We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A hanging hammock chair if your biggest goal this summer is to spend as much time *hanging* out in your backyard as possible.
This swinging hammock chair comes with two cushions and installation hardware.
Promising review: "Back to basics — simple, chic, and comfortable. Perfect addition for the backyard, porch, anywhere you'd like to lounge. There were no installation directions, but they do provide a number of options to work with based on your needs." —afytasuki
Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in three colors).
2. A mini projector to take movie night under the stars. Whether you're watching your favorite rom-com for the millionth time or a new release, you'll love feeling the nighttime breeze on your face.
This projector is Wi-Fi compatible, so you can connect this with your phone, tablet, or computer. And even if you're somewhere without a Wi-Fi connection, you can connect your phone to the projector with the included cable.
Promising review: "This projector is great. It has great picture quality and brightness, just needs to be focused to match the distance you set it at. I did buy a sound bar to go with the projector but that's because I initially used it outside and with a bunch of people. The sound isn't bad, especially if you're using inside. For the price, it's a great little projector and very easy to set up. I've had this projector for a few months now and no problems." —Kayla
Get it from Amazon for $99.99.
3. And a projection screen you can hang up outside to get the most crisp, clear image possible. You're about to be the envy of the whole block once you put this up.
The screen is 120 inches and made of an anti-crease material. It also comes with brackets and ropes for mounting purposes.
Promising review: "This screen is perfect for our use. We bought it for outdoor movie nights whether being on the garage door, in the backyard, camping, or inside the garage. It’s very easy to install with no wrinkles and shows a great picture. I’ve attached pictures that show how well I can still see the picture despite being surrounded by 7,000 Christmas lights in close vicinity." —Hallie H.
Get it from Amazon for $27.99.
4. A cast-iron fire pit if you love the feel and ambience of a cozy fire on a camping trip, but you don't want to, you know, actually go camping. Now you can keep warm and make s'mores while still sleeping in an actual bed at night!
Promising review: "This is a great value and it was very easy to assemble! We used it recently and found it to be a great addition to our backyard and it helped keep the mosquitoes away! As the weather has gotten colder at nights I’ve been impressed by how sturdy the fire pit is and by the wonderful heat that it provides us!" —Arthur Glauberman
Get it from Amazon for $199.
5. Globe string lights to give your porch that twinkly, cozy feel as you and your friends chat for hours on your outdoor furniture.
Promising review: "Absolutely love the dim feature! These bulbs are more round than oval like others, but I love them. When they are off, there’s a cool yellow in them that offers a lovely aesthetic when not in use. Our pergola is wired for lights so we mounted them on and almost always dim them because the white pergola reflects the light. These lights have made our patio my new favorite spot in the house. My husband and I find the evenings so relaxing, we’ve literally grown closer together from spending time out under the lights in our new favorite place." —fishurmo
Get them from Amazon for $16.19+ (available in 27, 48, and 97 feet and in two colors).
6. A modern boho-style three-piece bistro set that'll instantly glam up your patio while providing some much-needed seating. You'll be pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the chair is as it conforms and hugs your body.
Promising review: "Exactly what I was looking for. Construction seems sturdy. Dimensions and style were perfect for the small patio space I was looking to get use out of, and the egg shape of the chairs is very comfortable. I paired them with a seagrass outdoor rug, faux fur chair pads, a beanbag style poof footstool and some boho throw pillows, and love how the space was instantly transformed. I highly recommend this set." —Baby blues
Get it from Amazon for $199.99+ (available in four colors).
7. An adjustable mister you can attach to your hose to keep you cool as you lounge poolside or in your backyard. Now THIS is truly the kind of simple luxury we need during sweaty season!
The mister will cool the surrounding area by 20 degrees, and it comes with an interchangeable flower-shaped misting head for a fun, whimsy detail.
Promising review: "Works exactly how I want it to. Provides a fine, cool most on the patio, allowing us to enjoy the backyard until sunset without breaking a sweat. Easy to set up. It was out of the box and cooling us off within minutes." —Debra L. Kusek
Get it from Amazon for $30.23.
8. An outdoor Bluetooth speaker that also acts as a nice outdoor light to keep the ambience going well past sunset. This speaker can last for six hours of play on just one charge, so feel free to press play on that extra-long summer playlist you're proud of.
Tikitunes is a small business dedicated to making speakers look as good as they sound. The set of two speakers can be paired together to play the same song at the same time.
Promising review: "I purchased these to sit outside on my deck. Because of their size I was skeptical that they would have super good sound, but I was pleasantly surprised. They are a great little speaker set and very pretty at night! They have gone with me to BBQs and the beach and I will likely buy a second set for larger outdoor parties. Battery life is great and they are easy to pair and operate with your smart phone." —cj1blue
Get a set of two on Amazon for $69.99.
