The fact that you have it alone gives you an advantage over folks that live in huge apartment buildings, but is your backyard the best that it can be?
Have you ever wondered if there was anything you could do to make it more interesting, comfortable, or better-looking?
In other words, how can you turn your backyard into a true haven for you and your family?
The Benefits of Having a Backyard
One of the many benefits of having a backyard is spending more time in nature, which helps us to stay healthy.
Moreover, it enables us to spend more time with our friends and family and upkeep our social life.
Last, it gives you an opportunity to take care of a little piece of land and design it to your preferences.
We assembled a list of 20 makeover ideas to help your backyard look and function the best ways possible, so make sure to read on.
1. Add Some Outdoor Furniture
Regardless of whether you have a big or small family, a wide or narrow circle of friends, or how often you invite people over, you should always have some sort of furniture setup.
This refers to chairs and tables that create an excellent arrangement for eating or drinking tea, as well as cozy and comfortable seating like benches with pillows, rocking chairs, and more.
2. Warm Up Around a Fire Pit
Recreate the relaxing atmosphere of your latest camping trip by assembling an outdoor fire pit where you can sit around with your friends and family, roast simple meals like hot dogs or marshmallows, and tell spooky ghost stories – a fun experience on a cold autumn evening beside a warm fire.
The best part?
You don’t have to wander around collecting branches or struggle with smoke blowing in your face.
3. Buy a BBQ Grill
Speaking of food, there aren’t many things that are better on a long summer afternoon than a hamburger or even stake fresh off the grill.
This is why many people think of a barbecue grill as an essential component of their backyard setup.
If you don’t have one already, consider getting one ASAP. There is plenty of choice on the market and you can go with an electric or gas grill, whichever works better for you.
4. Install a Hot Tub
Another one of the must-have items in your backyard is a hot tub.
You can opt for a solid albeit pricey installment that will require hiring a professional plumber or an inflatable one that is cheaper yet offers the comfort and relaxation very close to those provided by the more expensive kind.
Plus, you won’t need a plumber to install an inflatable hot tub. Whichever you choose, it’ll prove an enjoyable addition to your awesome backyard experience.
5. Build a Storage Shed
Is your garage filled with things you never use but still keep around thinking you might need them someday? Or just stuff like lawn and garden supplies, your bike, and so on, that you do use but are still cluttering up the valuable space?
Whatever the case, it’s a good idea to have a place in your backyard where you could move all that stuff and have it close at hand, such as a storage shed.
It is especially useful if you don’t have an attic or basement, but even if you do, there are things that are too cumbersome to carry around, like, say, a lawnmower.
6. Place a Fountain
Not all additions to your backyard need to be strictly practical. Some things simply improve its look and appeal.
One of them is a fountain. Not only does it look amazing, but it also won’t take up a lot of room nor will it cost you too much.
In whatever part of your backyard you place it, it’s bound to make it more beautiful and who knows – you might even get some visitors like a squirrel or bird coming to bathe or drink water.
7. Make a Treehouse
If you have kids or feel like one, a treehouse can be an ideal playspace or place for relaxing away from everyone else.
Of course, to make a treehouse, you need a tree, material and some effort, but they’re relatively easy to make and can be a great DIY hobby project.
You can also pay someone to build it.
8. Add a Basketball Playground
If you, your friends, and/or your kids enjoy playing basketball but don’t want to have to go all the way to a public or private court to play, why not have one in your own backyard and play anytime you want?
It’s really easy. Just get an in-ground or portable basketball hoop, mark the ground for the playing field and you’re good to go!
9. Buy a Trampoline
Another great addition bound to bring heaps of fun to everyone involved is a trampoline.
Not only that, it’s also a great way to break a sweat without going to the gym. Some trampolines even come with basketball hoops, doubling up on the fun and promising hours of energetic entertainment.
That said, a trampoline can take up a lot of space, so make sure you have enough of it before purchasing.
