Picture this โ youโre finally home after a long day at work and all you want to do is relax in your backyard. But instead of finding a beautiful and peaceful oasis, youโre instead bombarded with weeds, overgrown plants, and an unsightly patio.
Donโt let this happen to you. With these backyard design simple tips, you can create a paradise right in your own backyard! You can makeover your yard regardless of size or budgetโฆand even more importantly with or without a pool. Keep reading for 33 Coolest Backyard Ideas To Start Planning Now.
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Having A Backyard Oasis Regardless Of Size
You may be thinking, your yard is too small. Small backyards can be tricky to design, but itโs definitely possible to create a beautiful and functional space. When designing a small backyard, itโs important to use the space efficiently. Choose furniture and plants that are the right size for your backyard and avoid overcrowding.
The materials you choose for your backyard will have a big impact on the overall look and feel of the space. When choosing materials, itโs important to consider the climate you live in. If you live in a hot climate, youโll want to choose materials that are durable and can withstand the heat. If you live in a cold climate, youโll want to lean towards materials that are weather-resistant.
On the other hand, if youโre backyard space happens to be so huge itโs tough to visualize because you donโt know where to start, it may be best to start assessing the size and shape of your backyard, as well as any existing features like trees, slopes, or structures. This will help you determine what areas are suitable for different activities and fill the space out by carving out sections with landscaping and some architectural design.
Divide your backyard into zones based on the functionality you desire as well as the different activities you want to accommodate. This can be done using hedges, fences, or planters. Create pathways or walkways to connect the different zones and make it easy to move around the space.
Finally, incorporate various seating areas, options, shaded spaces and lighting to make your backyard functional and inviting. Throughout every season, add personal touches to make your backyard reflect your unique style and personality.
A garden retreat can be a beautiful thing to have. Itโs good to have a place to unwind after a rough day at work. Itโs also a great place to spend your free time. Spending some peaceful time enjoying your own fabulous company and environment has several health advantages such as itโs the perfect place to go โearthingโ if you havenโt tried that yet. So, kick off your shoes and discover the benefits of walking barefoot.
Many of us spend a lot of time staring at a screen all through the day. It is indeed a significant burden on the eyes, regardless of whether you realize that or not. Such eye fatigue will create eye issues as you get older, and when you have frequent headaches, it is most likely the source. Having at minimum a couple moments a day within your backyard living area with your smartphone shut off will offer your eyes some rest.
Vitamin D is advantageous for our lifestyle and can be easily obtained by soaking in the rays of the sun. To some degree, it can serve as a natural vitamin D supplementation.
Decide On Your Backyard Budget And Size Design
With a backyard oasis budget, also comes factoring in the size of your backyard space. Small backyard spaces can present unique challenges when it comes to design. However, a little creativity and planning can change all that and you can transform even the smallest backyard into an inviting outdoor oasis.
Apartment, Condo, Patio Small Backyard Design
In most cases, size doesnโt matter when it comes to using the space you have to design your backyard oasis. One of the most effective ways to make the most of a small backyard is to think vertically. By utilizing vertical space, you can create more planting areas and add visual elements to your backyard. Some ways to incorporate vertical elements into your design include adding trellises or arbors for climbing plants, hanging plants from walls, privacy fences, and installing wall-mounted planters. For an apartment deck or patio, find the perfect privacy screen for your space.
Another way to make the most of a small backyard is to create distinct zones for different activities. For example, you could create a dining area for outdoor meals, a lounging area for relaxing, and a gardening area for growing plants. This not only makes the space more functional, but it also helps to visually define the different areas of your backyard.
Think about what you do have space for and your budget. For example, a patio set to provide seating. Patio sets come in a variation of design options and sizes to accommodate your budget.
I decided on a used patio set from a flea market and I painted back to โlike newโ condition. It was $90 and provided seating for 6. All it needed was a little sanding and then a good exterior rust-free prevention spray paint such as Rustoleum. I added a umbrella and some pretty summer time pillows while they were on sale at Kirklands and I also used their 20% off coupon.
