DIY Renovation Ideas For Your Backyard

As much as we all might love cozying up in the bedroom or lounging inside the house, the backyard can be a sanctuary. Especially if the backyard is equipped with all the right bells and whistles, it can add an entirely new section to your property.

This year, many of us realized that spending time outside is important. Your outdoor area can be just as comfortable, inviting, and modern as your interior – you just need to plan it properly and find the ideal pieces to transform it into your dream space.

Whether you’re looking to create a comfy outdoor dining area or a sprawling alfresco entertaining space, there are plenty of DIY renovation ideas that you can try. DIY renovations are one of the best ways to add value to your home on a budget!

You are the homeowner so the ball is in your court! You can easily transform your outdoor area into a timeless and sophisticated nook suitable for different occasions. Completing backyard renovations can also increase the value of your property in case you decide to sell your house anytime in the future.

Here are several easy and practical DIY renovation projects to consider.

Add Comfy Furniture

Boost your backyard’s atmosphere and appeal by adding some soft furnishings and colorful outdoor cushions. Common backyard furniture pieces are made from wicker. However, you can find several different types, styles, and designs of furniture pieces that are the most suitable for your space.

Are you afraid of covering up the open grass that you currently use to lay down on? Don’t let this space go to waste! Make it as inviting, comfy, and relaxing as possible so that you can enjoy your time at home with friends and family even more. You can take a few simple measurements and draw out plans to ensure that you still save enough space for the grass to be exposed if needed.

You can create a cozy corner to elevate your backyard’s layout from boring to beautiful. Corner seats can be incorporated in most types of outdoor spaces, whether you’re working with a larger area or a small nook. Thanks to them, you can create an illusion of having a wider space. You can make this the focal point of your backyard and accessorize it with an umbrella to provide some shelter against the elements. Over time, you can change up your soft furnishings and even update your choice of plants to match the season and your taste.

Don’t be shy about your creative bones when designing your next backyard space. Alongside things like tables and umbrellas, there are furniture sets that come with small fire pits. If you can dream it, you can do it.

Grow or Plant Hedges

If you live in an urban jungle and your backyard is wall-to-wall with your neighbors, you might want to consider a DIY project that could increase your privacy. While adding a fence can increase the value of your home, a DIY renovation can be done without spending a fortune on luxurious fences or walls.

One of the best solutions is growing or planting a hedge that can reach the width and height of your specifications. If you don’t want to wait for it to grow to contribute to your yard’s privacy, you can create a screen with a timber lattice. Install it on your desired spots, plant your favorite roses, or a vine to make your space more discreet and natural. After all, your backyard is the ideal space for you to breathe in some fresh air, unwind, and reconnect with nature.

Install an Outdoor Kitchen

Installing an alfresco kitchen is one of the most popular ways to spruce up your backyard. You can even place a refrigerator, grill, and oven outside so that you can spend entire days lounging around outside. These units can be either permanently installed or they can be moved to a shelter during the off-seasons.

Do you need drinks to go along with your food? As an extension to your kitchen, if you have enough space in your backyard, you can build a small bar for a more stylish upgrade. Pick eye-catching tiles and hang string lights above the bar to embrace summer feelings and romantic ambiance.

Use Stones to Create a Pathway

There are various different directions you can take your outdoor backyard space. For those who enjoy walking barefoot, you can create a stone pathway to connect different parts of your backyard. Do you find yourself constantly getting your feet dirty from trudging through the grass to get to your backdoor? Dodge the dirt by laying large, flat stones spaced out by a few centimeters to create a natural-looking path that you can use to walk on.

If you have a small side yard that is difficult to get to barefoot, a stone pathway can be the perfect renovation to bridge the gap. Backyard stones are simple to set up. You may need to remove grass from a section of your backyard, and then rake the dirt until it’s flat before placing the stones down. You can also add fun, smaller stones alongside the larger ones to give the pathway more flow.

One of the top stonework trends is stamped concrete. Stamped concrete will give you the opportunity to make your backyard space beautiful while increasing the value of your home.

Grow a Garden

Has your green thumb been itching to become greener? Adding a garden to your backyard is a great way to make the space appear more diverse, while growing great foods to eat. Gardening, however, is not for everyone. There is a fair amount of maintenance involved. Picking weeds is not very fun. However, you can be selective with how large your garden is based on how much time and effort you want to put into it.

If you are afraid that your garden may take up too much space, there are many design ideas for small garden areas that should consider, including growing it vertically. There are specialized pots that you can hang from the side of your roof. You can only grow certain plants in hanging pots versus in the ground. Make sure to do your research before potting and planting. You can also hang smaller, lighter pots along your backyard fence. This can help make your backyard appear bigger, while also utilizing space efficiently.

Build a Deck

This renovation idea is arguably the most difficult to DIY but it is still possible. If you limit the deck to one, flat level versus a bi-level deck, it is easier to create and build yourself. Having a wooden deck in your backyard creates an entirely new platformed space that you can design and personalize. You can combine some of these renovations, such as hanging garden plants and new furniture, with the new deck that you build.

When building a deck for your backyard, you can select from a variety of woods to use as materials. Once you select which wood to use, focus your sights on the final stain you plan to use. You can choose a stain based on your preference of color for your deck. Which wood stain goes best with the current color of your house? There are plenty of options to choose from when designing your new backyard deck.

Typically, a backyard deck also adds value to a house. When considering a deck as a DIY renovation, be sure to understand your local rules and regulations pertaining to permits. The importance of getting permits for additions cannot be understated as it can create issues when the time comes to sell your home.

Final DIY Backyard Renovation Thoughts

The creative options that you have as a homeowner are endless when considering what to do with your backyard. Consider the DIY renovation ideas above that you can get started on and create yourself. Each offers different benefits. It is up to you to decide what you prioritize the most when it comes to your backyard space.

About the author: The above article on “DIY Renovation Ideas For Your Backyard” was written by Alex Capozzolo. Alex is the owner of the Brotherly Love Real Estate, a cash home buyer in Philadelphia, PA. Their focus is on helping people through one of the most important investment decisions of their lifetime by seamlessly providing fast, honest, and professional real estate services.

About Rochester’s Real Estate Blog: Rochester’s Real Estate Blog is owned and operated by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 40 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise.

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