Outdoor living is at it’s finest in the summer and fall here in Michigan. However, no matter where you live, I have some simple tips for you today to spruce up your space on a budget! Enjoyable backyard living requires only a few strategic elements. Elevate your outdoor living areas with these simple and low-cost ideas!
CUSTOM OUTDOOR LIVING
We purchased our home with 38 acres because of the land. The house had tons of potential, but wasn’t really my style. Over the years, if you’ve followed along for any length of time, you’ve seen me transform the inside of our home.
Thankfully, the outside of our home had a great foundation for custom outdoor living already! The previous owners were thoughtful about their outdoor living design.
There are beautiful stamped concrete patios and walkways, and a large custom fire pit.
The front of our outside spaces have beautiful landscaping that I’ve tweaked slightly over the last few years. But for the most part, we’ve enjoyed the outdoor design our home already had.
Since the groundwork was already laid for enjoyable outdoor living, I’ve just had to add my touches to it!
Here are a few updates we have done outdoors so far.
DIY Raised Garden Beds
How to Lay a Flagstone Pathway in the Garden
How to Paint a Deck
And our newest adventure: painting the exterior of our home!
I’ll share all the details on that process in coming posts. Make sure to subscribe to the blog to be notified when they go live! You’ll also get access to my free 3 part e-course where I help you start the process of designing your haven.
HOW DO YOU CREATE AN OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE ON A BUDGET?
LOW-COST BACKYARD LIVING IDEAS FOR YOUR OUTDOOR LIVING AREAS
Whether you have a custom outdoor living area or a blank slate backyard to design, these low-cost backyard living ideas will help you elevate your space on a budget.
If you have zero dollars to invest in your yard, then put in some sweat equity. It will go a long way to simply do regular maintenance on your yard. First and foremost, this includes mowing and weeding.
Yuck. I get it. I have about 6 acres of landscaped outdoor spaces to maintain and it can be brutal to keep up with.
However, if you do nothing else, maintaining your lawn, shrubs and weeds will create a presentable yard and give your home some curb appeal.
This is the first step. Next, consider adding these standard landscaping elements.
Once you’re ready to make a small investment in the appearance of your home, add some evergreen shrubs. Evergreens can be kept neat and tidy to give your outdoor landscaping structure and color. Even in the winter, these will help your exterior pop.
ADD LANDSCAPED FLOWERS
Next, add in some landscaped flowers. Whether you like a wildflower look or more proper groupings, adding perennial flowers to your landscape brings so much simple beauty to your home.
You can also see how I use annuals and perennials to spruce up my front door for a welcoming entry all summer long.
These three tips are very basic landscape suggestions that can cost anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars, if you have it professionally done.
OUTDOOR AREAS, WE HAVE FIVE MAIN ZONES.
Back patio for grilling and dining
Deck (Currently undeveloped but soon I want this space to have comfortable outdoor furniture)
Fire pit for camp fires/smores nights
Front field for kid’s activities like soccer, swing set, volleyball, and trampoline fun
Pond pad for lounge chairs
Source: https://bit.ly/3q5wsoi
