhance their batting skills.
It is the best investment you can make if you are an avid backyard baseball or softball player.
If you do not desire a permanent fixture in your yard, you can connect with a supplier that offers portable batting cage rental services.
Batting cage rental services are best when you just need a short practice period, probably before a game, or you are not a regular player.
A point about the portable designs is that they do not involve any digging or cementing. The cages are built to last and are easy to set up and take down.
Look for a batting cage rental service with years of experience working with
-
-
- professional teams
- universities
- high schools
- youth leagues
- or residential customers
-
so you can trust that they know what they’re doing and that they have what you require.
Whether you opt for the permanent backyard batting cage or the rental one, you can be sure anyone in the vicinity will be protected from any accidents as the balls are absorbed by the heavy-duty weather-treated netting.
DIY Backyard Ideas For Salmon Ladder Design
Image: ©SparkedEd
A Ninja competition without a salmon ladder is just not complete, isn’t it?
Simply put, a salmon ladder consists of a set of 12-foot beams set apart from each other, with rungs a foot apart that have just enough space for you to move in and out through them.
This piece of equipment is designed to activate almost every single one of the muscles in your core and arms. To be able to surmount the salmon ladder, you require a tremendous amount of upper-body strength.
The training favors technique and finesse over other ways of using your physical strength.
Most of us cannot just jump up on a salmon ladder without some training beforehand.
With a proper set of salmon ladder blueprints that are offered free of charge by various experts in the fitness field, you will be able to construct your own backyard salmon ladder. This allows you to practice anytime you wish without interruption or having to fit into any constricted time frame.
The detailed blueprints come with a materials list and a lot of tips that will help you save time when constructing your training prop.
Choose from the different designs available, mostly made of galvanized steel pipes and wood.
Best Backyard Ideas For Dip And Pull Up Station
Image: ©eclipse_images via canva.com
If you wish, you can build your outdoor gym in stages, starting with the outdoor pull up station.
With a DIY freestanding pull-up station, you will provide your family and yourself with opportunities for enjoyable physical exercise in an outdoor gym setting, making for a great family destination.
With the most basic equipment, you can build a fixed position, pull-up bar that can easily outlive your grandchildren.
The first thing you need to ensure is that you have enough space to perform all the various exercises that you need to perform on the pull-up bar.
These exercises include pull-ups, dips, muscle-ups, leg raises, and various freestyle street workout movements.
All you need is two 5 by 5-inch posts, 10 to 11 feet high depending on your height. There are two options for the bar, a 33 mm thick steel tube either with welded brackets or with 2 mounting cups, both made to measure. Other materials are
-
-
- concrete
- fence paint to protect the wooden posts
- and red oxide paint to prevent the bar from rusting.
-
Your next DIY project can be a set of parallel bars which together with the pull-up bars create the ultimate bodyweight strength training setup.
Backyard Ideas For Outdoor DIY Horizontal Gymnastics Bar For Home And Kids
Image: ©Savushkin via canva.com
The best gymnasts make it a point to practice every day, and there is no better way to do this than with your very own backyard gymnastics bar.
Professionally made gymnastics bars can cost from hundreds to thousands of dollars from gymnastics equipment companies.
Building a homemade gymnastics bar by yourself may greatly reduce the cost.
Gymnastics bars used in gyms are made of galvanized steel, but you can construct a practice bar out of wood materials for use in your home.
It is recommended that you use construction lumber as it is sturdy and strong. You can also make your bar by using 1″ aluminum pipe and Kee Lite or Kee Clamp pipe fittings.
One of the biggest advantages of the aluminum pipe gymnastics bar is that the entire structure can be dissembled and reassembled. This makes the bar easier to transport.
You can also make the height of the top bar adjustable.
Always use at least a 4″ mat under the bar to protect the gymnast and help prevent serious injury.
The gymnastics bar is great for practicing so you can build your skill. By enhancing your confidence, your gymnastics class can move smoothly.
Small Backyard Ideas For Luxury Resort Style Designs With Pool
Image: ©TimAbramowitz via canva.com
There are many things you can do to turn your regular backyard into a zen-like oasis of tranquility and calm.
The first issue to tackle is privacy which can be achieved with a privacy fence, some hedges, or trees, for example.
Then add some very comfortable outdoor seating areas so you can enjoy your time outside. You might consider adding backyard daybeds or even hammock lounging and maybe a porch swing.
If you have a pool, a poolside lounge area, and poolside chaise lounges might be a great idea, too.
Then, invite nature and the elements into your backyard garden.
Maybe add some oversized potted plants, some relaxing water features, and a stunning outdoor fireplace.
Finally, finish everything off by adding outdoor mood lighting including illuminated planters for a relaxing ambiance after sunset.
Enjoy!
Ultra Modern Backyard Ideas For Mid-Century Rectangular Pools Design With Slides Or Spa
Image: ©sl-f via canva.com
Affordable pools don’t have to be just a dream.
Adding a modern pool to your backyard garden is a fantastic way to increase the value of your home while also making your yard more family-friendly and awesome.
Modern pools usually feature clean lines, streamlined shapes, and angular edges.
While a modern pool is first and foremost a lifestyle choice it also comes with additional maintenance work and costs that you should consider as well.
Having said that, a backyard pool can increase the resale value of your home as many buyers would expect or at least prefer a property with a pool.
In the earlier days, swimming pools were built from plywood or fiberglass that held poured concrete or they were constructed with a shell of reinforced concrete blocks.
All of this was very expensive and accessible mostly to the wealthy.
Nowadays, this seemingly huge venture of building a modern pool has become a lot more manageable.
Today, swimming pools are made from gunite, a mixture of concrete and sand which is a lot cheaper, and there’s a wide variety of interesting designs for you to choose from which will all enhance the beauty of your space.
Architectural Pools Backyard Ideas
Designs for swimming pools come in two main categories.
The architectural pools which pick their cue from the architectural style of the house will infuse your home with exceptional style, and improve overall aesthetics while providing you with a functional swimming pool.
Naturalistic Pools Backyard Ideas
The next category, the naturalistic pools are inspired by nature and its surroundings.
This type of pool can be used to make a landscape statement because it can express the owner’s personality or interests.
Designed to blend in with the landscape, it is perfect if you desire a pool that is unique in design and features.
Backyard Ideas For Above Ground Swimming Pool Landscaping With Lights And Ladders
Image: ©ZarFilms via canva.com
There are many ways in which you can enhance the beauty of your yard, one of which is to put up an above-ground swimming pool.
Several companies offer above-ground swimming pool sales and installation services and they are ready to assist you with every detail of your project. They offer a complete pool kit or you can create your own custom pool package.
Most pool packages include the pool wall and frame as well as a heavy-duty pool liner.
You also receive
-
-
- a complete and properly sized pool water filtration system for the swimming pool
- a folding locking safety ladder
- 8-piece pool maintenance kit
- and a startup chemical kit.
-
Above-ground pools are usually the most cost-effective option for a swimming pool.
Hard-Sided Swimming Pool Backyard Ideas
They are built using different materials such as the “hard-sided” swimming pools which have walls made of solid material such as aluminum, steel, or resin, and are the most durable type.
They typically come in round and oval shapes, often with classy decorative exteriors.
Soft-Sided Swimming Pool Backyard Ideas
Soft-sided pools consisting of a vinyl liner supported by a sturdy metal frame, or the inflated version are both cheaper than the hard-sided type, even though they are not as durable.
Small Backyard Ideas For In Ground Swimming Pool Design With Steps
Image: ©mattjeacock via canva.com
Swimming pool construction is a highly rewarding project that will be embraced by the whole family.
You can opt to hire a pool construction company, or you can choose to do it yourself with assistance from some professional in-ground pool builders who will help you design your pool with quality work and materials.
There are 3 different types of materials that you can choose from when constructing your in-ground swimming pool.
Fiberglass Pool Backyard Ideas
You can get a fiberglass pool with standard features for a reasonable price.
It is easy to install, requires minimal maintenance and it lasts longer than most pools.
However, the pool shapes are limited.
Gunite Pool Backyard Ideas
A shotcrete or gunite pool is highly durable and can be created in any shape.
Gunite is a mixture of cement and sand and can typically be poured into any shape and because of that, gunite pools are the most popular in-ground form.
Vinyl Liner Pool Backyard Ideas
Finally, the vinyl liner pools offer excellent value for money, fast installation, and are highly durable.
A vinyl pool costs the least initially.
It requires less labor and can be installed in 3 weeks.
You can choose from several pre-designed pool shapes, as well as a variety of liner colors and patterns.
Best Backyard Ideas For Large Inflatable Swimming Pool For Adults And Kids With Slide
Image: ©redmar via canva.com
When the weather heats up, cooling off in a pool is sometimes the only thing that brings any relief. But adding an in-ground pool or even a permanent above-ground pool to your yard can be a costly and time-consuming project. That is why an inflatable swimming pool is the best option if you want instant gratification.
On those hot summer days, you and your children can enjoy splashing around in your pool in a matter of minutes.
The best inflatable swimming pool is made entirely of vinyl or other soft material. That makes the unfilled pool extremely lightweight, so you can easily take it down and move it or store it for the winter.
A high-quality inflatable pool is very durable, and it will stay in place when your family is playing in the water.
The pool is inexpensive, costing just a few hundred dollars, easy to set up, can be easily moved and the cleaning and maintenance process is simple.
The pools are round, oval, and rectangular and come in a variety of colors.
You can get an inflatable pool that is supplied with a few accessories to make swimming fun. These include built-in slides, water sprayers, and even a volleyball net.
Backyard Ideas For Inground Or Above Ground Outdoor Swim Spa Or Pool Design
Image: ©stevecoleimages via canva.com
Add a swim spa or pool in your backyard and see how it will attract your family members, just like bees to honey.
Whether your swim spa is for relaxing and soothing the mind and body, or for therapy purposes, you are guaranteed of reaping maximum benefits because the warm water is just what your body needs to help it wash away your stress.
A swim spa allows you to swim continuously against a water current. You won’t hit the wall or have to turn around to continue to swim laps like in a regular pool or a lap pool.
Swim spas provide the best swimming exercise workout, using the least amount of space in your home or yard. If you get the split model, you have a hot tub spa on one end of it and a swimming area on the other end.
