Last Updated on February 8, 2025 by Tanya Janse van Rensburg
The backyard is an extension of the home, providing a place for your kids to play and can be a great area to entertain guests.
You might also pursue a hobby there, such as gardening.
To make the backyard as lovely as the house interior, let’s look at ways to improve it in time for summer.
Having a pool in the backyard is great for those who love being in the water.
It makes swimming and having fun splashing around convenient as you walk from the house to the backyard. Plus, it’s available whenever you want!
There are above-ground pools in several shapes and sizes, depending on personal preference and what fits the space.
They’re also more affordable than inground pools that typically require extensive excavation of the yard.
Bring on the fun pool parties and relaxing summer afternoons in the water!
Be sure to winterize the pool at the end of summer so that you can enjoy it again when the warm temperatures return.
Create a DIY fire pit using an online guide, with attention to safety. It can be a mesmerizing feature in a yard or on a deck.
The flames create a great cozy atmosphere in the back of the house, and the warmth can help you, your family, and your friends enjoy more evenings outdoors in June, July, and August.
You might even do a marshmallow roast with the kids on a few different nights, which saves going to the campsite.
If you prefer a fire table instead, there are many styles to choose from, such as wood burning, natural, gas, and propane.
If you enjoy gardening, you already know that colorful blooms enhance the look of an area, providing interest and beauty.
If you don’t already have a garden bed in the back of the home, this year is a great time to start.
Or, perhaps you want to make the current one larger so it has more of an impact.
Getting in the dirt to plant bulbs and care for plants can be very satisfying, especially as you watch them grow in the warm weather.
Friends who visit are sure to appreciate your lovely garden for its vibrant flowers. Gardening can also be a great stress reliever.
If there is not a lot of outdoor seating, it makes sense that you cannot enjoy the space as much as initially hoped.
So, improving the area could be as simple as adding furniture to sit on.
Exactly what that looks like depends on the style you like, how much room there is, and other factors.
Adding chairs and a matching couch to a deck is a popular idea, with waterproof cushions to withstand different weather conditions.
Bar furniture makes sense when you have that entertainment area outside, too.
In the garden, you might also add a bench to relax and admire the plants and the bees, butterflies, and birds they attract.
A gazebo bar is a popular idea that can make the backyard look more sophisticated and enhance its functionality.
When your bar is poolside, you offer guests activities that make for a fun day! Of course, drink responsibly.
The bar can also be where you mix refreshing mocktails, or you might transform it into an ice cream parlor for the kids some afternoons.
A gazebo or pergola over the bar offers shade on hot summer days.
If you want to create interest with a limited budget, add leftover bricks from another project or move bar stools outdoors that you previously had in the kitchen.
An outdoor grill area immediately improves the area.
Summertime is when you can use it the most, entertaining at lunchtime and for dinner. What a great way to enjoy the season!
Whether you have a cozy setup or something more extravagant in mind, you’re going to get a lot more use out of the area now.
Along with adding a BBQ, consider building cabinets around it with gorgeous countertops.
That gives you plenty of space to store grilling tools, plates, utensils, and drinkware, as well as a place to prepare the meals.
A cookout party will happen soon, especially after everyone has had a blast in the pool. Some delicious BBQ recipes are citrus chicken, brisket, and pulled pork sandwiches.
For the sports enthusiast, how about adding a small putting green or miniature golf course to the back lawn?
The new feature can lead to hours of fun outside in summer. You can either use natural grass or synthetic material.
Leveling the yard, if it is not already, is one of the first steps. Get ready to tee off any day you want without having to book ahead or worry about slow people ahead of you.
Get some practice once your backyard putting green becomes a reality.
Just be ready to put in the work to maintain it. Your friends will want to visit to practice with you.
While many homeowners find maintaining grass a chore, at least if you want it to look good, a healthy, green lawn can go far in helping the backyard and home look better.
Regular watering is often necessary, along with weeding at least once a week to stay on top of things.
If areas start to thin, add seed to maintain a uniform look. When mowing the lawn, be sure to do so at the correct height.
Even those who have owned several homes may not know this tip. If it is too short, that can weaken the roots, while leaving the grass too tall can encourage pests.
Generally, don’t cut more than 1/3 of the grass height at one time to keep it looking good in summertime. In spring,
No Mow May gives you a break from the lawnmower.
The lights you add might be ones that you like so much that you use them throughout the year.
Landscape lighting can help your backyard look amazing at night once you know the essentials.
The key is to add lights so that the eye goes from feature to feature rather than just focusing on one or two.
Solar garden lights are beautiful ways to bring more attention to a space, and string lights around the patio create a cozy vibe.
Also, illuminating a backyard pathway makes it safer to walk around so you can do so at night, making you more likely to be out there.
Lanterns along a patio are an intimate way to light up the space.
A cute idea is to add fairy lights to trees in your yard; the kids will like seeing the twinkle when it gets dark at night.
Your children will want to play foosball if you put the table on the patio in summer.
Be sure to choose an outdoor one with waterproof resin, as it will be more likely to withstand harsh weather than one designed for indoor use.
Plus, when keeping the table outside year-round, you can have peace of mind that it will still be in good shape next June when the blue skies return.
The foosball feature could be part of a games zone, along with table tennis.
Try to place the table in a level area with a bit of shade, which is big enough to accommodate its dimensions.
Ensure the table won’t be in the way of people walking.
A fence that looks worn or damaged needs some work, as that can hurt the overall look of your backyard.
An attractive fence, on the other hand, adds beauty to the outdoor space, enhancing the garden while also providing privacy.
A wooden fence has a classic look, and you might add lattice at the top of the vertical boards for a fancier appearance.
Or, choose a fence with diagonal slats for a modern style, whether it’s made of Cedar or another material.
Painting and staining the boards is also a way to improve the look of a wooden fence.
For a chain link fence, make it look nicer by planting vines and climbing plants along it or adding string lights.
There are a lot of projects that you can start now to create a more functional, fun, and attractive backyard for summer.
That includes planning which above-ground pool to get, repairing the fence, moving the lawn, adding a BBQ area, and expanding the garden bed.
With so many ideas, you might not know where to start.
A good first step is to consider what you want to see the most in the back of the house or what activity you would like to do there on warm days.
Then, plan to make that happen. Doing so will make summers more enjoyable!