Yard Renovation On A Budget

Every home has that one spot that makes your house feel like a home. For many, it’s the backyard. A space to enjoy nature, relax with friends and family, or simply have a cup of coffee in the morning.

If your yard isn’t that kind of place, then it makes sense you’d want to look into a yard renovation. With these affordable yard ideas, there’s no need to break the bank on expensive landscaping and furniture. We’ve put together eight surprisingly affordable tips to help you turn your backyard into a space you love without costing an arm and a leg.

1. Light It Up

Lighting is the key to any outdoor space. It can be as simple as a string of fairy lights hanging from your porch, or it can be as complex as water fountains that shoot lasers into the night sky.

If you're not into all that high-tech stuff, you can even keep it simple with some solar powered lights! While they won't have the same punchy effect of lasers blasting into the sky, they will still add some much needed ambiance to your yard.

Here are some fun options:

• String up some mood lighting.
• Add natural light with outdoor patio lights or window lights.
• Try outdoor wall lighting.
• Hang up some lanterns.
• Install some spot lighting.

2. Create an Outdoor Living Space

After lighting up your yard, it's time to create an outdoor living room. You want to make sure that you have a place in your yard where you can relax, eat, read and watch the sun set.

To create a beautiful outdoor living area, you’d need to empty a certain spot right outside your house. The closer that spot to your house the better.

You might also need to clear out the clutter and get rid of the dead plants and weeds.

Another thing to bear in mind is whether you have tall trees in your yard. If you have overgrown trees nearby that block the sunlight, try planting some vines that will grow up each side of them so they don't block out all the natural light anymore.

You can also harness those trees in creating a treehouse for children to play in.

Here are a few more ideas to include to your living space:

• Install a fire pit or outdoor fireplace.
• Add comfortable seating areas and tables for entertaining friends and family outdoors.
• Plant colorful flowers and bushes for color and privacy screening.
• Put down some outdoor rugs or area rugs for added comfort and style (especially if you have kids).
• Create a hammock.

3. Think Modern and Minimalistic

The third step is to think modern and minimalistic. This is where you decorate the yard with furniture, color scheme, lighting and accessories that give it a minimalist look. If possible, try to use modern plants and flowers in your garden as well.

And if you’re not a fan of real plants because you’re worried about insects or time consumption, then maybe you can include artificial plants.

It's important not to overdo it when you're doing this step because you don't want your yard looking like a bare patch of green. That will give people an incomplete impression and make them feel like something is missing from the picture.

4. Change Your Patio Flooring

You can replace your old patio with a new one. This will give you an opportunity to have a unique outdoor space that feels more like a garden and less like some concrete slab.

This might not be the most budget-friendly idea, but it will certainly make your new yard pop. All you will need are tools to remove the old patio, as well as other materials for installing the new one.

You can do that yourself, or hire an expert. You can also consult the experts at Shrubhub to make sure that you're making the right decision by replacing your patio’s flooring.

The cost of replacing your patio depends on what material you use for it and where you get it from. When it’s time to install new flooring, remember that the job should take about two days if everything goes smoothly and according to plan.

So make sure that your patio is empty and clean and all the necessary tools are available to avoid delaying the process.

5. Create a Water Feature

If you're looking for an easy way to instantly upgrade your yard, a water feature is the answer. It doesn't have to be expensive or complicated—you can create a DIY water feature for less than $50 and incorporate it into your landscaping for maximum effect.

Start by creating a pond in the center of your yard using large stones and concrete (a small fish pond would work just as well).

You can find large rocks at any home improvement store, or if you're really looking to save money, try checking out Craigslist or Freecycle to find recycled materials from other people who want them gone.

Next, pile up some dirt around the edge of the rocks until you get about six inches deep in places where plants will grow later on.

Then add some decorative features like driftwood or lava rock here and there; these additions won't cost much but will make all the difference when paired with a nice green lawn!

Finally, fill up your pond with water until it reaches about two inches below its surface level: this will keep bugs out while allowing sunlight into its depths.

By doing so, it will allow algae to thrive while providing oxygenation throughout winter months when most plants go dormant.

6. Add Potted Plants

When you're on a budget, it can be tempting to go all-in on plant purchases. But before you spend any money, make sure the plants you choose are low maintenance and can survive in your climate.

If you don’t know what to plant, check out this simple guide by Shrubhub’s experts.

If you want an instant punch of color for spring or summer—or just good-looking plants that will look nice without much care—consider buying large pots with ready-to-go flowers or fruit.

Potted plants are also good for attracting pollinators (bees and butterflies) and birds like cardinals, hummingbirds, chickadees and wrens.

If you really want to make your yard stand out, nothing beats a few nice-looking potted plants. Give them some loving care and attention and they'll add an extra layer of beauty to any yard for years to come.

Here are some more tips for planting bright flowers:

• Choose plants with long life spans and low needs.
• Plant flowers in containers or in the ground, whichever works best for your space and budget.
• Choose plants with bright colors and long-lasting flowers.

You can also try xeriscaping. It is a great way to garden that incorporates water conservation and plant diversification. By using seasonal flowers and shrubs, you can create a beautiful backyard without breaking the bank.

7. Heat Up with a Fire Pit

The seventh step to a backyard transformation is to add a fire pit. It’s important to have a place where you can have fun and relax with friends, so why not create one?

There are many benefits of having your own fire pit:

• It creates ambiance for when you entertain guests.
• It provides warmth on chilly nights.
• It gives you an excuse to make s’mores and tell ghost stories around the campfire.
• Fire pits can be extremely affordable depending on where and when you shop for one.

There are some considerations that must be made when adding a fire pit to your backyard, namely safety and cleanliness.

To ensure safety, you need to make sure that it is built at least 10 feet away from any buildings or trees, and it should also have a sturdy base so that it doesn’t fall over when lit.

You can find many budget friendly fire pits at your local market or Amazon. But If you're feeling creative, you can always build your own fire pit from simple materials like bricks, stones and concrete.

8. Study, Explore and Create

Research the material you need to use before building anything. So much of the cost of DIY yard renovations comes from trial and error. The more you can minimize the error, the more money you can save.

The most important part of any home improvement project is knowing what materials work well for the region you are in and what is available nearby. Do not underestimate how much time this will take, as there are many factors involved when considering which type of material would be best for your project.

Make sure you have done all your research ahead of time so that you can be prepared for every stage of your project!

Find out the tools needed for a yard renovation on a budget. You should also estimate how many days it'll take to complete this task and how much money it'll cost beforehand.

Enjoy Your New Yard (On A Budget)

By following these easy and affordable steps, you'll have a backyard that is perfect for relaxing and enjoying nature, while still having some money left in the bank for that vacation you’re planning.

It is also important to remember that although we have outlined some of the most important steps in your yard renovation project, there are many more things you could do.

For example, if your budget allows for it, consider hiring a landscaper who can help turn your yard into an oasis!

While that used to be very expensive, remote designer Shrubhub has revolutionized the industry and is currently offering professional 3D yard designs for under $300.

ShrubHub’s yard design experts will help you outline all the important aspects that you need to create your perfect yard.

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