Swim spas come in a few different categories and sizes.
Most swim spas are molded out of acrylic or are constructed with fiberglass composite and are typically between 12 to 24 feet in length.
If you already have a swimming pool, you can easily transform it into a swim spa by installing a swim spa jet.
Simple Rustic Backyard Ideas For Outdoor Shower Designs
Image: ©Bridgendboy via canva.com
From rustic to modern, lush to minimalist, you can get an outdoor shower of your choice. The style and accessorizing are entirely up to you, giving your shower that personalized touch.
If the water pressure for your outdoor shower is low, you will need an outdoor shower pump to help boost your flow rate.
There is nothing more refreshing than rinsing off in an outdoor shower.
Outdoor showers are an often overlooked luxury as most people assume it is a costly feature to construct.
This is a very easy project that is fun to do and has many benefits for you and your family.
Many of the materials used for this can be found at your nearest store so this project is very low cost.
The best option is a solar-heated outdoor shower.
Enjoy an outdoor shower to cool off during those hot summer afternoons, or as a great way to keep your pool clean by rinsing away any dirt, grass blades, or other types of small debris before getting into the pool.
And when you get out of the water, the outdoor shower is excellent for washing chlorine and other pool chemicals off your skin, swimsuit, and hair.
Small Backyard Ideas For Hot Tub Designs For Privacy And Landscaping On A Budget
Image: ©chandlerphoto via canva.com
Are you in need of help to relieve physical, emotional, and mental stress that’s the result of a long and hectic day?
Then, spending some time in your backyard hot tub might be just what the doctor ordered.
The warm water combined with some massaging action can have a very soothing effect and do wonders by releasing the tension in your shoulders and back muscles.
The delivery van takes hot tubs direct to the installation point, therefore before you order yours you need to have decided on a suitable location, and mapped out how the delivery guys will get to it.
Choosing the right place for your hot tub can be tricky, but you will find that dealers are willing to come to your home for a delivery consult and because they are experienced in spotting ideal sites for hot tubs, you can ask for their suggestions when in doubt.
Proximity to the house is important because you do not want to have to trudge in the cold during those cold days.
You need to identify an electrical source point close to where you intend to place the tub as winding the electricity cord long distances costs money.
Having a water source nearby ensures that you can drain and fill the tub with ease every six months.
Tubs are heavy so it is advisable to have strong, sturdy support.
You are getting a tub because you want to enjoy relaxing in it and to be able to do this well, you need some privacy, a place where you feel completely comfortable.
Relax and Enjoy!
Modern Custom Backyard Ideas For In Ground Hot Tub Designs With Waterfall
Image: ©itsskin via canva.com
We’ve already mentioned some of the benefits of hot tubs earlier in this post.
But the question is, do you want to keep your hot tub above or in the ground?
An obvious advantage is that in-ground hot tubs are less visible and less intrusive thereby keeping the main focus on other aspects of your beautiful backyard.
However, the name “in-ground” might be slightly misleading and I prefer to call them “recessed” hot tubs.
The main reason is that you can recess your hot tub either fully or partially into the ground but also your deck, for example.
Best Outdoor Backyard Ideas For Portable Hot Tubs Designs With Heaters
Image: ©Daxus via canva.com
Enhancing your backyard with a hot tub does not need to dig a hole in your pocket.
It is possible to get cheap hot tubs under 500 dollars. These outdoor hot tubs provide you with the best yet most affordable feature that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
The major advantage of these hot tubs is their portability because they are inflatable.
This means you can take your hot tub with you to a new home if you want, you can use it at your current rental home, or even load it into your RV and have a relaxing time at your camping site.
With a capacity of four adults, your hot tub is spacious and allows you adequate space to relax.
Most hot tub designs are complete with a heating and water filtration system that will not only keep you comfortable and warm for a long time but also ensure that you relax in clean water.
The thick vinyl of the tub makes maintenance easy. You just drain the hot tub so you can clean it and after that, simply fill it up again.
You can choose a model that offers raised seating if you intend to have children using the tub.
Best Small Outdoor Backyard Ideas For Sauna Designs For One Person Or More
Image: ©VikaValter via canva.com
With a simple outdoor sauna, you can experience the convenience of a sauna without leaving home. This type of sauna looks great in any backyard and its quality materials allow it to last for years.
The best outdoor sauna is made from the finest softwoods personally handpicked by experts.
Outdoor saunas come in various sizes, from a tiny, two-person sauna to a larger structure that fits up to eight people.
Sometimes water can pool around the base of the sauna so make sure you provide for enough drainage to avoid that problem.
If you live in a very humid climate or near the coastline where the air is saltier, make sure you cover the sauna when not in use to avoid deterioration of the outside wood.
For great visibility, you can choose a sauna that comes with LED lighting and has a tempered glass door. This glass door allows natural light to get in without having to use more energy.
Another popular design for outdoor saunas is Barrel Saunas. They have several electric and wood-burning heater options that are available based on the size of the sauna room.
There is even an amazing mobile sauna, which is built on a wheeled trailer for easy transportation.
Wine Barrel House Or Spa Backyard Ideas
Image: ©HildaWeges via canva.com
A wine barrel house or spa looks deceptively small from the outside.
Whereas most of us know the wine barrel as the place to turn grapes into wine, creative architects have transformed the barrel into a fun wine barrel house or spa.
All wine barrel structures are strong and built to last, and blend in well with any landscape.
A night in a barrel is extremely special when you have your special person beside you.
Your barrel house can be made into a fantastic romantic cottage for two that has a kitchen cum living room, a bedroom, and a patio with firepit area. A fenced-in garden area gives you plenty of privacy.
The quaint home accommodates 2 and comfortably fits a queen bed, full bathroom, and private hot tub.
As a spa, the barrel structure becomes a place that focuses on health and well-being.
If you are a fan of puzzles, you will enjoy constructing an innovative, unique, totally organic type of spa made only from 100% red cedar.
Without the use of nails, screws, glue, or other synthetic materials, the spa is made with perfectly hewn cedar planks connected like a puzzle, offering the unique healing properties of the cedar tree (More on this coming soon).
Backyard Ideas For DIY Or Metal Outdoor Bathtub
Image: ©Alena Ozerova via canva.com
Your outdoor bathtub is guaranteed to give you double pleasure because you can enjoy the fresh air and the view as you relax and let your stress drift away.
An outdoor soaking tub for two gives you and your dear one a relaxing place to sit and watch the world go by.
Not only is your tub relaxing, but it is also gorgeous to look at, and you can construct one with a fountain.
If you do not want the hassle of trying to figure out where your hot water is going to come from, a solar-powered bathtub is what you need. That way, you let the sun do all the work for you.
In Japan, taking a bath is more than just a way of cleaning yourself. The bathing process is a spiritual ritual and the Japanese deep soaking tub allows your body to sink slowly into the deep warm water, eventually finding a comfortable space to just lie back and relax.
The tubs are available in round and oval shapes so you can enjoy this comforting experience with your partner.
One more advantage of a bathtub for two is that it is an amazing place for a romantic date.
Backyard Ideas For Deer Proof Fenced In Garden Design
Image: ©Leung Cho Pan via canva.com
Almost everyone at one point or another in their life dreams of a house with a white picket fence.
Now that you have your house, you can make your dream come true.
If your compound already has a fence either of stone or a hedge, you can still put up a picket fence in your garden.
There are many benefits when adding a fence to your backyard garden.
Most importantly, a good fence can help to keep unwanted animals out.
If you want to protect your lettuce from hungry rabbits a picket fence might do the trick.
Other animals such as deer or some squirrels might require taller fences while a fence with no gaps or holes is probably your best bet.
But a fence is more than just an animal deterrent.
It can be a great design element or a decorative item, especially if it’s used to allow certain plants to grow on it.
Fences also clearly define a space and provide additional privacy and security.
Fenced-in gardens have the advantage of keeping your garden contained in the desired area while also adding some color if it is painted.
As you browse through magazines for backyard fence ideas on a budget, you will realize that the collection is almost endless and what remains is for you to choose a design you like.
Antique wood makes for a fine fence that gives you that weathered look, while a lattice fence gives you an amazingly versatile, low-maintenance border.
Go for a simple, short garden fence that is easily constructed with a few lengths of lumber. With the playful use of paint, you can add some character to your garden with minimal effort.
If you have a problem with burrowing creatures in your garden, the solution is to give your fence a stone base and then construct the rest in your favorite design.
For more ideas and design suggestions browse through my list of 109 vegetable and flower garden fence ideas for your garden.
Springfield Style Picket Fence Around Front And Backyard Ideas
Image: ©onepony via canva.com
Despite its origin as a military defense installation in Europe, picket fences in the United States are mostly used for aesthetic reasons rather than for anything else.
Since the Colonial Revival design movement of the 19th-century white picket fences came to symbolize middle-class prosperity.
To this day, Springfield Style Picket Fences have an aura of bourgeois suburbia that give a clean, fresh, well-maintained, and well-ordered impression to the passerby.
Contrary to popular belief, not all picket fences are made of wood.
Some heavy-duty Springfield-style picket fences are made of tough PVC which makes them sturdy and durable.
Some white vinyl picket fences which are as pretty as a picture come in 3-inch wide pickets, and two picket spacing options: 1.7 or 3-inch spacing between pickets.
There are usually two types of caps, spade or dog ear, and the great thing is that you do not have to paint the vinyl panels. They will keep their natural glow for a long time, saving you on maintenance.
If your land is sloping, a vinyl fence is well-adjusted to take care of that and the result will be a gently ascending fence that gives character to the space.
Vinyl fences are designed to withstand all types of weather, from the sun to snow.
It’s very easy to install them as there are no screws or brackets involved.
White vinyl picket fences come in different sizes, 3, 4, 5, and 6 feet tall so you can choose different heights if you wish.
You can find a treasure trove of design inspiration in my collection of 249 wood fence ideas.
White Vinyl, Black Aluminum, Wood Or Metal Split Rail Privacy Fence Gate Design Backyard Ideas
Image: ©Argus398 via canva.com
Fence gates have a practical purpose by allowing entrance to and exit from a fenced property. But they can also be used to enhance your backyard landscaping design in many different and wonderful ways.
You can choose to blend the gate in with the rest of the fence by using the same material, the same height, the same style, etc.
