42 Things To Help You Get The Backyard You've Been Dreaming Of
Zero gravity lounge chairs, an outdoor movie projector, Edison bulb string lights, and other things to help you fall back in love with your outdoor space.
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. A strong and bright magnetic barbecue light for anyone who wants to keep the grill going after sundown.
Promising review: "These grill lights are exactly what I needed! They light up the area so well. The magnets are strong, and the ability to direct the light where needed is great. The package they came in is perfect to store them in when not in use! I have recommended these to several people who also think they are great. I was worried they would be cheap and maybe not have a lot of magnetic hold to them, but they do!!" —LC
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
2. Some solar-powered hummingbird wind chimes that are beautiful during the day and STUNNING at night. They slowly change colors and can be hung both inside and outside to add a soothing vibe to your space.
3. Or some solar crystal ball wind chimes that'll delight you with their changing colors and magical ambience.
Promising review: "I like that the spheres are white and neutral in the daytime, and then come alive with mesmerizing rotating color at night. It is very soothing to sit and watch the colors shift and change, and it doesn't seem to be a certain pattern, so it's fun to watch for a long time! I have it in the bedroom in the window, and that seems to get enough light to charge. I have not timed it, but the color power seems to last a long time — I always fall asleep before it is done, anyway, so several hours. Recommended!" —NW Mom
Get it from Amazon for $13.54.
4. Some reclining zero-gravity lounge chairs with attachable cup holders to turn your yard into the ultimate relaxation station.
Promising review: "I am super excited to share my feelings on these chairs! After doing a lot of research, I decided to go with these, and I am so glad I went with these! These are without exaggeration the best beach chairs I have ever lounged in. They come fully assembled, with the exception of the side drink rest, which is very easy to pop on. These fold up quite compactly and are very easy to transport. And these are so comfortable! When lounging in these chairs, I am incredibly relaxed. I look forward to lounging on the beach or in the backyard in these chairs. I have been a broken record telling everyone how wonderful these chairs are. You cannot go wrong if you go with these chairs!" —Bobby D
Get a set of two from Amazon for $124.99 (available in nine colors).
5. A durable adjustable folding umbrella because you need somewhere cool to ~chill~ on hot days.
Snag a compatible weighted base so that your umbrella doesn't blow away!
Promising review: "I like this umbrella because it has sturdy spines and base instead of those thin, wiry spines on some umbrellas. Much better to hold up to 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 $39.98 (available in seven colors).
6. Or a canopy in case you require more shade than a standard umbrella can provide.
You can purchase the hardware to attach this shade to your home here.
Promising review: "Have had it up for over a month, and it is holding up very well to sun, wind, rain, and storms. I take it down when I get enough forewarning of strong storms, but sometimes we've been out of town, and it has held up quite well. We roll it up and to the side using the installation kit anchors when we get warnings for strong winds. But, like I've said, we've come home after storms to small branches down in the yard, but the sail was good. It does a great job of blocking the sun and cools the house and patio quite nicely from the summer sun." —Ms. Shannon
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in five sizes and in 10 colors).
7. Connectable Edison bulb string lights that'll make the people next door wonder if a cute little cocktail bar has moved into the neighborhood.
Promising review: "I have ordered four boxes of these light sets now. I love love love these lights. I will attach a photo at a later date, but these lights are gorgeous. They arrived; 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 three colors).
8. A Thermacell patio mosquito repellent that'll help banish mosquitos from your space, all while looking like a cute lil' diffuser instead of being an eyesore.
It comes with 3 repellent mats that last 4 hours each, and a fuel cartridge that lasts for 12 hours. If you need more, you can buy a refill pack of 12 mats and 4 cartridges from Amazon for $19.75.
Promising review: "Excellent product that does precisely what it says it does. We have a large patio area and use one of these on each side of the patio. We live in South Florida, and even in the height of mosquito season, we can spend an evening on the patio with these and not get a single bite. These are excellent!" —Luke W.
Get it from Amazon for $19.75+ (available in eight colors).
9. A mesh raised dog bed so your sweet pup has a soft, cool place to relax too.
Promising review: "My dog loves this! He is 11 years old, and I hate for his older bones to lay on the bricks or concrete. He loves this bed, and we can easily move it from the back to front yard." —Kristin M.
