10 DIY Backyard Design Upgrades on a Budget

Adding a little colour to your backyard area can provide a significant facelift without blowing your budget. For example, updating throw pillows and blankets in medium to bright palettes offers a pop of colour throughout the yard. And when it comes to outdoor furniture, you can add some flair by updating neutral-toned chairs and benches with spray paint in colours that match the general vibe you’re going for. If you don’t want to mess with your furniture, consider giving other items a coat of paint, such as fences, pot holders, garden fencing and more.

Stepping stones can create a more structured and organized appeal to any size backyard. Gathering the best rocks for this project depends on the size and type you want, but it’s best to look for flatter stones if you do indeed wish to walk on them. Installing is a breeze, too! You can choose to set them directly on top of the soil or dig a bit to keep them flush with the ground.

Another way to make a statement without breaking the bank is to add an area rug to a designated spot in your yard. Whether it’s underneath an outdoor dining table and chairs, a fire pit, a garden, or simply beneath additional seating, an outdoor rug will create dimension and the illusion of a larger space overall.

For those who lack the space, time, and energy for extravagant flower beds, consider container gardening, which helps keep things cheap, cheerful, and easy to maintain. Shop for the perfect large pot holders or repurpose what you already have at home, and then select the flowers and filler plants that best suit each planter. After taking good care of your plants and ensuring they get the right amount of light and water to keep them thriving.

Globe lights, LED string lights, candles, lanterns, torches—the options to light up your backyard truly are endless. Creating ambience is essential to controlling the vibe and comfort of your outdoor space. Mix and match your lighting options and carefully select the best areas for them to shine, such as stringing them from decks, tree branches, fences and more.

Depending on how much space you do (or don’t) have, finding ways to store outdoor items such as cushions, toys, gardening and lawn tools, and more can be challenging. Instead, reimagine your backyard with.

Ditch the expensive price tag and labour required to add titles to your backyard;instead, find a stencil that speaks to you and a preferred colour of paint. Place the stencil on an empty canvas in the yard — such as a wooden deck, pavement or stone — and create the pattern with unique designs that will have guests doing a double-take when they enter your porch space.

These days, there are countless ways to display outdoor plants and flowers. Vertical shelving and wall gardens are popular options, often supported by a trellis or repurposed arches and shelving that can produce focal points that are playful and full of colour.

Add personality to outdoor spaces, particularly the backyard, by adding a variety of accessories that set the mood and please the eye. From tablecloths to trays and planters to candleholders, many multipurpose items can draw attention in the right places while helping you keep things organized. Wicker baskets can also serve as storage for throw pillows and blankets that are not in use.

Keep the energy moving well into the fall with an outdoor fire pit. If you’re willing to put in the effort, a DIY fire pit is a budget-friendly option that leaves room for unique elements and flair you may not find in a store-bought version. There are many ways to design and build a fire pit from scratch, ranging from repurposed materials like a washing machine drum to keep it simple with stacked bricks for a more rustic look and feel.