Turn your backyard into a space for entertaining without breaking the bank. These quick DIY backyard ideas can make a significant difference in the look of your landscape without a major remodeling project.

Adding mulch is an easy backyard idea that keeps your yard looking fresh and reduces water bills. This easy DIY hack is also a great way to add color and texture to the space.

Built-In Seating

One of the simplest backyard DIY ideas, built-in seating provides a comfortable place to relax, enjoy the scenery and make memories. A simple bench can be tucked into a corner of the garden or set around a fire pit for a sociable gathering spot. A custom design, like this stone-wrapped bench, is a little more difficult to build but offers an impactful focal point that will elevate the look of any backyard.

An easy way to add style and function to a patio area is to recast concrete blocks into a simple DIY outdoor bar. This backyard idea is quick to do and allows you to customize the height of your bar to best fit your space.

If you’re a little more comfortable with woodworking tools, try your hand at creating some simple backyard benches using lumber scraps and a few other supplies. These budget backyard ideas will instantly give your patio a fresh, modern look and offer ample seating for family and guests. Matching the color of the wood or stones to the plants in your yard will offer a cohesive look.

A back deck that’s covered by a canopy is a great way to protect yourself from the sun while enjoying your yard. This simple but functional pergola project includes wires that make it easy to slide a piece of canvas across the frame for a customizable amount of shade.

This backyard seating idea may be a bit more involved than others on this list but it’s definitely worth the effort if you have the time to tackle it. By espaliers, or training a tree to grow in a particular pattern, you can create a living fence that’s low-cost and high-end looking.

After spending over a year staring at her backyard’s unsightly AC unit, Chicagoan Jackie Virgilio was ready to do something about it. So she and her husband took on the challenge of building their backyard into a space that they could truly be proud of. After resurfacing her pool deck, sprucing up her vintage furniture and creating an amazing flower pot wall (shown here on Spruced Up Mamahood), they’ve transformed their once drab yard into a fun, livable oasis.

Planter Dividers

Adding planters to your backyard offers you a way to grow fresh produce and herbs, as well as add visual texture to your green space. You can make this backyard DIY project even more useful by dividing your garden into sections. This is especially helpful if you’re planting vegetables, because it makes it easier to keep track of which plants are growing where. You can also divide your garden into separate areas for different functions – relaxing, cooking, etc.

A simple way to bring an elevated look to a space is by separating plants with wooden poles. These are available at most home improvement stores and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can stain or paint them to match the color scheme of your space. If you’re using a natural wood, the best idea is to let it weather naturally, but if you’re worried about weathering too quickly, consider sealing the wood with an exterior polyurethane.

Another way to add an elevated look to your backyard is by building a vertical planter wall. This easy backyard DIY project can be done on any type of fence and will instantly add some height to your space. You can fill the top of the planter with your favorite flowers and herbs, and the bottom box can be used for outdoor toys or more plants.

If you want your planter divider to serve as a privacy screen, use lattice work trellis on the wall. Climbing plants like clematis will soon start to climb over the trellis and create a beautiful green privacy wall that’s sure to impress your guests.

This is a great idea for large outdoor spaces that might get crowded with people and loud noises. You can even use the planter divider to add privacy to an outdoor room, such as a dining area or living room.

If you have old patio furniture that’s seen better days, a few backyard DIY projects can help you breathe new life into it. For example, this DIY blogger from Spruce Up Mama transformed an old rusted patio table into a gorgeous cedar deck with spray paint and strapping.

Fountain

A fountain is a beautiful addition to any outdoor space that offers both visual and auditory interest. It’s one of the most popular backyard DIY ideas that is easy enough for most homeowners to tackle, but there are endless ways to design your own unique water feature.

One of the most creative fountain ideas involves repurposing an old container as a garden fountain. To create this look, all you need is a water trough, pump tubing and stones or pebbles. The rocks help conceal the tubing and add texture to your design. When you fill the trough, water will flow through the tubing into different holes drilled in the rock walls at varying heights and fall back down over the rocks. The rocks also serve to mask the noise from the recirculating water and make your fountain quieter.

For a more modern twist on the classic fountain idea, you can build a sculptural fountain that catches your eye with its intriguing shapes and whimsy. This unique backyard landscape fountain is a fun way to show off your personality in the yard, and it’s an excellent centerpiece for entertaining.

Another fun backyard fountain idea that’s a little less labor-intensive is to construct a water wall. This creative design has the look of a rock wall, but it’s actually a small fountain with water cascading down it. The walls can be built out of natural stone or reclaimed bricks, and the whole project will cost less than $300.

You can also use concrete to construct a sculptural fountain, such as this tiered style that features three separate tiers for water to flow down from. These concrete backyard fountains are a great choice because they’re durable and can withstand the elements. Plus, they come in many sizes so that you can find one to fit your backyard space.

Whatever fountain idea you choose, be sure to plan ahead for how often you’ll need to refill the basin. Thanks to evaporation and creature drinking, the water in most garden fountains can quickly drop below an optimal level. You’ll also need to clean the fountain occasionally with a mild cleaner that won’t damage plants or animals.

Planters

One of the quickest and easiest backyard DIY ideas for elevating outdoor space is to create planters. These can help define spaces such as a patio or an outdoor dining area, and you can also use them to grow flowers and herbs for fresh backyard cooking. These DIY projects are often easy to complete, and the right materials can provide long-lasting durability for your yard.

Getting creative with the use of planters can add visual interest to your backyard without going over budget. For example, you can repurpose a half whiskey barrel as an attractive planter by staining the outside of the container and planting with trailing plants like ‘Electric Lime’ coleus, fuchsia zinnias, or Mandevilla. To further brighten your backyard, hang a vintage lantern or a solar light from the top of the planter.

Climbing vines such as clematis can give a backyard garden a gorgeous focal point by covering a fence or an ugly AC unit with a lush green wall. To save money on this backyard DIY project, look for used items at garage sales and resale shops.

If you have a lot of unused pots in your backyard, turn them into a fun and functional DIY project that provides more storage for outdoor cooking equipment. Paint an old wooden trunk or wagon to create a stylish planter that can be used to store garden tools and other backyard gear. Alternatively, you can build a small trellis to climb flowers or greenery.

When choosing a material for a planter, consider the longevity and durability you want. Wood is a classic, but it’s important to seal the wood with a protective coating to keep it in good condition. Concrete is another popular choice, but it’s much heavier than fiberglass and can be difficult to move once it’s filled with soil and plants.

Fiberglass planters are an option that offers both long-lasting durability and a lightweight feel. These containers are made from a mixture of fiberglass and clay, which helps them maintain their authentic natural appearance while providing a stronger up-front investment than a concrete planter. These types of planters can be used indoors or out, and they’re resistant to scratches and cracks.