Backyard makeovers don’t need to be pricey to be luxurious and professional, even if your garden is more on the spacious side. So, what can you do to make your large backyard look more inviting? Well, in this article, we lay out some of our more affordable ideas.
So, if you have a large backyard in need of some love, check out our top 10 favourite large backyard ideas on a budget. If you’re looking for an outdoor chaise lounge or daybed, we’ve got you covered. We also have patio sofas and loveseats to fit any backyard.
Make a deck or patio
Who says large backyards have to be one huge lawn? Break up that sea of green with a homemade patio.
Patios and decks don’t have to be expensive either - simply use some old shipping pallets or pre-cut Hem-Fir to get a professional yet budget-friendly patio that will last. You can get old pallets for free in some places, while Hem-Fir is very affordable.
Make sure you get pallets with only very narrow gaps if you plan to use them for flooring. You may even be able to snag some pre-painted pallets to make life a little easier.
Put down a rug
Not so keen on extensive renovations? Why not put down an outdoor rug? Outdoor rugs can immediately add some style and flair to an area that would otherwise be uniform.
Outdoor rugs are durable and usually made with a weatherproof coating. So you can be sure they’ll last. Plus, outdoor rugs are available in lots of patterns that will complement your existing outdoor flowers or plants. They can also help to protect your deck or lawn from food spills that could otherwise damage them, and outdoor rugs make the perfect place for a picnic, too!
Jazz up your fence
If you have a large backyard, chances are you also have an equally large, unbroken, and boring wooden fence. The next time you feel your fence is looking a little dilapidated or patchy, don’t reach for that can of stain or white paint - instead, paint a mural!
A landscape would look great on a long fence. Alternatively, paint your favourite flowers. Even something as simple as polka dots helps to break up what can otherwise a barren landscape.
Build a vertical garden
This has to be one of our favourite large backyard design ideas. When you have a spacious lawn in your backyard, you don’t want to sacrifice an inch of it! Your lawn is your soccer field, picnic area, and so much more. Why would you replace your grass with some plants?
So, if you feel the urge to grow, grow upwards! If your neighbours don’t mind, simply nail some potted plants directly into your fence. Or you can build a simple trellis. Once again, pallets are an excellent option for this.
Make a backyard theatre
You probably hang your sheets out in the backyard to dry anyway, right? Next time it’s a nice evening, why don’t you leave them there?
Then, place a couple of Bluetooth speakers by your deckchairs, charged and ready in plant pots. Bring out your coziest cushions, beanbags, and blankets. Make a big bowl of popcorn and sit back to watch your favourite movies projected onto your sheets! We think the outdoor theatre is one of the best large backyard ideas for families.
Make the most of your tree
No large backyard is complete without a tree, is it? If you’re lucky enough to have a tree in your backyard, make the most of it!
Bring your outdoor bench, deckchairs or picnic blanket over by the trunk of your tree and use the leafy branches to provide you with shade during those warmer months of the year. Or, securely tie some rope to a branch and use an old tire or scrap wood for a swing that will give fun all year round.
Set up a stock tank pool
The trendy stock tank is something that’s taking over everyone’s Instagram feeds right now! Traditionally seen on farms to collect rainwater or melting snow for livestock, today, the stock tank is a cheaper alternative to more pricey swimming pool options.
Of course, you don’t have to use a real stock tank for this purpose unless you’re a farmer with an old stock tank lying around. An old bathtub will do as a budget-friendly place to chill out and cool down during the scorching summer months, while leaving a kids’ paddling pool out all year round to fill up with water is also a great option. Just make sure to use a chlorine float so that the water is safe to swim in!
Make a fountain
If a pool is a bit much, how about a fountain? Not only does it make an excellent place for kids, adults and pets alike to cool down or get a quick drink, a fountain also looks amazing and makes a stunning feature in your garden.
A fountain doesn’t have to be a grand, extravagant affair either. There are plenty of options out there for small decorative fountains that you can jazz up and personalize with ornaments and trinkets, or your kids’ waterproof toys, to make your fountain genuinely magical.
Plus, with solar pump options for the power, and the water recycled, a fountain shouldn’t cost too much beyond the initial investment!
Create a path
As large backyard landscaping ideas go, this is one of the easiest. Got a flower bed that never quite took off? Why not cover it up with a homemade stone path? Embed some old bricks or woodchips in the soil, or use large flat stones.
Old fish tank gravel is also a good option for a garden path, although you will need a lot of it for a long trail! Do bear in mind that non-organic materials will create a more permanent garden path than organic ones. Natural materials will need regular rejuvenating as nature constantly starts to take over again.
The options are endless!
Light it up
Who says Christmas lights are just for the holiday season? Illuminate your backyard all year round! Putting up some colourful string fairy lights around the top of your fencing will give your garden a fun vibe, while attaching some solar torches to every third panel or so of the fence will make your yard appear rustic and relaxing.
If you go for the garden path idea, show off your path with spot lighting embedded in the ground. Or, if you create a fountain, use some solar-powered lighting to illuminate the fountain’s stream day and night. This is one of the most magical large backyard design ideas.