When shopping for backyard or patio furniture on a budget, consider these 11 Patio Sets For Under $200. Wayfair has excellent customer service and a return policy.
When shopping for furniture online consider lightweight furniture thatโs easy to move around. Check out the weight of the furniture in the product description and also the weight limits.
Another tip for designing a small patio or backyard space is adding plants. Plants can help to make a small patio feel larger and more inviting. Choose plants that are low-maintenance and require the appropriate amount of sunlight, as you wonโt have much space for a lush garden. If youโre not home often, go for plants that require little watering unless you live in a state where you get rain often.
Interested in plants that produce food? There are many edible plants such as herbs, (vegetables and fruit) which you can grow on your small patio or garden space all year long.
Start by Decluttering Your Backyard
If your yard is currently a hot mess, it will be complicated determining the accuracy of the space you have to work with. Cleaning up a cluttered yard will free you from physical and mental clutter that is taking up too much space around your yard and also in your mind! Here are a few tips to help you tidy your dirty yard once and for all.
Examine your entire yard with keen eyes. The simplest method to produce a massive difference would be to dispose of bulky objects. Identify significant objects that you are no longer using, as in old patio furniture or an out-of-date outdoor storage container. Put them away to get pressure cleaned or painted if you donโt mind their appearance and thereโs room for revitalizing.
After youโve gotten the big things out, itโs now time to tackle the tiny stuff. Since thereโs a lot of tiny things that you might have, this may get monotonous. Decluttering by category rather than region is a popular and effective method. Instead of going through all of the goods in the shed, consider sorting among tools, gardening materials, furniture & cushions, lawn decorations, pool gear, fire pit equipment, and finally toys for children.
You didnโt put in all this effort only to see it thwarted by a shortage of storage capacity. You might have to install more storage to protect your backyard from becoming congested again. But then donโt use it as an incentive to keep holding on to things you will never need! Rather, prioritize the things you actually desire and need.
Determine Your Desired Vibe For Your Totally Cool Backyard Makeover
Donโt know what type of vibe or theme youโd want for your special backyard oasis? Consider these vibes that weโll be discussing.
If youโre anything like me, your ideal vibe might be a Zen Escape. Surrounded by beauty, privacy, sunshine and only the sound of nature. Adding a water fountain would be a beautiful focal point and my even attract wonderous birds from near and far. Add dรฉcor that brings you serenity, such as a Buddha statue or your favorite yoga post statue sculpture.
For patio furniture choose designs which are relaxing such as a hammock or outdoor chaise lounges in neutral colors with your favorite pop of colors.
Design a garden full of mostly perennials because they come back every year, which is low maintenance and less time consuming than annuals. Annuals are more beautiful and vibrant so add just a few annuals every year for a nice touch of enchantment.
People sometimes associate a safari atmosphere with irritatingly garish neon animal designs and decoration combinations that have just as much flair and elegance as a studentโs dorm room. Some start to feel like Indiana Jones in an adventurous style or a spooky hunterโs cabin filled with displayed animal heads. A modern safari vibe, on the other hand, goes beyond these ideals and then into something far more elegant and functional.
Bring the beach or seaside to your backyard by creating a beachy chill backyard vibe. Add in a variety of flamingos, palm trees, a rolling bar cart, sand, and maybe even tiki huts, tiki torches or tiki bar or outdoor cooking space.
Clueless On Your Backyard Design Vibe?
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Pet Friendly Backyard Design
My pets are my family, therefore an important part of many other households. We must keep our fur-fam in mind while designing our backyard oasis.
When choosing materials for your backyard, itโs important to select pet friendly elements. For example, opt for plants that are non-toxic to pets and always avoid using chemicals or pesticides that are indeed harmful to ourselves and our fur-fam. Additionally, choose durable materials for hardscaping, such as stone or concrete.
Remember to include some outdoor water source for your pets, especially if you live in the southern hemisphere. Either way, if itโs too hot for you, itโs too hot for them. Having water nearby will quench their thirst and keep them healthy and free from dehydration.
If you have cats, first of all youโre awesome! Iโm sure you want your cats to partake in the backyard oasis since theyโre family too. You could do this by having someone build you a โcatioโ. Itโs basically a patio for indoor cats. You will need a way for them to access the catio from inside the home such as a cat door or window. This free access will allow them to enter and exit the home when they want and protect them from the rest of the unbeknown outdoors.
Kid Friendly Backyard Design
Designing a backyard oasis with children in mind can be a fun and rewarding project for the whole family. Creating a space where children can play, explore and connect with nature is not only beneficial for their physical and mental health, but also provides a great opportunity for parents to bond with their children.
Involve the kids in your backyard oasis design plans and allow them to have a say in what they would like to see in their backyard oasis. Kids love feeling involved with family plans, but it will also ensure that the space is tailored to their desires and interests.
Create a child safe designated play areas in your backyard oasis design. Designate specific areas for different types of play, such as a sandbox for digging, a swing set for climbing, or even a playhouse for imaginative play.
Kids enjoy relaxing outdoors too. Include extra seating areas for their friends to gather while visiting, and also seating for parents to relax and watch their children play.
Be certain to install safe, child-friendly features in your backyard oasis. This includes selecting non-toxic plants, installing soft surfaces in and around play areas such as rubber rocks, or mulch while proactively securing any potential hazards.
Keeping our children entertaining can seem like a never ending task. They have some much energy and keep us fit! If there staying active with some of the ideas above, theyโll be ready to pass out at night so that Mom and Dad can finally get some alone time.
Another way to keep kids entertained while the adults enjoy their adult company as well is a backyard theater for the kids. Iโll discuss this more on theater ideas later in the post. A large screen in the backyard streaming family friendly movies for everyone will help kids and teens gather to socialize while all the adults enjoy their time together and also keeping an eye on the kids. Prepare for Family and Friends Movie Night with seating for everyone, floor pillows, mats, beverages and snacks and donโt forget to send me an invite โ Thanks! ๐
Backyard Enchanted Oasis For The Garden Lover
A floral vibe would indeed be ideal since adding something floral into your garden would undoubtedly make it more attractive. Flowers, having their distinct colors and styles, may transform any unappealing environment into one among most aesthetically stunning places. Furthermore, with so many flower patterns to pick from, youโll have no trouble finding the one which perfectly matches your style and distinct personality.
If you would like the backyard to seem much like a paradise, youโll have to let it become a garden. So, shop for other garden elements like flowers, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and rocks. You can also incorporate other vivid objects, which may transform your garden into a lovely refuge.
Apartment Condo Urban Backyard Oasis
Living in a apartment, condo, retirement community or any home with limited outdoor space may seem impossible to have your own oasis. With a little creativity and effort, you can turn your balcony, patio, or even a small courtyard into a beautiful outdoor space where you can relax and unwind such as these in the photos.
To create a truly relaxing environment, consider adding some water features to your outdoor space. A small fountain or a tabletop water feature can add a soothing ambiance and help to drown out any noise from nearby traffic or neighbors.
By incorporating greenery, comfortable seating, water features, and outdoor lighting, you can create a relaxing and inviting space that youโll love spending time in. So go ahead, transform your small outdoor space into the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city living!
Add New Features To Your Upgraded Backyard Oasis
You might feel as if something is lacking from your backyard at times. When thatโs the case, youโre actually forgetting something, which is why one must add any additional features to your backyard.
A firepit is an excellent choice for a modern backyard feature. When you may not possess the room for a fixed installation, a outdoor portable firepit can be stored when not being used will let you envisage your backyard as something of an outdoor oasis all year.
You wonโt have paradise until thereโs a glistening display of water. When youโre going to grow flowers, pair them with something like a tiny pond. A little fountain is among the most popular garden accents, and they actually take very little area.
A fresh deck may make or break the look. Remodeling your patio seems to be a terrific place to start when it comes to constructing the perfect backyard retreat. Choose materials or patterns that create a relaxing ambience in your backyard.