Or you can opt to make the fence gate “pop” by intentionally using a different style from the rest of the fence.
Vinyl Or Wooden White Double Picket Fence Gate Designs And Green Shrub Wall Privacy Panel Backyard Ideas
Image: ©Bubbers13 via canva.com
Nothing makes a garden look more homely and lived in than picket fence gates and shrub walls.
Whether you are the traditional kind or you like to enjoy a bit of greenery, you will discover that both picket fence gates and shrub walls have their good points.
The picket fence gate is pretty easy to manage especially when you use treated wood. You can choose to have a natural wooden gate or you can paint the picket fence gate when you feel that your garden needs some color.
It will transform your garden into one of those happily-ever-after homes you see on TV or in magazines.
You can use a shrub wall to create a barrier or simply to provide a colorful focal point by planting a variety of shrubs that produce flowers of different colors.
Even though shrub walls take some time to grow, if managed properly as they are growing, they will continue to look beautiful for many years.
They are very attractive and produce pollinator-pleasing berries and flowers which in turn attract birds and other flower-loving animals into your garden, making it come alive.
In addition to beauty, the shrubs produce oxygen which is great for the environment.
Modern Backyard Ideas For House, Steel, Metal Or Wooden Gates Designs
Image: ©DebraLee Wiseberg via canva.com
Backyard gates can be
- ornamental
- functional
- or both.
They are used to protect the things inside the garden or to divide one section of the yard from another, with each space having its own experience.
The garden gate is an outdoor version of the front door of your house, and so should be given the same kind of consideration.
In the same way, the front door sets the mood of your home, your garden gate should set the mood of your garden.
Garden gates range from rustic designs good for a cottage garden to the more ceremonial styles for a formal garden.
Hardwood Gates Backyard Ideas
Hardwood gates are a truly elegant option.
You can get them constructed by hand to any shape, style, and size using traditional, time-tested construction techniques from the finest Iroko wood to the red cedar, both of which are extremely durable and aesthetically pleasing wood.
The deep, natural red/ brown tones greatly enhance the look of the finished garden gate.
Metal Gates Backyard Ideas
You can also opt for metal gates.
Wrought iron garden gates provide a secure entrance to your home’s garden.
It is a sturdy barrier and comes in many beautiful designs that do not obscure the view of your garden.
If you are thirsty for more design suggestions you can browse through my collection of 189 of the most stunning and captivating fence gate ideas.
Best Low Maintenance Backyard Ideas With Plants Designs For Fence Line Cover
Image: ©Marje via canva.com
Having plants alongside your fence can help make an otherwise maybe less attractive element of your backyard garden look friendlier and more appealing.
While fences are often characterized by sharp and straight lines, adding some plants can provide welcomed contrast and lead to an overall softer and more pleasing appearance.
But you can even turn that fence into a landscaping element by allowing plants to grow vertically up or through the fence.
You can use flowers such as violas, climbing roses, or pansies or opt for espaliered fruit trees that also produce delicious fruit!
Hmm!
Backyard Ideas For Cedar Wooden Plank Walkway For Garden
Image: ©baona via canva.com
Adding a wooden walkway to the backyard garden is quickly becoming a landscaping trend.
Wooden plank walkways are a super way of turning your garden or yard into something unique.
They’re also an innovative way of putting up walkways on a budget.
The fun thing is that your pathway does not necessarily have to go through your entire garden, you can design it to lead to a certain point of focus.
If you want more walkway designs, I have prepared a very special collection of 202 unexpected and unique walkway ideas to get you started.
Benefits Of Wooden Plank Walkway Backyard Ideas
Wooden plank walkways have a lot of benefits:
-
-
- They give you a place to walk that isn’t muddy
- They can help you traverse some of the rockier or uneven parts of your yard
- They look great
- They can enhance your backyard landscaping design
- They can reduce stress levels
- They can increase your home value
- They can help boost your immune system.
-
Wooden Plank Walkway Backyard Designs
Practically any type of wood will suffice, but for a long-lasting result, it is recommended to use pressure-treated timber. It minimizes incidents of rot, decay, or insects especially since the timber is in contact with the ground.
Cedar and river stone makes a beautiful combination. The contrast between the reddish brown of the wood and the white/grey of the stones brings the path to life.
The wooden planks could be arranged in an attractive stepping stone design along the pathway and then surrounded with river stones giving it a modern geometric look.
You can choose to arrange planks of the same size in a ladder arrangement, or without any spaces in between.
For a more natural look, arrange planks of different lengths along your path to create an irregular-edged path.
Deck wood pathways are bright and give an elegant, polished look.
Front Entrance And Backyard Ideas For Stepping Stone Walkway Designs
Image: ©Neirfy via canva.com
Stepping stone walkways have a playful look and you can almost see children having fun as they jump from one stone to the next.
Building a walkway using stones instead of wood can have multiple advantages.
Unlike wood, stones can withstand the elements, especially water, better and with less damaging or deteriorating effect.
In addition, natural stone provides timeless and colorful features for your garden.
Stepping stones can come in many different shapes.
If you’re going for a more formal look choose precisely cut rectangles.
To achieve a more casual and informal feel irregularly shaped flagstones or pavers might be your best option.
However, for a more zen-like backyard ovals might be the way to go (pun intended).
The simplest form of stepping stone walkways is great for the DIY beginner to try their hand at an artistic task.
Setting the pathway is easy, just lay large stones over the grass to form a casual, comfortable path. The path meanders all over the yard, creating a fun pattern and a perfect place for a leisurely stroll.
The pathway is easy to maintain, as the stones can be mowed over.
Stepping stones can be a great way to lead your guests to a hidden spot in the garden. The stones blend beautifully with the landscape, remain easily visible, and still retain an earthy appeal.
If you wish, you can make the stones a charcoal-gray hue which will provide a beautiful contrast to the dark green of the plants and grass, and produce a natural look.
One of the great things about stone pathways is that not every stepping stone needs to be the same shape or size.
Once you find the color and design that best fits your landscape, choosing the size and shape comes naturally.
DIY Backyard Ideas For Path Design
Image: ©Elena Photo via canva.com
There are many reasons why you might want to consider adding a backyard path to your overall backyard design.
A pathway can help protect the lawn by having people avoid stepping onto the grass.
A backyard path can also guide visitors around your backyard garden and help divide the space into distinct zones from a landscaping perspective.
Especially if you have a larger backyard garden, adding a pathway can help more remote areas to feel more included and accessible.
Choose between many different materials such as mulch, gravel, pavers, wood, bricks, flagstone, cobblestone, broken concrete, or other stepping stones.
The choice is yours.
Backyard Ideas For Outdoor Floating Steps Design
Image: ©DonKurto via canva.com
Floating stairs turn a practical item into a real visual focal point.
They’re designed to appear to lack any structural support while seemingly floating in mid-air.
Floating staircases ooze a certain level of indulgence and decadence.
They also help open up the space when compared to a regular staircase.
In the outdoors, they’re often built using concrete to lead up to the deck or from the deck to the lower grounds of the backyard.
Backyard Ideas With Trees Landscaping
Image: ©welcomia via canva.com
Having trees in your backyard has a plethora of important benefits for you and your/our environment.
Apart from looking awesome, trees provide welcomed shade during sunny afternoons and serve as windbreaks during the windy season.
They’re also great to provide you with more privacy in your backyard garden by blocking the view while also absorbing noise.
Trees also help to freshen the atmosphere and they offer a habitat for different wildlife.
Great trees to use in your backyard are
-
-
- Maple (Acer palmatum)
- Birch (Betula)
- Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
-
for example.
Backyard Ideas For Landscaping With Shrubs In Garden And Along Fence
Image: ©Unknown Artist via canva.com
A shrub is a woody plant but unlike a tree, it has multiple stems.
Shrubs are very beautiful to look at but they also have additional benefits for your backyard.
They can camouflage an unattractive fence and provide shade and additional privacy by blocking the view and even unwanted street noise.
Shrubs can improve soil stability and enhance air quality.
With shrubs, you can create habitats for bees, butterflies, and birds.
Use flowering shrubs for a backyard filled with color and sweet fragrances.
Backyard Ideas For Growing Ivy Outdoors And On Fence
Image: ©da-kuk via canva.com
If you are looking for a way to improve your back or front yard, try growing Ivy.
If you have an area in your backyard that needs a green touch but you’ve tried almost everything and nothing else will grow, growing Ivy might also be the answer you’ve been looking for.
Ivy is a remarkable plant that’s not only evergreen but also well-known for the fact that it grows quite literally anywhere.
Ivy can handle shade just as well as full sunlight.
It’s an excellent way to cover difficult areas in your backyard or to stabilize any soil.
It also grows well on walls and provides year-round greenery.
Ivy is also great if you have vertical spaces that need decorating, such as trellises, walls, or arbors.
The beauty of Ivy is that it requires very low maintenance and will continue looking fresh and new for a long time.
There are different types of climbing Ivy that are just perfect for your purpose.
English Ivy Backyard Ideas
English Ivy is an evergreen plant that can cling to almost any surface.
You can plant it in distant and hard-to-reach areas without worrying about maintenance.
Algerian Ivy Backyard Ideas
Algerian Ivy is usually referred to as a close cousin of English Ivy.
Like its cousin, the Algerian Ivy prefers partial to full shade, but unlike the English Ivy which can grow in most soil types, the Algerian Ivy loves moist well-drained soil.
Boston Ivy Backyard Ideas
Boston Ivy stands tall with its wide leaves that can span to a width of 8 inches.
It grows in full sun to partial shade and has low water needs.
Bullock’s Heart Ivy Backyard Ideas
Bullock’s Heart Ivy has large heart-shaped leaves, hence its name.
It grows in part to full shade and well-drained soil with medium moisture.
Backyard Ideas For Designs With Wood Landscape Border
Image: ©DIGIcal via canva.com
With landscape borders, also called landscape edging, you can efficiently outline different areas in your backyard.
It’s a cost-effective way to give your yard a more ordered and neat look to improve its curb appeal.
Landscape edging is especially effective to keep mulch in its place and guide the eye across the entire garden.
It can be used to clearly define a walkway and is equally suitable for straight and curved edges.
For more inspiration head over to my collection of 397 beautiful and surprising landscape border ideas.
