More People Need to Be Talking About How This $35 IKEA Find Completely Transforms Backyards

Summertime is full of vacations, fun plans, barbecues — on top of all the must-do day-to-day activities — and so it’s totally fair if an outdoor project got pushed to the bottom of your to-do list. The summer heat might be (hopefully!) lessening where you live, but that doesn’t mean spending time outside has to stop; you might actually find yourself spending more time outdoors. If you’re looking for a quick, inexpensive way to update your balcony or backyard, IKEA has a $35 find for you: RUNNEN decking.

When Emily Tarleton and Scott Davis moved into their 550-square-foot Manhattan apartment, they got really lucky: The home had a massive outdoor space, especially for a metropolitan location. However, it wasn’t looking its best. That’s where the IKEA RUNNEN decking came in handy.

The RUNNEN decking (which costs around $35 for around 9 square feet) is temporary floor decking. For example, you can easily lift a square if you’d like to clean underneath, and you can also cut it to shape it around a pole, wall, or awkward corner. It comes in five colors/textures, including Beige, Dark Gray, Acacia (like in Emily and Scott’s backyard), Textile Dark Gray, and Artificial Grass. 

Although Scott and Emily used the RUNNEN decking in their more traditional backyard, I’ve also seen it in more urban settings. Nic Miller, who also lives in New York City, moved into an apartment with a less-than-desirable balcony. However, he used the IKEA floor decking to revamp his space (pictured above). He noted that installing the flooring was “easier than expected.”

Unsurprisingly, these floor tiles are among the best-selling products at IKEA. But people are still catching on to their charm. A commenter on Emily and Scott’s House Tour noted, “I had no idea IKEA made those outdoor tiles. They look really good.” No matter what kind of outdoor area you have, whether it’s a backyard, balcony, or small patio, this IKEA decking is a simple way to cover flooring that needs a little TLC.