There can only be one type of furniture which can genuinely convert your backyard into a paradise in fact, Iโm referring to a hammock, such as this BELLEZE Double Hammock with Wooden Stand in the photo above. A hammock in your own backyard is great way to indulge in some solo time in the sun.
This is really the best type of furniture that you can have in any outdoor relaxing area. Thereโs no finer way to unwind than by resting in a hammock throughout the breezes, encircled by the paradise backyard you created.
Wind chimes are becoming a valuable asset in transforming those outside living areas into a soothing haven. On any given day, their soothing noises will assist you with winding down.
Lanterns may be used to generate a lovely ambiance for relaxation while also providing a beautiful view of your living area after dark.
Netflix and Chill Backyard Theater
Imagine a large screen to stream movies, your favorite sports, YouTube or TikTok while you and your friends and family gather around the screen at night. Youโll need a variety of seating such as giant pouf floor cushions, mats, lounge chairs and a few tables. Of course youโll also need your screen, a projector, streaming devices or other media players along with long extension cords and a few waterproof wireless speakers depending on the size of your backyard. Your home will be the hot spot everyone looks forward to gathering for good times and new memories.
For final touches to your backyard theater design, add in some lighting such as string lighting, path lighting, lanterns, tiki torches or deck lighting. This will definitely create a vibe at night and provide help with navigating the yard in the dark.
DIY Stock Tank Pool โ The Budget Friendly Pool
If you donโt have the budget for a pool or just donโt want to be bothered with the maintenance or expense, check out stock tank pools. You will find stock tank pools are a cost-effective and a low-maintenance alternative to traditional in-ground or above ground swimming pools.
Having a in ground pool can take months to build and creates a mess of contractors and inability to access your backyard during the construction. Just think, with a stock tank pool, you can order online and have your ready made pool in days and installed in a few hours or less.
Overall, a stock tank pool can provide a fun and relaxing backyard oasis without the expensive costs and maintenance of a traditional pool.
Backyard Lighting Ideas
Bright mornings and chilly evenings should be appreciated. Enjoy every dawn and dusk with something like a luminous dรฉcor for your garden hideaway. Fairy lights may be wrapped around your backyard to provide even lighting everywhere. Try different torch positions. By experimenting with torches as well as where they are positioned, you may change the entire ambience of your backyard.
Outdoor lighting will help set the mood and make your space feel magical at night. String lights, lanterns, and candles are all great options for creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Outdoor Sphere Dome Orb Lighting And Fountains
Stunning extravagant lighting for your garden can get expensive in most cases. One way to go extravagant with lighting and garden decor is with outdoor illuminated spheres, domes or orb lighting. Sphere, dome and orb lighting in the yard has becoming more and more popular. You can find outdoor sphere garden decor in lighting, fountains or even both and also in a variation of textures such as glass, cement orbs, and stacked slate sphere fountains.
There are several tutorials on Pinterest and YouTube on how to DIY your own cement or concrete globes, orbs and spheres.
Backyard Seating And Shelter From The Sun
Itโs absolutely necessary to add in ample seating to your backyard oasis. More importantly, you can really get your chillax on if youโre sitting in the hot sun. Comfortable seating and shade is an absolute must!
A pergola provides moderate shade, however screens can be added to produce extra shelter. You can also incorporate taller plants or thin curtains for further seclusion and shading.
Although each has the very same lattice and trellis style, an arbor and a pergola are easily confused. The arbor, on the other hand, is distinguished by the presence of a lattice structure on its side. If you wouldnโt have the room or expenditure for any one of the shade-providing structures mentioned earlier in this section, a simple patio umbrella is an option. Itโs a cheap and effective approach to give shade outside.
One thing I learned the hard way when it comes to buying cushions for my patio set is that the pillows will fade quick when left out in the sun. You can protect them by using a spray such as Scotchgard (water and sun protection) however, they will still fade over time. Having a shaded place somewhere to store your cushions when not in use will increase the color life.
