8 Budget-Friendly Design Upgrades Pros Make to Elevate Outdoor Spaces

Outdoor living spaces are among the most popular areas of a home — multifunctional places where family and friends gather to spend quality time, dine, entertain and play. However, your dreams of designing the ultimate backyard retreat may have you worried about breaking the bank.

Fortunately, minor investments and strategic updates can elevate your deck, patio, balcony or yard from a dull patch of grass to a stylish oasis. Explore eight clever fixes the design professionals make to maximize any outdoor living area’s potential. 

Colorful Garden Decor

You can always fill your garden beds with brightly colored flowers in the spring and summer, but decor adds extra pops of color. For instance, you can include hand-painted flower pots with intricate designs, tipping them on their sides for a unique growing experience. 

Garden picks also have various themes — such as flowers, flamingos, butterflies, frogs and sea creatures — for whimsical style. Likewise, you can also find solar-powered decor to light up your yard at night. These additions are often inexpensive and significantly contribute to your flower beds. 

Hanging Planters

Integrate greenery into your covered porch or patio with hanging planters. An excellent option is the Boston fern, which requires a 10-inch pot and bright, indirect sunlight. It also needs watering only once or twice weekly for consistent soil moisture, making it low-maintenance.

Hanging planters add a warm style to your outdoor living space. They’re especially ideal if you’ve set up a comfortable and relaxing living area with outdoor furniture and an entertainment system. 

Raised Edible Garden Beds

Another way to enhance your outdoor space on a budget is to construct raised garden beds with fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs — a culinary enthusiast’s delight. Raised beds are easy to build, requiring untreated wood planks and a few essential tools. 

While you can construct raised garden beds in your yard, a deck with ample sunlight is another option. Just remember to place a saucer underneath them to prevent excess water from damaging the decking material. You could also raise them off the ground entirely.

Updated Shed

Homeowners usually store the lawnmower and gardening supplies in the shed, but it doesn’t need to be an eyesore. A few inexpensive updates will make an old shack look more intentional and cohesive with your backyard design. 

Give it a fresh coat of paint, such as a color matching your house or something eye-catching — you can even paint the shed’s door a bright red or yellow. Then, repair any broken or damaged roof shingles, and clean the windows. Small flower boxes will further deliver a cottage aesthetic.

Of course, you may also prefer to convert the shed into another livable space, such as a kitchenette, outdoor bar, gym or yoga studio. Another option is to transform it into a greenhouse.  

DIY Fire Pit

Imagine sitting around a warm fire with loved ones when the temperature cools during fall evenings. A freestanding fire pit is a beautiful addition to any outdoor space and a relatively inexpensive upgrade you can do yourself. Bear in mind that if you’re contemplating a custom-built outdoor propane fireplace, it’s likely to cost you two to three times more than a traditional outdoor fire pit. Although it may offer convenience, if budget is your main concern, DIY is the way to go.

It is also crucial to take the necessary safety precautions when designing a fire pit. To build the structure, you’ll need sand, bricks and a metal fire ring. Additionally, you’ll want to lay down a gravel barrier to prevent the surrounding grass and leaves from igniting.

Always check with your town ordinances and your homeowners association to ensure you are allowed to have a fire pit and find out the specifications you must follow.

Inexpensive Hardscaping

Hardscaping provides more room to walk or lounge outdoors and enhances your landscaping. While some inanimate features like patios and gazebos are expensive, there are cheaper alternatives. Ultimately, the cost depends on how much of your yard you intend to cover with rocks and pavers.

For instance, you’ll need to budget between $5 and $50 per square foot to build a patio, in addition to building permits and labor fees. However, laying pea gravel only costs $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot for the materials. 

Pea gravel looks nice overall, with various colors and stones to choose from. You can create a square or rectangular area or lay the material down in a unique shape. If pea gravel is still out of the budget, you can always insert a few stepping stones into your flower beds. 

Living Wall

A vertical garden on a covered porch, patio or house’s siding is aesthetically pleasing. Of course, building a frame yourself may be less expensive than purchasing a pre-made frame. 

Additionally, you’ll need to consider whether the garden will have a self-watering system or require manual irrigation — the latter being more maintenance-intensive. 

Living walls may contain flowers, green foliage or edible plants. In addition to their visual appeal, these gardens are excellent space savers if your outdoor area is small. 

Outdoor Lighting

Lighting is a budget-friendly way to enhance your outdoor space. Do you already have an outdoor eating area set up? String lights create a relaxing ambiance for dining or having drinks al fresco.

Solar lighting or torches can also illuminate walkways and garden beds, while spotlights are another option for highlighting large trees. Some wind chimes or bird feeders also have built-in solar features doubling as nighttime decor.  

Use your creativity to place your lighting in your backyard strategically. Consider which areas get the most foot traffic so you and your guests can see where you are going.

Create a Budget-Friendly Outdoor Haven

Designed in the DecorMatters App

Learn from the pros and create the ultimate backyard haven for you and your household. A few minor investments and easy fixes will allow you to design a beautiful outdoor space you’ll never want to leave. 

Ready to transform your outdoor space without breaking the bank? Download the DecorMatters app today to start designing your dream backyard, patio, or deck. With budget-friendly ideas and endless inspiration, you can elevate your outdoor areas, experiment with layouts, and explore the latest in outdoor furniture and decor. Create your perfect outdoor retreat with ease!