9. Light-up flowers to install along a walkway or to line your porch to add a nice whimsical touch to your backyard as the sun goes down.
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 sets).
10. A kiddie pool big enough for two adults to soak in for the days you're looking for a fun, whimsical way to keep cool in your backyard.
Funboy is a family-owned small business based in Venice Beach, California, that makes giant-sized pool floats and other fun summer accessories.
Get it from Amazon for $43.87+ (available in eight designs).
11. Or this spacious inflatable pool perfect for sunbathing in with a few friends. You'll be amazed at how much room you have in here — this is not the teeny tiny pool of your childhood!
Promising review: "Very easy to unbox and get set up. I used an electric pump (not included) and followed the easy directions. Took me only about 10 minutes to get it inflated. Then it only took me maybe an hour to fill with a garden hose. I love the drain pipe underneath that is angled away from the pool so the water is directed out of the area. But I can see that it might not be good for the pool lining if someone stepped on it from inside the pool. So I was careful to let my kids know not to step in that corner. Overall, great quality, good size (fits three full-size floaties in it!), and my kids loved it." —K M
Get it from Amazon for $74.98.
12. A high-voltage bug zapper if the biggest thing that's keeping you from spending more time outside is those annoying flying pests! Now you can chill in your backyard without worrying you'll be eaten alive by mosquitoes.
Promising review: "Bug Zapper arrived in two days. I took it out of the box and plugged it in as soon as it was dark. It was quite breezy so my expectations were low. Probably not many small bugs out in this wind. After a few minutes the thing started zapping bugs almost continuously. I was a bit surprised that it was zapping so many bugs. Well it continued through the night and every night after that. I am so pleased I think I will buy a second one. It is not loud like the older bug zappers that I used several years ago." —Charles L.
Get it from Amazon for $36.99.
13. A five-tier vertical planter for anyone who suddenly has a green thumb and wants to take advantage of the nice weather while they can. This is perfect for anyone with limited outdoor space because it uses vertical space instead of lots of bulky flower beds or pots!
Some reviewers even swear that this planter can store up to 20 beers with ice, making it the perfect backyard BBQ ~cooler~.
Promising review: "Used for strawberry plants. The planter was extremely easy to assemble and works perfectly for my needs. Love how watering the top layers will also water the lower layers via the drainage system. Nice product!" —Fellow Amazon shopper
Get it from Amazon for $36.95 (available in five colors).
14. An inflatable hot tub so you can relax at the end of a long day by soaking away your worries. Instead of paying thousands of dollars to install a hot tub, you can just inflate this whenever you want to take advantage of the 120 jets (!!) and hot water, which can reach up to 104 degrees. And the best part is you can deflate it whenever you want more space!
Check it out in this TikTok from @onesizefunsize87!
Promising review: "We've had this for over a year now and are more than happy with it! We really wanted a hot tub but were not willing to spend thousands of dollars on one. This one is very easy to set up, take down, clean, and maintain. Very comfortably fits four adults. We clean the filters every few days to a week, depending upon use, and change them out when they no longer come clean, and change the water out completely about every month and a half. At that time, I also wipe out the interior and exterior of everything as well as re-inflate the cover and tub as needed. We set ours up in mid-May and take it down in mid-October. You also have to remember to reset the GFCI switch every two days since it has an automatic shutoff. We let it run nonstop and don't use a timer or anything. I even built an enclosure for it!" —Arsoth
Get it from Amazon for $494.99+ (available in three colors).
15. A tabletop fireplace if you want some warmth and a nice aesthetic glow once the sun goes down, but don't have enough room for a huge firepit.
You can order this with or without the sand and rocks. The only thing that you will need to purchase separately is the 2.6-oz. gel fuel cans, which you can get from Amazon. 1 Man 1 Garage is a small business based in Nashville, Tennessee.
Promising review: "Soooo cute and easy to put together. We bought a clear spray to put on to protect it and because we actually really liked the look of the burned side. Boyfriend and I bought it to make s'mores for Valentine's. It was a perfect night in." —Bethany Schneider
Get it from 1 Man 1 Garage on Etsy for $32+ (available in three styles).
16. An outdoor pizza oven anyone you invite over will be instantly impressed by. You'll have so much fun crafting your own pizza with your favorite toppings and seeing all the cheese melt right before your eyes!
Promising review: "AWESOME pizza oven. We really can't say enough great things about it. It does exactly as advertised, and the temperature of the stone matches fairly well with the gauge on top. The stone runs hottest in the middle, but not overly so. The oven takes longer to warm up in the cold weather (10-15 min), but it retains heat really well! We keep the pizza oven on a thick plastic table and the oven is very well insulated, the table doesn't get hot at all. We wouldn't change a thing! Makes amazing pizza and naan! " —tk
Get it from Amazon for $379.99.
