A “Mostly Dirt” Yard Transforms into the Coolest Outdoor Oasis
If you’re looking to turn your yard into a fun summer hangout, there’s maybe nothing cooler — literally — than a stock tank pool. Cecilia Glover (@rootsandreno) and her husband, Jerimiah, transformed their yard into a summer and fall oasis that boasts a stock tank pool with an incredibly cute (hand-painted) wavy design on the outside.
Read more about how the DIYers maximized fun and function in their yard, which was once “mostly dirt,” as Cecilia puts it. It was “too little of a space to mow, but too big of a space to leave empty, sad, and unused,” she adds. A little over $3,000 later, it’s the backyard dreams are made of.
Apartment Therapy Before & After Survey
- Name: Cecilia Glover
- Social media: @rootsandreno
- Type of home: House, owned
- Who do you share your space with, if anyone? My husband, Jerimiah, and our two rescue pitties, Kratos (12) and Pika (5)
- Approximately how big is this space? 700 square feet
Describe what this space looked like before.
When we bought this house in May 2021, the entire yard, this area included, was mostly dirt and tree roots. It felt like too little of a space to mow, but too big of a space to leave empty, sad, and unused.
Why did you decide to make a change?
I saw potential for an extension off our back breezeway patio, which is an amazing space on it’s own. Stock tank pools were becoming very popular, and I just knew this corner was the perfect spot.
What were the important steps in the project?
It was DIY all the way! Jerimiah is always a great helping hand with all of our DIY projects, and Pika is always the PAW-ject manager on duty. Jerimiah helped build the deck, lay the stones, and plant the landscape.
Building the deck was completely new for me — specifically building something that needed to be structurally sound. I started with doodles, and each drawing got more specific on what my measurements needed to be for safety. Once I built the deck, I went back and added the steps. I built those with no plans and all from scrap wood!
Painting the stock pool was surprisingly easier than I expected.
How much did the project cost?
Approximate breakdown:
- Pool: $500
- Pump and supplies for pool: $250
- Pool deck supplies: $1,700
- Flagstone: $500
- Landscape plants: $300
Did you use any budget-friendly tricks?
The biggest money-saver here was buying my flagstone from a stone-specific store instead of Lowes or The Home Depot. I was able to buy a pallet of stones for significantly less, and it was exactly the amount we needed!
What do you love about the “after?”
Because the side yard was completely unused, the pool and deck completely transformed the space. When we have friends and family over, it’s the main hangout spot when we are outside. We can easily fit eight people in the pool and on the deck. Just off to the side there’s another deck with a table and chairs for snacks and more room to relax. Honestly, the entire pool project changed the outside space from “cool back patio” to “outdoor oasis.”
I love spending time in the pool with friends and family during our extended summers here in Oklahoma. It somehow gets even better during fall when we turn it into a hot tub! When it’s converted to a hot tub, we watch movies from the pool from the deck!
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