10 Backyard Ideas for Your Home

Beautify your backyard on a budget

a house with a beautiful backyard filled with flowers
Photo: Photographee.eu / Adobe Stock
a house with a beautiful backyard filled with flowers
Photo: Photographee.eu / Adobe Stock
Get quotes from up to 3 pros!
Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you.
Geo Icon

Your backyard can serve many purposes – a gardening hub, a space for entertaining family and friends, or even just the perfect place to relax on a beautiful day.

No matter how you utilize your backyard space, a little time outdoors will do you good. Try these 10 backyard improvements to turn your backyard into your own personal oasis.

1. Potted Plants

While all backyards need shrubs and trees, consider adding potted plants to your backyard designs for more dimension in your garden. Container favorites include begonias, asters and azaleas. Fill containers with an organic potting mix, such as The Espoma Company's, to ensure proper drainage and best results.

2. Kids Corner

Get kids outside by making the backyard fun for them, too. Add an outdoor DIY chalkboard where kids can express their creativity. Games and toys like hopscotch or jump rope are perfect for warm nights outside. You can even encourage them to eat healthy by growing a vegetable garden.

3. Edible Gardens

Yards can be purposeful, too. Growing your own fruits and veggies ensures the best quality, convenience and taste. Grow plants in raised bed gardens or containers, if you’re short on space. Some plants offer year-round foliage, tasty fruit and space saving, and some plants are good for your garden. Choose dwarf varieties such as those from Bushel & Berry for growing in containers.

4. Upcycled Materials

Instead of throwing away old household items, give them new life in the garden. Almost anything can be turned into a container garden, from toolboxes to wheelbarrows. Fill empty wine or beer bottles with LED lights for unique lanterns.

5. DIY Lanterns

DIY lanterns make for a great crafting project and add a unique touch of light to your backyard. Add candles or LED lights to mason jars or painted tin cans.

6. Fire Pits

Nothing says summer like a backyard bonfire. Purchase a fire pit at your local garden center or create your own fire pit using stone or brick surrounded with gravel or small stones. Grab some comfy furniture, family and friends and get ready for s’more season.

7. String Lights

Enchanting string lights turn your backyard into an outdoor oasis. Hang them between posts, dangle from walls or ceilings or even wrap them around planters or trees.

8. Furniture

Durable yet comfy outdoor couches and chairs make your backyard the perfect space for entertaining. Hang a hammock between two shady spots for a place to catch up on some reading.

9. Walkways and Paths

Use gravel, stepping stones, or wooden pallets to create a walkway through your garden. Line the path with low-growing shrubs or groundcovers like verbena, hostas or sedges.

10. Add a Water Feature

Add water features to your backyard to create a zen garden effect. Tiered fountains look great in any backyard and add the soothing sound of running water. Create a small pond to create visual contrast with your plants. Birdbaths can also serve as a focal point and provide shelter for our friends in the sky.

Any of these backyard ideas will be sure to turn your outdoor space into a fun, relaxing and beautiful space.

Need professional help with your project?
Get quotes from top-rated pros.
The homeowners guide to landscaping services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Luxury concrete patio with fireplace
Aug 13, 2024
Aug 13, 2024
How much does hardscaping cost project by project? Check out our breakdown for every price tag you need to know, from outdoor fireplaces to patios.
A family pulling weeds in backyard garden
Jul 26, 2024
Jul 26, 2024
From your flower beds to your walkway, river rocks make a classic addition to your landscape. Curious how much river rocks cost? Let's get rolling.
grey large house with beautiful landscaping
Aug 1, 2024
Aug 1, 2024
A landscape designer can elevate your outdoor space and bring your vision to life. Use this landscape design cost guide to budget for your next project.
A house with two garage doors
Dec 27, 2023
Dec 27, 2023
Ivy might look pretty, but you probably don’t want it in your garden. Learn how much it’ll cost to remove ivy by type, treatment method, and more.
A landscaped garden with a pathway and a wooden archway
Mar 4, 2024
Mar 4, 2024
You have paid a landscaper all year for their services and, come tax time, you may wonder if landscaping is tax-deductible. Find out in this guide.
Friends having a party in the backyard
Dec 11, 2023
Dec 11, 2023
What causes your lawn to have dips and bumps? We’ll answer this question and help you learn who to hire to fill an uneven lawn.
Share project details to get started.