Backyard makeovers are creative and fun to do, and they transform more of your property into usable space. Entertain guests, let your pets roam, or enjoy your private outdoor space in solitude. Keep it basic with new grass and a fire pit or scale it up with elaborate hardscaping, DIY backyard decks, and water features.
We've rounded up 9 stunning backyard makeovers to inspire your next renovation.
How to Make Over Your Backyard
Start with a goal that helps you come up with an overall plan for your backyard makeover. Are you the social type who dreams of summer barbecues and evening soirees with plenty of friends? Or are you looking for a private oasis that will help you forget the hustle and bustle of your work day?
A deck will elevate your party, giving you a solid, dry space for all of your fun activities. Another option and less expensive is a ground-level patio made from bricks, pavers, flagstones, or even with gravel.
When to Make Over Your Backyard
The most favorable time to begin your backyard makeover runs from late spring to early fall, in most areas. But it all depends on what you're doing. For one, concrete is temperature-sensitive; generally, you will want temperatures to be above 50°F. Bricks and pavers can be laid at any time of the year, as long as the ground is soft enough for you to dig several inches down.
Many homeowners choose to accelerate their backyard makeovers, pushing them into those less-than-favorable months so that they can enjoy the fruits of their labors in spring and summer.
Backyard Makeover Ideas
01 of 09
Before: Faux Painted Tiles and Plain Landscaping
When Ashley Tapley, Owner of House Candy Home bought her mid-20th-century home, she was fortunate to gain a setup that was ripe for indoor-outdoor living. But the execution of the space felt uninspired. Faux-painted Saltillo tiles and plain landscaping didn't exactly beg for magical evenings outdoors, but Tapley had a vision.
After: A Stylish Pergola and Patio
Tapley transformed the space into an indoor-outdoor entertaining hideaway, including building a pergola to provide shade and cover from the elements. The pergola is painted black to set it apart from the new stone patio and an outdoor grill, lush landscaping, and sofa designed for lounging help turn this space into a backyard that feels resort-worthy.
02 of 09
Before: Swampy
Chicago landscape designer Carol Heffernan seized a unique opportunity when the adjacent cottage came up for sale. Since the cottage was set back so far, its front yard could become Carol's backyard. But this transformation would not come without significant work. The backyard-to-be was low and prone to flooding, a condition exacerbated by the removal of a massive catalpa tree. The space would need to be seriously landscaped.
After: High and Dry and Gorgeous
One foot of topsoil was added to the entire area, raising it to match Carol's adjoining property. To further promote drainage, hardscaping was the order of the day. Evergreen yews form a low hedge to separate the newly made-over backyard from the street.
The first order of business for a backyard makeover is to properly manage the water. Water from gutters and downspouts, groundwater, or even from neighbors can ruin the best-laid makeover plans. French drains are a popular way of siphoning off excess backyard water.
Before-and-After Chicago Backyard Expansion Makeover
03 of 09
Before: Dark and Dreary
The backyard had everything going against it with muddy grounds and dominating weeds. Nothing about the yard was friendly or inspiring, so home bloggers Chris and Julia wanted to make over their backyard, but they could only devote one weekend to the project.
After: Weekend Transformation
After removing the stump, weeds, and excess, Chris and Julia added steel walkway edging to contain the pea gravel. A few flagstones at the beginning of the walkway encourage guests to walk toward the back. The truly tempting invitation, though, is the do-it-yourself fire pit. They purchased the fire pit as an all-in-one kit. But similar fire pits are easy to build by creating a circle of retaining wall blocks.
Weekend Backyard Makeover from Chris Loves Julia
04 of 09
Before: Muddy Mess
They removed eight yew trees and the giant maples since they were rotten. When all was said and done, Kim and Scott from the home blog Yellow Brick Home were left with a deteriorated fence and a muddy yard with no grass. Pretty much everything had to be scrapped and started from fresh.
After: Perfect Respite
To add grass to their backyard without the expense or work of rolling out sod, Kim and Scott used a tiller to loosen the soil and prepare it for overseeding. Maintaining a depth of just three inches made raking and clean-up easier.
Young cypress ring the property and will grow upwards and outwards to form a green privacy screen. The centerpiece of their relaxing backyard creation is a pea gravel patio with Adirondack chairs facing a do-it-yourself firepit.
Three-Day Backyard Makeover from Yellow Brick Home
05 of 09
Before: Weedy and Wild
Upon purchase of their home, design blogger Molly and husband Gideon inherited pretty much your standard 1960s ignored Southern California ranch house backyard. It came with loads of weeds and dry grass and poorly tended trees, but little charm. And of course, there was that giant air conditioner unit looming over everything.
After: Backyard Oasis
Though it cost a bundle, Molly says it was completely worth it to move the air conditioner unit from the patio. Then, six feet were added to the end of the patio to increase the entertaining space in this smaller backyard.
