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40 Ways To Make Your Backyard So Much Nicer For Under $35

Turn your backyard into your favorite place to hang out with just a few cheap swaps.

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You can turn your backyard into your favorite place to hang this summer with just a few updates. And thanks to Amazon, you can do it for less than you might think. Start by getting ready for your summer family gatherings by prepping your yard, lighting your space, and making it feel cozy. I’ve added gardening tools, solar-powered lighting options, and pillows to this list for you to shop

And no need to worry — they won’t break the bank. These small, affordable changes will transform your backyard on a budget. Check out these 40 ways to make your backyard so much nicer for under $35.

1

Hang A Cool Lighting Accent, Like This Glow-In-The-Dark Wind Chime

This unique wind chime only gets cooler as the sun goes down. It features six waterproof globes that appear white during the day, but light up in fun colors at night. It’s solar-powered and makes a unique, calming sound to fill your garden. A five-star reviewer noted, “Love these hanging under our trees. Beautiful light display!”

2

Light Your Garden With This Solar-Powered Moon Lamp

This decorative garden light is functional and adds personality to your outdoor space. It’s powered by the sun and will run for up to six hours on a full charge. The LED lights give a warm white glow that bounces off the rustic metal moon shape, and it has a stake on one end that secures it into the ground. With a 4.6-star rating, this accessory will make your backyard feel more like you.

3

Decorate Your Deck With This Solar Table Lamp

Set this beautiful mosaic solar-powered glass ball on your patio table — or anywhere in your yard — and let it create a warm and cozy atmosphere for you. A solar panel on the top powers it during the day. When the sun goes down, it turns on automatically, creating a warm welcome — and necessary light — to your outdoor space. It comes in five colors.

4

Line Your Garden With These Glow-In-The-Dark Pebbles

Your yard will be the talk of the neighborhood with these glowing rocks. They glow in the dark after charging under natural or artificial light. Use them as decorative elements or to light a path in your yard. Plus this pack is only $22.

5

Keep Bugs At Bay With This Magnetic Screen Door

Enjoy the breeze without the bugs with the help of this magnetic screen door. It attaches to your door frame with a magnetic opening in the center that easily separates handsfree so you (or your pets) can go in and out freely. After each exit, the doors find their way back to each other, thanks to the strong magnets. It’s earned more than 35,000 five-star ratings, too.

6

Illuminate Your Backyard With These Garden Lights That Look Like Fireworks

Does your garden need a little extra whimsy? These solar-powered garden lights are attached to flexible copper wires so you can manipulate them into any shape or design. They require about four to six hours of sunlight for them to run up to 10 hours, and the lights have two modes: twinkling and always on. They’re waterproof and add a little sparkle to any outdoor space.

7

Install Overhead Lighting With This Cordless Patio Light

Add some overhead lighting to your outdoor space with this cordless LED light. The battery-powered light puts off 200 lumens and has three brightness settings. It has a built-in, auto-adjustable clamp and two hooks for hanging. Attach it to the inside of your patio umbrella to use at night or hang it from the top of a tent or pergola.

8

Hang An Easy Breezy Hammock For Prime Relaxing

Perfect for lazy Sunday afternoons, morning coffee breaks, or even WiFi-enabled work sessions, this camping hammock is super comfortable, easy to set up, and it holds up to 400 pounds of weight. Plus, it comes with a carrying pouch, and has tree straps and caribiners that make set-up a cinch.

9

Don’t Let Your Rakes & Garden Tools Clutter Your Yard

Capable of holding up to 50 pounds (or 30 pounds if mounted to drywall), this broom holder is perfect for organizing your rakes and garden tools. It has three slots for rakes and brooms and four hooks for pretty much everything else, and it comes with everything you need to install it.

10

Up Your Grilling Game With Stainless Steel Grilling Baskets

These stainless steel baskets are perfect for cooking veggies, shrimp, and other finicky food that might otherwise slip the grate of your grill. For just $30 you get a set of three baskets, each a different size and shape to accommodate different food.

11

Keep These Magnetic Lights On Hand For Nighttime Activities

These flexible LED lights have a powerful magnetic base. As a result, you can effortlessly mount them to the barbecue, the car, or the tent frame so you can see what you’re doing in the dark. They also feature a gooseneck design so you can direct the light any which way — plus each order comes with batteries and a storage case.

