Relaxing Backyard Retreat - Easy & Inexpensive Updates
You can have a relaxing backyard retreat with simple and inexpensive DIY decor items and projects. You'll be relaxing in no time.
I don't know anyone who doesn't want a relaxing backyard retreat that they can escape to regularly. Or just from time to time when they need to be outside in the fresh air to gather their thoughts, read a book, or just watch the birds.
Enjoying your relaxing backyard retreat should reduce stress, not add to it. So I've joined with some blogger friends to share some great ways we've updated our patios and outdoor spaces for a Summer Outdoor Living Blog Hop. Look for the links to their posts at the bottom for even more inspiration.
Creating a Relaxing Backyard Retreat
Our backyard has had some drastic changes since we bought our home 20 years ago. We were fortunate a few years ago to replace the cracked and ugly patio with stamped concrete. But we couldn't afford much else so I made do with what we had. Last year I wrote a Patio Refresh series where I shared some great ways I updated our patio on the cheap.
This year I have even more updates to what I did last year and I'm excited to share them with you. You'll be amazed at what you can do with discounted items and homemade furniture. I hope you'll be inspired too when you see how easy it is to add updates that don't break your wallet.
You've already seen the overall picture above, now I'll take you around on a little tour. If I had it to do over again I'd pick a patio set with different colored cushions so they don't blend in with the fence. I have a few projects in mind to liven up the fence but haven't found the time to do them just yet. This tray on the coffee table started out as a gift basket tray and I gave it an easy makeover with paint and twine.
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The cute striped pillows I picked up at Walmart for $5 each, and the colors are perfect for my beachy relaxing backyard retreat.
Every relaxing backyard retreat needs some tables for guests to set their beverages. I made these 2x4 Tables for the cost of three-ish 2x4 boards and some paint. They are super sturdy and just what we needed to replace some plastic ones we had, and upgrade a cane table we had. I used my Kreg Pocket Hole Jig and I love that they also have a super reasonable starter option.
The lanterns on each table I bought with a gift card I got for my birthday. In the store they were marked down to $14.98 each. Good news.....they're still on clearance and you can get yours for the same cheap price from Pier 1's website. Since I already have night lighting covered I decided to fill mine with seashells instead of candles.
Right next to them you can see the Tin Can Planters I made earlier this year. Faux succulents keep them looking beautiful all year.
We got a new gazebo this year (I'll put a post together about building a gazebo from a kit soon) and I decided to do something a little different than the drop cloth curtains I hung last year. I still love drop cloth curtains but I scored some cheap white sheets at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in our area.
They were selling twin flat sheets for $4 each and I bought 8 for $32. You normally can't find single sheets in the stores anymore so I found this budget-friendly flat sheet as a good option for you. I'll share a post soon on the method I used to hang them.
This is my favorite view from the patio. In the winter and spring our hillside is so green and pretty. I can sit out there for hours enjoying the view. Sometimes in the evening we spy a few deer getting ready to bed down for the night.
While I was at Pier 1 I also got this awesome seashell globe for $10. It's kind of like a snow globe and you can gently shake it around to cover and uncover the tiny seashells. I can't find it on their website but I found similar ones on Amazon. This will eventually end up inside by my favorite chair 🙂
I love these blue crockery lanterns. They aren't new but I got them as a set at Sam's Club several years ago for $20. You just can't pass up a deal like that 🙂
I decided to keep it simple and just use jute twine to hold back the curtains. When the sun is setting and it's peaking under the gazebo we just untie a few and they keep the sun out of our eyes. With the curtains down and a slight breeze it feels very coastal and romantic.
I just love the interesting mix of the patterns on the seashells.
The light shining through the sheets sort of makes them glow. The sheets are a cotton/poly blend and I chose white for no fading. We'll pull them down in the fall and put them away for next year. I plan to rotate them from time to time to limit the sun damage to the fabric.
Are you ready to see what it looks like at night? You're going to love love love it 🙂
Backyard Retreat at Night
On our old gazebo we had lights and other things hanging from the top rail with zip ties (yes zip ties, oh so classy). We had to do some thinking to get lights up without resorting to our old zip tie ways 🙂 Luckily there was a channel at the top where we were able to thread plain old christmas lights around the top. I think you'll like it, the light reflects off the aluminum top and gives us even more light.
These are plain old green wire and we've hidden them nicely. When these go out I want to replace them with brown wire christmas lights like we used on the top of the fence so they'll blend in better.
Can you imagine yourself sitting out here on a warm summer night laughing and visiting with friends? I did that with my sister when she was visiting, we hung out under the lights until almost 2 a.m. 🙂
Here's one more look at the daytime view 🙂 Thanks for taking my little backyard retreat tour. I hope you were inspired with some ideas for creating your own relaxing backyard retreat.
As promised here are links to my Blogger Friends' Relaxing Backyard Retreats so hop on over and see what awesomeness they're sharing today.
Summer Outdoor Living - a Blog Hop
Anika's DIY Life | French Ethereal | Shepherds and Chardonnay
Gratefully Vintage | Exquisitely Unremarkable | Faeries and Fauna
The Purple Hydrangea | Cobani Bleu | Old Things New
Raggedy Bits | Savvy Apron | Pearl Street Designs
Shop at Blu | Small Home Soul | Jordan's Easy Entertaining
Extraordinary Day | Steeplechase Manor
Thanks for stopping by, I'd love to hear how you've created your own relaxing backyard retreat. Leave a comment or connect with me online using the links in my sidebar. If you aren't yet subscribed to my newsletter scroll down a bit more and sign up. That way you'll never miss a new post.
