The Spruce / Jacob Fox

Even the smallest and simplest upgrade willmake your backyard more beautifuland usable.

Or go super simple and add a few more plants or light up your garden with twinkle lights.

Lay them in a staggered pattern to mimic the look of a nice stone firepit.

Backyard ideas on a budget. Outdoor movie night with a sheet for a screen

The Spruce / Jacob Fox

This cactus painting brightens up this outdoor dining space while adding Southwestern-style flair.

Plus, it’s an Instagram-worthy spot to post pictures of yourself enjoying your backyard.

You’d be surprised at how much touches of color can change the entire look of your backyard.

Lady Landscape outdoor firepit

Lady Landscape / Instagram

check that the surface is about waist high to make it easier on your body when gardening.

Or take a page out ofAllie Wilson’s book and upcycle a pallet into a slim vertical garden center.

No storage is no problemhang your supplies on the wall.

A cactus mural in an outdoor dining area

saratoufali/ Instagram

It’s an easy, inexpensive way to create ambiance in your backyard for quiet summer nights.

They’re reminiscent of fireflies.

Keep them up year-round as winter decor against a snowy backdrop.

A white stock tank pool in a farmhouse-style backyard.

the_little_homesteader/ Instagram

We love this vivid blue one that instantly brightens up the yard.

To make the pockets for the strawberries to grow,follow this video tutorialfrom Tim Burrows.

We love this outdoor room byDwell Awarewhere the ceiling and flooring are painted in contrasting colors.

backyard ideas on a budget

A Beautiful Mess

Add a coffee table, comfortable furniture, and even hang furnishings like mirrors to bring a welcoming feel.

Lay gravel and add outdoor rugs for a low-maintenance and low-budget DIY patio alternative.

For example, fill an unused wheelbarrow with your favorite blooms or succulents.

A DIY outdoor bar cart made from wire shelving.

home_on_the_bluff/ Instagram

Use hooks to hang a variety of potted plants.

If you spend almost all your time in your backyard, this project will surely elevate your relaxation experience.

This will turn the structure from an eyesore to a feature.

finding lovely hanging plants

Finding Lovely

This DIY curved option fromA Beautiful Messcost $125 in materials and took two days to put together.

It’s anaffordable backyard upgradefor those with woodworking skills.

It’s both budget-friendly and whimsical.

A fairy garden in a large bird bath.

Ryan Overman/Getty Images

Lay Down an Outdoor Rug

kirsten.diane/ Instagram

Dress up your patio with a colorful or patternedoutdoor rug.

you might find many outdoor rugs for a great deal online or thrift one from a secondhand store.

We love the outdoor rug on this patio byKirsten Dianeand how it pulls the entire space together.

Modern House Vibes

Modern House Vibes / Instagram

Use an outdoor rug to add interest to a concrete-slab patio.

It increases your storage space for essential items.

We love this wood pallet furniture inAfro Bohemian Living’soutdoor space.

allie wilson home garden center

Allie Wilson Home / Instagram

Plus, you don’t have to burn your feet on the hot pavement.

Here,denadanielle_designsused items from her house to create a backyard oasis.

She used safety pins to attach sheets to a hula hoop and twine to hang it from a tree.

Julian Porcino privacy fence

Home Consultant

She added a faux flower garland to the hula hoop and an old chandelier for a whimsical look.

Always plantpet-safe flowers, such as bachelor buttons and zinnias.

Freshen the Mulch

Nothing visually refreshes a yard and garden more than a freshlayer of mulch.

lady landscape mason jars

Lady Landscape / Instagram

Whether you havesun,shade, oranything in between, there’s a stunning perennial for you.

Then plant some beautifulclimbing bloomsto make it a magical destination spot in your yard.

Your back and knees will thank you!

Strawberries growing in an upcycled blue barrel.

Iryna Veklich/Getty Images

Use plants and tall shade trees to create a lush backyard without the grassy fuss.

The most affordable way to beautify your backyard is to work with what you have.

Water andmow the lawn, tend to the garden, and sweep up leaves.

ohsokel outdoor movie night

@ohsokel / Instagram

Add inexpensive raised garden beds and low-cost outdoor LED string lights to upgrade the backyard.

Consider a fire pit conversation area or anaffordable dining setif there’s a budget.

For example, connect elements with stone paths, a line of planters, or edged flower beds.

A swing chair hanging in the corner of an outdoor room.

Dwell Aware/ Instagram

You will get the most return on investment if you keep up with landscape and lawn care maintenance.

Building an outdoor kitchen ranks high on the list of more costly remodeling projects that add value.

Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features.National Association of Realtors.

Glass bottles filled with blooms hanging from a wood fence

nedjelly/Getty Images

An outdoor room with two matching hanging mirrors.

Allie Wilson Home/ Instagram

A gravel backyard with a picnic table set up for al fresco dining.

southernsudsandsimpleliving/ Instagram

A patio with a dining table, chairs and a lattice filled with potted plants and decor.

My Bohemian Nest/ Instagram

wheel barrow planter

@plant_ing_joys / Instagram

An outdoor room with sheer curtains, hanging pendant lighting and a sectional.

Kirsten Diane/ Instagram

A metal screen with various hanging potted plants.

dmf87 / Getty Images

A napping nook in a yard with a wood pallet bed and bedding.

S.U.S.A.P./ Instagram

garden shed

Ursula Carmona of Home Made by Carmona

An outdoor teepee with blankets, pillows and a fruit bowl.

@S.U.S.A.P./ Instagram

backyard ideas on a budget fire pit

A Beautiful Mess

Herzen Stimme lighting

Herzen Stimme / Instagram

A rock garden with contrasting colors and succulents.

Chakarin Wattanamungkol / Getty Images

suncadia smores station

@suncadia / Instagram

@kastlesvintage teacup feeder

@kastlesvintage / Instagram

A spring inspired outdoor living room with an umbrella, love seat and rug.

kirsten.diane/ Instagram

backyard ideas on a budget

My 100 Year Old Home

A DIY outdoor kitchen table with shelving and storage buckets.

home_on_the_bluff/ Instagram

backyard ideas on a budget concrete

Most Lovely Things

An outdoor room with black privacy walls, wood furniture and a hammock

ann.living/ Instagram

An outdoor living room with wood pallet furniture and a woven pendant light

afrobohemianliving/ Instagram

A Bohemian style pool area with a large umbrella, rugs and lounge chairs.

jcdesign1.1/ Instagram

A DIY backyard tent made from white sheets and faux flowers.

denadanielle_designs/ Instagram

diy doghouse

The Awesome Orange

Overhead of natural sawdust mulch in a flower bed

The Spruce / Jacob Fox

Mix of annual, biennial, and perennial plants in a garden bed

Photos by R A Kearton / Getty Images

An elevated backyard with a pergola and pool

@ladylandscape/ Instagram

Small Raised Garden Bed in Front Yard

Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona

Outdoor pea gravel patio with fire pit and ivy-covered wall

Emily Henderson Design/ Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp