Getting a little bit of daily sunlight is vital for good health. In fact, did you know that just a few minutes of sun a day can help improve your body’s ability to absorb nutrients?
If you’re looking for ways to spend more time in the great outdoors, why not create an outdoor oasis at your own home with a backyard makeover?
Don’t worry, you can do so even if you don’t have a great deal of money to spare! Creating outdoor living spaces on a budget isn’t as difficult as you may think.
For some of the best backyard design ideas to include in your outdoor living space, just keep reading!
1. Choose a Plant Palette
Before you start buying greenery for your outdoor space, do some research to determine the right plant palette for you.
Depending on the breed, plants can get expensive, so it’s best to choose a few favorites and stick to them.
Flowers are a great option to add a pop of color to your yard, but you need to choose carefully. When picking flowers, go with perennials.
Yes, they will likely be more expensive than annuals upfront, but you won’t have to repurchase and replant every year.
2. Create a Vertical Garden
Along with flowers for color, consider creating a vertical garden for texture. This can be done in a few different ways.
The first option is to purchase a variety of small plants and arrange them on shelves along an exterior wall. This can be done with succulents or small cacti to lower the cost.
Another way to build a vertical garden is with an espaliered tree. Espalier is just a fancy word for training a tree to grow in a certain way.
With a little time and patience, you can create all sorts of patterns with this method.
Lastly, you can go with a traditional vertical garden, which involves installing stacked planter boxes on a wall or fence and planting flowers, vegetables, or herbs in each.
3. Add Some Seating
Seating is a very important element of outdoor living spaces. After all, you can’t truly call it a living space if there’s nowhere to sit!
Now, you can set up a couch on your patio and be done with it—there’s nothing wrong with simplicity!
But if you want to mix it up, add some colorful, mismatched chairs, some cozy rugs, or even a hammock.
At the end of the day, your choice of seating will depend on the vibe you’re trying to achieve. Do you want chic, boho, or natural? It’s a good idea to start with your aesthetic in mind and go from there.
4. Get Crafty
For those with a passion for DIY, crafting a few things yourself is a great way to add patio decorations on a budget!
Make some DIY planters with corrugated plastic or give a patio set new lift with a bit of spray paint.
Using quick mix concrete, you can create all kinds of hardscaping elements, such as DIY stepping stones, a patterned walkway, or a handmade stool!
5. Hardscape on a Budget
Speaking of hardscaping, there are ways to add elements, like retaining walls and edging, without breaking the bank. Check with local hardware, landscaping, or nursery supply stores often to find stone leftovers.
It can take a bit more time but will be well worth it in the end when you have a gorgeous stone feature in your backyard that didn’t cost a fortune.
6. Don’t Forget Lighting
With all of the furniture and plant shopping, it can be easy to overlook lighting.
But you don’t want to get everything prepared for your first evening cookout, only to find that your guests are sitting in the dark!
Lighting is not only necessary for outdoor activities after dark but also adds beauty and fun to your space.
String lights, for example, make a great addition to any backyard design. The warm glow of these celebratory favorites will give just enough light to create an inviting atmosphere without being overwhelming.
7. Invest Where You Can
When crafting your backyard makeover budget, try to choose one aspect to invest in. Some good elements to splurge on are furniture items or a fire pit.
Spending a little more on an outdoor couch or a higher quality fire pit can save you money in the long run as you’ll avoid the need for repurchase.
If you use your outdoor living space often, a cheap couch will be worn down faster than you think.
8. Install a Privacy Fence
If you can fit it into your budget, installing a fence in your backyard is a great way to create a private outdoor space. Learn about all of the advantages of adding a fence to your yard.
Fences can be pricey, but there are ways to install one on a budget. For example, instead of building a traditional fence, consider a horizontal slatted fence.
As this type of fence requires fewer boards, your material costs will be lower.
The Best Outdoor Living Spaces on a Budget Have These Features
As you can see, designing outdoor living spaces on a budget doesn’t mean that you have to skimp on style! You can turn your backyard into the ultimate oasis without spending a ton of money.
Start with some plants and seating and build from there. Don’t be afraid to check out thrift stores for inexpensive outdoor items and if you have a creative streak, get crafty with some DIY decor!
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