17. A side table that — surprise! — doubles as a cooler. Get this for an end-of-summer party and all your guests will be amazed at how clever it is.
18. Or this multi-purpose patio cooler so you can kick your feet up and relax while also keeping your beverages nice and cool. This means less trips to the refrigerator whenever you need a refill!
This incognito cooler can hold up to (40) 12-ounce cans with ice.
Promising review: "Love love the table cooler. It’s just the right size and great for cans and bottles. It's not too small, not too big. Great size also for a side table next to my wicker bench. It’s easy to move around and clean. Great price for this product." —Efrain Sostre
Get it from Amazon for $76+ (available in two colors).
19. A three-piece wicker chair and table set if you've been meaning to add some comfortable, stylish furniture to your back patio forever now. Just imagine yourself now in one of these chairs in the morning, reading a new book and sipping on some coffee.
This set includes two armchairs with seat cushions and a side table with a tempered glass top.
Promising review: "I absolutely love this set 😍 I cannot believe the price of it. It shipped fast, and was fairly quick and easy to assemble. It’s a hit; I get so many compliments by anyone who rings the doorbell." —Mrs.Mathews
Get it from Amazon for $102.98+ (available in four colors).
20. Interlocking Teak tiles to make your little slice of the outdoors look like a fancy courtyard. The best part is that you don't even need any tools to install them!
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 leftover to make steps on the back. Very pleased and happy. May order more for an outdoor shower project!" —Adazzle
Get 10 sq. feet from Amazon for $77.99.
21. A set of two ~zero gravity~ reclining porch chairs so you can literally feel like you're floating as you chill out in the backyard during those pleasant summer days. It comes with a pillow and a side table, which is perfect for holding your drink or placing your book down. They also fold up for easy transport to the beach or a picnic!
Promising review: "We realized pretty quickly that with everyone home because of the 2020 quarantine, we would need more spaces to hang out in. I found this set of chairs and put the order in as a temporary measure until we found a patio set that suits the space better. These are perfect though. I can't really see replacing them anytime soon. They are comfortable, and the little attached tables are really handy! I usually have hot tea, water, a phone, and either a book or my Kindle in my immediate area. This tiny attachment made it so I don't even have to worry about where to put everything. The seat is an excellent place to spend some time watching the birds or reading in the afternoons. I am absolutely thrilled with this purchase." —Brandy Morgan
Get a set of two from Amazon for $119.99 (available in 17 colors).
22. A set of metal hanging flower pots to add a fun pop of color to your fence. This is also a great solution for anyone with a tiny backyard who still wants to try their hand (or should I say green thumb?!) at gardening!
Promising review: "Lovely colorful flower pots. Perfect size to hold a single flower and they add such a nice pop of color to my yard. Very easy to hang up, no hardware required! I’m getting a lot of compliments on them. I bought several sets and planted bright flowers in them. I have them lining the inside of my yard and on the front of the house. They add a lot a cheer and homeyness for a simple and cheap project." —Maegan
Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two color sets).
23. A lighted umbrella if you love spending time on your porch in the summer, even as the sun goes down! Now you can still enjoy that crisp nighttime air and hang out with friends while still being able to see each other well into the evening.
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 $71.98+ (available in 11 color combos).
24. A drip- and bee-proof stake hummingbird feeder designed to be inserted in any flower pot or garden bed. We suggest placing this near a window so you can watch catch a glimpse of a beautiful hummingbird even when you're inside!
Copper Hummingbird is an Etsy shop run by Nancy Higgins. In 2006, she invented a bee-proof, drip-free hummingbird feeder for use in the hummingbird aviary at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, Arizona where she was a zookeeper for 22 years! After receiving so many non-zookeeper requests for her feeders she decided to open up a public-facing shop.
Promising review: "I love these feeders, nice weight, and quality craftsmanship. Arrived quick and packaged nice. Highly recommend these feeders. Easy to keep the nectar fresh given the size, which is perfect." —Linda Victory
Get it from Copper Hummingbird on Etsy for $36.
25. A printed outdoor area rug that'll add some color to your outdoor space while also being super easy to clean up. Just rinse it with a garden hose and it'll dry super fast!
26. Some adjustable magnetic grill lights if the rising temps are inspiring you to start using your grill a bit more and you don't want something like the sun going down to interrupt your grilling process! Now you'll be able to see all that glorious food in perfect detail.
Promising review: "This was a surprise for my husband. He loves them. The lights are nice and bright and make grilling those last few things that didn't get finished before dark easy. He's also used them early in the morning when he's setting the smoker up before dawn. He's happy and finding them very useful. He especially loves the magnet on bottom so he can hang them off of so many things while he's busy and he can use the flexibility to shine them where he needs them. Very awesome and easy to use." —Holly Gomez
Get two from Amazon for $19.11.
27. A handmade bamboo bee house that'll entice all those pollinators to your backyard so they can help fertilize your garden. Genius!