12

Cut Down On Bugs With These Repellent Sticks

These mosquito-repellent sticks are a discrete way to stay bug-free. Burn them like incense, and their DEET-free formula will keep bugs away for up to three hours. They’re made with citronella, lemongrass, and rosemary essential oils, so in addition to “actually working,” reviewers say they “smell wonderful, too.”

13

Make A Birdbath With This Solar-Powered Fountain

Create a sanctuary for birds in your backyard with this $24 solar-powered birdbath fountain. It fits in most birdbaths and comes with a built-in battery that’s charged by the sun and pumps water through six nozzles. Even on a cloudy day, the battery will charge to keep the birds happy. Reviewers awarded this birdbath fountain with 4.6 stars on Amazon.

14

Create A Cooler Outdoor Environment With This Sun Shade

Make your outdoor space more comfortable — even on the hottest days of the year — with this large sunshade. The breathable rectangular shade blocks most UV rays to not only keep you cooler but also to help protect your outdoor furniture. It has earned more than 12,000 reviews and is available in six colors as well as 13 sizes.

15

Grab This Game That Reviewers Call “A Total Blast”

It’s simple: Choose your color, pick your team, pick your winning pattern, and take turns bouncing the ping pong balls in between the wooden pegs. Despite its simplicity, Bounce Battle has an overall 4.5-star rating and has been called “a total blast,” “absolutely one of our favorite games,” and the “best game ever.” It was awarded Game of the Year by Creative Child Magazine, and as long as you have a tabletop, you can play it virtually anywhere.

16

Install Additional Security With These Solar-Powered Lights

Add extra security to your home while improving your curb appeal by installing these solar lights that are less than $25 for a two-pack. This set includes 400 lumens waterproof lights that are ideal for mounting to your garage, front steps, or back patio. The LED lamps automatically charge all day, thanks to the sun, so they can be powered at night without the need for outlets. Plus, they are motion-activated up to 16 feet.

17

Keep Rain & Mud Outside With A Durable Doormat

Keep the outdoors outside with this durable indoor doormat. Place it at your back door to stop family, friends, and pets from tracking in dirt, snow, or rain. The low profile is ideal because it fits under doors, yet effectively cleans your shoes. It has an anti-slip bottom and can also be used outside. Just hose it off to clean it.

18

Provide Extra Seating With These Inflatable Ottoman

If you don’t have a lot of space or storage, you might want to shop for items that won’t take up too much space. This inflatable ottoman is a clever solution — and it’s affordable, too. The decorative stool inflates easily and stores flat, taking up almost no space at all. Choose from 21 trendy patterns to add seating to your backyard without overloading your storage (or wallet).

19

Light Up Your Deck (Or Fence) With These Effortless Solar Lights

If you have a deck, fence, or porch railing, these solar lights keep it well-lit and festive. Attach them to the side or the top with the included screws. Then choose between warm white or color-changing; either way, they’ll charge up with sunlight during the day to give you up to 10 hours of illumination at night.

20

Maintain A Clean Grill With This Grill Scraper

A grill scaper such as this solid brass one is ideal especially if you have pets or other animals around as a traditional grill brush with bristles can be harmful if ingested. This one will work with most grills and is even effective on surfaces such as Porcelain and Teflon-coated grates.

21

Keep Your Guests Comfortable With An Inflatable Couch

This inflatable sofa is the comfortable furniture you can take on the go. It’s perfect for music festivals, camping trips, or lounging by the pool in your backyard. The polyester couch can be inflated without a pump and purely by scooping air into the ripstop fabric. It’s strong enough to hold 400 pounds and even has a built-in headrest. It rolls up into a compact carrying case when it’s not inflated, too.

22

Hang These Glowing Mason Jar Lights From A Tree

Even if there aren’t fireflies where you live, these mason jar lights can give you the same magical feeling. This six-pack features mason jars filled with fairy lights and sturdy handles from which to hang them. The lights are solar-powered and will last for about 12 hours after charging for six to eight hours. They’re waterproof and the lids won’t rust over time.

