Backyard Decorating Ideas: Easy and Affordable Outdoor Oasis

The beautiful thing about spring and summer is that we get to extend our living space using our backyard! I love that. The snow, ice, and cold are gone, and we can sit outside for hours enjoying the fresh air. The kids get to treat the great outdoors as their playroom. I get to enjoy a whole different way of entertaining. We often think of styling our front porch, but why do we leave out the backyard space when we think of decorating? I’ve collected some backyard decorating ideas to make your extra living space extra beautiful this year!

A Secret Garden Swing Retreat

I am fortunate enough to have a forest behind my house where I can create a secluded romantic swing area at the end of a little pathway. But even if you don’t have this option, this piece of outdoor furniture is a beautiful backyard decorating idea! A swing adds extra seating and also some character and whimsy to any space. You can put it on your deck or your lawn, wherever it fits the space best. Then, add decor items like throw blankets and cushions to the swing. Surround it with accent tables for your guests to set cold drinks on and some potted plants for atmosphere. Twinkle lights are of course the perfect touch! I wrapped a nearby tree with Christmas lights, and put a line of string lights up behind it for effect. I added lanterns as well. For my own swing, I did not do any DIY (shocking, I know!) and ordered the Wood Canyon Patio Swing from The Brick with this project in mind. The swing looks so rustic and cozy, and I’m very happy with my choice. This is one of my very favourite backyard ideas!

Cozy Fire Pit Area on a Budget

Backyard get-togethers don’t always happen in the heat of the day! If you want to make your fire pit area cozy for late night sessions of marshmallow roasting and glasses of wine shared with friends, this post is perfect for you! True, it is geared toward fall, but we all know that in this part of the world even summer evenings are cool. So, adding blankets and pillows to an outdoor living room is not out of place even in July! I found these amazing Muskoka chair kits at Costco online. I painted them to fit with my chosen colour scheme and then added accessories to create an outdoor oasis. You could use flower pots, planters, or planted greenery and herbs as focal points to really make your fire pit area shine!

How to Clean and Style a Cotton Canvas Hammock

As soon as it finally warmed up here, I couldn’t wait to put up my romantic crochet edged cotton hammock in our back woods again. A hammock is such a great backyard decorating idea! It can transform part of your outdoor area into a comfortable yet practical place for rest and relaxation. Whether you bought your hammock new or got lucky and found it at a thrift store, you’re probably going to need to clean it at some point. My hammock is white, so it needed some attention to return it to its original glory before I could put it back up again. Let me give you a tutorial on how to clean your hammock properly, and then style it with pops of colour using cushions, flowers, lanterns (or candles), and a beautiful accent table that makes it the perfect place to read a book with a cup of tea in the morning or afternoon. 

A Coastal Cottage Balcony Makeover at Mom’s Lake House

Don’t forget that balconies are backyard spaces too! Just because you don’t have a large backyard doesn’t mean you can’t convert your balcony into an outdoor room that will bring you joy all summer long. You could add a small outdoor dining set, or a conversation set of chairs to help you enjoy your space. I recently proved that balconies can be cozy when I styled my parents’ lake house balcony area. This balcony was inspired by a photo I found on Pinterest with a striped & fringed umbrella. I added a patio set of two chairs and an accent table. My mom made some beautiful blue floral cushions from April Cornell napkins. They added such a lovely vintage charm to this set. I added some decor pieces like an old wicker tray I had on hand, some vintage books and cups (from Value Village), a faux plant from Michaels, and some faux Dollarama roses. My mom always has beautiful plants and flowers on hand in the summer, so we added them to the patio with some lanterns and jugs. I love how it turned out, and it proves that one of my best backyard decorating ideas is to add decor and little colourful accents when you can, even if it feels silly to decorate outside.  It is worth the effort! 

5 Tips to Get Your Patio Ready for Summer (& Our Back Patio Tour)

The temperature is heating up and summer will be upon us before you know it. So now’s a great time to get your patio clean and decorated for the season! I’m sharing 5 tips to get your patio gorgeous and ready for entertaining. You will find spring cleaning ideas, tips on how to use paint to refresh your space, a simple pillow DIY project to make your furniture look finished, examples of how to use florals and greenery to your best advantage, and of course, twinkle lights! I’m also sharing a tour of our own colourful summer patio for extra inspiration!  

Easy & Inexpensive Patio Decorating ideas + Mosquito Repellent Tricks

Here are some ways that I’ve decorated our patio for summer on a budget, and how you can too! Learn how to make a DIY mosquito repellent luminary in a mason jar, the best place to find cheap patio decor in Canada, and how to make a faux ivy wall!

Our Night Time Patio Tour with Duraflame

It’s almost summer! Are you looking forward to cozy evenings on the patio with a fire and lots of twinkly lights and lanterns? I love using Duraflame Stax Crackling Firelogs to light a quick fire in our patio fire pit. To start a fire, you simply have to stack two of these fire logs in a cross pattern. Next, light the wrapper of the bottom one, and you’ll have a large, crackling fire within a few minutes. Besides the cozy fire that is a must for an outdoor summer hangout session, I also make our patio warmer with throw pillows and blankets spread over the patio furniture for my family and friends. The nice glow from the lanterns and votive candles also helps make our patio feel warm, cozy, and sparkly. I hung my DIY macrame chandelier from our patio umbrella for some extra ambiance. It’s so easy to move and quickly hook up anywhere with its chain. If you have a ceiling covering your deck it would be perfect there too! I also put out a lit birch tree decoration I had from Christmas. I love adding twinkling lights to an outdoor space for any season! Visit the post for the full tour of our summer patio decor. 

Beautiful Backyard Party Decorating Ideas

Looking for backyard party decor ideas for your next outdoor gathering? My girls and I like to have an outdoor tea party or a picnic every year. Today I want to share with you one of those little backyard parties with the hope that it gives you some inspiration for your own outdoor gathering! If you are planning any sort of outdoor celebration – whether it’s a little get together, a birthday party or even a wedding – I think you’re going to love these DIY ideas. I’m giving tips on seating arrangements for your party dining space, table decor, and a super fun idea for a s’mores station! Check out the full post to get all the details.

There you have it, so many backyard decorating ideas for beautiful and cozy outdoor living! Anything you think we should add to the list? Put it in the comments or tag me @thediymommy with your own backyard oasis!

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