25 Backyard Decorating Ideas on a Budget

Outdoor furniture and decor can be expensive, especially for a space you may only use a few months out of the year. Luckily, you can make a big impact outside with wallet-friendly DIYs. Tackle some of these projects — from privacy solutions to entertaining essentials — and create an outdoor space you’ll want to spend time on. Bonus: Many of these ideas are great for renters and small-space dwellers, too.

Add a gorgeous glow to your backyard with a string of inexpensive patio lights. It will transform your space in the warmer months into your friends' favorite hangout. If you don't have a place to hang them from, here's an idea: Use planters and wood posts to create that cafe feel. Plus, it's perfect if you're renting because you can remove them easily.

Pea gravel can lend an Old World style to any otdoor space. Plus, it won't crack like a solid-surface patio may. Here's a simple, step-by-step DIY that's also inexpensive to build. And you can create it in less than a weekend.

Keep your budget intact by making planters instead of buying them. It's easy to turn metal washtubs and buckets into planters. Start by drilling holes in the bottom for drainage. Then add furniture feet and use a stencil to paint on a custom pattern.

New hardscaping adds practicality and style to any yard. A combination of pebbles and stone pavers is the most inexpensive type of pathway to create, and it is also the easiest to DIY. Don't worry about perfection and straight lines when installing your walkway, freeform curves and shapes are more appealing and more in sync with nature.

Get the fire pit feel without the hefty price tag. This easy DIY can save you some big bucks while still bringing the warmth and festivity of an expensive fire pit.

Raised beds are a convenient way to make the most out of your garden. While store-bought raised beds can be pricey, there are plenty of inexpensive raised bed designs that are easy to make and don't require complicated tools to build. See this list of 15 DIY Raised Beds with step-by-step instructions.

You can make a stock tank pool in just one weekend and for a lot less cash than you may think. See this step-by step. Flamingo pool float optional.

Have an old hutch or cabinet at home that’s just collecting dust? Turn it into a beverage and food station for your outdoor entertaining area. Add a mini fridge and wine glass racks, and you’ll have yourself a multifunctional piece of furniture for serving and storage in no time.

This simple fire pit build can be done in an afternoon, requires no mortar, and the blocks and gravel used to build it are readily available at a nearby hardware store.

A stainless steel mixing bowl and pie tin from a thrift store are the perfect foundation for this cheery bird feeder. With just a few dollars worth of materials and very little time, you can add some color to the yard while feeding your feathered friends.

Take your patio from too hot to enjoy to the perfect shady spot to relax with this DIY sail shade. Plus, a few additions make it into a stylish piece for your backyard.

Stretch your garden dollar by filling your garden space with perennials, such as coneflower, pictured. Perennials live for three or more growing seasons whereas annuals must be planted every year (but are a great way to add fast color to your garden space).

Not ready to invest in a full privacy solution? Keep nosy neighbors at bay with a hanging plant wall. Prying eyes will focus on the pretty green on one side of their wall instead of you enjoying your backyard.

There’s nothing quite like watching a movie under the stars. An all-weather TV can cost hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars, but you can set up a projector and screen for much less. Make this easy DIY movie screen using PVC pipes and a white sheet.

An easy way to create a beautiful backyard on a budget is to not spend your entire bank account on furniture. Look for pieces at garage sales, thrift stores and furniture that friends and family may want to give away. Refinish, paint and turn something old into a new-to-you piece for your backyard.

Create water fun for the kids (and for you) with these inexpensive and ingenious backyard games.

Keep guests satisfied by creating an outdoor bar with a table from inside and some accents — no expensive bar installation needed. Plus, you'll spend more time having fun with your friends and family and less time fetching drinks from inside.

Create a zen space in your backyard with this easy-to-make water feature. You can customize it just for you and it will look great in any outdoor space.

You don't have to spend a fortune on pre-made outdoor games when you can easily make your own. This backyard bowling alley was crafted from pool noodles and a yoga mat.

Lower your water bill by planting drought-resistant flowers and plants such as this fountain grass. These plants are also low-maintenance, which means they can help free up time you could spend on other garden chores (and not have to pay for outside help).

Want free plants? Join a local plant swap group — you can find them on Facebook or local online forums — and trade plants with other gardeners in your area. Doing so offers a chance to experiment with growing a new plant without much investment. Here's an article with some plant swap tips.

A sod lawn can be expensive to maintain. And it can be fussy, too. Consider replacing the sod with an easy-care groundcover. You won't have to mow, saving money and time. Here are 18 tough groundcover options.

Create a visually stunning landscape that's also relatively low-maintenance. A rock garden features arrangments of well-placed natural stones combined with alpine and complementary plants. Learn more about how to build a rock garden here.

Add some creativity to your outdoor (or indoor) space with a homemade hanging planter. Practically anything can be used to make a hanging planter, and we've got 30+ ideas including step-by-step directions on how to make a hanging rope planter, pictured.