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Create the beautiful outdoor living space of your dreams with these inexpensive backyard landscape design ideas. Weekend project ideas to makeover your patio and yard! Take a sneak peek at these low-cost backyard design ideas including lighting ideas, DIY projects, garden hacks, and charming outdoor design tips.

Simple Backyard Landscape Design Ideas

When our family moved to a new house, it was at the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Our yard began to bloom before our very eyes, day after day. My family and I loved seeing what surprises the next spring day would bring.

You see, our new home backs against the woods, and even has a beautiful little creek that runs into the Potomac. Nature was totally doing its thing with our backyard landscape design, and I was willing to let it take the reins. My husband, however, had a different opinion. He pointed out that heavy rains would raise the creek levels, causing flooding. Plus, he noticed that the lower areas would become muddy, fast. And finally, he knew that the grass would grow uncontrollably — even taller than our kids! Regardless, I waved off his warnings. I didn’t see a real need for backyard landscape design.

Okay, okay. I’m big enough to admit where I’m in the wrong. After two months of living at the new house, the grass did in fact reach the boys’ shoulders. I have begged my husband to hire someone to help us get our backyard landscape design in order, ASAP. While he is looking for help, I am searching Pinterest for low-cost backyard landscape design ideas to perfect our natural space.

Simple Backyard Landscaping Ideas on a Budget

Are you also on a budget? It’s possible to create curb appeal without breaking the bank. Simple landscaping ideas for the backyard can bring together charm and tranquility turning a small backyard into a quaint oasis. Pull together garden hacks, creative landscape features, and DIY yard projects that create the ultimate list of Backyard Landscape Design Ideas.

Without further ado, here are the simple backyard landscaping that I have found so far! Why not share my research with all of my frugal friends and homeowners, too?  These are cheap backyard landscape ideas but don’t worry, they are full of charm, quite quaint, and character.

Read on to discover some of the best, inexpensive yard designs that you can accomplish all by yourself. Easy backyard landscape ideas are ahead!

DIY Water Feature

You weren’t expecting an impressive water feature right off the bat, were you? Don’t worry, this isn’t an expensive water fountain. It’s amazingly easy to achieve this beautiful backyard landscape design with your downspouts. For your liner, cover the bare ground with plastic trash bags. Add your river rock, gravel, water plants, and mulch. The rainwater will travel down the spout and over the rocks to provide a beautiful rock water feature. | Woo Home

Flower Basket Yard Designs

Love greenery and flowers? When it comes to small backyard landscape ideas, raise your plants off the ground with this handmade planter. Line your walkway with these wooden posts topped with flower baskets. These yard designs can be customized to fit whatever color scheme you’ve chosen for your backyard landscape design. Just paint, assemble, and enjoy! | Cottage at the Crossroads

Weathered Wood Renewal DIY

Has your old wooden outdoor furniture seen better days? I’ve got good news — you don’t need to buy a completely new set! This outdoor furniture improvement project renews weathered furniture to polish up your patio. All you need is Howard Products SunShield Outdoor Furniture Wax with UV Protection.

DIY Outdoor Lights

Another easy backyard landscape idea that brings a lot of character is these DIY light poles. Light up the night with this backyard landscape design. This super simple project shows how to string lights from natural elements like tree limbs using galvanized buckets and concrete.  (As seen in our Backyard Movie Ideas) | Ida klipper och klistrar (in English)

Cheap Patio Lighting DIY

In our cheap patio ideas, we introduced this cheap patio lighting idea. Hang string lights in potted lamp posts for a chic look, even with a small backyard. The glow of the lights with the beautiful flowers is a winning combo! | I Should be Mopping the Floor

DIY Horizontal Slat Fence

Transform your backyard landscape design on the cheap with this DIY Horizontal Slat Fence. The fence looks so modern — your guests won’t know it’s DIY until you tell them! Plus at a low cost, you can get your own privacy fence or create divisions in the landscape and create and outdoor living room. Plant vines in a pot and allow the to climb the fence if you desire. Keeping your greenery in a pot will keep them from spreading too quickly as the roots are contained. | Fresh Mommy Blog

Christmas Lights Backyard Landscape Design

Who says Christmas Lights are only meant for winter? Light up your backyard every night of the year with inexpensive Christmas lights. Lights around the trees are low maintenance backyard ideas and give you that custom landscaping lighting found in expensive homes. | Shop Wayfair for Lights.