Get it from Amazon for $38.99+ (available in sizes S–XL and in six colors).
10. Or a cat tent for your feline friends or other small animals who wanna safely join you in the yard.
Promising review: "I read a LOT of reviews before I buy something. I want to be sure to put my money to good use. This was well worth every penny. Not only was it easy to set up, but my cats LOVE it. I have two cats (one is 12 pounds, and one is 8 pounds). They both comfortably fit in here with a ton of room to walk around and play. I throw this thing up on my balcony for what we lovingly call 'tent time,' and they come running to the door. They sit in here and watch the birds and never want to come out. It is very easy to get them in and out, and so far, it's completely durable. BUY THIS!" —Amber
Get it from Amazon for $54.95.
11. A very fun and colorful veggie kit full of everything you need to start growing purple carrots, red Brussels sprouts, stripy tomatoes, golden zucchini, and rainbow chard right in your own backyard!
It comes with five biodegradable pots, five peat discs, five plant markers, and five seed packets.
Promising review: "I have never gardened before. The only time I ever planted anything was a science project in elementary school. I bought this kit as something to keep myself productive with this summer. Within four days of planting the seeds, the Brussels sprouts started sprouting. The next day, the chard started sprouting. The day after that, the carrots, then the zucchini, then the tomatoes. The kit does NOT give you directions on how many seeds to plant in your starter pot. Only plant five to six seeds. All 20 seeds will be too much. I water my plants a little bit each day. So far everything is growing beautifully. Once the sprouts are fuller, I plan on transplanting them into a much larger pot filled with pot soil." —Rian S
Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (also available with other combinations of herbs, flowers, veggies, and more).
12. Spring-loaded pruning shears that automatically push themselves open so that you don't have to — making for a much less strenuous experience. The precision-sharpened blades and stealthy design make it easy to get between plants for a quick clip 'n' snip that'll keep your garden looking nice and tidy.
Promising review: "Man, they are very sharp, and they are worth what I paid for them. My husband has had no luck with other cutters. And when I bought these ones, we thought they would stop working just after a couple of uses, but we were 100% wrong. They are still going strong, and they are not dull, and they do not stick. And they are small, so we can get to the small parts of the plants. So yes, I would and will be buying more from this company, and if I could give the 10+ stars I would." —Wolfsgirl
Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in two colors).
13. An outdoor movie set that includes a 100-inch screen and a mini projector, so you can bring movie night to the backyard all summer long! The projector works with a variety of streaming devices like laptops, smartphones, tablets, Fire TV Stick, and Roku, so you can access all your fave shows with ease.
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 it 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 $89.99.
14. A cool hammock chair that you'll love hangin' around in.
This swinging hammock chair comes with two cushions and installation hardware.
Promising review: "This has made me love my backyard again, guys!!!! We hung this just over a week ago, and the kids and I have been in it every night. It was easy to put up (well, it was super easy because I didn't do any work!). Once in it, I feel snug, secure, and ready to relax. It's been perfect on these crisp but sunny mornings and afternoons. I love the color; it's very natural and gives a bohemian vibe, but I worried this would get dirty, being outside and all. So I bought some upholstery Scotchgard and sprayed it all over — and it actually worked wonders. My son dropped his PB&J on it, and the mess wiped right up." —Jose Martinez
Get it from Amazon for $42.99+.
15. Or a hammock with a steel stand and carrying case if a hanging hammock isn't an option.
Plus, the stand is easy to assemble, disassemble, and pack up in the included carrying case for storage or travel.
Promising review: "Features to love: The cotton fabric is sturdy and breathable. I never feel stuck to it the way I do in a nylon hammock. The setup/take down is super easy, and the frame is very sturdy — we have definitely put 300-plus pounds in it. The ability to raise and lower the hammock with the multiple hook positions might be the best feature. I have bad knees and like to get into the hammock from a higher position...no problem. My kids like it lower so they can reach the ground to swing it...no problem. It works great as a traditional hammock to lie in. It works as a 'swing' to sit on. It has enough fabric that you can cover up if you're cold or want to block out light or bugs. We have accidentally left it out in the rain several times, and it dries great, hasn't faded from the sun, hasn't had any mold, and hasn't developed any weird smell.
