An Amazing Summer Backyard on a Budget!
An Amazing Summer Backyard on a Budget!
An Amazing Summer Backyard on a Budget!
Who doesn’t want an amazing backyard? Of course, everyone does, but the dreams vs. budget don’t always exactly line up. The good news is, you don’t have to have a huge budget to make improvements—you just have to get a bit clever! There are so many to give your backyard some pizzazz without breaking the bank. A few ideas to consider that don’t break the bank:
- LIGHTS – Adding evening lighting will boost the ambiance while staying on the affordable side. Add solar pathway lights, a fire pit or string up some fun café lights. If you plan to continue hanging out after dark, lighting is essential! Plus, if it’s a fire pit, you can make s’mores—and what’s not to love about that?
- FLORAL ACENTS – Add some brightly colored flowers to your beds or a few planters filled with drought tolerant plants for an instant wow! Flowers will not only up your backyard game, but will bring a smile every time you pass by.
- POP OF COLOR – If your patio furniture is showing the signs of all the summers past, try painting it instead of replacing it. If it’s on its last leg, you really don’t have much to lose! Paint can add new life to both wood and metal—just be sure to get correct type of paint for the surface you are painting. Another option to update your patio furniture is new cushions or a few bright outdoor pillows for some pops of color.
- HAPPY DOOR – The front door gets attention, but don’t forget about the back! If your door needs a makeover, paint can cure a myriad of post-winter blues. You can’t go wrong with a classic black door (if it works with your color palette) or opt for a bright cheery hue. It’s low risk to go wild on color choice—if you hate it, it’s not hard to paint it to a neutral color. Also, check out your door hardware—is it a long since dead style? If so, before painting is a great time to change it out. Remove the old hardware, prep and paint the door and then install the new hardware. If you do it all at the same time, you won’t have to worry about any unpainted spots where the old hardware used to be and you’ll have a fun new entry that you will admire every time you go outside.
- ADD SOME FUN! – There are so many ideas out there to incorporate into your backyard to make it a sought after place to hang out. Make a lounge area, a tire swing, outdoor bowling, oversized scotch or oversized twister! So many possibilities to create some fun for kids and adults—the only limit is your imagination!
- YARD CLUTTER – My favorite kinds of projects are the free ones, and this is no different. One of the easiest things to do to create a backyard oasis is to make sure that there is no clutter. Yard art is fun, but make sure it is a curated collection—not just a wasteland. The best mindset to get into when “decluttering” your yard is to pretend you’re having an outdoor party—stage it as if you’re having handfuls of guests. Are there items that don’t belong or items that are broken or need to be put into retirement? If so, get rid of them. Most yard décor will only last a few seasons before it needs to be thrown out due to the weather. Find new storage “homes” for the random wheelbarrows, hoses and clutter (preferably in a garage or shed, out of sight). If it’s time to retire it, trash it or donate it. Finish off with a good sweeping of the hard surface area. The more ruthless you are when decluttering, the higher the wow factor payoff will be in the end.
Your backyard should be a retreat, but it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. If you spend a little time to keep it up and throw in a few fun changes for yourself, you’ll be enjoying your backyard to the max all summer long. Small updates can make a big impact and can really make your backyard the hit of the summer!
An Amazing Summer Backyard on a Budget!
Lisa E. Priest loves a great backyard and is local Broker/REALTOR® with Picket Fence Realty, Inc. You can reach her via phone or text at 903-948-3343 or read more at BuyPalestine.com.
