If you’re ready to finally take on that project in your backyard, then congratulations. But it’s hard not to feel discouraged when you think about all of the steps involved with renovation. You want your space to be inviting and comfortable for friends and family while also fulfilling your own personal needs. Here are tips for taking on the challenge of re-designing.

Know Your Limits

Before you even think about beginning, know what you can do and what you can’t do when it comes to yard work. Are there parts of the project that you want to tackle yourself or hire someone for? Would you rather buy a shed from Ulrich or another reputable company or build one yourself from scratch? Are there landscapers that can help you with a big project, but do the smaller tasks on their own?

To properly gauge your limits, you have to get honest with yourself about what you enjoy doing. If you need help, ask for it. It’s better to figure out your boundaries before things go too far because the last thing you want is to get in over your head and not be able to complete a project.

Factor in things such as your experience, physical endurance, and financial situation before deciding just how much work you can do.

Budget

Be realistic about what you can spend on your project. Set a budget that allows for supplies and labour while also including some wiggle room if the cost goes up or down depending on how complicated the renovation is. To help reduce costs, look at coupons and discounts that can be applied to your purchase. Think about whether you want to hire an individual or a big company, which will make prices vary significantly, but also means it might cost more upfront.

To properly write out a budget, list all of the supplies and materials you will need for your project. Next, add in labour costs such as how much an hour of work would cost to help determine the total project price. Finally, add in fees such as sales tax or shipping, along with any other expenses that might come up during your renovation to properly budget out what you can afford to spend on your project.

It’s important to make sure that there’s a good match between your resources and your planned projects.

 

Time Frame

Backyard re-design can be quite an undertaking, so make sure you give yourself enough time to get the job done. If you don’t, then it could become stressful and counterproductive instead of fun and helpful for your needs. Be realistic about how quickly you can complete the project. Allot enough time for all of the steps involved, including the ones you will do on your own. If there are steps you can’t complete on your own, write out a specific time frame to have them done by and take these deadlines into consideration when designing a plan.

Use a calendar or app to keep track of a project’s progress and check in with yourself every week about how much you can add to the project in a certain amount of time. If you get stuck, don’t be afraid to ask for help or reassess your limits if something involves more than you initially thought.

Find Inspiration

There are tons of resources for backyard inspiration out there, but here are some of the best ones to get you started:

Pinterest  – This is an excellent option if you’re looking for general ideas. Just type in “backyard” in the search bar and see what comes up. You’ll find everything from garden beds to outdoor kitchens with cabinets that match your house, all pinned by people who share similar tastes.

Instagram  – This social media platform is great because people post pictures of things they’ve done in their own backyards. Take a look at the hashtags #backyarddesign, #outdoorlivingroom, and #outdoordecorating for some ideas.

Backyard Makeover  – Throughout the course of this three-part television series, HGTV hosts transformed someone’s backyard to fit their needs. Whether they wanted a bigger garden space or fresh patio furniture, the show covered it all.

Tiktok  – Tiktok is a social media site where many people upload videos and pictures of their DIY projects. If you’re interested in learning how to build something, this is the perfect platform for you because there are tons of resources available.

Think About Functionality

Now that you have some ideas for your backyard, think about how everything will fit together in order to serve its purpose. There’s a good chance that the design of your yard might have to change depending on what you want it to be used for at different times of the year. For example, if you plan on spending a lot of time in the yard during the winter, make sure to add a patio or a barbecue area. The best designs will be functional and flexible depending on your needs at different points throughout the year.

The best functional features are:

– Seating Areas

– Shade

– Storage Spaces

– Lighting

Survey the area and think of your needs. Think about what you want to spend time doing in your yard and where that activity will take place. You can use large rocks or patio furniture for seating areas, arches for shade, storage boxes under decking areas, and lighting to make sure you can see what you’re doing at night.

Repurpose Old Items

If you have a big budget and a lot of time, then a backyard renovation is within your reach. However, if those resources aren’t available, then it helps to keep the design as simple as possible. 

Too many complicated additions can end up costing a lot of money and time, or they can end up being useless if you don’t have the funds for upkeep. Instead of adding many new things, think about how you can reuse something from your current backyard as a starting point. This will make it easier to manage from start to finish and save you some precious resources in the process.

For instance, if you have a garden or a patio in your current backyard, consider using the same items in your new design. If there is a specific pathway that leads to it from the house, try to maintain this flow with your new landscaping. This way it’s easier to connect your old and new designs while also making your backyard more attractive.

Redesigning your backyard can seem overwhelming at first, but if you keep your goals realistic and have a plan in mind it becomes much easier. By following this guide, you’re one step closer to having a backyard that matches your taste and helps you enjoy the outdoors even more.