Create Pathways And Borders In Your Backyard Oasis
A decent garden pathway or border brightens up any backyard oasis and make your backyard more attractive. Pathways and borders can help to make your backyard more accessible and define different areas of your backyard.
There are many options to create paths at your local Loweโs, Home Depot or larger garden stores. Just look for stores which sell โpavers and stepping stonesโ. Thereโs also landscaping rocks and river rocks which can be used to border your garden or to create a pathway.
Gravel is soft beneath your feet, yet firm enough to support a heavy wheelbarrow. Nevertheless, despite its casual appearance, it may compliment a traditional garden, particularly if a rock border is included.
The color plus texture of stone is very rich. Every piece is distinct. Itโs also unchanging: a path built yesterday may appear to have been around for centuries. Pavers have existed because the Romans chipped stones and put them on something like a gravel base to create extremely durable roadways. They can resist a lot of abuse. Cement, clay, or even stone are used to make modern equivalents.
Backyard Prefab Tiny House or Office Pod
Add extra living space to your backyard with a prefab tiny home, shed or office pod. This can be used as a home office, a studio, gym or workout pod free from other noises or distractions within your primary home. Itโs also great for overnight guests or extra income renting out as a short term rental.
Purchasing a prefab tiny home or shed will cut down on construction waste and save lots of time. They are pretty affordable and many stores that sell them offer credit and payment plans. When shopping be sure to look for โfully assembledโ. Some of the tiny homes come as a โkitโ which means there will be some assemble required and possibly painting. This could be fun for some of us, so if youโre into a little DIY, then go for it!
Backyard Oasis Jacuzzi Hot Tub Vibe
Adding a jacuzzi to your backyard oasis comes with many benefits and perks. A jacuzzi is awesome for gathering with friends and family. It serves as cozy space for socializing and entertaining guests. Turn on some music and serve up some cocktails or mocktails.
Not only is it relaxing, the hot water and jets help to ease muscle tension after a long day or hardcore workout. Jacuzziโs also provide therapeutic benefits like improving circulation and providing relief to painful or sore joints. You will sleep better after relaxing in your jacuzzi. Try adding in some Epsom salts to increase the results of relaxation. The most awesome thing about a jacuzzi is that it can be used all year long!
Backyard Tiny House Garden Sheds
Backyard garden sheds is great to complete gardening tasks in private and out of the sun. This is also a great place to store all of your garden tools and adds extra room for storage of patio cushions and other items that will only need out during special occasions.
Outdoor Dinnerware Sets For Entertaining Guests
When you want to entertain family or guests in your backyard oasis, sharing a meal together will definitely bring everyone together. The ideal dinnerware when entertaining outdoors would be the durable and shatterproof kind.
I recommend searching for melamine dinnerware and also bamboo. Both are attractive and quite durable; however, melamine is also dishwasher safe, making it easy to clean up after hosting in your backyard oasis. There are some versions of bamboo dinnerware which is also dishwasher safe, however not microwave safe.
When shopping for dinnerware for your backyard oasis within your budget and gathering size, also search for styles that compliment your backyard or your backyard accessories, such as the cushions, curtains, umbrella, or design theme of your backyard oasis. For example, if you went with a beachy backyard oasis theme, look for coastal colors or design dinnerware.
Celebrate Your New Backyard Oasis
Now that your backyard oasis is complete, you should be so amped to show it off while celebrating with friends, family and the neighbors you actually like. Just let everyone know youโll have food and drinks and they will come. Have fun with backyard games for your adult and kid guests to enjoy throughout your yard if, especially if itโs large in size.
Remember to take Before and After photos of your backyard oasis, and donโt forget to pat yourself on the back for all your hard work, focus and tapped in creativity.
Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed reading 33 Coolest Backyard Ideas To Start Planning Now. With all of these ideas Iโve shared, Iโm confident youโll be inspired to get started with your own backyard oasis soon.
If you enjoy content like this, be sure to subscribe (sign up right above my photo to the right) also if youโre not on Pinterest yet, you need to be! Follow along with my DIY, Home Decor and Gardening journey here on Pinterest.
