We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
1. Pull together decor for an outdoor room or just cover up an ugly surface with an indoor/outdoor rug built to weather rain and more.
Promising review: "Love this rug. These were recommended by a friend for use on my outdoor patio. They are terrific. So easy to clean and no matter what the weather brings, they always look fantastic. And they make my outdoors look like a living room. Great, inexpensive way to spruce up a backyard." —Miami
Get it from Amazon for $51 (available in four colors).
2. Or cover up with interlocking teak tiles you don't need tools to install. That concrete patio slab is older than you, but it doesn't have to look that way.
Promising review: "Living in Hawaii you have to select wise items that are weather-, salt-, and red dirt–proof, etc... In total I ordered 11 boxes to complete my yoga deck. I have a few left over to make steps on the back. Very pleased and happy. May order more for an outdoor shower project!" —Adazzle
Get 10 sq. ft from Amazon for $75.71.
3. Or! Spruce up stained concrete patios or walkways with some concrete paint for a refreshed look that'll make a HUGE difference.
OK, so painting your concrete patio may not sound like the easiest upgrade but if you're no stranger to painting and want a big impact, give it a try!
Promising review: "Excellent, easy to use and clean up. My outdoor patio is a little rough and it took a full gallon to cover 200 square feet." —RLB
Get it from Amazon for $32.13+ a gallon (available in two shades of gray).
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4. Place a handsome privacy screen as a design element that'll also help obscure something less than desirable (like recycling bins or a neighbor's super ugly swing set).
5. Attach a roll of faux ivy to ugly wire fencing or railing with a view you don't love (like your neighbor's tacky patio). Here's to a bit more privacy!
Promising review: "This is the second privacy screen I've purchased from Amazon. I have an area in my garden visible from the street. The screen hides all my gardening stuff (i.e. wheelbarrow, buckets, etc.). It truly looks like the real deal!!!" —soooz
Get a roll from Amazon for $44.99+ (available in two roll sizes).
6. Make your AC (or another essential) blend in a bit more with a vinyl privacy screen that won't be an eyesore.
7. Add a pretty focal piece in a seating area with a celestial fire pit that'll look great in the daylight and downright magical when lit at night. (Oh, and it'll be a toasty addition on chilly nights!)
Promising review: "I ordered the Star and Moon wood burner. I am a little nervous about fire...but this was so easy to use. I love the way the stars and moons glow in the dark. It is beautiful and relaxing to sit and smell the wood burning. It was affordable, and not as small as it looks on the Wayfair site. I am truly pleased with this purchase." —Carol
Get it from Wayfair for $112.99.
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8. Refinish tired metal furniture with some metallic spray paint for a weekend afternoon project that'll have substantial payoff. Just look at that zhuzhed bistro set!
OK so the color of the metal parts of your outdoor furniture is a small difference that's more of a medium-size project BUT way to get more bang for your buck with the stuff you already own!
Get it from Amazon for $6.94+ (available in a variety of metallic colors).
9. Invest in a pair of matching containers you can set on your patio, along walkways, or around seating areas to really show off your plant children. That goes double if the stuff planted in the ground needs a bit more time to flourish. These'll serve as a nice distraction!
10. Refresh tired containers or make odd containers match with some terra cotta-effect spray paint. (FYI, terra cotta matches everything.)
Promising review: "If you are looking to renew and refresh your tired-looking terra cotta pottery, this paint is perfect! I was amazed at the end result of our chiminea, which was old and was damaged by sun and water exposure. It now looks brand-new!" —Pattycakes67
Get it from Amazon for $13.40.
11. Roll out a weather-resistant cedar pathway along garden beds or other paths where your family tends to tread and wear down the grass.
12. Stash recycling bins, bikes, a lawnmower, and other hefty tools you have no other place to look in this nice-looking shed if you don't have room for a full-fledged shed.
Promising review: "Good quality. Easy to assemble. Parts are individually bagged and labeled. Holds two 32-gallon, round barrels, which is what I wanted it for. Very compact, which was a factor for where I had to put it." —Joe in Brooklyn
Get it from Amazon for $243.98. Also check out a similar shed in several sizes to find the right one to fit your space and needs.
13. Extend your backyard time by investing in a lighted umbrella that'll tilt (literally) to your whims and give you the right amount of shade and light when/where you want it.
Note that this includes just the umbrella, not the table!
Promising review: "I normally don’t like buying products like this sight unseen, but I’m very pleased with the look and especially with the solar lighting. We enjoyed a pleasant evening on the deck with just the right amount of ambient light tonight, and we are hopeful that it will prove to be durable." —Dee Williams
Get it from Amazon for $69.99 (available in five color combos).
14. Nestle some light-up flowers amongst the *real* flowers in your flowerbeds around seating areas for a whimsical touch that'll make your backyard look like it's out of a fairytale once the sun sets.
