Are you ready to give your outdoor living space an upgrade? A backyard makeover doesn’t have to be costly to be luxurious. Sometimes, the right night-time lighting, patio furniture, and a little magic are all you need to create a beautiful backyard. Check out our list of backyard design ideas to help you transform your green space into a beautiful oasis on a budget!
Build A Simple Patio Or Deck
Eliminating curves and other fancy design features will make a difference, but reducing the overall size of the deck is where you’ll likely find the biggest savings. Matching deck dimensions to standard lumber lengths and using premade concrete piers, or footings, can also reduce the cost. Completing this project instantly adds appeal to your yard and also increases the value of your home. There are some options that cost less than $1,000 when you use treated lumber and weatherproofing stain/seal.
Add Flair With A Pathway
A stone pathway is inexpensive and easy to add. Pile the stones according to their general size then pick stones that will create the pattern you want and lay them in place within the chalked outline of the walk. Lay and level the stones and then install a weed barrier full of mulch or pebbles. For some ambiance to the pathway, add some lanterns or solar lights. Line the pathway with beds of flowers on either side.
Plan A Garden
Express your creativity — not just in the design of the gardens, but in the placement of plants and the size and shape of flowerbeds. Plant seeds (or small plants) and then joyfully watch them grow into bigger plants. Add pops of color and plants of different heights to make your garden stand out. Use landscape fabric to prevent weeds and allow for drainage.
Build A Trellis
It is very easy and affordable to build your own trellis! Even better, you can customize and make a trellis that perfectly fits your needs.
The best trellis climbing flowers include:
- Clematis.
- Climbing Hydrangea.
- Honeysuckle.
- Ivy.
- Jasmine.
- Morning Glory.
- Passionflower.
Vegetables that can be trellised include:
- Indeterminate tomatoes.
- Pole beans.
- Vining cucumbers.
- Loofah.
- Squash.
- Sweet potato.
- Peas.
- Pumpkins.
Flowers or vegetables or one of each will add a lot of personality to your backyard.
Add A Little Shade With A Pergola
A pergola is an outdoor structure consisting of columns that support a roofing grid of beams and rafters. This roofing grid may be left open or covered so as to create an area sheltered from the elements. Pergolas may be freestanding or attached to a house. Consider which direction your pergola should face, as well as the materials you will be using. Add curtains or plants to block the sun even more. You will want to spend even more time outside under the shade of your pergola.
Do You Have Room For A Water Feature?
A water feature instantly adds that “wow” factor to your landscape. If you purchase a simple, small water fountain with an internal pump, you can expect to pay as little as $130 in total. It could look beautiful among your plants. Just adding a bird bath and feeders could bring some feathered friends to your home. Or maybe a swimming pool is part of your dream backyard?
Have You Heard Of Xeriscaping?
Xeriscaping conserves groundwater. If planted correctly, your plants need little or no fertilizer, herbicides, or pesticides. The most common example of a xeriscape-friendly plant is the cactus, which has hundreds of different species that are native to North and South America. Cacti have evolved many physical adaptations that conserve water. However, the amount of work needed in the early stages of your landscape installation will be significant and your property will have a much sparser aesthetic than it probably had before.
Lighting
Landscape lighting allows you to brighten a large portion of your garden or simply set a scene for a relaxing night on the porch. This gives you more time to bond with your family and loved ones or entertain guests during or after dinner. Drape twinkle or string lights over a pergola or hang them along the outline of your option. Lanterns allow you to grab and move lighting anywhere in your backyard. Add a little sparkle to your backyard.
Plan An Outdoor Grill Station
Most estimates seem to put the return on outdoor kitchens at somewhere between 100% and 200%. This means that for most outdoor kitchens, homeowners can expect to at least get the money they put into it back when they sell their homes. However, the national average cost for this project is $13,180 (or $495 per linear foot). If this is out of your budget range, consider a grill station and some storage unit area. It’s the stopping place for all of your guests. Or as we would put it…the backyard hangout! You could build an island and put a few stools there. Add a table and chairs and some outdoor furniture and enjoy.
You can renovate your backyard without breaking the bank. With the weather warming up, many a homeowner decides to spruce up the exterior, all the better to spend time outdoors. In fact, according to Home Light’s Buyer and Seller Insight For 2022, a desire to have “my own yard/outdoor space” was the number one motive stated for buying a home.
Contact us (859-640-0657) for a free consultation!
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About Presentable Landscaping
Presentable Landscaping provides many landscaping services to our customers in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati.
- Clean ups
- Pruning / Trimming
- Paver Patios
- Mulching
- Retaining Walls
- Drainage
- Leaf Removal
- Gutter Cleaning