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.

    30 Upgrades To Make Your Backyard Dreams A Reality

    You're basically one bug zapper away from falling in love with your backyard all over again.

    1. A set of eight solar-powered jar lanterns filled with string lights that'll soak up sun during the day so it can glow dreamily for you at night.

    a close-up of the jar lanterns
    a reviewer photo of the lanterns hanging from hooks on stakes in a backyard

    Promising review: "Very fun for garden decor. Have held up nicely through summer rain storms and continue to shine bright. Worked really well for a garden party." —Melissa 

    Get an eight-pack from Amazon for $39.99.

    2. A fast-acting lawn repair formula because your dog's pee, playing, and digging have wreaked havoc on your yard. This easy-to-use combination of grass seeds, mulch, and soil amendment is specifically designed to repair pet-induced damage and get new grass growing ASAP. 

    Promising review: "I used this in the spring to fill out our lawn more, and it worked great! I was worried because I feel like you always hear grass seed horror stories, but I just raked our lawn good, spread seeds all over, and watered it once (sometimes twice) per day and it filled the lawn in beautifully!" —Mariah

    Get it from Amazon for $16.97+ (available in five sizes and a pack of six).

    3. A spacious inflatable pool so taking a dip no longer has to be a special occasion. Now every day can be a pool day! 

    a reviewer photo of an adult lounging in the pool
    a reviewer sitting in the inflated pool

    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 $74.99.

    4. A collapsible outdoor beer table to lend a hand and hold your beer (and snacks) when you've got more important things to do, like crushing this corn hole competition. 

    a small table on a stake with two cupholders, a center compartment filled with snacks, and an attached bottle opener
    the same table with the stake stuck into a large potted plant
    Faircraft USA / Etsy

    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

    5. A three-piece wicker chair and table set for creating an outdoor lounge space so stylish your indoor furniture might start to get jealous.

    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 $109.98+ (available in four colors).

    6. A pair of magnetic grill lights if your grilling adventures often go late into the night. You're not about to let a silly thing like the sun get in the way of the best kabobs on the block. 

    a grill with a pair of the lights attached to the top shining down on food cooking at night
    Amazon

    Promising review: "I used these for the first time the other night and they were exactly what I wanted. I often tend to grill after dark and I can’t see what’s on the grill, but not anymore. These light up the entire grill surface area perfectly. Would definitely buy again." —Flossie DeGrave

    Get a pair from Amazon for $23.99

    7. These color-changing inflatable pool balls that'll instantly bring the party straight to your backyard, even if it's just you and your spouse hanging around on a Tuesday. Plus, imagine the photo ops!

    Four different-colored balls floating in the pool
    Amazon

    Each light cycles through red, blue, white, and green.

    Promising review: "My pool is so old school and boring that I bought these to liven it up and what a difference!! My pool went from 'meh' to WOW! The balls are easily inflated by mouth like a beach ball. Once inflated, a few hours in the sun and they are charged and ready to go. They light up after dusk (it has to be rather dark). There is no manual way to power them on or off; they glow all night long. The changing colors are vibrant and very beautiful. They have a loop at the top if you would like to hang them. They would be magical hanging in a tree or from a pergola. I really liked how easy these were to fill and charge, and I like the solar power and the amazing color display. They make my inner child happy." —J. Matheson

    Get a set of four from Amazon for $52.99 (or one for $16.14).

    8. An electric pressure washer because sometimes the only seasonal refresh your outdoor space needs is a powerful deep clean to wash all that built-up grime. Did you replace your patio furniture? No! You just cleaned it for the first time in forever.

    a reviewer photo of dirty brick steps
    a reviewer photo of the same steps now clean

    This pressure washer has a powerful 1,800-watt motor, five quick-connect spray tips, a 20-foot hose, and a 40.6 fluid ounce detegrent tank.

    Promising review: "This has been one of the best investments we as homeowners have made. This little guy gets the job done; countless things have been cleaned since we bought it three years ago. My favorite is our backyard pavers. The cord may not be long enough for some users depending on how big the space you are washing is, but for us it works just fine. Highly recommend!" —BSanchez

    Get it from Amazon for $182.69.

    9. Connectable Edison bulb string lights so you can make your backyard look like a trendy beer garden and leave passersby wondering how they can get a reservation.

    a reviewer photo of a backyard with strings of lights handing above a set of benches
    a reviewer photo of an outdoor gazebo with string lights along the edges

    Promising review: "I have ordered four boxes of these light sets now. I love love love these lights. They are gorgeous. I plugged them in while in the package to make sure they all worked. Then I unscrewed all the bulbs to make it easy to hang. I hung them up all around my balcony using a staple gun. When I finished I screwed the light bulbs all in :) I would highly recommend these lights. They are PINTEREST perfect!" —Cora

    Get it from Amazon for $16.95+ (available in three sizes and in five colors).