Until next time,
Toni
feeling so inspired by this post! I can't wait to start my garden makeover project. Love, love love the seashells!
Honestly, it looks just amazing Toni. You make a tremendous amount of work look easy....you are so talented.
Toni, I love your back patio space, especially the lights at night. I have been know to fall asleep in my back yard and wake up in the middle of the night! The pops of color add so much life to the space. Isn't is fun to have such a great spot to relax in?
Your backyard sure is a relaxing retreat, Toni!! Sure looks as though you have spent far more than you have!! I'm sure you and your family will be spending lots of time here this summer!!
Thank you Sam, I had some pieces with good bones so that always helps. Gathering and collecting great finds/deals over time is the best way to save money in the long run. We have spent so many beautiful summer evenings out there enjoying the view and the birds. Hubby wants to put a TV out there but that will ruin it 🙂
Toni, your gazebo patio is so beautiful ! Especially lit up at night! So romantic and inviting! I really love your style! There is something about draped patios that just look so classy and sophisticated! I love the pops of blue color and I want a shell globe of my own now! Great job making those side tables too! You must get a great deal of enjoyment from your beautiful deck !
Jeannee
Thank you Jeannee, we do really enjoy it so much. Head to your local Pier 1 and see if they still have some. Ours had a huge bucket of them. They are so cool to play with.
Hi Toni,
I didn't see your backyard the way it was before but I have to say, this is awesome! I kinda like the brown curtains with the brown of the fence. I had a red L-shaped sofa {okay, technically, we still do! it's in storage, though. ;)} up against Ralph Lauren barn red walls for about 10 years before finally deciding to paint the walls a light dove gray.
Everything is sooo pretty with the turquoise lanterns, the other copper lanterns with the sea shells, the fairy lights for nighttime. Very pretty! Thank you for sharing your new patio with all of us, and I'm glad we got to be together on the blog hop. 🙂
Really enjoyed your backyard tour,
Barb 🙂
Barb, thanks so much for all the kind words. Yes, I'm so glad we got to work together on this hop 🙂
Toni, I think this is now my favorite post of yours!! send this to BHG!! It needs to be in a magazine it is absolutely gorgeous!! and oh, how fun it was to blog with you!!! Enjoy your summer in your beautiful backyard retreat!!
Girl you are so sweet, I'm not sure it's BHG quality but I will give that some serious thought 🙂 You are too sweet!
Wow!! Toni! I LOVE your backyard!! Every little piece of decor in there is perfect! I was in love with it till I scrolled down to see the night time view with the lights on!! So gorgeous!! I bet you are going to be enjoying it all summer long!
Yes, I turn those lights on every chance we get. It is so relaxing out there and I love all of it. So glad you love it too!
Toni, I always wonted to put up the outdoor curtains but I think they will get dirty and be a haven for bugs...how are they working for you? They look amazing. My favorite thing though is your lighting. I have purchased lighting before but my husband seems to think it belongs at the RV park...I have so much to do to convince him...I think I will show him your blog!!! He also was against the curtains...so two for one, I will owe you big if I can get him to change his mind. You have such a sheltered cozy spot to really retreat in. Every detail makes its mark and adds to the ambiance.
Debbie, our yard is very dusty because of the hill behind us. Last year I used drop cloth curtains and this year the white sheets. You know what, they actually do really well. Maybe because it's breezy at our house a lot and that helps whip the dust out. I inspected the drop cloth curtains (which my husband took down before winter and stuffed in a tub) and they looked very good.
Yes, you need lighting. There are so many cute strings out there with clear white bulbs that are beautiful, like those they hang from tree to tree at restaurants. I hope you can convince him.
Is the aluminum roof for your gazebo new too? I don't remember seeing that before...it looks amazing with the lights reflecting from it! Your space is just amazing...I love all the colors and your tables, and the things you have collected, it is a great welcoming space!
Hi Susanne, yes the Gazebo is new and a great investment (Costco Kit) to upgrade the one we had with a cloth top for so many years. I'm looking forward to hearing the rain on it this winter. Thank you so much, I'm so glad you enjoy my updated patio and I so wish you could visit for a cup of coffee.
I love everything about this, especially your diy tables! What a perfect backyard for entertaining 🙂
Thanks Jordan, I love the tables so much.
Wow.... Brown and blue is such a stunning colour combination. This post is so inspiring, everything looks so warm and shaded as well. I really think this is fantastic. Its unique and stylish and calming. Absolutely beautiful. I really don't have enough adjectives to describe this other than its one of the nicest yard posts I have ever seen.
Yay, thanks for all the great adjectives Leanna!
What an elegant space you have created, Toni. I love the gazebo and everything you put in it! I think I would hide out there all day. 😉
Hi Kim, thanks for the kind words. Yes, it is so inviting now with the new curtains on all sides. Before I just had them behind the loveseat.
Your patio does not look like you have decorated it on the cheap. My favorite thing in your space are those two blue end tables. You really did a fabulous job on them. The outdoor lights look beautiful! I would be out there all the time!
Thank you Sherry, that is the highest compliment of all. Yes, my hubby did a great job getting those lights up, you really only see them when they are turned on. It's my new favorite space in our yard.