Your backyard renovation doesn’t need to be expensive or time-consuming. You can transform your backyard into a paradise with a few simple design and construction tips. These small backyard ideas on a budget will help you create a yard that you love!
Cheap backyard ideas for small yards | Budget small backyard ideas
Plant!
One of the best small backyard ideas on a budget is to plant! A landscape makeover is one of the most cost-effective and easiest ways to improve any outdoor space. This could be setting up a flower garden or DIY planters, depending on how much space you have and how well-versed you are in gardening. If you are looking for more utility from your backyard, consider planting vegetables and herbs.
Build a DIY fireplace
Building a fire pit is one of our favorite ideas on a budget. You can create the perfect setting for summer s’mores by making a DIY fireplace. You can save hundreds of dollars by purchasing basic materials and spending a weekend laboring to create a relaxing space that you can use throughout the year. Don’t forget to accommodate room for seating when you’re sizing out your fire pit since you would want to sit and enjoy all that hardwork put into building a fireplace.
Fire Pit Ideas on a Budget
- Concrete retaining wall blocks – about $1.25 per block, the total cost of $50
- Cinder block caps – about $1.50 per block, the total cost of $40
- Concrete fire bowl – about $3 for one bag of concrete, $56 total
- Dirt floor fire ring – free, if using natural stones from your own woods
Add comfort with pillows
Adding pillows is easily one of the most affordable backyard ideas on a budget. Pillows can make your yard more welcoming by adding a touch of comfort to metal and wood patio furniture. Choose durable outdoor fabrics with bright colors and eye-catching designs for a style that lasts throughout the year. This backyard idea is more affordable than you might think. Sewn pillow covers out of outdoor fabric can be used to recover old pillows.
Lay an outdoor rug
An alternative to having a patio in your backyard is just using an outdoor, all-weather rug to divide the space. Place it on the grass to make an outdoor area. Then add some lighting, plants and a table.
Make it kid-friendly
You might be looking for backyard ideas for little ones if you have them running around. You can encourage outdoor playtime with a slide, a DIY net, a goalie net or a water table. These items require minimal space but provide hours of enjoyment. The same goes for small outdoor toys such as tire swings, kid pools, and trampolines.
Vertical planting
A vertical garden is another creative and affordable option, and this will save you precious horizontal square foot space. To complete this project, you can use any type of fence, ladder or trellis, and it will provide a platform from which you can attach planters. Just get plastic ones and drill holes in the surface before filling them with soil and plants.
Budget Small Backyard Ideas for DIY Vertical Gardens
- A wooden ladder, terracotta containers and wire can be used to create a rustic vertical garden.
- To create a vertical herb garden, wash out any old paint cans, fill them with soil and hang them.
- Waterproof an unused shoe organizer to create a vertical garden that is easy to move.
- Make your wooden fence a vertical garden with a few pot hangers or wood screws.
Shop secondhand outdoor furniture
Secondhand is the best option when it comes to backyards. You can find great finds at thrift and antique shops. Even weathered pieces can be refinished or restored with rust removal, new paint and cushions. To ensure you find the perfect furniture for your space, measure it before you go.
Backyard lighting
Cheap Backyard Ideas for Small Yard (Lighting)
The outdoor lights are a popular choice for patios and porches, and they have a warm glow that is celebratory and not distracting. You can use string lights to make a centerpiece for your backyard by wrapping a tree with them or draping them down a table.
- Wrap strands around outdoor pillars to create columns of light.
- Run lights from house to tree using an eye bolt and an insulated cable to tie on a branch.
- Create lamp posts using wood posts, whiskey barrel planters and a little concrete.
- Edge your flowerbeds with rope lights so you can see your hard-earned blooms even at night.
- Drape your trees in lights for a charming, glowing backyard grove.
Mulch Alternatives
Mulching can save you time and money. However, Mulch is an expensive option for backyards, so the best option is to use an alternative mulch.
Low-cost mulch alternatives
- Grass Clippings Next time you mow, gather the clippings, save money, and spread them on your flower beds.
- Leaves – Shredded Leaves – These leaves are a great and inexpensive mulch option that provides nutrients for your plants.
- Pine Needles: Pinny needles are an easy-to-spread, lightweight mulch option that’s low in maintenance.
- Compost If you have already made your compost bin, use it in your landscaping. Be careful not to over-layer it as this can cause heat damage and excessive heat to your plants.
- Newspaper After finishing Sunday’s funny papers, give your plants a look – place about five pages on top of the ground and lightly water. Then cover the soil with topsoil.
- Stone: Stone mulch may not be suitable for every plant, but it can reduce your weeding and maintenance costs if used correctly. It is essential to select the right place for your stone mulch.
Recycle Old Tires
Tires can be cumbersome and difficult to dispose of as many waste haulers won’t take them. You can put them to good use in your yard.
Recycled tires are easy to find and affordable. She says that while they can be purchased at a local recycling facility for a few dollars, most people will give away any tires they have. These are some cheap landscaping ideas that you can do with tires in your yard:
Ideas with Recycled Tires
- For rustic, durable patio ottomans, cover with outdoor pillow casings.
- To create decorative plants, stack and stagger tires.
- Make a hanging garden by filling the one half with soil and attaching it to a fence or wall.
- Create an artificial garden pond with a tire for the base.
- A recycled tire climber will give your children a safe place to play.
A splash of color is a good idea
Sometimes, all that is needed to make your backyard stand out is some color. You can paint planters to make your garden more modern or give wooden, metal, and plastic chairs a new coat of paint. A quick way to add color is to use flowers and foliage.
