34 Landscaping Ideas to Help You Beautify Your Backyard
Just wait until you see the DIY fire pit. 😍
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At home, Ree Drummond has a few outdoor spots she's always gravitated towards, including a garden and porch swing that overlooks the family's pond. Dreamy, right? It's no surprise she finds peace in these areas—and the gorgeous Oklahoma redbuds all over the place certainly don't hurt.
Now, it's your turn to create your own oasis. Here, you'll find a selection of our favorite backyard landscaping ideas, which we've culled together to help you dream up a brand-new yard—one that brings you as much peace as Ree's brings to her. Dazzling stonework, water features, and patio and porch upgrades are just some of the way you can revamp the exterior of your home. Or maybe you'll start by setting up your space for outdoor entertaining with fire pits, well-curated backyard lighting ideas, garden fences, and unique DIY planters that'll wow guests.
There's a smart landscaping idea here for just about every homeowner. Grab your garden gloves and some flower fertilizer, and get to work designing the yard you've always wanted.
DIY Fire Pit
Your family probably loves getting outside on a warm night, and this DIY fire pit idea is an excellent way to upgrade your space, no matter the season. And yes, it's completely DIY!
Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.
Outdoor Fireplace with Bench Seating
An outdoor living space, complete with a fireplace and roomy seating area, is the stuff backyard dreams are made of.
Get the tutorial at Jen Woodhouse.
DIY Pergola
Build your very own backyard oasis with the help of this blogger's pergola plan.
Get the tutorial at A Piece of Rainbow.
DIY Tea Garden
In addition to your usual backyard flowers, plant herbs and plants that you can use for a specific purpose—like brewing tea! Jasmine, lavender, and other tea-ready plants thrive in this California yard.
Get the tutorial at Sugar and Charm.
Waterfalls
Believe it or not, with the help of a skilled contractor, creating your very own waterfall is a very real possibility. In fact, it's a great way to make use of slanted, sloped, or otherwise unusable land.
Raised Planter Box with Trellis
Downloadable plans and a full supplies list will help you recreate one of these raised planters at home. Charming, functional, and budget-friendly, they're also a great way to grow vertically and preserve precious yard space.
Get the tutorial at Jen Woodhouse.
Wide Stone Path
Not only is creating a stone path a practical idea (no more trampled flower beds!), but it's also great for drought-prone areas. Large stones on a wide, gravel-lined walkway make it possible to forego the typical grassy lawn.
Organic Mulch
Inorganic mulch, like brick chips, plastic sheeting, and shredded rubber, make it difficult for the roots of your plants to "breathe," retain moisture, and grow freely. Stick with something natural (compost, dry leaves, wood chips, grass clippings, and so on) for a better gardening experience.
DIY Garden Gate
A garden gate is a natural "border" and a nice way to guard against unwelcome critters. This particular project is also easy to customize: Make the wood cuts bigger or smaller to fit the door into your space.
Get the tutorial at Jen Woodhouse.
Cacti Garden
There's more to gardening than spring flowers! If you live in an area that allows for it, try mixing more traditional plants with winter-hardy cacti and banana leaf plants.
See more at A Beautiful Mess.
Stone Porch
When you're living on a ranch, less is more. This patio's barely-there flooring can be mimicked with stone tiles or a concrete pour.
Gravel Drive
You don't have a spend a lot to boost your home's curb appeal. Consider a gravel pathway: Gravel is up to one-tenth of the cost of asphalt, and it always looks welcoming.
Simple Enclosure
Picket fences aren't for everyone. A simple, ranch-like fence adds structure and definition, and keeps your view unobstructed.
Sophisticated Spaces
Okay, so maybe we can't all find chandeliers as awesome as this one. But the rest of this stately situation—brown wicker chairs, large planters—can easily be mimicked.
Geometric Tile
We love the idea of adding some color to your outdoor space using all-weather tiles, and these geometric ones are simply gorgeous. Climbing rose vines add to the appeal.
See more at Style by Emily Henderson.
Oversized Succulents
Succulents aren't just those diminutive things you keep on your windowsill, you know! There are tons of larger, showier varieties, all of which would look beautiful in a yard of any size.
See more at Studio DIY.
Gravel Garden
No grass? No problem. Cover your space in pebbles or gravel for an inexpensive alternative that never needs to be watered.
See more at Camille Styles.
Free-Form Pool
This free-form design gives you lots of space for entertaining, and it looks great, too. The surrounding flower-filled landscaping makes the whole yard feel like an escape.
See more at Thomas Flint Landscape Design & Development.
Stone Tiles
Here's proof that stone is the loveliest-looking choice for any patio.
See more at The House That Lars Built.
DIY Slat Wood Pergola
If you've always dreamed of a pergola, take a look at this DIY. It'll provide you with tons of privacy and just enough shade.
Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.
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