Backyard Ideas For Design With Pea Gravel Landscaping
Image: ©welcomia via canva.com
Gravel has long been a very popular material for designing practical yet amazing backyards.
Especially in areas where growing grass is difficult due to the climate, gravel is a welcomed and low-maintenance alternative to decorate a section of your yard.
Gravel is an affordable solution that’s both very easy to lay and climate resistant.
But gravel can do more than just add some beautiful design elements to your backyard landscaping.
It can also be used as an effective water barrier around foundations, for example.
Backyard Ideas For Square Stamped Concrete Patios With Pergola And Driveway, Patterns Or Colors
Image: ©fotolism_thai via canva.com
Square-stamped concrete is an excellent way to make your backyard design your own and unique and different from anybody else’s.
With square-stamped concrete, you have much more control over your personalized design than you would with natural stones, pavers, or any other kind of material.
Since the concrete is poured on-site, almost any shape and texture is possible when stamping the concrete.
In addition, compared to most other paving materials, stamped concrete is generally more durable and less maintenance-intensive.
This can lead to big savings over time.
Square-stamped concrete is the way to go if you want a patio that looks beautiful and organized.
A stamped concrete patio is the perfect decorative flooring for outdoor entertaining areas, offering all the beauty of an indoor floor along with the superior durability and weather resistance of exterior concrete.
To help you decide if this is for you, it would be helpful to look at the stamped concrete pros and cons.
Backyard Ideas With Square Stamped Concrete Pros And Cons
When considering the positive side, it is common knowledge that stamped concrete patios give you a vast array of decorative options not possible with other patio materials.
By using stains, powdered pigments, and antiquing agents, you can make your patio look identical to natural stone or customize the color to complement your home and landscape.
Another advantage of using stamped concrete is that because it is one continuous form, you require less labor to install it.
It is also cost-effective, and it is low on maintenance.
Looking at the cons, if for some reason your stamped concrete patio suffers damage and chips, it may be hard to match the original color for your repair. This is because stamped concrete patios are colored in a phased process when installed.
Small Modern Backyard Ideas For Succulent Rock Garden Design
Image: ©yanikap via canva.com
A rock garden can be an impressive landscaping element that can add another dimension to an otherwise flat area.
Especially when used beside a lush and green area, a rock garden can add some texture and interesting contrast.
But a rock garden can be more than just a great focal point in your backyard.
It can serve as a natural weed suppressant helping other nearby plants receive enough water and nutrients.
Designing a beautiful rock garden requires some artistic and design ability so that the outcome is tasteful and attractive.
Backyard Ideas For Lawn Design
Image: ©SVproduction via canva.com
When you walk into your backyard and your feet gently sink into your lush green lawn, you start to feel the stress of the day melt away.
A lush lawn is a thing of beauty, but also a sign that the homeowner cares about the landscape.
Keeping a well-maintained lawn in your backyard can be both, rewarding as well as work-intensive. By paying attention to a few issues, you can be the owner of a lawn you will be proud of.
Experts suggest you should not mow the grass too low as this puts stress on the grass and limits deep root growth, decreasing its ability to resist weeds, pests, and drought conditions.
Grass that is at least 3 inches tall will also shade out weed seeds.
-
-
- Organic fertilizer
- taking care of bare spots
- taking care of dead patches
- taking care of areas infested by dandelions, crabgrass, and weeds
- properly aerating your grass
-
will get your lawn grass looking invitingly green and healthy.
A well-kept lawn is most certainly a beautiful piece of art to look at and marvel at.
It can certainly increase the resale value of your property as well.
But, many homeowners don’t realize that lawn grass can also help to clean the air by trapping carbon dioxide.
What’s more, lawn grass can even help to reduce noise pollution and hot temperatures in your yard.
Whether you are starting to grow your lawn from scratch, or you would like to rejuvenate your existing lawn, with a little work in the beginning, you will be able to enjoy that cool, green tuft of springy grass that reminds you of the many years you spent playing in the lawn during your childhood.
Backyard Ideas With Outdoor Faux Grass Rugs
Image: ©Dmytro Varavin via canva.com
Faux grass rugs are an easy and quick way to add a green touch to your backyard.
While not everybody’s favorite, they do have a lot going for them.
They’re the perfect solution for smaller backyards made of concrete when you’re yearning for the feeling of some soft lawn beneath your feet.
They’re very practical and easy to clean. Often just vacuuming the dirt is all that’s needed. When you’re dealing with some more stubborn marks use warm and soapy water to get your faux grass rug look as good as new again.
Artificial grass also reduces ground pollution in your yard since you don’t need to use any fertilizers or pesticides which otherwise might get into your ground.
There are several options to explore when looking for the most realistic fake grass ground cover.
If you are wondering how close your fake grass will look to the real thing, it is good to note that a realistic look depends on the overall aesthetics of the artificial grass, the type of material used, and how well it matches the natural grass in your local area.
Good quality faux grass comes in different sizes and can be in the form of rugs or carpets. When you compare it with the feel of real grass, you will notice that it is almost the same.
Natural grass will usually regrow and fill in with proper care. You will find that some faux grass rugs, just like natural grass have “memory.” This means that the grass returns to its original shape, even after a lot of foot traffic. Over time, this helps to prevent matting and keeps your artificial grass looking more realistic.
One of the major benefits of faux grass is that it is very low in maintenance as you don’t have to think of mowing the grass.
Backyard Ideas For Moss Garden Design
Image: ©jaboo2foto via canva.com
Having a moss garden might not be an intuitive choice for many gardeners – especially those in love with their lush lawns.
While many garden owners would go out of their way to do everything in their power to eliminate moss in their backyard there are quite a few scientifically backed benefits of having a moss garden.
Moss leaves are true masters when it comes to trapping and absorbing water. This helps to retain moisture for your garden and in controlling stormwater runoffs.
Due to its water-absorbing capabilities moss is also very effective at keeping the soil erosion-free.
Moss is very easy to maintain because it doesn’t require any mowing or the application of potentially harmful herbicides or pesticides.
Instead, moss absorbs carbon dioxide and other harmful toxins making wet areas cleaner in the process.
A moss garden can also help attract more beneficial insects to your garden who like to build their home in the moss.
Backyard Ideas For Unique Purple, White, Pink, And Red Hanging Flower Designs
Image: ©Petegar via canva.com
No matter how big or small your backyard may be, hanging flowers can bring a colorful or green touch to even the smallest of spaces.
One of their main advantages is an extremely small footprint while making use of otherwise unused vertical space.
Hanging potted flowers are often also easier to care for than in-ground ones.
They turn beautiful flowers such as Bougainvilleas and Mandevillas into focal points by presenting them at eye level.
You can use Staghorn ferns or trailing fuchsias for areas with more shade.
Kalanchoes and Geraniums on the other hand are great options for areas with full sunlight.
Small Backyard Ideas For Flower Bed Design
Image: ©jameslee999 via canva.com
Flower beds can be a great source of color and fragrance in your backyard.
Flowers have a calming effect and can also enhance one’s mood.
Planting your flowers into a flower bed instead of into the ground greatly reduces the amount of work needed for maintenance.
There’s no need to till up the soil on an annual basis to add fertilizer. Instead, flower beds can be maintained by simply adding materials on top.
Easy yet beautiful. Perfect!
Best Small Backyard Ideas For Gazebo Design With Fireplace
Image: ©Marje via canva.com
Gazebos are an amazing piece of architectural design.
They’re a true focal point in your backyard, ideal to organise any kind of celebration or party.
Gazebos also can provide welcomed shade on sunny days and cover should the sky start to cry.
You can upgrade them by installing a grill or an outdoor kitchen or even a wet bar.
Add some extra comfy seating and a big flatscreen TV and you have an amazing entertainment space at your disposal.
Concerned about privacy? Just add curtains and you’re all set.
Modern Small Backyard Ideas For Pergola With Roof Or Curtains
Image: ©Marje via canva.com
Your garden needs a charming centerpiece in the form of a pergola.
Pergolas are structures in a garden or park consisting of pillars supporting flat crossbeams and an open latticework that is frequently covered in plants.
A pergola can be used as a trellis over a walkway or a place to sit and relax.
It creates the perfect space to enjoy the ambiance of a peaceful evening.
A pergola is a great way to define a three-dimensional space in your backyard that is distinctly different from the rest.
By installing a pergola you effectively add some additional outdoor living space to your home that’s ideal for relaxing or entertaining.
If you already have pavers or a concrete patio, a pergola is a perfect solution to place outdoor furniture or grilling equipment underneath it.
A pergola also provides welcomed shade on a hot sunny afternoon which can be further enhanced by adding a retractable cover on top of it.
Backyard Ideas For Pergola With Vine
One of the best ways to customize your pergola is with the use of vines.
Backyard Ideas For Pergola With Dutchman’s Pipe
You can grow any plants you want on your pergola but the best vines for pergolas include Dutchman’s pipe which is a vigorous vine with large, heart-shaped leaves.
It quickly turns pergolas into shaded retreats from which to escape the heat of summer.
Backyard Ideas For Pergola With Hydrangea Vine
The climbing hydrangea vine is a medium-sized woody vine that produces an infusion of white flowers.
Its bare twining wood is attractive even after the leaves have dropped and this vine loves to wind up the posts of pergolas.
Backyard Ideas For Pergola With Wisteria
Wisteria is one of many favorite pergola climbing plants loved for its fragrant beauty.
Backyard Ideas For Pergola With Virginia Creeper
The Virginia Creeper vine provides a nearly carefree addition to the pergolas.
It produces one of the most spectacular color displays in the fall.
Backyard Ideas For Designs With Garden Arbor With Bench, Swing, Gate, Vines Or Flowers
Image: ©MattiProductions via canva.com
Arbors are vertical structures found in a landscape or garden that can provide shelter, privacy, and shade and serve as an attractive addition to your space.
Think of an arbor as an “outside doorway”.
It’s a great way to separate your backyard into different areas or sections with the arbor being the entry or exit point to these sections.
You can use arbors as entrances to a garden or wooded area developed for relaxing, or an exit from one area of the garden to another.
Often, arbors include some form of trellis to allow vines and other climbing plants to grow on it, resulting in the most charming and mystical doorways to a secret garden, perhaps?
Arbors can also provide shelter and shade. They’re an excellent choice to get more privacy or simply to add an accent to your yard.