Things not to love: Nothing! This is a great hammock. It may not be as portable as those little nylon hammocks, but if this is for your yard and not for camping, this is hard to beat." —Mary
Get it from Amazon for $89.99+ (available in 46 colors).
16. A cast-iron fire pit that'll make you feel like you're camping — but with access to your own private bathroom. Time to warm your toes and roast some marshmallows!
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.
17. A set of speckled 10-inch hanging pots with drainage holes to add some fun greenery to your outside space.
Promising review: "I really love these hanging planters. Highly recommended. Lightweight, modern, and has drainage holes!" —thelma marie hart
Get a set of two from Amazon for $25.99 (available in three colors).
18. An adorably tiny picnic table that's easy to attach onto your fence or a tree so you can watch your neighborhood squirrels enjoy the feast of their dreams.
Promising review: "I recently gifted this to my brother-in-law who had already managed to gain the trust of his local squirrels (by leaving peanuts out for them in a bowl in front of his house). It's been DELIGHTFUL to receive photos from him of the bushy-tailed creatures snackin' away. This really is the gift that keeps on giving." —Heather Braga, BuzzFeed Staff
Get it from Amazon for $17.95.
19. A bamboo mason bee house to let your buzzing friends know they're welcome to come around and help keep your flowers blooming.
Promising review: "This is a very nicely made mason bee house that should last a long time outdoors. It has a slight overhang in the front to protect the entrances from rain or snow. It has a hanger with a slot for a screw on the back. It has a small rope attached at the top, but I will not hang it that way because the rope may deteriorate over time. I'm looking forward to hanging this as soon as the weather permits!" —Alison
Get it from Amazon for $16.97.
20. An inflatable pool for anyone with too small of a yard for an in-ground pool, but enough space for the next best thing. It's durable, a breeze to set up and take down, *and* it can fit two adults PLUS four kids while still being compact enough to fit in small spaces.
Don't forget to get an electric pump too!
Promising review: "This pool is perfect! It came well packaged, and it was easy to inflate with a small inflater pump. After opening and laying it out, my large dog just had to walk and lie on it, so I could see it was pretty durable. Once I filled it, which took maybe 30 minutes, it was ready for use. I would totally recommend buying this pool! Fun for kids and adults like myself who want to watch the sunset with a glass of wine and a refreshing soaking. Happy pool-buying!" —Pamela
Get it from Amazon for $49.99.
21. Or a durable dog/kiddie pool for both your little ones *and* pets who wanna cool off in the yard. It's portable and folds down easily, so you can just store it in the garage when it's not in use. Plus, reviewers say it holds up well to the kind of roughhousing one might expect from excited pups.
Promising review: "I am now the proud owner of THREE of these dog pools. I have an XXL, an XL, and an S pool for our backyard 'frogs' that wouldn't stay out of the big pools! Yes, I bought the frogs their own pool...that's how amazing these pools are! We had the XXL and XL pools out every day last summer (changed the water twice per week), and they were used daily by all three dogs. There have been no punctures of any sort or any issues at all with these pools, and my dogs can play pretty rough at times. The XXL pool was used for both the 2018 and 2019 summers with no issues. These pools are literally my dogs' favorite part of summer...I can't keep them out of them! As soon as we get back from a walk, they jump right in!" —Kate M
Get it from Amazon for $18.96+ (available in five sizes).
22. A set of outdoor pillow covers to add some extra comfort to your patio without having to worry about the weather.
Psst, these are pillow covers. You can grab some weather-proof pillow inserts for $21.99.
Promising review: "Love these pillow covers! They look amazing on my patio set. They’ve been in place for about a month with no signs of fading or staining (despite being subjected to full Florida sun all day and being rained on multiple times)." —Helen Tindall
Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in nine styles/colors).
23. A durable and super-warm outdoor blanket perfect for chillier nights when you wanna stay outside, but don't wanna shiver through the entire evening.