    10. A flexible adjustable mister to help you keep cool whether you've got a full gardening itinerary planned or just want to lay out in the sun without overheating immediately. 

    reviewer photo of a green mister outside by someone sunbathing
    reviewer photo of a blue mister attachment wrapped around a pole

    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 mist 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 $31.52.

    11. three-piece wicker rocking chair and table set with thick bottom and back cushions for comfortably rocking the hours away with a good book and a good drink in the great outdoors.

    a reviewer photo of a pair of rocking chairs with red cushions with the matching side table between
    a reviewer photo of the two rocking chairs with cream cushions with a matching side table between

    This charming set includes two rocking chairs with bottom and back cushions and a matching side table with a glass top.

    Promising review: "Put this whole set together myself in about two hours — clear instructions and well-organized packaging of the different tools/pieces. I've bought a similar-looking (but cheaper) porch set in the past and was disappointed with the quality of the cushions — I was worried that this set would have the same problem, but I was wrong! The cushions are VERY comfy, and the chair is wide enough for me to comfortably sit crisscross! Absolutely worth the investment!!!" —Katie Swimer

    Get it from Amazon for $109.99+ (available in five colors).

    12. An outdoor projection set including a 100-inch screen and a mini projector if it physically pains you to stay inside when the weather is nice. This projector is compatible with an array of streaming devices like your laptop, Fire TV Stick, and Roku so you can start binge-watching shows in your backyard.

    a reviewer photo of the small white projector
    a reviewer photo of the included projection screen set up in a backyard

    The home projector includes multiple ports (HDMI, USB, VGA, AV, TF, and Audio output) for widespread device compatibility. It also has built-in speakers, but can easily be hooked up to other external speakers or a soundbar.

    Promising review: "We got this for my boyfriend's birthday so we could watch movies on our patio and it did not disappoint. The sound is a little quiet but there are cords already included to connect a soundbar or speaker to increase the output. I was really surprised by how easy it was to set it up and got the perfect picture on my first try. I really like how we could just plug our Amazon Fire Stick into it and get going. The screen was super easy to put up and down and even included command-like strips for the perfect picture. We are really excited to continue using this!!" —Amy Donar

    Get it from Amazon for $59.99.

    13. A long handled standing weeder that'll make clearing away those rogue dandelions easier than ever — you don't even need to bend over! 

    Gif showing how you press it into the ground where the weed is, then lean the handle at an angle (which pulls up the weed), until you pull the whole weed out
    Amazon

    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 weeds 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 from Amazon for $39.99.

    14. A high-voltage bug zapper so you don't get eaten alive by bugs while trying to enjoy the weather. This little lantern offers top-notch protection from mosquitoes, gnats, flies, and moths in an area up to 1,500 square feet.

    reviewer holding the bug zapper from its handle
    reviewer photo of the bug zapper tray full of dead bugs

    Promising review: "You will not be disappointed. I just moved out to the country and have been working out in the garage late at night. With the weather getting warmer, I've had the garage doors opened and mosquitos, gnats, and everything else have been finding there way into my garage, so I had to do something about it. I bought this and hung it next to my garage door opener because there's an outlet there and it is way better than expected. I have dead bees, stink bugs, gnats, mosquitoes, and other bugs that I do not know what they are. My 8-year-old son keeps asking me to remove the bottom tray so he can see all of the dead bugs that got zapped. Again, you will not be disappointed, I'm extremely happy I bought this!" —Chris & Jenny

    Get it from Amazon for $36.99.

    15. A drip- and bee-proof stake hummingbird feeder you can stick in any flower pot to turn your backyard into a local aviary, complete with free drinks and snacks (from your own kitchen).

    a closeup of the copper hummingbird feeder with a bird perched on the side
    a hummingbird flying towards the feeder sticking out of a flower pot
    Copper Hummingbird / Etsy

    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.

    16. A 9-foot double-canvas hammock with a sturdy steel stand for quickly solving the "no tree" issue that has long kept you from fulfilling your hanging cocoon dreams. This one has a 450-pound weight limit and plenty of room for multiple people — time to get cozy!

    a striped free-standing hammock on a patio
    a reviewer of a freestanding hammock on a stand with someone inside with a small dog

    Promising review: "Such a good deal! Easy and fast setup and very sturdy. This is exactly what our backyard needed! The carrying case is nice quality, though the frame is a bit on the heavy side so I'd probably only take it camping if no hiking was involved. The fabric had a musty smell right out of the box, but it's nothing that a little airing out can't take care of. We are so excited to enjoy it this summer, and the quality of the frame and hammock fabric seem like they will last years to come." —Coffeegirl

    Get it from Amazon for $84.99+ (available in 17 colors).