Promising review: "The pictures don't do these justice. At night my backyard looks like a scene from Avatar. The light itself is not bright, but the colors are very vibrant and intense. The color transition is gradual and glowing. They are hypnotic to watch. During the day they are unobtrusive and don't look too fake or artificial. The green leaves are very bendable, the stems of the flowers are somewhat pliable, and the cloth that makes up the petals can be smoothed and manipulated a bit so you can make them look different and more realistic. I've had them for a couple of weeks and so far they are performing perfectly. They are simply beautiful and we love them!" —Zavanna
Get eight flowers (between two bunches) from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two color combos).
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15. Set up shop in your new grass-side paradise with a double hammock you totally have permission to use just by yourself.
16. Swap out your gate hardware for substantial handles and latches that'll make a serious (but practical) style statement.
Get the full tutorial on Oh So Lovely.
Get the hardware from Amazon: pull for $7.76 and gate latch for $19.72
17. Opt for a sunshade triangle rather than a canopy you can rig up over the patio or the kids' sandbox to block up to 95% of UV rays and keep things a bit cooler.
Promising review: "My pool is awesome when it gets into the hundreds of degrees here in California. We decided to grab a 20x20x20 triangle and holy cow does it do a number on the backyard! Not only does it keep my pool better-shaded, but it also keeps the sun off of my back patio during the hottest part of the day." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $26.98+ (available in five sizes and six colors).
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18. Establish a garden focal point with an easy-to-install trellis. This one's made of PVC so it'll be super easy to take care of whether you use it as a way to separate garden rooms or train climbing plants on it!
19. Install some smol picket fencing (1 foot tall!) you can place around your prized garden beds to deter kids and pets from getting into them.
Promising review: "I have been looking for fencing to keep skunks out of my 'patio pond'....this fit the size, is good quality and is 'flexible' enough to bend around corners. Problems with the way they attach to each other but that seems to be common to these types of fencing. The manufacturer should look into some sort of clips to keep the pieces connected......decent price for as many as I got!" —Roseann from Dayton, OH
Get 18 composite pieces from Wayfair for $41.99.
20. Set a ~magical~ mood with some waterproof solar lights to adorn fences, pergolas, and other outdoor structures. Plus it'll help you enjoy that deck a bit longer after the sun sets.
Promising review: "Lovely ethereal look...they are easy to affix to a tree or shrubbery limbs due to the nature of the copper wire. It has to be totally overcast, most all day long before you don't get any lights at all for the evening. The number of hours of sun that the sensor gets during the day seems to determine how long they last of a night, sometimes until around midnight, other times all night long." —deanna collier
Get a string of 100 lights from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in seven colors, two lengths).
21. Or string up waterproof globe string lights that'll make a bigger style impact when hung along your roofline, draped on outdoor structures like a pergola, or just strung up solo so you can enjoy the lights *and* the stars.
Reviewers note that you should remove the bulbs before stringing up the strands and then install the bulbs.
Promising review: "These lights were perfect for my patio, I've recieved plenty of compliments so far. The Edison light bulbs and beautiful and offer the perfect amount of lighting for any occasion...the clips were ideal for my eaves, the overhang of the roof, which made for simple installation...now just need to find a dimmer capable of handling the required wattage and the package will be complete." —Brody Vins
Get a strand from Amazon for $16.98+ (available in several styles and lengths).
22. Liven up your outdoor furniture with a gorgeous outdoor pillow that'll fare well on the deck and look DANG good doing it.
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23. Use a standing weeder (without the chemicals!) to help improve your view of your yard. You're not the only one who has trouble enjoying weed-filled scenery. And hey, while you're weeding with this there's no bending over! Your back will thank you.
Made with a bamboo handle and powder-coated steel, it uses a simple lever system to made weeding easy.
Promising review: "Oh my god, I friggin' love this tool. I bought this on a whim given we bought our first house and know nothing about caring for a yard. Boy has it come in handy. Our new house had a ton of weeds in the front yard and this tool helped me get most of them out in no time. In fact, the process of yanking out the weed was strangely satisfying! I don't think anyone can say that weeding is fun but this tool made it as close to fun as you can get, especially when you see a long root along with the weed you pulled." —JG
Get it on Amazon for $36.95.
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24. Put up a squirrel-size picnic table that'll provide dinner (for the squirrel) and a show (for you). Talk about some tableside entertainment!
Promising review: "This is such a cute concept, but also a well-made and great-proportioned product. There were several picnic tables for squirrels to choose from, and I’m so glad we chose this one! It’s beautiful, and the customer service is so friendly — they even sent us a hand-written thank you!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $34.95 (and pick up the squirrel corn here).
25. Stake solar lights along a walkway or pond right where you need 'em. Lighting is key for getting more use out of your outdoor space in the fall. Oh, and they look nice in the daylight too!
Promising review: "Impressed with the size of the cell which provides a larger surface area for charging. The lights are the brightest I've seen for a solar light and the illumination covers a nice range. Placed them along my pond giving the place a classy look." —Percussionist
Get six from Amazon for $44.99.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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