Rumpl is a Portland, Oregon-based small business that was inspired by warm and snuggly sleeping bags, and how much better the material retains heat compared to traditional bedding. The idea of a "sleeping bag blanket" was born, and Rumpl with it. 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: "I've used it in Wisconsin to continue having outdoor hangouts with my friends during corona-time. It's that extra cozy layer for patio dining and porch sitting. Packs down tight to keep in the car for impromptu outdoor happy hour!" —Julie K.
Get it from Rumpl for $99 (available in additional colors).
24. An inflatable hot tub designed to fill your yard with luxury spa energy.
It comes with a pump that handles all the inflating, heating, and filtration as well as the massage system — did I mention the massage system?? At just the push of a button, AirJets release soothing bubbles that'll make you feel like you're at your own personal spa in your own backyard!
Promising review: "I was skeptical about buying an inflatable hot tub, but my sister has wanted one forever. After researching many varieties, we ended up purchasing this. I am amazed at how well it works. I have had it for several months now, and it is still working perfectly. The lining is thick and sturdy, and supports your back. It is easy to get in and out of. The cushioned bottom is more comfy than I expected. It holds heat well; we like it at 104, and it stays between 102 and 104 while in use in a 40- to 60-degree environment. The bubbles are plentiful and relaxing and strong. I thought setup was quite easy, filters are easy to change, and water chemical balance is easy to maintain. Five out of five stars. Get it!" —Kristine
Get it from Amazon for $499.99+ (available in three colors).
25. A hummingbird feeder so you can invite quite possibly the cutest lil' birds in existence to join you in the yard.
26. An outdoor pizza oven 'cuz nothing upgrades cookouts with family and friends quite like slinging some fresh pies.
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 minutes), 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 $399.99.
27. A three-seater glider porch swing with a large canopy that's bound to be your favorite seat.
Promising review: "This swing looks so beautiful on our front patio. It was so easy to assemble. Directions were clear and easy to follow. I love how the seat is longer, so it’s comfortable to sit. The fabric is sturdy and nicely made. I am seriously thinking about purchasing one for the backyard to replace my other one. I definitely recommend this swing." —Tammy
Get it from Amazon for $197 (available in five colors).
28. A powerful fan to ensure that you've got the ~coolest~ patio in town. It'll help make sweltering hot days a little more bearable *and* discourage bugs from trying to fly through the breeze to turn you into their personal buffet.
Promising review: "One awesome fan for our outdoor patio. We were shocked at how much air this pushes. Mounted easily. Love that it can be outside in the weather. Helps majorly in keeping cool outside in North Carolina heat!" —kat
Get it from Amazon for $82+ (available in three sizes and with or without stand).
29. A tabletop barbecue if you don't have the space for a campfire or full-sized grill, but still wanna enjoy some meats and veggies over an open flame.
Get it from Bespoke Post for $170.
30. An outdoor rocking chair available in a variety of cool colors that'll ~rock~ your socks off (if you aren't already barefoot, because duh — it's your patio, and it's hot out!).
Get it from Novogratz for $199 (available in five colors).
31. A tall table cooler combo in case you need both a high top *and* somewhere to keep your bevvies chilled.
Promising review: "I have received a lot of compliments regarding this little cooler/table, and for the price I'm very happy with the purchase. We were looking for a smaller table to complement our larger patio set. After our last party, I think I may have made a couple of sales for the Keter brand. The cooler kept drinks cold for quite a while, especially considering we didn't put much ice in it. The standing feature is nice too. Just lock the table in the open position, and you can use it for a tall drink stand, which works well. If you're looking a little table for a patio set OR for a little patio cooler, this product can take care of both needs." —Phenom13
Get it from Amazon for $78.09+ (available in four colors).
32. A modern boho-style three-piece bistro set with two chairs and a matching glass-top table that's ideal for small spaces. Plus, it'll make any yard, porch, or patio look instantly more fashionable.
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 $219.99 (available in four colors).
33. A pretty beveled glass wind chime that just wants to play a calming little jingly jangly tune with every breeze.
Almanor Art Glass is a small business based in Chester, California, crafting beautiful glass pieces.
Promising review: "I love it. This is an amazingly beautiful wind chime. I owned wind chime similar to this, and when it broke, I hunted for one to replace it, but it had been difficult because this is very unique. This one is even prettier with more detail." —Mary Jones
Get it from Almanor Art Glass on Etsy for $49.95 (available in two sizes).
