7 Ways to Refresh Your Backyard Without Spending a Dime (2024)

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In a perfect world, we'd all have a nice healthy-sized budget for adorning our outdoor spaces. But interior home projects and repairs pile up, and our shelter often takes priority over the outdoors.

You should feel empowered to work with what you have outside. As with any home project, creativity and a willingness to learn are two huge assets for a backyard makeover.

"If you don't want to spend any money but have access to the internet and a bit of time, then you have the world at your fingertips," says landscape designer Andrea Scharff.

Here are a few ways you can refresh your backyard for free-ninety-nine.

Start With a Clean Slate

It's likely been a while since you've lounged outside after a cold winter. Before doing anything else, it's time to dust off the cobwebs. "It's amazing what a good clean can do," says interior designer Andi Morse.

Before adding any new outdoor accessories to the mix, she suggests following this checklist:

• Power wash the patio
• Clean outdoor rugs
• Wipe down furniture
• Wash cushion covers and pillows

Next, she says to direct your attention to your garden beds and trees. Simply taking the time to pull or spray weeds will instantly make your backyard appear neater, according to Morse.

Lastly, the same way you get rid of the weeds, prune your trees—overgrown trees not only look messy but can be a hazard to your home.

Propagate Your Plants

Adding new plants to your yard doesn't necessarily require an expensive trip to the local plant nursery. Scharff notes that you can multiply the number of your landscaping plants through propagation.

Plants like boxwood, hydrangeas, roses, and all sorts of herbs, fruits, and vegetables make great propagation candidates. "It's not hard, it's free, and very rewarding," she says.

Upcycle Old Patio Furniture

Outdoor patio furniture has to withstand the elements constantly. After just a few seasons, even the most well-made pieces will start to show their age.

Rather than replacing these items, you can give them a second life with a fresh coat of paint or stain or by sewing new slipcovers. If you're already an avid DIYer, there's a good chance you already have paint, wood stain, and fabric on hand leftover from other projects.

If you need patio furniture to begin with, check Facebook Marketplace or your local Buy Nothing group to see if you can score a few free pieces. For example, Scharff received her own outdoor sofa and chair set from a client who was ready for a change. She simply re-painted and reupholstered them herself, and they looked as good as new.

Re-Arrange Your Yard

Re-arranging your indoor furniture always offers a fresh new perspective, and the same rule applies to your outdoor furniture. If you're working with a larger patio, simply moving your seating area from one corner to another can do wonders.

The same idea applies to landscaping plants. While transplanting them too often can cause stress on their roots, moving a well-established plant just once can entirely transform the look of your yard.

Use Indoor Decor and Furniture Outside

There are technically no rules regarding using indoor decor and furniture outside. An indoor wood table can age beautifully for a season, and you can spray metal furniture with a protective coat to prevent rust.

Scharff even occasionally puts her indoor throw pillows and throw blankets outside to use. "I won't store them outside but it allows me to refresh the space easily," she says.

Add a Little Ambiance

It's truly the little things that make your backyard a relaxing place to unwind. When it comes to entertaining, Scharff always turns on some music, lights some candles, and scatters a few floral arrangements.

"I love having floral arrangements clipped from flowers, herbs, and greenery I grow in the garden outside when I entertain," Scharff says.

Get Creative With Lighting

Mood lighting is key for any outdoor lounge space, and there are ways to elevate what you already have. Scharff loves repurposing old jars into lanterns by adding candles.

"They add magic and warmth to the garden, and most people have these items in their pantry," she says.

One other lighting hack she offers is drilling holes into cans and placing candles inside, which will transform them into lovely fairy lights that you can hang from trees or add to a tablescape.