Guide to a Backyard Makeover on a Budget

If you feel your backyard could do with a bit of makeover this year, there are probably a couple of things that could be improved.

However, the budget is usually what holds us back from having a dazzling backyard makeover. Instead, the following guide will help you make significant improvements and still manage to stay within the budget.

1. DIY projects on the outdoor furniture

The outdoor furniture is usually made to stand the test of time and heavy weather conditions. As such, it would be a shame to get rid of it just because you don’t fancy the color any more or some pieces are not completely functional.

Spend a couple of hours reviving the furniture; do the simple fixes, replace broken legs, add a fresh layer of paint and choose the color you want this time. It’s also much cheaper than buying new indoor furniture – you’ll need the money for other makeover projects.

2. Switch to a vertical garden

Vertical gardens are a great solution for small backyards, and they are also cheaper to make, especially if you use recycled materials for them.

For example, you can use a wooden ladder, some wire and terracotta pots to decorate your front porch with a vertical garden.

Another option is to use old paint cans as pots and hang them up in a vertical line. A picture frame can be repurposed as a place for succulents in your vertical garden, while a shoe organizer (it must be a waterproof one) makes a great vertical garden that can be easily moved.

Finally, your wooden fence can serve as a structure for the garden – simply hang pot hangers and wood screws on it.

3. Cover the patio with concrete

If you want a simple concrete patio, there are two cheap ways to do it. The first is to use masonry stain in any color you like to coat the surface.

Even a checkerboard pattern is possible if you want to play with multiple colors. The other option is to place slate tiles over the concrete using a thin-set mortar, which would add a touch of elegance to the area.

4. Decorating with outdoor lights

They are very cheap to get and they instantly add magic to any space. You can hang them in the tree above the patio or wrap them around the table; you can draw attention to interesting plants with them or simply let them hanging from the table edges.

5. Thorough outdoor cleaning

Sometimes a big part of the backyard makeover is to do a thorough cleaning of the whole exterior. The facade facing the backyard contributes to the overall look, too, so repaint the areas on it that look washed up and turn to window cleaning services to get flawlessly clean glass surfaces.

Next, deal with fallen leaves, dead branches on the trees and wilted flowers and clean the pathways with a powerful water hose. Remove the grass growing between the tiles and around the patio and get rid of broken pots spread around the garden. The backyard will instantly look improved.

6. Use mulch

In some way, mulch really is the carper of a backyard. So, spread mulch on all flowerbeds and any area with exposed soil in the yard. It will give away the feeling of a completed look.

What’s more, mulch prevents weed from growing and keeps the necessary nutrients in the soil, nurturing the plants. Of course, there are cheap mulch alternatives, for example, grass clippings – the next time you mow the lawn, rake up the clippings and the savings and simply spread them over the designated area.

Shredded leaves are also very nutritious for the plants and easy to collect. If you have pines close by, pine needles are also very easy to spread due to their weight.

7. Build an outdoor fire pit

This sounds really luxurious but it’s possible to make it your DIY project. It will attract your family members to gather around it and it will definitely improve the look of your backyard.

No need to consult a contractor for this – any home improvement store offers everything you need to DIY the fire pit.

The cheapest way is to go for cinder block caps, which shouldn’t cost more than $40 in total. Other slightly more expensive options are concrete retaining wall blocks and concrete fire bowl. The dirt floor fire ring can be completely free if you use natural stones from the local woods.

Final words

A backyard makeover can be a success even though your budget is very limited. Just as long as you’re ready to DIY and to experiment a little.

Author Bio

Sarah Jessica Smith is a young blogger from Sydney. She is in love with life and all the things that can make her daily routine easier. She loves to write about home improvement, lifestyle, and all the small things that make life such a great adventure.