34. A cute set of pots that can be hung from balcony railings or any other ledge, so you always have some greenery to hang out with in the yard. You can even use them to make a cool plant wall!
The set comes with hangers!
Promising review: "These are so cute!! I made a plant wall out of them, and they look great. They are a bit smaller than I was expecting, but all of my flowers fit in them." —Betty Pace
Get a set of eight from Amazon for $17.99 (available in black, white, silver and multicolor sets).
35. A waterproof Bluetooth speaker because you definitely want to soundtrack your time outdoors with some stellar playlists.
Promising review: "I’ve had this speaker for two years, and it still sounds and holds battery life like it did when I first purchased it. I’ve used it at the beach, in my shower, and even had a kid accidentally drop it in the pool, and it’s still in great shape. The sound is crystal clear, and it’s surprisingly loud for how small the actual speaker is." —Alex Lipford
Get it from Amazon for $70.58.
36. A stylish outdoor rug so you can have the classiest patio in the neighborhood.
37. A weatherproof outdoor beanbag chair for anyone who would much prefer to just plop themselves down on one of these than sit in some stinkin' chair!
Fibala is a Poland-based Etsy shop that sells modern, minimalist items for your home, like trays, wooden boards, pots, bowls, hangers, and more.
Don't forget to pick up some beanbag filling so you can use your chair as soon as it arrives!
Promising review: "This beanbag lounger is beautiful!! I love the simple look, soft grey color, and the vegan leather handle is super cool! The shop owner, Alicja, was so nice and helpful when I asked about a leather alternative. The lounger is everything I hoped it would be! I absolutely love it! TY!" —Amoryn Smith
Get it from Fibala on Etsy for $100+ (available in three sizes and two colors).
38. A citronella candle mosquitoes hate almost as much as you hate them.
Promising review: "I am someone who mosquitoes love to devour. I set up the candles in the backyard for movie night with the family (projector on the outside wall). Didn't get bit once at night. I was bitten about seven times earlier that day using bug repellent spray alone. None of the kids were bit. Worked well." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $6.97.
39. A beyond adorable vintage camper birdhouse to make your yard feel like a quaint lil' campground for flying friends.
No glue is necessary for assembly.
1Man1Garage is a small business based in Nashville, Tennessee, that offers a variety of cool artisan designs that are made with care.
Promising review: "I love this so much! I just built it, so I'm not sure if I will get any inhabitants or not, but that's OK because it’s SO CUTE. Took a little brain power to put together, 'cause the pieces aren’t labeled, but it’s (clearly) doable and a fun little project regardless. The little details are so fun, and it is very well made. Highly recommend!" —Lauren Woods
Get it from 1Man1Garage on Etsy for $32+ (available in nine colors).
40. A three-piece wicker chair and table set that'll provide comfy seating and a convenient place to put drinks and snacks while making your porch look much more stylish than it did before.
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 $99.99+ (available in four colors).
41. A curtain of LED lights to ensure that all of your patio parties are truly ~lit~ this season.
Promising review: "Just got the lights last week. We put them up on our outdoor privacy screen. We opted to wrap the screen with the lights rather than just let them dangle down, since the screen was shorter than the lights. Looks great during the day and gives a great ambience at night. We love the remote control!" —Donna
Get them from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in two sizes).
42. And finally, a powerful, nontoxic fly trap you can hang in the corner of the yard to keep the flies from bothering you every time you wanna eat outside.
Just add water to activate, hang it up outside, and watch it fill up with flies! If possible, try to place it 20 feet away from any living space, because it does have an unpleasant odor.
Promising review: "These things work miracles! Place them far away from you if are going to be hanging out in the yard, and it will attract all the flies to that area. However, the smell is horrible once you put the solution in that attracts them, which is another reason to place them farther away from the house and/or areas you will be spending time in. I have them at the back corners of my yard, and I don't smell them, and it keeps all the flies away. Great product. Toss once it's been there about 30 days and replace." —Misty Chauffe
Get it from Amazon for $9.07.
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Note: Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.