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    If Your Yard Could Make A Wish List, These 31 Things Would Be On It

    Honestly, the outdoor projector in this post is so great it makes me think magic *might* exist.

    1. A set of mini potted plants for giving your backyard the maximalist, colorful touch *you* consider serene. 

    10 mini potted plants hanging from an old metal gate door
    reviewer's pots hanging from painted planks of wood

    Promising review: "This product is fun and colorful. Helped me repurpose an old atlas fence gate into a cute garden display." —Lydia Tinker

    Get 10 from Amazon for $28.99.

    2. A portable 120-inch screen that'll turn any regular movie night into a fun night out (at least, out to the backyard). This is lightweight, sturdy, and reviewers say it's a cinch to set up.

    Reviewer's large screen hung in the backyard during the day
    Review image of an outdoor movie party with the screen in use and half a dozen people watching it

    Promising review: "I'm very satisfied. This is a solid item. It was very easy to assemble and fold back up. We use it every camping trip and at home in yard. No wrinkles. Even in slight wind, any movement of the screen doesn't affect the picture. I'm pleased with the construction and cost for this item." —BFord553

    Get it from Amazon for $105.97.

    3. A canopy so you can create some shade in your sunny yard without taking away from the open fresh-airy-ness that brought you outside in the first place.

    Canopy in corner of backyard between the house
    Reviewer's backyard at night, with the canopy above a wooden frame that is covered in twinkle lights

    Don't forget to purchase the hardware set to attach this canopy to your home.

    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 warning 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 $32.98+ (available in seven sizes and colors).

    4. A set of outdoor string lights — these'll be a particularly *bright* idea if your goal is dazzling everyone who steps into your yard at night.

    A patio at dusk with round string lights on a black wire
    Reviewer image of one level house with edge of roof covered with the lights

    Promising review: "These are so cute and perfect! I have a decent-sized balcony and have been looking to turn it into a relaxing area. I got my lights within a few days and I immediately opened up my package — everything was there, no broken bulbs and a spare bulb. I then tested out the power and these lights are perfectly bright and still set a very calming and intimate scene." —Amazon Customer

    Get them from Amazon for $16.95+ (available in four lengths and colors).

    5. A planter privacy screen you can use to break up different areas of your yard, while the potted spots below can house plants that can cover this whole thing with vines in the spring! 

    three panel wood privacy screen with planters for flowers at the bottom
    Amazon

    Promising review: "I was looking for an attractive privacy screen and this is perfect. It takes two people to put these together as they are well built and quite heavy. I bought two and we put one on moving casters so we could change its location. I'm very pleased with my purchase." —Katbird

    Get it from Amazon for $290.99.

    6. A four-piece furniture set that just might make your backyard better furnished than your living room.

    The chairs and table in brown
    chairs in black

    Promising review: "Wow! Such a great set! It comes in a surprisingly small box — these people must be great at Tetris! It was easy to put together and they even made all the screws the same size! Super comfy and looks great on my new deck!" —Jennifer Cupkey

    Get it from Amazon for $199.99+ (available in four styles).

    7. A portable Cuisinart vertical smoker for people who only cook when they can do it outside. This *treasure* slow-cooks everything from turkey to brisket. That's a smokin' hot accessory to have in your backyard-turned-restaurant, if you ask me.

    The Cuisinart vertical smoker in an outdoor patio.
    closeup of two racks of ribs and wings cooking inside reviewer's smoker

    Promising review: "So far I've smoked a pork tenderloin, chickens, Cornish game hens, a prime rib, and an 18-pound turkey. I couldn't be happier with the way everything has turned out. This product is incredibly easy to use: You just set the temperature, put the meat inside the smoker, and walk away. It doesn't use an open flame so it's great for apartment balconies where you might not be allowed to grill. Cooking and cleaning are both easy, and I'd recommend this product for beginners and experts alike." —William H.