    17. A high-velocity rechargeable outdoor fan if you spend most of your outside time wishing you could retreat back to the AC. Reviewers say this fan is super quiet, charges quickly, and cools shockingly well for its compact size. 

    It takes two and a half to three hours to fully charge, and one charge can last from two to 18 hours depending on what speed its running at. 

    Promising review: "Love it. I will probably buy a second one. Easy to move around — porch, backyard, etc. Easy to recharge and will run while recharging. Like the indicator lights to let you know how much charge is left. Very quiet. Puts out plenty of breeze for a small unit. Plan to take it to the beach house with us when we go to use on the deck." —A.P.

    Get it from Amazon for $169.99

    18. A motion-activated adhesive cooler light that'll make it a lot easier to find that specific watermelon seltzer you want after dark.

    reviewer photo of light attached to open cooler lid
    close-up of round cooler light

    Promising review: "This little device was surprisingly WONDERFUL! My hubby hesitated to put it on his 'precious' Yeti cooler, but after putting it in, we both were astounded! We never thought about how much easier it would be on our tent camping trips to be able to easily see into the cooler after dark! This was a game changer for us! It works exactly as described. It comes on when opened and goes off when closed — just like your fridge!" —Suzyzzle

    Get it from Amazon for $12.63.

    19. A multipurpose patio cooler cosplaying as a side table or ottoman so you can keep the cold ones coming without constant trips to the kitchen.

    a woven ottoman with the lid askew and two bottles poking out
    a model placing a lid on the woven cube ottoman with ice and bottles inside
    Amazon

    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 $74.88+ (available in two colors).

    20. A hanging hammock chair because I can't image a better HANGout spot than a cozy, swinging cocoon.

    a reviewer photo of the off-white hammock chair hanging from a treet
    a reviewer of the hammock chair in dark gray hanging from a pergola

    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 $39.99+ (available in four colors).

    21. A classic adjustable folding umbrella for creating a shady space to escape the sweltering heat and enjoy the outdoors while staying (relatively) sweat and sun burn-free.

    a reviewer photo of the umbrella on a patio in tan
    a reviewer photo of a patio dining set with an umbrella in the center of the table in red

    Snag a compatible weighted base so your umbrella doesn't blow away!

    Promising review: "I like this umbrella because it has a sturdy base and spines instead of those thin, wiry spines on some umbrellas. Much better to prevent being upended in the wind. It also has the tilt feature, which is great to be included in this price point. The cloth covering is thick and will hold up to the elements. Also, the size is perfect." —Sarah

    Get it from Amazon for $43.99 (available in 15 colors).

    22. Or an adjustable offset umbrella with a waterproof and UV-resistant 10-foot canopy to get even the most sun-soaked sections of your yard extra shady.

    a reviewer pf the hanging umbrella on the included stand folded down
    a reviewer photo of a hanging umbrella on a stand over a patio dining set

    You'll need to secure this umbrella with a weighted base, which is sold separately!

    Promising review: "I love this umbrella. It suits perfectly for my patio. I bought the navy blue color, and it looks beautiful. It is really easy to assemble as well. I compared lots of other patio umbrella and decided to buy this one, I am glad I made the right decision. It definitely worths the price. The material is high quality, and it provides large shadow areas, so I can sit in my patio to enjoy my breakfast and lunch without worrying about rain or sunshine. It only took a few seconds to fully open and fully close, very easy to operate, and it is also very stable. Overall, it is a fantastic product, and I cannot wait for the summer to enjoy my time in the patio." —Marina

    Get it from Amazon for $139.99+ (available in four colors).

    23. A metal wildlife ring fire pit for creating a picture-perfect place for roasting marshmallows, telling ghost stories, and singing C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E S-O-N-G songs!

    a black metal ring fire pit with a forest and wildlife design cut into the sides
    Five Metal Design / Etsy

    Five Metal Design is a Neenah, Wisconsin-based Etsy shop creating metal ring fire pits featuring intricate (and often times custom) designs.

    Promising review: "This is EVERYTHING they said it would be. Always hard to tell if something will look as amazing as the picture. In this case it’s as great or better than the picture. Fast delivery great friendly service! I highly recommend this company. Best purchase yet on Etsy!" —pjmklm2004

    Get it from Five Metal Design on Etsy for $196+ (available in four sizes).

