4 Budget-Friendly Backyard Remodeling Ideas

When you were in the backyard last week, kicking a soccer ball around with your kids, it suddenly hit you: your yard has seen better days.

While your grass is in decent shape and you like your garden, the whole area is on the “blah” side. There are weeds popping up in your flower beds, the patio is stained with grape juice and wine spills, and there aren’t any cool eye-catching features to be found.

Before you head to the bank to take out a small loan or see how much balance you have available on your Visa, take heed: there are a number of ways to remodel your backyard that are also quite gentle on the budget. Here are a few ideas to consider.

Buy a Big Colorful Outdoor Rug

Here’s an easy and fun way to jazz up that stained and possibly cracked patio: head to a home improvement store and buy a colorful outdoor rug that will cover up the unsightly space. This is also a great approach for an old deck that needs staining, but you are lacking in both time and expertise. Rugs that are made expressly for outdoor use can be rinsed off if more grape juice spills on them, and if you place your patio table and some benches in the middle of the rug, it will instantly transform into an inviting outdoor room.

Order a New Surveillance System

If the security camera systems that came with your home are getting rusty and you are not sure if they even work anymore, consider upgrading your security system with some affordable cameras that you can order online and install yourself. For instance, Lorex sells a variety of security camera systems that are ideal for any backyard; if you are a handy DIY’er, you can go with a wired version, or if you are less handy, opt for a wire-free camera system that will still monitor your property very effectively, but through the power of batteries instead of wires.

Add a Bench Around a Tree

You adore that huge oak tree in your backyard, except when it starts dropping leaves in the fall. To make the tree even more lovable and useful, build a tree bench around its base. Once the bench is finished, you can paint it in a cheery color and voila, you will have an instant shady spot to chill out and relax. You might even find your kids out there reading books on the bench.

Spread Some Mulch

As Bob Vila notes, spreading several bags of mulch on all of your flower beds and all other exposed soil in your garden will instantly give the spaces a finished and neat look. As a major benefit, the mulch will block the growth of weeds, while helping to hold in moisture and nutrients for your plants and shrubs. If your kids are always asking about jobs they can do around the house to earn some extra pocket money, this one is ideal. Give them some gardening gloves, instruct them where the mulch needs to go and in no time your garden will look amazing.

A Nice Backyard and a Full Wallet, Now That’s a Great Combo

Home improvements are not typically known for being gentle on the pocketbook. With some clever planning and choosing eye-catching projects that don’t cost a lot of money, you can easily update the look of your backyard without breaking the bank.