    Get it from Amazon for $170.24.

    8. And an outdoor pizza oven, because summers in the backyard are for snackin'! This is an authentic gas, charcoal, and wood-powered cooker that'll cook up to 930 degrees. It's time to spend the summer working on the perfect pizza crust.

    A pizza straight out of the oven behind it
    Amazon

    Promising review: "This is easy to use and great quality. It cooks pizzas to perfection. I like that you can use charcoal or wood/pellets. We also use the oven for a lot more than just pizzas, super fun to use. I really like the look of it as well, sharp design and extremely portable, very lightweight. A great buy — I would HIGHLY recommend! We enjoy cooking pizzas with the entire family and the kids love the pizza!" —John Mercer

    Get it from Amazon for $344.99.

    9. A set of outdoor throw pillows with darling botanical prints that'll totally make up for the fact that your yard doesn't have a living thing in sight. Gardens are HARD.

    Reviewer's outdoor loveseat with two of the pillows
    Reviewer's gray sectional on the patio with four greenery pillows

    Grab this set of pillow inserts if you don't already have some at home! 

    Promising review: "These pillows are so cute! I bought them originally for my patio and brought them inside due to the rain we’ve had the past few days and now I’m in love with how they look in my dining room! Trying to decide whether to buy another set. I absolutely love these covers and the quality is amazing." —Amazon Customer

    Get a set of four from Amazon for $25.99+ (available six sizes and 10 sets).

    10. An embroidered pouf made for the outdoors, so you can finally create a plush and cozy space that's exactly your taste!

    gray pouf with tassel details in cube shape
    Anthropologie

    Promising review: "What a great and unique ottoman! It’s got so much texture and style but a great neutral color that goes with anything. I use it as a table/foot rest with my egg chair on the patio, and it’s perfect! My cats like to sleep on it :)" —JessDayne

    Get it from Anthropologie for $198.

    11. An aesthetically pleasing firewood rack for folks who ~wood~ love to tidy up the pile of pine currently cluttering their back porch.

    Black piping rack with rounded top filled partway with chopped firewood
    Amazon

    Promising review: "I picked up two of these as Christmas gifts. They are easy to assemble and looked beautiful with wood stacked in them. They look very elegant in one setting and paired well with the rustic setting of the other recipient's home. I'm very pleased with my purchase. I sell firewood commercially and have purchased many racks over the years. This is my new favorite small rack!" —Kimberly Joseph

    Get it from Amazon for $44.09+ (available in two sizes and styles). 

    12. A handy, dandy turf spreader so you can efficiently distribute seeds and fertilizer across your lawn with practically no effort.

    The turf spreader that looks like a small cart
    Amazon

    Promising review: "What I like most about this spreader is that it is small and light. Other spreaders, when they hit a depression in the lawn stop, can deposit too much fertilizer. This unit just skips over the dents and holes in my lawn, making for a quicker and more thorough job. Sometimes less heavy-duty is good." —Doris

    Get it from Amazon for $32.79+ (available in four sizes).

    13. A bamboo mason bee house, which is a friendly way to let neighboring bees know they are welcome to hang out (and pollinate the flowers) in your yard.

    Reviewer photo of the bee house, which is made with pre-rolled tubes that give bees plenty of small places to nest
    Amazon

    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 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 $17.99.

    14. A drip- and bee-proof stake hummingbird feeder — just stick this into a planter out back and watch as your hummingbird neighbors come over for a drop of sugar again and again! 

    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 a small biz run by Nancy Higgins. Higgins was a zookeeper for 22 years (!) and 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. 

    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.

    15. A leaf blower/vacuum with a built-in mulcher. The angled snout of this blower is gonna make cleaning in awkward spots (like under your deck) a cinch. Grab this and suck up all those hidden leaves!

    A model using the leaf blower with the mulcher bag around their shoulder
    Amazon

    This can chop up to 16 bags of leaves so they fit into just one bag!