23

Achieve More Privacy With This Affordable Fence Screen

Need a little privacy in your backyard? No need to spend thousands on a new fence — this privacy shield is a great value. It’s designed to cover a chainlink fence and offer up to 90% visibility blockage. The fence shield features rust-free grommets with included zip ties, and you can choose from five colors and almost 400 sizes

24

Assemble This Fast, Fun Game That Makes Use Of Empty Beverage Containers

A combination of horseshoes and frisbee, this outdoor Polish horseshoe set assembles in less than five minutes and uses any beverage containers you have on hand. Just set up the pole, place a water bottle or empty beer can on top, and take turns trying to knock it off with the included frisbees. One reviewer wrote, “I bought this for a teen party at the park and it was a hit! It's super easy and fast to assemble anywhere and comes with a storage/carrying bag! I'm taking it to the beach next!”

25

Avoid Backyard Spills With These Beverage Stake Holders

No more spilled drinks, thanks to these steel beverage holders. Each one sticks into the ground and offers a cup holder wherever you need it. They’re ideal for backyards, beach trips, camping, or park days. The four-pack comes with an assortment of colors, too.

26

Keep Pests Away By Spraying This Yard Bug Treatment

Get ahead of the bugs this year so you can truly enjoy your backyard with this backyard bug control spray. The 32-ounce bottle connects to your hose to easily spray your yard to help remove mosquitoes, fleas, and ants. One bottle will treat up to 5,000 square feet for 12 weeks. There’s no mixing required — it couldn’t be simpler. And for $9, it’s much less expensive than hiring a professional.

27

Add These Outdoor String Lights For A Seriously Cozy Vibe

Instantly elevate your outdoor space with these globe string lights that are trendy and give outdoor spaces a cozy feel. The affordable lights come in 48-feet long strands (and are available in 27 and 97 feet, as well). They feature 24 shatterproof Edison bulbs that are waterproof and can withstand rain, wind, or dampness.

28

Entice Your Whole Family To Play This Ring Toss Game

If you ask me, every good backyard BBQ needs a little competition — and this ring toss game is not only fun, but the surfboard design also makes it a cool piece of decor. The game itself is simple: each player gets 10 chances to swing the metal ring in an effort to attach it to the hook on the board; the first player to 11 or 21 wins.

One Amazon shopper had this to say: “My parents have this game installed at their house, and I had to get one for my own. Product is durable and can be hung in multiple ways, depending on the surface. This game is simple, fun and suitable for anyone/any number of people. It is a perfect addition to my patio. Highly recommend.”

29

Amp Up The Competition With These Floating Pool Party Games

Ring toss and cornhole are two classic games — even in the pool — and this set has everything you need for less than $35. Once your game of ring toss is over, remove the cactus for a cornhole competition. This set comes with 10 inflatable rings and four bean bags. Play both games either in the water or on land.

30

Bring The Fun Anywhere With This Portable Cornhole Set

Cornhole is a backyard classic, and this lightweight set is ideal for playing inside or out. The waterproof plastic boards come with eight bean bags in two different colors. There’s even a built-in bean bag return that catches your bags after you make a “cornhole.” It folds and packs easily for travel, too.

31

Cozy Up Your Patio With These Waterproof Pillow Inserts

Cozy up your outdoor space with some pillows — but make sure they’re resistant to water like these premium pillow inserts are. These microfiber pillows are not only resistant to water and hypoallergenic on their own, but they’re also perfect for inserting into outdoor pillowcases. The 18-by-18-inch pillows have earned more than 3,000 positive ratings and also comes in four other sizes.

32

Decorate Your Space With These Waterproof Pillow Covers

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly way to add color to your patio, try these soft pillow covers. They’re made of canvas polyester with a PU waterproof coating that comes in more than 20 colors to match your space. This two-pack comes in six sizes, all of which have a hidden zipper.

33

Start An Herb Garden That You Can Harvest For Cooking

Whether you have a green thumb or not, this sprouting kit has everything you need to grow your own herbs. The set includes seeds, markers, soil discs, reusable pots, and trays. One 5-star reviewer raved, “Love this kit. Everything you need is included.”

34

Water Your Lawn With This Rotating, Automatic Sprinkler

This cheap solution is all you need for a well-hydrated lawn this summer: an automatic lawn sprinkler. Its 360-degree range covers over 3,000 square feet of lawn. It’s lightweight to move in different areas of your yard and easily connects to your hose to water your lawn while you do something more fun.