Modern pavers set in sand set a desert mood, and the perimeter of bougainvillea adds dots of lively color when they bloom. They also gave the house a fresh coat of paint. All in all, the eventual design was cool, crisp, contemporary, and big on solid shapes.
Backyard Oasis Makeover from Almost Makes Perfect
06 of 09
Before: Barren Dirt Patch
An open, dirt backyard may look like an uninspiring space. But the good thing is that it allows you the freedom to design without the influence of existing foliage or hardscaping. This Missouri backyard presented a host of opportunities. Except for a couple of trees to be saved, this backyard was ready for anything that the owners and landscape architect Aaron Bradley could dream up. This area was as close to being a blank slate as possible.
After: Modern Lines
Standard, hardy plants perfect for that region were incorporated into the design: boxwood, yew, and hornbeam to create a stunning modern backyard. Large format concrete pavers set in Mexican river rock complete the contemporary look. New turf was rolled out. Ready-made, rolled turf needs some time to stitch together after it's been laid out, and it's usually a few weeks before it can be walked on. But it's much faster than seeding a lawn from scratch, a process that can take up to a year or two.
Before-and-After Modern Backyard Makeover
07 of 09
Before: Blank Slate
With its scraggly grass and lonely swing set, the backyard was fine but nothing spectacular. As a mother of toddlers, though, Emily Henderson discovered that she really wanted a lovely and functional backyard as an escape zone for the kids. Childhood is fleeting, so Emily had to act fast to get this fun play area up and running while the kids were still small.
After: Kid-Friendly Backyard
This backyard was made over with fun in mind. First, the swing set received Farrow & Ball exterior paint in a shade to match the fence, helping it to visually melt away. A new wooden playset expands play opportunities for the kids. Emily, too, recommends reducing the "square-box effect" of backyards. To that end, she lined one edge of the lawn with flagstones and put in plants of varying textures and heights, such as salvia, sedum, and lavender, around the rest of the perimeter.
Kid-Friendly Backyard Makeover from Style by Emily Henderson
08 of 09
Before: Dated Stonework
Stamped concrete has its place. It works well for driveways, walkways, commercial spaces, and other high-traffic areas. But this backyard needed a more organic look, and the mousy groundcover, uninspired shrubs, and stamped concrete were not doing a good job of it. The owners wanted a freer, more natural look to their backyard.
After: Natural
Illinois landscape designers Van Zelst, Inc. transformed an awkward backyard into one that was more free-flowing and easy on the eyes. The stamped concrete was broken up and hauled away, to be replaced by bluestone and fieldstone liberally dotted around the yard. Fresh plantings enhance the home's exterior, with a few splashes of color to add interest.
Backyard Stonework Makeover from Van Zelst, Inc.
09 of 09
Before: Concrete Block Eyesore
When an unattractive cinder block wall separates your property from the adjoining neighbor, tearing down the wall is hardly an option. One option is to paint the cinder blocks. As long as you use the right type of cement and masonry primer to fill in the pores, the paint layer goes on as easily as painting any ordinary wall.
Yet the brains behind the design blog Classy Clutter had a trick up their sleeves. They figured that they would rather cover up the cinder blocks.
After: Private Haven
Instead of tearing out or painting the cinder block wall, the Classy Clutter team devised a privacy screen and built it from inexpensive one-by-two lumber. Weather-resistant Sunbrella fabric shades the Arizona sun from the outdoor loveseat and two swivel rockers.
Backyard Brick Wall Makeover from Classy Clutter
Frequently asked Questions
How can I make my backyard beautiful on a low budget?
Easy fixes like adding fresh mulch, planting colorful perennials, and adding inexpensive greenery can help give your backyard a beautiful look on a budget. If you have a talent for DIY, you can try a DIY patio, pea gravel, or a backyard walkway.
For a less involved option, look for inexpensive items like bistro lights and planters that will rarely run you for more than $100 but add color, light, and texture to your space.
How much does it cost to update your backyard?
You can make over your yard for just a few hundred dollars if you're willing and able to put sweat equity into it. However, for a less DIY solution, you could spend anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands depending on the level of hardscaping and gardening.
How do I plan my backyard layout?
You can use anything from a simple notepad and pencil to landscape design software to plan your backyard layout. Keep in mind where you'll want shade, which plants will thrive in certain areas of your yard, and how the hardscaping and landscaping will function.
How can I add value to my backyard?
You can add value to your backyard by focusing on greenery and landscaping that is long-lasting and returns season after season.
Adding outdoor seating as well as an outdoor kitchen, fire pit, or pizza oven will always delight future buyers. A structure like an intriguing gazebo or an elegant fountainare also popular options.
Read Next: https://www.thespruce.com/pool-fence-ideas-5193799
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