Summer is fast approaching and it’s time to get your backyard ready for campouts, picnics, waterballoon fights, and BBQs. Spend more time outside with family and friends and benefit from beautifying your property (and probably increasing its value) by sprucing up your backyard in time to actually enjoy it.

Sprucing up the Backyard in Time for Summer

You don’t have to empty your wallet to have a luxurious backyard. While complete backyard remodels can have fantastic results, most backyards just need a little love and attention and maybe a few additions here and there. Here are guaranteed ways to spruce up any backyard on a budget and end up with a beautiful place that you’ll love to spend your summer in.

• Build it Yourself: The best way to save money when redoing your backyard is to get your hands dirty and do it yourself. You’d be surprised just how many easy DIY projects are out there that you can get done in a weekend, from building planter boxes out of repurposed wood or putting in a pathway of stepping stones.If you’re not really sure where to start, websites like Pinterest and Instructables have endless projects for every experience level. You don’t have to be a master carpenter or a naturally crafty and creative person to complete a lot of the projects out there. Just search around for inspiration, save the ideas that you like, and follow the step-by-step instructions provided.

• Plant a Garden: Gardening has so many benefits that it’s a wonder why we don’t all make time to start one for ourselves. A well kept garden will make your backyard even more beautiful, you can grow your own herbs and vegetables, and gardening is even good for your health. Many of us are probably hesitant to start a garden, invest all of that time and money into setting it up, with the fear that nothing will grow. But there are a lot of plants and vegetables that you don’t need a green thumb to grow. Even if you don’t have any experience with planting (or worse, if all of your past gardening endeavors have ended in dead plants), you shouldn’t be discouraged. Try again, and this time plant some foolproof plants and veggies that are basically guaranteed to grow.

• Accessorize: With summer vacation right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking of ways to keep the kids busy during the break. Pools, treehouses, and trampolines are sure to be a hit in any house, but just remember to emphasize water safety and other summer safety tips when playing outside. There are plenty of fun backyard accessories for the kids, but the adults deserve to have some fun too. With the addition of just one or two accessories, your backyard can become the perfect spot for BBQs, parties, or just a quiet place to unwind after a long day at work. For example, a modern outdoor fireplace could make for a perfect centerpiece to your backyard and inspire countless cozy evenings with friends and loved ones out under the stars, or a new grill could inspire more easy (and healthy) home cooked meals and let you enjoy the outdoors at the same time.

Remember that accessories don’t have to be huge investments, either. Accessorizing can be as simple as stringing up some old Christmas lights to make summer evenings just that much more whimsical. And at Beliani you will find the perfect patio furniture for any budget.

Naomi Shaw is a journalist who lives in California with her husband and three children. She has been in the home decor and renovation business for years and loves to write on the topic as well. As summer approaches, she hopes you find these tips helpful to enjoy your backyard even more.