Lattice is often used on the sides and top of an arbor. These are decorative strips of wood with crisscross patterns that allow vines to grab onto the surface as they creep upward.
The looks and style of your arbor will bring character to your home’s exterior while the beautiful flowers that bloom on them fill your garden with sweet smells.
Backyard Ideas With Custom Arbors
Arbors can be classified in several ways depending on the materials used.
You can choose the pre-fabricated type or you can get custom arbors that are constructed to your unique specifications.
Custom arbors tend to be a little more expensive but the cost is countered by their personalized features which accentuate either your garden or your house depending on what you choose.
Backyard Ideas With Pre-Fabricated Arbors
The pre-fabricated arbors are by far a more pocket-friendly option even though the designs are not as varied as the customized versions.
Small Backyard Ideas For Designs With Trellis For Grapes Or Privacy
Image: ©tomprout via canva.com
A trellis is a wonderful way to add a green touch to any backyard.
One of the many benefits of a trellis is a relatively small footprint while taking advantage of the unused vertical space, thereby adding a third dimension to your backyard design.
Trellises are usually used to allow climbing plants or fruits to grow vertically.
When positioned strategically, trellises can help define different areas in your backyard in a more natural and less intrusive fashion.
Take your garden’s beauty and seclusion to dazzling heights with my curated collection of 116 distinctive, budget-friendly trellis ideas for climbing roses and privacy screens that’ll keep nosy neighbors at bay!
Friggebod Backyard Ideas
Image: ©Anna Karin via canva.com
Maybe the time has come to build a guest house in your backyard. Why not consider a Friggebod?
This is a small type of house that is common in Sweden and measures not more than 15 square meters.
One of the great plus points to building a Friggebod is that as long as the area occupied by the house does not exceed 15 square meters, one does not need to obtain a building permit (in many jurisdictions, however, this is not legal advice – always contact a qualified legal professional) to put it up, making it a great addition to your backyard.
The wooden structure can be painted to give it a modern look and to add a spot of color to your backyard.
You can buy the house online and it does not require any kind of expertise or complicated machinery to put up.
The house is so versatile that you can even choose to convert it to a study, an outdoor office, or even a family hobby area.
Cheaper than even a brick house, the Friggebod is an inexpensive way of adding another facility in your backyard that is not just a feature that enhances the look of your garden but also has a practical purpose.
Backyard Ideas For Tiki Hut Design
Image: ©sorsillo via canva.com
Building a Tiki Hut yourself can be an exciting and fun project resulting in a personalized, tastefully decorated backyard or poolside.
Once you jump the “how to design a backyard tiki hut” hurdle, you will be well on your way to adding a touch of glamour to your garden and creating the perfect relaxing and entertaining space.
A Tiki Hut is an extremely simple structure to design and construct and the materials used are not expensive. It is inspired by the Pacific Islands and is popular along the shores of Hawaii.
The hut is made of wood and bamboo and thatched with palm leaves.
Whether you are thinking of constructing a big Tiki Hut or a small one, you do not need to have any DIY skills as the process is very straightforward.
You will need accessories if you want to recreate the style and ambiance of your favorite beach holiday. This involves adding lanterns outside for a real party feel, bamboo floor and wall mats, and of course, a few Tiki masks on the walls and some Tiki mugs for that authentic cocktail and before you know it you will feel like you were back on your favorite beach holiday.
Small Backyard Ideas With Yurt Tent Kit Office And Guest House
Image: ©TomekD76 via canva.com
The word Yurt has its origins in Turkey and is used to denote a portable, round tent covered with skins and used as a dwelling by several nomadic groups of Central Asia.
In Mongolia, it is referred to as a Ger and the design is slightly different, having a relatively heavy center ring.
Today it is possible to erect a backyard Yurt from felt, wood, or fabric, and by combining the ancient wisdom of traditional design with modern technology, your Yurt becomes a highly beneficial structure that you can use for anything from a place to relax, guest house or studio to a romantic getaway or vacation cabin.
The Yurt is unique, affordable, eco-friendly, and can be easily set up in just a day.
The small Yurt kit can be ordered online and comes complete with everything you need to construct your retreat space. The small Yurt also works nicely as a study, office, workroom, children’s room, sauna, or garden house.
They come in various shapes such as round, rectangle, and octagonal.
The quaint lattice walls complete the image.
The Yurt is a super energy-efficient habitat that can be heated or cooled inexpensively making it extremely pocket friendly.
Small Backyard Ideas For DIY Greenhouse Design
Image: ©NiseriN via canva.com
Greenhouses are structures made of glass or other transparent material like polythene, in which temperature and humidity can be controlled for the cultivation or protection of plants.
By adding a greenhouse to your backyard you gain a space where you can “control the weather”, kind of like having your own micro-climate.
You can use your greenhouse to grow your vegetables all year round regardless of the outside climate and weather conditions. How cool is that, right?
You can also incubate new landscaping plants, cultivate exotic plants and delicate tree seedlings or simply start seedlings off very early in the season.
Growing plants can also save you a significant amount of money that you’d otherwise spend on buying those plants from a nursery.
Greenhouses are constructed in different designs.
Post and Rafter Greenhouse Design Backyard Ideas
The Post and Rafter design is one of the most common greenhouse structures.
This design is among the strongest with the rafters lending support to the roof.
It is simple to construct and offers more efficient air circulation.
A-Frame Greenhouse Design Backyard Ideas
Just like the Post and Rafter, the A-Frame design is a common greenhouse structure.
This design shares the same advantages as its counterpart, with the added advantage of using less material than the Post and Rafter.
Gothic Arch Greenhouse Design Backyard Ideas
The Gothic arch design is made of a semicircular frame manufactured from galvanized pipe.
The frame is circular and usually covered with plastic sheeting.
It is a simple, efficient construction design and the use of plastic sheeting reduces the costs substantially.
The shape of the design makes it easy for water and snow to run down the outside.
Lean-to Greenhouse Design Backyard Ideas
The Lean-to greenhouse shares a wall with your residence, traditionally built off the back of the home.
Glass is typically used and because it shares one wall with the house, it is relatively cheap to construct.
Small Backyard Ideas For Raised Vegetable Garden Design With Metal Or Wood
Image: ©joegolby via canva.com
Raised garden beds are an excellent way for beginners to start growing vegetables in their backyards.
They remove a lot of the obstacles beginners usually face when starting to grow vegetables in the ground.
Benefits Of Raised Vegetable Garden Backyard Ideas
The benefits of raised vegetable gardens will have you constructing yours without delay.
The most attractive benefit is that you can have a vegetable garden in your small space.
The beauty your garden adds to your space comes a close second.
Raised backyard vegetable gardens can even be more productive than in-ground garden beds for numerous reasons:
- The soil is not as compressed as in the ground
- Raised garden beds often have better drainage.
- Raised garden beds warm up earlier in the spring allowing plants to start growing earlier.
For the same reason, your vegetables benefit from a longer growing season.
They require less physical back bending and especially tilling is easier because they are raised above the ground, which can be beneficial, especially for people with knee, hip, or back problems.
The amount of soil in a bed can be adjusted more precisely to the needs of the specific crops.
Types Of Raised Vegetable Garden Backyard Ideas
There are 2 main types of raised vegetable gardens.
The first, and simplest, is to just pile up some soil in any area of your yard. You want the raised bed to be at least 6 inches above the current soil level. This is easy to do and does not require a lot of expensive materials.
Another type of raised bed is just a simple container made of
- wood
- rock
- bricks
- concrete blocks
- bales of hay
- even unused furniture.
These are good because you can make them as simple or as decorative as you wish. You can also place them in any place that you choose, not necessarily in the garden.
Backyard Ideas With Self Watering Bucket Gardening Vegetables
Image: ©Natasha Breen via canva.com
If you have a house with a small backyard or simply a patio, balcony, or rooftop, you are an ideal candidate for a bucket vegetable garden.
Explore the magical world of five-gallon bucket gardening and live the healthy lifestyle you desire.
Benefits Of Bucket Garden Backyard Ideas
The benefits of a bucket garden are many.
- It allows you to have more control over growing conditions and enjoy higher yields with a lot less work.
- You can have a greater variety of plants
- you will not have to do any massive weeding
- the pests you have to deal with are a lot fewer than in a traditional garden.
Backyard Ideas How To Build Your Bucket Garden
It is an easy project as you can start small, a few plants at a time. All you need to start your garden are
- some five-gallon buckets
- rocks
- peat moss
- planting soil
- compost
- some paint if you wish to paint the buckets.
Backyard Ideas For What To Grow In Your Bucket Garden
Some of the vegetables you can grow in your buckets are
- kale
- lettuce
- peppers
- broccoli
- potatoes.
Some fruits that grow well in buckets are:
- Raspberries
- strawberries
- lemons
- cherries
- blueberries
- even melons.
You can also have your own selection of herbs.
In short, your container garden is what you want to make it.
Backyard Ideas For Outdoor Hanging Herb Garden Design On Fence Or Wall
Image: ©annastories via canva.com
Having a small yard should not force you to give up your lifelong dream of having a herb garden.
Hanging herb gardens are a type of vertical gardening that is quickly gaining popularity and it’s easy to see why.
- For starters, they don’t take up much important floor space, especially in smaller backyards.
- Hanging herb gardens can be used as fantastic design elements to add some green touches to your backyard design.
- They can be used to define new spaces as well as to grow your herbs, of course.
There are many amazing ideas for hanging herb gardens all around you.
Some unique herb gardens are specially designed for small spaces and are ideal even for people living in apartments.
The designs can be classified as individual hanging planters where each planter is on its own, and vertical gardens where you have more than one planter hanging together.
Mini hanging herb gardens can be made from materials that are readily available and can be hung on a wall or from the ceiling.
Mason Jar Herb Garden Backyard Ideas
The Mason jar garden is not just extremely innovative, it also adds a certain charm to your space.
You simply fill the jars with soil, plant your herbs in the jars and then fasten them tilted slightly upwards to a wooden board.
Pallet Herb Garden Backyard Ideas
The pallet herb garden is also very easy to make.
After arranging your herbs inside the pallets, they can be hung on the wall.
Self-watering pots are perfect if you do not want to keep watering the plants.
They use the drip system and will water the plant throughout the day or as necessary.