DIY Patio String Lights Tutorial

No money for a pergola? Until you can create your own DIY pergola, transform an outdoor space into the same idea with lights. How amazing do these string lights look in this seating area on a deck? Transform the ambiance of your patio with this simple, step-by-step DIY Patio String Lights Tutorial.  These lights can also create a beautiful dining area for a midsummer night dinner party outdoors. | Place of My Taste

DIY Newspaper Hack for Weeds

You don’t have to use chemicals to solve your weeds problem. This newspaper hack prevents any grass and weed seeds from germinating for the be-all, end-all of weed solutions! Something to keep in mind: unlike WeedBlock Barrier fabric, the newspaper will decompose after about 18 months, so you’ll have to be ready to replace them. This backyard hack can also surround your shrubs without having to dig up any roots. | Rosemary on the TV

DIY Marble Fence

I know I can’t be the only one that loves incorporating color into my yard designs. Easily transform your garden fence with this cheap backyard landscape design idea. All you need are colored marbles and a drill! Create your holes, insert colored marbles, and let the light do the rest. I can guarantee your kids will love this one — imagine the colors of the sunset as you put together your own suncatcher focal point. | Garden Drama

DIY Planter

Need backyard landscape ideas but no grass? Bring the grass to pavers with a quaint idea that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. One cheap backyard landscape ideas is to make your own DIY planters. We all know planters can be expensive, and they’re not even the focal point — the plants are! Luckily, you can easily upcycle a humble Styrofoam cooler into a DIY Planter. Such an unexpected backyard landscape design! | Salvage Sister and Mister

DIY Beverage Tub

Keep beverages cold without that expensive cooler (this one’s way cuter, anyways!). Use it inside or outside to keep all your beverages in one adorable place. This DIY Beverage Tub comes with two SVG files.

DIY Glowing Orbs

You’d never guess that it only costs $1 to $3 (if anything!) to create these DIY Outdoor Glowing Orbs. You might even have all the materials at home right now! | The Art of Doing Stuff

DIY Fire Pit Tutorial

Kids and adults love fire pits (did someone say s’mores?) But, I’ve been holding off on getting one — they can get way too pricey. This DIY Fire Pit will only set you back $60! Make it a weekend backyard landscape design project to complete with the whole family. Everyone will take pride in this super simple outdoor fireplace. | Keeping It Simple Crafts

DIY Upcycled Armoire

No need to spend thousands on sheds. This couple took a $20 yard sale armoire and used one-half of it to cover unsightly wires from their outdoor electrical box. It hid an unsightly garden hose and became a super simple storage solution for weed killer and plant feed. The other half became a garden bed for growing vegetables. So smart! | Shabby Glam

DIY Pot-In-Pot Gardening Hack

As seen in our garden hacks and tips, try this pot-in-pot method. This DIY backyard landscape design lets you switch up your plants instantly! | Florida Friendly Plants

DIY Bean Pole Teepee Plant

This fun and inexpensive backyard landscape design idea also becomes the perfect DIY outdoor hangout for the kids. They will love patiently watching it grow before their eyes! | Artful Parent

DIY Rock Garden

Is green landscape challenging? Small backyard landscaping can be turned into a hardscape with pavers, stone walls, and/or rocks.  If areas of your yard are brown and dead, don’t hire a costly landscape designer. Instead, replace dead grass with a DIY Rock Garden. You’ll save money and create an interesting element of your yard designs! | Home Talk

DIY Terracotta Pot Garden Hack

Calling all green thumbs! I love the look of this herb garden. Transform your flower beds with humble terracotta pots. Place your terracotta pots inside the ground and put a variety of herbs in the pots or make your own summer vegetable garden area! This can transform a lawn once spring arrives. You can house the pots indoors or in a greenhouse nursery during the winter months. | Town Mouse

DIY Rock Wall Garden Design

Elevate the look of your front or backyard landscape design with a rock wall edging against a colorful flower bed. It’s amazing how rocks can effortlessly improve your yard designs! This can be done against the house or try along-fence backyard landscaping as a simple idea. | Pine and Prospect

Decorative Fencing Hack

HVAC units and garbage cans are eyesores that can get in the way of a beautiful backyard landscape design. Hide these unsightly items with easy to install decorative fencing. This simple idea is an especially nice touch when you have small backyard hot tub landscaping the mind. It’s important to hide all unsightly things. | All Things Mama

DIY Wood Pallet Walkway

One simple backyard landscaping idea is creating a path. Even in a small yard, pathways give the effect of a secret garden. Keep mud and dirt off of your shoes with this frugal, upcycled wood pallet walkway. This is one of my favorite garden yard designs, and something a little different from the traditional stone path! | The Homespun Hydrangea

Look at these DIY Midsummer Nights Backyard Lighting Ideas. Get ready to invite friends over with super simple backyard lighting ideas.  Pin to Pinterest.

Save these Garden Tips and Hacks when creating your own perfect space. Plenty of ideas for those with a green thumb or even a black thumb. Pin to Pinterest.

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Last Updated on February 23, 2023 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living