    Promising review: "I have two very large red oak trees in my yard and they tend to dump a lot of leaves all over my yard and my neighbor's yard. Before this arrived, I blew them into a pile awaiting the shipment so I could mulch them up. I previously had a mulching attachment for my line trimmer and it wasn't that great, but it did the job. In comparison, this was far better. It had rained the morning before I tried this out, so the leaves were wet, which made the work a little slower than with dry leaves, but it still worked. It did get bogged down one time, but I was overfilling the bag when it happened, so it was partly my fault. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a mulching vac." —Matt Hamilton

    Get it from Amazon for $66.

    16. An outdoor sofa you can get if you want your backyard looking as sophisticated as the inside of your home. This piece is a knockout *and* it can handle bad weather like a champ.

    large outdoor sofa made with a teakwood frame and several plush cushions
    Outer

    Promising review: "I LOVE ALL OF IT! Yes, I’m yelling because it’s the quality I’ve been looking for. I’ve gone through many 'basic' outdoor furniture sets and this one is going to last a very long time." —Terri

    Get it from Outer for $3,703 (originally $5,920; available in three colors). 

    17. A retro beach umbrella sure to add some charm to your backyard *and* protect your skin from cooking under the summer sun.

    reviewer's umbrella by pool
    spotted umbrella attached to backyard table setting

    Promising review: "This is great quality, decently priced, and beautiful. I bought these for my pop-up beach picnic business and they are simply amazing. I can’t say enough good things about them. The quality is superb; they were the cherry on top to my full setup." —JJM310

    Get it from Amazon for $98.59 (available in six colors).

    18. An umbrella light — with this spiffy light, your family game nights are gonna last well past sundown. Overhead lighting is just an umbrella away! If you're playing Clue, I'm coming over. 

    Promising review: "When I bought this, it was totally on a whim. I was convinced that because it was so inexpensive, it would be a cheap piece of junk! Was I wrong! It does a great job of lighting up the table with the three different settings. AND, if you turn it upside-down, you can further vary the brightness. (Sometimes you just want a hint of a glow, rather than a spotlight in your face.) I'm very happy with this, especially since I left it out all summer long with no issues. It was hidden under a closed umbrella, but I'm sure it got a little damp with rainwater and it survived! For just $10, it is such an easy solution for my patio that has no electricity, and therefore, needs something battery powered." —LouiseN

    Get it from Amazon for $12.55.

    19. And a pack of solar-powered waterproof deck lights to keep the rest of your yard glowing long into the night. 

    the lights attached to the underside of deck railing
    the lights attached to the sides of some outside stairs

    Promising review: "These lights were easy to install and look great in on our deck. We just had a pool built and needed some light on the steps of the deck so we could see walking up the steps at night. They're beautiful without too much light." —BJ

    Get 16 from Amazon for $35.95+ (available in white or multicolored versions).

    20. A pool water fountain that'll turn your backyard into a show-stopping slice of paradise, because fancy water features are for FANCY FOLKS.

    corner of pool with light water fountain spouting water
    Amazon

    Promising review: "This is a nice fountain with a great design. It's very easy to install and maneuver to have the fountain go in whatever direction or height you want. We were concerned that it might lower the temperature of the water too much, as we like the water to be warm, but it has not been lowering the water temperature since we only run it during the day." —Mr. Ed

    Get it from Amazon for $28.97.

    21. Interlocking teak tiles you can use as a pathway in your garden, a poolside anti-slip surface, or a snazzy patio! 

    closeup of tiles by a pool
    reviewer pic of patio with the teak tiles covering it

    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 $81.76 (end- and corner-pieces also available). 

    22. Hidden shed storage for hiding your trash cans and keeping your yard's aesthetic looking sharp. 

    reviewer pic of shed with a lid and to front doors on a patio
    open shed to reveal a trash can and recycling bin

    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 $318.98.