    24. A petite tabletop fireplace if you're an apartment dweller without space for a full-blown fire pit, or you just live for the sound of crackling flames but don't always want to deal with all the wood, smoke, and constant tending. This sets the same mood with a fraction of the effort. 

    the tabletop fireplace
    1Man1Garage / Etsy

    1Man1Garage is a Tennessee-based small business owned by artisan Marcus Williams. He sells a wide variety of handcrafted wooden items.

    Note that the "Mini" kit is only suitable for use with a candle. The "Basic" and "Deluxe" boxes can both be used with fuel (not included, but you can buy some on Amazon), but the "Basic" kit requires that you provide your own heat-resistant sand to disperse the heat of the flame away from the wood.

    Promising review: "Very good quality, and easy and fun to put together. We had a good time with this and it will be featured at our cookouts this summer." —onemuseleft

    Get it from 1Man1Garage on Etsy for $32+ (available in four styles).

    25. A durable outdoor blanket that brings the all-weather warmth of sleeping bag material to a good-looking quilted blanket so you can stay warm after the sun goes down and extend patio season for a bit longer.

    a model spreading out a quilted blanket with a rainbow print
    Amazon

    Rumpl is a small biz creating blankets inspired by warm and snuggly sleeping bags. They use only 100% post-consumer recycled materials, and are now recycling over 5 million discarded plastic bottles through their supply chain every year. They also offset all their carbon emissions with carbon credits!

    Promising review: "Took this quilt camping and it was perfect! Kept me warm and cozy all night when temps dropped down to the upper 50's. This is my new favorite summertime quilt and won't leave home without it!" —K. Kovaleff

    Get it from Amazon for $99 (available in 16 styles).

    26. A pair of weather-resistant adjustable chaise recliners because why own a pool if you can't lounge by it with a drink in hand?

    a reviewer photo of someone sitting in one of the reclining chaise lounge chairs
    a reviewer photo of the chaise lounge in aa flat reclined position

    These chairs have six preset back positions, two footrest settings, and fold up for easy storage during the off-season. Plus, absolutely ZERO assembly is required.

    Promising review: "They are comfortable and easy to clean. I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to lay on my stomach for tanning since they aren't fully flat, but they work just fine. I would definitely buy them again." —Mascha K Fujimoto

    Get a pair from Amazon for $149.99+ (available in six colors).

    27. A portable dog tunnel so your backyard is just as fun for your dog as it is for you. This tunnel scrunches up to fit in the included carrying case for easy transport and can be used for casual play or introductory agility training.

    the blue tunnel sitting outside with a dog running into one of the ends
    a gif of two dugs running inside of the tunnel

    It also comes with ground stakes to keep the tunnel in place while your dog tears through it.

    Promising review: "I got this to help teach my dog to go through an agility tunnel and practice in between his classes. It does the job. It comes in a portable carrying case and expands as soon as you unzip the case. It has held up well, but it does get dirty with dog footprints. When placed back in its case, it takes up very little storage room." —lkelly9988

    Get it from Amazon for $55.92+ (available in two colors).

    28. A handmade bamboo bee house to encourage our planet's pollinators to set up shop in your yard and naturally fertilize your flowerbed.

    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.

    29. Some easy-to-learn Kan Jam if you're tired of the same ole outdoor game selection. Fortunately, this family-friendly option is super easy to learn and a breeze to set-up. 

    a model slapping a yellow frisbee into a black Kan Jam bin
    Amazon

    My family LOVES Kan Jam. It's got the chill backyard vibes of cornhole (and is also played with two teams of two) but it's much lighter and easier to transport. 

    Promising review: "Very fun backyard game. Shipping was great; came immediately. This product is very durable and will not break. All you have to do is put the stickers on yourself and you are ready to play." —NateG125

    Get it from Amazon for $25+ (available in four styles). 

    30. A portable inflatable air sofa because lounging outside is great, but laying on the hard ground is less great. Setup is a breeze — literally — just whisk it through the air a couple of times, snap the opening shut, and you're ready for some backyard R&R.

    a reviewer laying back on the inflatable lounger
    a model holding the included carrying pouch

    The air couch includes a compact pouch for on-the-go lounging, and weighs just 2 pounds!

    Promising review: This is a fabulous product! After seeing someone using one in a park, we ordered two. Once we figured out how to inflate (took a couple of tries to get the knack), it's super easy. So comfortable, so easy to use/carry/store. Has been wonderful to have during quarantine — we lounge in our yard reading and relaxing. Invariably, neighbors stop to ask about them. We absolutely love our Wekapos!" —KCHWriter

    Get it from Amazon for $40.98 (available in 16 styles).

    The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.

    Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!

    illustrated banner