Labeled Herb Garden Backyard Ideas And Designs
Image: ©MB Lacson Photography via canva.com
A herb garden is a beautiful thing to have. It’s attractive, smells great, and has medicinal benefits that are good for you.
Labeled herb gardens help to avoid confusion because remember, you might not be the only one who will be using the garden.
A labeled herb garden is a herb garden that uses decorative labels to increase its visual appeal.
The labels often have a range of different bright colors that pop next to the green of the herbs.
You can easily make your own plant labels using a variety of different new or recycled materials. They’re fun to make and you’re limited only by your creativity. Some awesome examples are
-
-
-
-
- pebbles
- old wine corks
- fragments of broken terracotta pots
- old pens
- the handles of old paintbrushes
- and many, many more.
-
-
-
You can let your fantasy run wild to come up with your own unique labeled herb garden ideas.
Labeled Herb Garden Backyard Ideas With Plastic Or Clay Planters
If your herbs are planted in small plastic or clay planters, you can choose to paint either the bottom half of each planter or the entire planter in a dark color like black and then use white paint to write the herb’s name.
This is an easy label method as all you need is non-toxic paint and a brush.
Labeled Herb Garden Backyard Ideas With Small Rocks
You can also paint small rocks in different colors and then with a contrasting color, write the name of the herb.
This gives your garden a welcomed shot of color.
Labeled Herb Garden Backyard Ideas With Old Spoons
While stamped spoon plant markers might take a little more time and effort to make, they add a decorative vintage look to your garden and are garden art in the making.
Labeled Herb Garden Backyard Ideas Using Broken Crockery
If you have any broken clay pots or crockery, they make delightful label surfaces.
Organic Garden Backyard Ideas
Image: ©halfpoint via canva.com
Of all the many things you can do in one weekend, planting an organic vegetable garden is probably one of the most rewarding.
Benefits Of Organic Garden Backyard Ideas
With your organic backyard garden, you benefit in several ways.
-
-
-
-
- It will help you achieve your dream of eating healthy
- It saves you money as buying organic vegetables is expensive
- Your body and soul will thank you for the gardening therapy.
- On a wider scale, because of the use of no pesticides, you will be contributing to saving the environment.
-
-
-
How To Build Your Organic Garden Backyard Ideas
When planning the plants for your garden, choose plants that will adjust well to each spot in terms of
-
-
-
-
- light
- moisture
- drainage
- soil quality.
-
-
-
Remember, the happier your plants are, the more resistant they will be to bugs.
When planting your vegetables, make sure that your soil is in perfect condition. If you have poor soil, amend it with lots of organic matter, such as compost.
To get the most from small spaces, practices like
-
-
-
-
- companion planting
- succession planting
- vertical gardening
-
-
-
can help.
Weeds can be a problem, but they cannot grow where there is no light, so smother them before they start by covering garden aisles with newspaper or cardboard.
Small Backyard Ideas For Low Maintenance Fruit And Vegetable Garden Designs
Image: ©firina via canva.com
There are surprisingly many benefits to having a fruit and vegetable garden in your backyard.
Benefit #1 Of Fruit And Vegetable Garden Backyard Ideas
According to Harvard Medical School, vegetables that grow in your garden can be more nutritious than some store-bought vegetables.
The reason is simple: When you grow your own veggies you decide when you harvest them.
That means they usually stay longer in the ground to ripen unlike “supermarket” vegetables that must be picked early.
Benefit #2 Of Fruit And Vegetable Garden Backyard Ideas
Fruits and vegetables from your garden might also be healthier because you have full control over the kinds of fertilizers and pesticides you want to use if any at all.
Benefit #3 Of Fruit And Vegetable Garden Backyard Ideas
Having a fruit and vegetable garden also helps you eat more fresh fruits and vegetables since they are always fresh and easily available.
Benefit #4 Of Fruit And Vegetable Garden Backyard Ideas
Apart from being healthy, fun, and rewarding, growing your own food can also provide some protection from inflationary pressures by significantly cutting down on your grocery expenses.
Benefit #5 Of Fruit And Vegetable Garden Backyard Ideas
Of course, by using your very own fruit and veggie garden you also make a positive contribution to our environment by helping the bee population which is of utmost importance for our world’s food production.
Thank you.
Backyard Ideas And Designs For Cheap Patio Container Gardening With Succulents, Tomatoes, Or Herbs
Image: ©roman023 via canva.com
Would you like to grow your own fruits and vegetables in your backyard or on your apartment balcony?
Or maybe, you like to keep your backyard design flexible enough so you can change things around without too much effort whenever you feel like it?
If you answered yes to either of these 2 questions you’re in luck because there’s an easy solution for you: container gardening.
Reasons For Container Gardening Backyard Ideas
There are different reasons why you would want to practice container gardening.
One major reason is that you can enjoy gardening without having to spend time weeding because due to the small surface area, it is unlikely that weed seeds will find their way into the pots.
The gardener’s greatest enemy is weeds, making container gardening their best friend because it can also help with pest control but you must ensure your plants get enough water.
Benefits Of Container Gardening Backyard Ideas
Instead of growing your plants, flowers, fruits, or veggies in the ground which is often quite labor-intensive, you can grow them in containers of different sizes.
Additional benefits of container gardening include allowing you to grow plants that may not be suitable to grow in your garden soil and grow plants next to each other even though they may have different soil needs.
Plants that do not do well during the cold season can easily be taken indoors for the period.
Finally, container gardens are suitable for renters and tenants as plants in pots can move house with you.
You can place your containers on the ground or a pedestal, or, if they’re small enough you can even hang them from your porch.
Best Plants For Container Gardening Backyard Ideas
For your container garden to thrive, you need to be aware of the best vegetables for container gardening.
These include a variety of flowers, herbs, and vegetables.
The Appletini flower, viola, red zinnia, and the very berry creeping wintergreen are some of the best in the flower category.
Baby cakes blackberry top the fruits category, while ornamental peppers are great for adding color to your balcony, patio, courtyard, windowsills or rooftop.
Cheap Raised Bed Gardening Backyard Ideas
Image: ©virginijavaidakaviciene via canva.com
Raised garden beds take the strain off your back and generally lower your workload in your backyard.
In its simplest form, a raised garden bed is a box containing soil.
The box is usually placed above ground giving you easy access without the need for too much bending.
When done correctly, raised garden beds can be a valuable element in your overall backyard design.
Fill them with beautiful flowers to add vibrant colors or use them to harvest your own produce.
Best Small Backyard Ideas For Low Cost DIY Garden Chicken Coop
Image: ©chuckcollier via canva.com
Homesteading has seen a sharp rise in popularity over the last few years not the least due to the challenges of the recent past. People like to live more self-reliantly and keeping your own chicken in your backyard is one important step on that journey. After all, the surest way of having fresh eggs is owning some chickens.
With this fact acknowledged, the next thing you need to think about is the right breed of chicken which will depend on your intent.
The next thing after that is the chicken coop; where to construct it, what size, and the design.
To protect your chicken from predators and the elements a chicken coop provides a great home and adequate protection.
Chicken coops can be purchased ready-made or you can use your DIY skills to make one yourself with this tutorial or following these instructions. Free chicken coop plans are available and will guide you in choosing the chicken coop that best meets your requirements.
Depending on your space and the number of chickens you wish to keep, you can choose to have
-
-
-
-
- a small coop (with limited square footage)
- a big coop
- a moveable coop
- a permanent coop.
-
-
-
Plastic Chicken Coop Backyard Ideas
Chicken coops made of plastic are a recent entrant into the market that has been dominated by wooden coops.
The cleaning process of plastic coops is easier in comparison to wooden houses.
The plastic coops are also a great protection against red mites.
Wooden Chicken Coop Backyard Ideas
Cedar wood is a great option because of its all-weather durability.
It is naturally resistant to rot and insect damage, and will not warp when exposed to moisture.
You can
-
-
-
-
- paint the coop
- leave it natural
- decorate it
- leave it simple.
-
-
-
When it comes to chicken coops, your imagination is the limit.
English Garden Backyard Ideas With Roses Or Other Flowers
Image: ©CathrynGallacher via canva.com
If you love gardens that are full of flowers with enchanting scents, then you will love the intimate English garden.
You do not have to live in England to enjoy these gardens. Many professionals offer garden design services that will bring those legendary gardens of England to your backyard.
These gardens are known for their lush, green lawns, hedges, drifts, and borders of breathtaking flowers, grasses, and herbs.
There are various designs to choose from depending on your preference.
You can incorporate plants in soft blues, purples, and light pinks, or you can decide to make your garden all about pink climbing roses spilling over arches and creating a pink and green look.
If you want a garden with picking flowers, there are numerous flowers you can select and you can even choose your color scheme.
Traditional English Garden Backyard Ideas
The more traditional English garden design is characterized by a slightly more formal layout with distinctly different areas showcasing plants from different corners of the world, connected with winding pathways, and an overall feeling of neatness.
Modern English Garden Backyard Ideas
Image: ©phototropic via canva.com
The more “modern” English garden design can be described as slightly more informal and relaxed.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say it lacked neatness but it certainly embraces its role in the search for a more sustainable and environmentally integrated and responsible lifestyle.
It’s built not just with human visitors in mind but rather also as an inviting home for different types of wildlife.
English Cottage Garden Backyard Ideas
Also called an English cottage garden, the best way to ensure that you can enjoy your garden all year round is to select plants that provide two or more seasons of interest.
Intimate English Garden Backyard Ideas
The intimate garden is the most appropriate way of making use of limited spaces.
If you include a seating area, you can relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor every day.
Simple And Easy Modern Japanese Garden Small Backyard Ideas On A Budget
Image: ©Yvonne Wacht via canva.com
A Japanese stone garden is known as a peaceful place where one can go to relax, meditate and reflect.
The striking thing about the Japanese garden is its simplicity; it is all about clean lines and sparse vegetation which together exude elegance and complexity.
The focus is on creating a garden that offers a personal relationship with each visitor who enters the garden.
It is designed to bring a sense of harmony and balance to you as you enjoy your time within it.
There are certain features you can choose for your garden to make it more in line with your ideals. These include a creative water body such as a reflective pond which provides both depth and quiet solitude.
With a variety of bonsai trees and other vegetation, you can make your garden your very own magical fairyland.