35

Level Up Your Grilling With These Mini Grilling Baskets

If you’re a seasoned griller or newbie looking to expand your skills, these grill baskets will be a welcome addition to your grilling station. Each of the three baskets is a unique shape and size, so you’ve got great options for meat, veggies, and portions of varying sizes. And when you’re done, you can pop them in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.

36

Simplify Your Lighting With These Easy Light String Holders

Don’t let the holiday-themed packaging fool you — these light clips are a great way to display lights all year round. They work with a variety of light strings and styles, clipping right to your gutters for secure and stable displays. With 200 clips to a package, you’ll be able to create the outdoor mood lighting you’ve always dreamed of.

37

Fill Your Outdoor Planters With These Faux Boxwood Shrubs

The weather is so unpredictable that it can be hard to keep all of your outdoor plants looking their best. This eight-pack of artificial boxwood shrubs is versatile enough to use in pots, planters, window boxes, hanging baskets, and centerpieces. The fake flowers are UV-resistant and shouldn’t fade over time. Plus, it’s only $13 for eight pieces.

38

Transform Your Backyard With These String Light Curtains

Make your outdoor lighting a whole vibe with an entire wall of LED string lights. These curtain lights can be used inside or outside to hang vertically as a magical accent wall. They have eight modes — including seven unique blinking modes as well as an always-on option — and come in 9.8- and 19.7-foot lengths.

39

Enjoy Your Own Personal Wildlife Show With A Hummingbird Feeder

Make sure you hang this hummingbird feeder near a comfortable seat, because you will love watching birds enjoying it. It’s made with a metal frame, and industrial suction cups ensure it stays on your window of choice. Plus it’s easy to fill and includes a leak-proof gasket for stability — a good thing, since you won’t want to run out of nectar.

40

Spruce Up Your Yard With These Hand Rakes

When it comes to bagging leaves or cleaning up the yard, reviewers are asking “Where have these things been my whole life?” These hand rakes allow you to pick up leaves and pine needles in large quantities and dispose of them with accuracy — or you can use them for spreading mulch and gardening. Either way, they’re made from durable plastic that’ll last for seasons and they have built-in wrist guards to protect your hands.

41

Upgrade Your Garden Hose

With 10 adjustable spray settings and a soft rubber ergonomic handle, you’ll not only get a ton of use out of this nozzle attachment for your garden hose but you’ll also have no problem comfortably using it for hours. The jet stream setting is powerful enough to clean your deck while the gentle spray is great for watering your garden.

42

Hang This Game On Your Fence Or House For Kid-Friendly Darts

Hookey sets up in minutes and offers all of the fun of darts without the sharp flying objects. It comes in three sizes (tiny, classic, and giant), all of which include hooks with varying point amounts and kid-friendly rubber rings. “Loved the idea of having this in my backyard for guests to play!” one reviewer wrote. “The concept is super easy but you’ll find yourself playing it forever just trying to hook it!”

43

Clean Your Yard With This Convenient Waste Scooper

You can easily clear your yard before guests arrive with the help of this pooper scooper. The swivel-head bin comes with a rake as well as two waste bags. It’s lightweight and has an extended reach that makes cleaning up after your pet easier than ever. You can use it without bags, but these specific bags are made with activated baking soda to lock in unwanted odors.

44

Create A Shaded Space With This Affordable Half-Patio Umbrella

You may think patio table umbrellas are an expensive investment, but this one is affordable and sturdy. The half-patio umbrella is about 9 feet wide and can be positioned next to a wall, which is convenient for anyone with a small backyard or deck space. It’s made with alloy steel and has a convenient crank system for opening and closing it.

45

Illuminate Your Drive Or Walkway With These Super Bright Solar Lights

Outdoor solar lights may be convenient granted you don’t have to do any wiring, but they’re often dim and don’t provide much illumination for your drive or walkway. That’s not the case with these super bright solar lights. They use premium solar panels, high-power LED beads, and high-transmittance lampshades to make them as bright as possible for up to 12 hours — and according to reviewers, they’re “actually as bright as the product picture.”

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