10. Step Up The Security
In an ideal world, you wouldn’t have to worry about burglars but unfortunately, we’re not living in an ideal world and there are some things you can and should place in your backyard to ensure the basic security of your premises.
They include motion sensor lights and outdoor security cameras. You can have one without the other but having both will complement each other and provide ideal security.
11. “Lighten up” the Place
The lights don’t need to be there for security purposes only. Having some nice lights just casually hanging around can dramatically improve the appeal and mood of your backyard.
There are plenty of choices on the market for brightening up the place, including string lights, lanterns, torches, solar lighting, post lanterns, you name it.
12. Hang a Hammock
For enjoying long lazy summer afternoons with a book, phone, or tablet in your hands, there’s hardly anything better than a hammock.
Just hook it up between two trees and you’re ready to chill.
No trees in your backyard? No worries, there are hammocks that are standalone and as good as the traditional ones.
13. Add a Swing
A hammock is just one swinging option in your backyard. How about adding an actual swing as well?
Just like a treehouse, a swing isn’t necessarily a kids-only backyard item.
There are large swings you can purchase that will hold an adult person and provide a great place for sitting, hanging out with friends, and general relaxation.
14. Plant a Garden
If you don’t have it already, you need to plant a garden now.
It’s cheap, it’s beautiful, and it can be useful, especially if it’s a herb garden.
Plus, gardening has always been a relaxing and rewarding activity.
There are lots of herbs out there that you can grow all year long and will give you a steady supply to make your dinners tasty.
15. Invest in a Pool
If you can afford to build and maintain it, a swimming pool is always a great addition to your backyard.
However, it’s certainly not an option for everyone so a great alternative for getting wet on a hot summer day without massive expenses is an inflatable pool.
If you don’t think it can replace the real deal, check again. There are inflatable versions on the market that range from kiddy, where your kids can cool off on a hot day, to mammoth size, where you can swim all you like.
16. Throw in an Outdoor Rug
A cheap way to freshen up your backyard is to add an outdoor rug.
This is especially true if you have a patio and are often entertaining guests in your backyard (or planning to).
Not only will this make the entire space stand out but it won’t require any expensive and time-consuming renovations.
If you don’t plan on keeping it under a pergola or other covered area, make sure to get a rug that is waterproof.
17. Set up a Backyard Theater
Love watching movies and shows? You can bring this relaxing activity outside to your backyard by throwing in some air mattresses, large pillows, blankets, and string lights, as well as the most important ingredients – a projector and screen.
You can invite all of your friends or have a quiet evening with your family.
Don’t forget the popcorn! A backyard projector is also a fun way to show your friends and family your latest vacation photos.
18. Assemble an Outdoor Kitchen
A grill or fire pit is a good way to make some basic dishes to entertain your backyard guests, but more complicated things require a full kitchen.
Instead of having to stay inside your house cooking while your guests are having fun outside without you, why not invest in an outdoor kitchen?
Yes, it can be expensive and it’s a big project but it’s worth it.
The market is already filled with outdoor kitchen elements, including sinks, drawers, pantries, burners, refrigerators, and utensils that won’t be ruined if there’s rainfall.
19. Set up a pergola
If you’re still worried about your outdoor kitchen elements’, furniture, and projector’s safety or just want to enjoy your backyard whenever you like, rain or sunshine, you should set up a pergola.
Not only does it look very nice, but it provides excellent protection against the sun, rain, or snow. You can even add curtains for the ultimate comfort and elegant look.
20. Create a Pathway
If you want to add some walking space to your otherwise monotonous grassy backyard, you can easily do so by creating a pathway (or more of them) leading from your backdoor to your outdoor kitchen, pergola, swing, theater setup, etc.
It can be easily made out of many different materials – stepping stones, gravel, mulch, bricks, concrete, dirt, whichever you like best, and will also make your backyard look organized and more eye-catching.