    23. A fence window — put this in your fence so your dogs can keep an eye on everything that's going on in the front yard while you're out.

    Reviewer's husky looking onto front lawn from the dog window in the backyard
    Two dogs sticking their heads into the round window to peek through the fence

    This includes everything you need to secure the window and it takes about 15 minutes to set up. All you'll need is a drill/driver, crescent wrench, and a pencil.

    Promising review: "Our dogs love it! Our old fence had gaps for them to see who was in the driveway, but with the new one, no gaps. The doggie windows allow them to see who is pulling up again! Each one took about 10–15 minutes to install. We just used the black ring to trace the inner circle, cut with a jigsaw, marked the holes for the bolts and pre-drill, and used a 10-mm wrench to tighten, not too tight to crack ring or globe plastic. Now they can see us again!" —Summers

    Get it from Amazon for $29.98.

    24. A roll of faux ivy — attach this to wire fencing, a railing, or a trellis to add a lush look to your yard (no gardening skills needed).

    Faux vines placed on simple wood frame to make pool awning
    Iron gate with the vines covering the open spaces

    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 94-inch x 39-inch roll from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in three sizes).

    25. 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).

    26. A multi-functional fire pit that'll keep your toes cozy when there's a chill in the air. When it's hot outside? Fill the pit with ice, snacks, and drinks!

    Promising review: "I love the functionality of this fire pit so much! To just sit by the fire or to decide we want to do a quick barbecue on it is just so wonderful! I appreciate the cover that comes with it to protect it from the elements. Assembly was quite easy. I look forward to having this for many years to come. I highly recommend this product." —Kimi

    Get it from Amazon for $79.99+ (available in two sizes). 

    27. A set of eight solar-powered jar lanterns filled with string lights. The lights are gonna soak up the sun during the day and look *dazzling* at night. Fairy garden, here you come! 

    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.

    28. A standing weeder with three steel claws that grip weeds and roots so you can pull them out while standing. No more bending down all day while pulling out weeds! Your backyard has never looked better (and your back has never FELT better)!

    This is made with a bamboo handle and powder-coated steel. The simple lever system is what makes pulling weeds with this so 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.

    29. A flexible adjustable mister to help you keep your cool when some sun would do you good but the heat makes you hide inside. 

    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 $22.99 (available in three sizes). 

    30. A pressure washer so you no longer have to be awash in grief over a dull and dreary patio or fence. With this, patio furniture and other backyard basics can look brand new. In fact, it's just a spray away!

    It even comes with five spray tips to help you attack light- to heavy-duty cleaning tasks.

    Promising review: "This little guy is a game-changer. It is so quiet, and so powerful. I was extremely skeptical about buying such a small, not to mention, electric pressure washer because I've only used gas pressure washers in the past. Well, I moved into my house last year, and started to wash this driveway off with a friend's gas pressure washer and decided it was not worth the time because it was not getting very much of the grime/dirt off. Well, look at what this thing did. This home is near the beach and flooded in Katrina, and probably hasn't ever been pressure washed. This thing worked flawlessly. I can't say enough good things about this purchase. Would buy again with confidence." —James G.

    Get it from Amazon for $169.

    31. And finally, a dome trellis — train your plants and vines to climb up this clever design and you'll have your own secret garden growing in no time! If turning your backyard into a calming paradise is your goal, this trellis was made for you. 

    dome trellis over a seating area without any plants trained on it yet
    view of person looking out from the dome with vines trained on it
    Sunrise Domes / Etsy

    Sunrise Domes is a small business located in South Killingly, Connecticut. The shop specializes in geodesic domes and you can find a hearty handful of unique designs to fit your own yard. FYI, reviewers also use these structures from this Etsy shop as sculptures or even to contain their yard turkeys!

    Get it from Sunrise Domes on Etsy for $1,500.

    When your backyard becomes your own personal oasis:

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