The tranquility brought on by a sleek waterfall also provides a rising mist that casts your garden in an entirely new light.
The smooth lines of statues of popular traditional architectural structures, coupled with the art of evergreen shaping add a pleasant finishing touch.
The ever-changing colors, shapes, and textures of the vegetation give the garden a different look every season.
Unique And Enchanted Garden Theme Backyard Ideas With Plants
Image: ©Erikona via canva.com
When landscaping your yard, there are various ways in which you can actualize your dream garden. One way is to plant theme gardens.
There are different types of theme gardens such as the
-
-
-
-
- Japanese gardens
- desert gardens
- wildlife gardens
- Chinese gardens
- container gardens
- vegetable gardens
- butterfly gardens
-
-
-
to name a few.
The idea of a themed garden is to help give the plants and features in your garden something that ties them together, so there is no limit to theme garden ideas.
For example, if you have young children, you can try your hand at creating a garden theme for toddlers.
When doing this, remember that young children are curious and love color as well as a little adventure. Keep their five senses working and they will be in the garden for a long time.
Choose textured plants that they can feel and sensitive plants that snap shut when touched.
Fragrant herbs appeal to a child’s sense of taste and smell.
Bright-colored flowers are a delight to look at, and toddlers enjoy them even more if they can pick a few to enjoy indoors, and include ornamental grasses that rustle in the breeze.
And, of course, a sand/soil patch for play.
Magical Low Maintenance Small Backyard Ideas For Woodland Garden Design
Image: ©KenWiedemann via canva.com
A woodland garden is a perfect solution if you want to give your backyard a more natural and relaxed ambiance.
Whether it covers a small area or your whole space, a woodland garden will increase the aesthetic appeal of your garden.
Woodland Garden Design Backyard Ideas
Woodland gardens often consist of vegetation growing in different layers.
Layer your plants with trees forming the upper layer, shrubs, dogwoods, or redbuds forming the middle layer, and flowers and grass forming the bottom layer, so the eyes see greenery everywhere.
Many of these plants are easy to maintain and they can invite beneficial insects and birds to visit and maybe even build their homes in your backyard.
-
-
-
-
- Statues
- mirrored glass orbs
- any type of decoration
-
-
-
all provide that extra element that distinguishes your garden.
Finish off your design by installing
-
-
-
-
- bird feeders
- birdhouses
- birdbaths
- nesting boxes
- stacking logs
-
-
-
to help hibernating insects and small mammals get through the winter.
Natural Woodland Garden Design Backyard Ideas
To get the most out of your woodland garden, you need to borrow a leaf from nature, after all, the whole point of the garden is to make it look as natural as possible.
In nature, there are no straight edges or right angles, just a series of curves.
Flowers and plants which grow naturally in your area will make the maintenance of your garden low-key, allowing you to enjoy even the leaves that fall in autumn rather than spending your time raking them.
Another thing to consider is the lay of the land.
If your garden is sloping, work with the land as it is.
Woodland gardens are the answer to shady areas, turning them into beautiful places to relax with well-designed trees and flowers.
Steep Small Backyard Ideas For Terraced Garden On A Slope
Image: ©sasint via canva.com
Not every backyard is built on even ground.
If your yard is sloped, located on a steep hill, or just uneven, you can still turn it into a great-looking, functional, and usable outdoor space.
A terraced garden might be the answer you’ve been looking for.
Think of a terraced garden as a series of cascading mini gardens that divide your backyard into multiple smaller yet horizontal and even backyards.
Inexpensive Backyard Ideas For Terracing A Small Sloped Backyard With Rocks
Image: ©trocphunc via canva.com
Terracing is the act of taking a piece of sloping land and creating successively reducing platforms that look like steps supported by strong retaining walls that keep the soil in its place.
This is done to make the sloping hill a more effective farming area.
If you have been unable to do anything in either the whole or part of your backyard because it is too hilly, you can now create a terraced backyard.
There are many ways in which you can terrace your backyard to make it attractive and reflect what you want your backyard to look like.
Backyard terracing also helps prevent erosion and redirects rainwater from your home’s foundation which could cause severe damage over time.
When you build a terraced slope, you need to cut and fill the soil manually until you incorporate a level surface into the hillside.
The number of steps will depend on the gradient of your slope and I’d recommend consulting a professional garden designer for advice before you start.
By terracing your backyard, you can create several mini-gardens that will brighten your backyard. You can have a section for edible herbs, another for vegetables, and one for flowers of your choice.
There is no limit to creativity; terraces can look formal with stone walls or natural with paved patios, stairs, and pathways.
Low Maintenance Modern Fairytale English Cottage Garden Design Backyard Ideas
Image: ©Unknown Artist via canva.com
The cottage garden is a very informal backyard design characterized by dense plantings and predominantly wooden materials.
A cottage garden invites you to slow down, decelerate and relax with its traditional and down-to-earth style.
It’s a non-pretentious way of designing your backyard that has a very unique and heart-warming honesty and charm about it.
Climbing plants are just as common in a cottage garden as traditional fragrant and lush roses.
Garden designers have over time managed to change the whole look of a cottage garden.
Whereas once upon a time the cottage garden was more of a practical feature with herbs and edible plants being the main ingredients, today it is loved for its cheerful and relaxing qualities.
Interestingly, you can have a cottage garden even if you do not live in the country, all you require is a little space that you can dedicate to the garden.
The beauty of the garden is brought about by two main things, the different heights of the plants, and the diversity of the flowers.
If you have a cottage of any type, a log home, or a country-style house, you will find the cottage garden fits in very easily with its surroundings.
Certain aspects will ensure that your garden is a place of beauty.
Locate the garden in a sunny area usually along a walkway towards the front entrance and a rustic-looking gate or an arbor will add to the homely effect.
Having a simple brick, stone slab, or cobblestone path will complete the look of your garden.
When used sparingly, birdbaths and other decorations can pull the landscape’s theme together.
DIY Mediterranean Style Design Backyard Ideas With Pool Or Outdoor Kitchen Or Lighting
Image: ©Angelafoto via canva.com
I absolutely love the Mediterranean lifestyle, food, and nature. If you cannot travel to the Mediterranean, the next best thing is to bring the Mediterranean home to you.
A Mediterranean-style backyard is a perfect solution.
-
-
-
-
- Colors,
- fragrances,
- and some architectural elements
-
-
-
are all you need to give your backyard that relaxed Mediterranean touch.
Use gravel and smaller rocks instead of lawn, terracotta potted plants, and charming thin-legged chairs to provide plenty of seating to entertain outdoors.
You can even plant some olive and citrus trees, add some Roman columns, and seed plenty of fragrant herbs like rosemary or lavender, and thyme.
Transitional Landscaping Design Backyard Ideas
Image: ©jgareri via canva.com
Transitions backyard design is simply a gradual change. Some examples of transition in a landscape design can be achieved by gradually varying the plant size or the color intensity.
Transitions can also be applied to texture, foliage shape, and the size of different elements.
Transitions aim to establish harmonious links between areas of the landscape so that it reflects a well-thought-out plan.
If you have a patio that you feel looks like a stand-alone feature, you can blend the patio into the lawn with a simple patio-to-lawn transition.
One easy way of implementing this is using pavers spaced closely with pea gravel or granite sand to create a path from the patio to the lawn.
It is recommended to leave space between the pavers for drainage.
The pavers help extend the patio, and when you border the pathway with a small flower bed, it becomes a natural transition.
Generally, your imagination is your guide when it comes to transitional landscaping. However, the following tips are helpful.
Consistency is used to create unity and for focusing on a theme.
Contrast and harmony, color, and maintaining balance using different elements and objects that have almost similar imaginary weights are other ideas.
You can also contact a professional landscape designer to further guide you through your creative process and give you additional and valuable feedback.
Low Budget Rustic Landscaping Backyard Ideas
Image: ©FooTToo via canva.com
The word “rustic” conquers images of a simple yet peaceful and stress-free countryside life.
It’s an appealing idea that can be re-imagined in even the smallest backyards or the most compact urban settings.
Especially in these challenging times, a rustic backyard can be the ideal solution for a rejuvenating staycation that gets your mind away from everyday stresses while keeping your body safe at home.
Building a modest yet equally enchanting rustic backyard to encourage all your family members to spend more time outdoors.
California Style Garden Design Backyard Ideas
Image: ©Image Supply Co via canva.com
A California garden is a historical garden style that is essentially a mixture of different cultural traditions that have blended over 2 centuries.
If you want to do some California dreaming in your backyard there are a few elements you can add to make this outdoor living space more informal and relaxed.
Deck chairs and swings are just two examples of furniture that can help to produce that California vibe in your yard.
Colorful Flower Front And Backyard Ideas For Landscape Design
Color is a powerful design element that can guide a viewer’s attention along a certain path or toward a focal point.
Color is also a strong medium to generate an intended mood, feeling, and ambiance.
Plants are a great way to add colors to your backyard making it even more attractive.
A landscape full of colorful and diverse plants combined with selected decorative design elements can help transform a backyard into the space of your dreams.
Simple Modern Minimalist Small Backyard Ideas For Garden Landscaping Design
Image: ©Max Vakhtbovych via canva.com
If you’re a fan of the minimalistic lifestyle movement, having a minimalist backyard might be just a natural extension, right? Having fewer “things” in your backyard also means you have
-
-
-
-
- less “things” to think about,
- less “things” to take care of,
- less “things” to organize,
- less “things” to look after,
- less “things” to maintain,
- less “things” to stress out about,
- less “things” to worry about
- and so much more.
-
-
-
This can help to free up some of your time as well as your mind so that you can focus on what’s important to you.
Geometric Backyard Ideas For Garden Landscaping Design And Art
Image: ©nikitje via canva.com
If you like straight lines and right angles, having geometric backyard landscaping might be the perfect design for you.
With the right combination of regular lines of plants, right angles, and simple patterns you can achieve a clean and uncluttered almost minimalistic-looking backyard that invites the mind to slow down and relax.
Geometric backyard landscaping can give your garden a slightly more formal yet sophisticated, luxurious, and elegant look and feel.
Drought Tolerant Backyard Ideas For Garden Landscape Design
Image: ©Irina Stevenson via canva.com
A drought-tolerant backyard consists of drought-resistant and/or drought-tolerant plants and grass.