Promising review: "This is the first bee house product I've ever ordered, and I am so happy with it! It is definitely high quality at a reasonable price. Not only is it an eye-pleasing design, it is sturdy, and should last outdoors for a good two years at least. You can hang it anywhere. I am turning a little patch of dirt in my garden into a flower bed, and it will take a place of honor among the blooms. Hopefully, the sweet buzz of bees will once again come drifting in from my garden!" —Linda H
Get it from Amazon for $17.99.
28. A sunshade triangle if your backyard doesn't have very much shade and you want something that will cover a large area easily. Reviewers in super warm climates (think Arizona) love installing this over their pool to keep it a more comfortable temperature.
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 $23.99+ (available in six sizes and 13 colors).
29. A collapsible outdoor beer table that might just be the greatest outdoor invention ever — it has two cupholders, a spot for snacks, a bottle opener, and it can be moved around wherever you need to place it in the ground. We'll take at least two, please.
Faircraft USA is a Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania-based Etsy shop run by a husband-and-wife duo creating beautiful and functional wooden home goods.
Promising review: "Purchased this as a gift for my brother to go with his corn hole boards. It is just as pictured. It seems like it'll be a little low to the ground for taller men standing around a corn hole board...but better than the beers sitting on the ground or in the off hand. Beautiful workmanship. Highly recommend this product and shop!" —Hayley
Get it from Faircraft USA on Etsy for $60.
30. A double hammock if your perfect idea of a post-work wind-down is chilling in a hammock with a good book and the early evening breeze on your face. This is one of those home purchases you can almost guarantee you'll be getting lots of use out of.
31. Some solar-powered hummingbird wind chimes that are just as pretty during the day as they are at night (when they light up!) You'll love the beautiful sound it makes as the wind blows.
32. A weather-resistant 8-foot wooden pathway if you've always wanted to dress up your backyard with some walkways but didn't want to start a complicated home improvement project. All you have to do is roll this out and place it on the ground wherever you want it!
There is also a matching curved walkway, if you need one!
Promising review: "I went back and forth deciding whether I wanted to buy this. I was going to build my own walkway, but the labor involved and price was more than I want to pay. So this option looked appealing and some of the reviews were not positive. But, I absolutely love this walkway and I’ve had it for well over a month now. It still looks like I just purchased it. I live in Florida so the weather is very harsh with heavy rains and extreme heat. This walkway has held up fine." —Jntqnn
Get it from Amazon for $74.95.
33. A portable grill perfect for any sized outdoor space — it's especially easy to store and transport so you can take it out to use during your backyard parties, but then keep it stored away in your garage until the next time you use it.
Promising review: "This grill is great! It has three burners so the things that you are grilling do not cook unevenly. I purchased a 20-lb to 1-lb propane adapter and hooked up my 20-lb propane to it. It is easy to assemble. I usually prefer a charcoal grill over propane, but this grill came close to giving me the charcoal grill taste, it did not disappoint me. Awesome product!" —Michael S
Get it from Amazon for $264.99+ (available in five colors).
34. An elevated dog bed if your dog insists on staying outside, even during hot days. The elevated bed promotes better airflow, which keeps them cool in the heat.
Promising review: "I purchased my first Coolaroo Elevated Dog Bed over six years ago for my 50-pound soft-coated Wheaten (purchased the Medium size). This bed has LASTED! I've been impressed and am purchasing two more for both of my dogs. Firstly, I'll add that I live in sunny Arizona, and most things DO NOT last in the hot/dry Arizona climate. This bed has completely STOOD UP to the long-term test. I have been extremely impressed and surprised with how well the material has held up through the last six years. There is a bit of sagging and rusting, but its lasted six years in the rain and heat! No rips from dog nails, and he uses it as a step up to his dog door (which he runs in and out of). My dog LOVES sitting in this bed as it keeps him off the warmer ground and allows air to flow above and below him. He especially loves it on colder evenings when the wind is blowing." –TP
Get it from Amazon for $21.10+ (available in four sizes and 10 colors).
35. A powerful fan if you love hanging out in your backyard but sometimes have to cut your time short because it's too dang hot outside! Not only will it help scorching days feel more bearable, it'll keep pesky bugs away, too!
36. A bocce ball set to whip out the second you start to feel bored this summer. It takes up practically no space, and it's easy to tap into your competitive spirit while playing it!
Promising review: "Finally a good set at a reasonable price. My family enjoys playing bocce ball and this set filled our needs for a good set at a good price. I like the storage and carrying case. There are two sleeves that each set of bocce balls slides in to very nicely. I can now store them without worrying that balls will be lost in storage. This set got my family outdoors again — that's what I was looking for and I got it with this set." —jmart141
Get it from Amazon for $56.
You telling your friend how much you love spending time in your backyard:
