Ingenious Ways to Get the Backyard of Your Dreams on a Budget

Nancy Mitchell
Nancy Mitchell
As a former Senior Writer at Apartment Therapy, Nancy split her time among looking at beautiful pictures, writing about design, and photographing stylish apartments in and around NYC.
updated Mar 28, 2023
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Rustic cabin with metal roof, surrounded by trees, Adirondack chairs, fire pit, and a metal tub in the foreground.
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(Image credit: Tractor Supply)

You may have plenty of ideas for the backyard of your dreams, but those infinity pools and sunken fire pits and outdoor kitchens — well, they cost money. We’ve got some ideas for budget ways to get the features you crave, so you can enjoy your outdoor space without spending a ton of cash.

If you dream of:
A backyard swimming pool…

Try:
A stock tank pool, like this one (above) from Tractor Supply. It’s perfect for quick dips or an afternoon soak, and much nicer looking than a traditional above-ground pool.

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(Image credit: Fella Villas)

If you dream of:
An outdoor shower, like this one from Fella Villas…

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(Image credit: Bed Bath & Beyond)

Try:
A freestanding shower that connects to your garden hose, like this one from Bed Bath & Beyond. There are also solar-powered options that harness the heat of the sun so you can have warm water.

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Credit: Apartment Therapy

If you dream of:
A movie screen for watching movies al fresco, like this sweet setup from C Home…

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(Image credit: The Shabby Creek Cottage)
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(Image credit: The Shabby Creek Cottage)

Try:
This DIY PVC pipe movie screen from The Shabby Creek Cottage.

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(Image credit: The Horticult)

Or try:
This DIY outdoor theater with a retractable pull-down screen, from The Horticult. You can find even more suggestions for a DIY outdoor movie setup, including options for slightly more expensive inflatable and fixed frame screens, at How-To Geek.

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(Image credit: Pearson Design Group)

If you dream of:
An outdoor bar, like this lovely design from the Pearson Design Group…

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(Image credit: Rachel Pereira/Hunker)

Try:
This DIY Murphy bar from eHow, which besides being budget-friendly is also perfect for a small backyard.

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Plants & Yard
money
outdoor plants & spaces

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