The former can survive in harsh conditions, with minimal or no water for long periods.
But there’s more you can do to install your very own drought-tolerant backyard.
To reduce water evaporation you can insulate the roots of your plants from the heat by using mulch.
You can also improve plant health by using organic compost.
Succulent Backyard Ideas For Outdoor Garden Landscaping Design With Rocks
Image: ©Tom_coultas via canva.com
By using some beautiful ornamental succulent plants you can convert part of your backyard into an attractive succulent garden.
Because succulent gardens don’t require much maintenance they’re popular with less experienced and first-time growers.
Even though succulents can be grown both indoors and outdoors, they thrive better outside where they have access to more sunlight and better airflow often resulting in healthier-looking plants.
You can grow succulents in the ground but they also grow well in pots which you can move around more easily if you wanted to change your backyard design occasionally.
Small Low Maintenance Backyard Ideas On A Budget With Mulch Beds
Image: ©ronstik via canva.com
It probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise hearing that mulch is a very cost-effective way to landscape your backyard. But apart from savings, numerous other benefits make a backyard with mulch a great option.
For starters, mulch doesn’t require much maintenance since neither mowing nor watering is required. Great!
It also inhibits the growth of unwanted weeds by making it difficult for them to reach the ground and start germinating.
And even those few that get through are starved of sunlight under a thick layer of mulch.
But did you know that mulch actually breaks down over time and subsequently fertilizes your plants as well?
Peaceful Relaxing And Informal Designs And Backyard Ideas
Image: ©Dontstop via canva.com
In general, when you look at backyard design ideas, you will find that a lot of them are more informal than those proposed for the front yard.
Here is a list of some relaxing and informal backyard design ideas and creative ways to add a more informal atmosphere to your backyard garden.
You can create an informal meandering path to lead you to your flower beds or vegetable gardens, or simply to let you stroll through your green grass.
You can design a cozy outdoor living room with climbing vines that is perfect as an entertainment area where you can host friends, a meditation garden for sitting back and relaxing, or a place to enjoy time outdoors with your children.
To give you more time to enjoy your garden, plan for low-maintenance features like a rock garden with perennial flowers.
Water features are a must-have for your garden. Flowing water injects the element of sound into your design that you do not get much of from other features.
The nice thing about creating a backyard that is not rigid and formal is that it forces you to focus on what you want and not landscape based on what TV shows think your garden should look like.
You can even replace your boring downspout with a decorative dry river bed.
Small Backyard Ideas For Oasis Design On A Budget
Image: ©FluxFactory via canva.com
Having a backyard oasis is like having your very own wellness area at home. But what are the main ingredients that turn a regular yard into a backyard oasis?
You need an area where you can have absolute privacy from prying eyes.
You also want tranquility so blocking out, muffling, or masking unwanted noises is also important.
You might want to add some calming sound features that can help produce that magical zen-like mood in your backyard. I’m thinking of wind chimes or a bubbling water feature, for example.
You also need very comfy furniture to relax on. How about some built-in seating with a small side table for your drink?
Adding lighting can improve the overall ambiance of your space, especially as the sun starts to go down. Candles are a great source of lighting and if you choose scented candles they can help relax you further with their wonderful fragrances.
Of course, you can also use fragrant plants to fill the air with a charming scent to achieve even deeper relaxation.
Small DIY Backyard Ideas For Sanctuary
Image: ©Linda Raymond via canva.com
Hear the words “garden sanctuary” and your mind automatically conjures up an image of a peaceful private garden where you can go to be rejuvenated and therapeutically healed.
There is a subtle connection between nature and healing and that is why you are guaranteed of spending many pleasurable hours in your backyard sanctuary.
The thought behind a garden sanctuary is taken from the children’s story, The Secret Garden, a place where you receive therapeutic healing.
Garden sanctuary ideas are many and you can personalize any idea to make it your own.
For extra privacy, you can plant a hedge along the perimeter of the garden using evergreen shrubs, hydrangeas, and dogwood.
For a hedge with a bit of color, consider planting French lilac or some forsythia.
Hedges also provide spaces for birds and other animals to safely nest, adding to the peaceful atmosphere of the garden.
-
-
-
-
- Poppies,
- purple crocuses,
- roses,
- delphinium,
- and irises
-
-
-
offer strong colors that will add a lot of depth to your garden. They are also low-maintenance flowers.
Highly fragrant plants are a good addition.
Hidden amongst a variety of flowers and trees, a secret garden can turn your backyard into a place of privacy and enchantment.
Small Backyard Ideas For Japanese Meditation Garden Design
Image: ©dariolopresti via canva.com
Everyone should have a meditation garden in their backyard.
Meditation gardens are places where one can go to escape the hassle and bustle and stresses of the life we live.
In your meditation garden, you can relax, rejuvenate and regroup, giving you renewed energy and sanity to face the world.
It, therefore, follows that you should choose a quiet section of your garden when creating a place to meditate.
Meditation is normally associated with spirituality, but regardless of your spiritual direction, your meditation garden provides a quiet place that allows you to pray and meditate where you can see, feel, smell, and hear the essence of nature.
You might want to keep the garden simple to avoid distractions.
Numerous garden-friendly meditation products can help to create a peaceful feel in your garden.
Ideal items include sculptures, and water features such as a waterfall, fountain, fish pond, or stream.
Rocks and rock features add a feeling of solidarity to your space, while small altars and statues can add to the tranquillity.
Plants are also an inspiring addition. The plants you choose should evoke calmness in you and can be scented, flowering, herbal, tropical, native, or even desert style.
Backyard Ideas For Feng Shui Landscaping Design
Image: ©Duangphorn Wiriya via canva.com
From ancient China, we get the traditional practice known as Feng Shui or Chinese geomancy.
Feng Shui is all about the invisible forces that bind the universe, earth, and humanity together, known as Qi.
The goal of Feng Shui as practiced today is to create harmony and balance by observing the flow of energy when placing your objects. And because the principles of Feng Shui can be applied to plants as well, we can safely talk about Feng Shui garden plants.
Wood, fire, metal, water, and earth are the 5 Feng Shui elements that must be properly balanced.
Plants are carefully categorized to represent these elements that harness a specific power. For example, peonies represent fire while white tulips represent metal.
A few popular Feng Shui plants include
-
-
-
-
- bamboo,
- peony,
- maple tree,
- chrysanthemum,
- iris,
- lily,
- lotus,
- daffodil,
- magnolia,
- jasmine,
- and gardenia,
-
-
-
among many more.
Arrange your choice of plants so they are mixed in different sizes, shapes, and colors, so no one plant will be overwhelmed by the others.
Use ornamental grasses to capture and bring to life the passing breeze which provides a calm, peaceful feel.
Brighten dark areas and dispel any gloom, especially in corners, by adding light-colored plants.
Small Backyard Ideas For Private Retreat Design
Image: ©Purdue9394 via canva.com
Have you heard of the Quiet Garden Movement in the US and the UK?
It’s a movement that aims to share outdoor spaces for well-being and the inner journey.
Even if you don’t intend on sharing your property with the public, it demonstrates the need and the benefits of having a space where you can decelerate and slow down to center yourself and reconnect with your inner self.
Installing a backyard retreat and quiet corner in your backyard is a great way to improve your mental and physical well-being.
Backyard Ideas For Secret DIY Hideaway Design With Gravel, Fences, Or Decks
Image: ©eowyn_photos via canva.com
You can have a rustic modern or cozy Bohemian backyard hideaway.
For added privacy, put up a fence from wood, greenery, or even bamboo.
Your backyard hideaway is a place where you can withdraw from the commotion of the outside world, and enjoy some time to relax, rejuvenate and re-energize.
That is why you should pay special attention to the furniture.
Your budget should not limit your décor because a well-designed outdoor room with carefully chosen furnishings can look just as good as a room with an unlimited budget.
The size of your space should also not be a limitation. If you are working with a small space, create the illusion of having more space by going upwards.
Vertical landscaping will encourage the eye to take height into account when viewing the yard and will make it feel more spacious.
Use a variety of plants at varying heights to capitalize on the amount of visual interest you are bringing to the space.
A fire pit gives your hideaway a homely look while also giving it a focal point.
Generally, focus on creating a comfortable and welcoming hideaway with the accessories you choose, and remember that with small spaces, less is more.
Small Backyard Ideas For Magical Secret Garden Designs
Image: ©soupstock via canva.com
A secret garden is usually hidden from immediate view by trees or a hedge, giving it a mysterious, private feel.
The secret of a secret garden lies in the decoration that is installed.
Secret garden decor is as varied as the imagination and depending on what you opt for, you can make an ordinary garden an extraordinary one.
This is a great way in which you can personalize your garden.
With a little skill and a lot of imagination, you can create a secret garden that not only expresses your uniqueness but also goes beyond ordinary expectations to deliver a garden that is timeless in its beauty.
To make it feel like a genuine secret garden you can include a rocky landscape, a cobblestone or flagstone path, while a waterfall offers a calm and tranquil environment.
Add a trellis or a gate with climbing plants to make it look like your very own extraordinary outdoor room.
One or two sculptures, a birdbath, and benches built into a hidden corner will make your secret garden an unexpected, inviting, and quaint space that will give you a feeling of being close to nature that is hard to fulfill in an open garden.
Backyard Ideas – It’s A Wrap
Wow. You’ve made it to the end.
Congrats.
It was a lot of fun putting this list together.
I hope you feel inspired by some of the amazing backyard landscaping ideas you can use to improve the look and feel of your outdoor space.
Simple things like adding a few potted plants and some Adirondack chairs can change the overall backyard style and turn even small backyards with limited square footage into a true outdoor oasis.
Add some climbing plants and lush greenery and relax in your backyard with your morning coffee or a glass of wine during those warm summer nights.
If you love to entertain outdoors adding an outdoor fireplace or an outdoor dining area with natural stone and built-in seating can transform your overall backyard garden into your very own outdoor living room.
If you love al fresco dining in fresh air but your backyard hasn’t got enough square footage for an outdoor kitchen or a firepit area, consider using a bistro set and a bar cart for your outdoor version of an enchanting entertainment area.
These are just some examples. Hopefully, you discovered a few ideas you love.
I’d love to hear from you about which ones were your favorite backyard ideas in the comments below.