As the global pandemic drags on across Canada, many Canadians turn to their backyards as another living space for their family to safely stretch out and enjoy the outdoors. If you’re planning to spend more time outside this summer, you may want to do some backyard design or renovations to take it from a bland outdoor space to an urban oasis.

Fortunately, renovating your backyard is very accessible for the average homeowner, whether you are looking to hire a complete overhaul or complete a do-it-yourself (DIY) project. Here are our top backyard design ideas for taking your outdoor space from drab to fabulous, starting with easy tasks you can tackle on your own to massive overhauls best left to the pros.

Top tips for preparing your backyard

We like these DIY small backyard designs because they rarely include electrical work or plumbing, which means these renovations are highly forgiving for the average DIYer. Here are some easy ways to renovate your backyard yourself this summer.

Start a lawn care regime

Is your backyard looking a little worse for wear after the harsh winter? A regular lawn care regime is a great way to turn your backyard turf into a lush and inviting carpet and provide an excellent base for making memories all summer. Starting a lawn care regime an easy DIY, and you can purchase everything you need from your local hardware store or garden center.

Typically, you’ll begin your lawn care regime in the Spring, with regular mowing and periodic fertilizer applications several times throughout the summer and fall. There are plenty of resources available regarding what products to buy and when to apply them, and a few hours of research will turn you into a lawn care expert.

Pressure wash everything

No matter how beautiful your lawn and garden are, if your hardscaping is covered in a thick layer of grime, your outdoor space will seem dingey. Fortunately, backyard design like taking your deck, pathways, patio furniture, and siding from grimy to sparkling doesn’t require hours and hours of labour-intensive scrubbing.

You can easily clean your outdoor hardscaping with a pressure washer. Pressure washers use high-pressure water and sometimes a cleaning solution to blast grime away. A pressure washer will cost between several hundred and a thousand dollars, and you can use this tool for a wide variety of purposes other than improving your outdoor spaces.

Upgrade your landscaping

Adding (or removing) landscaping from your backyard can make a huge difference in its useability and improve your enjoyment of your outdoor space. If your existing backyard landscape design has become overgrown and unsightly, grab a pair of pruners and begin reclaiming your space.

The process of trimming your landscaping can be labour intensive, but it’s easily tackled yourself. Keep in mind that some shrubs and trees may require different types of cuts, so be sure to do your research if you are unsure. Once you’ve trimmed your landscaping, adding mulch and weeding will make your garden beds a focal point of your backyard.

If you find yourself needing to add to your landscaping, head to the garden center to look for suitable plants. Make sure to read the tags and purchase plants ideal for the level of sunlight in your backyard. You should also pay special attention to the information regarding the size of the plant to ensure the small pot you have in your hand won’t exceed the available space within a few years.

Best medium-scale backyard renovations

Some larger-scale backyard renovations can be tackled by either an experienced DIYer (or perhaps a team of them) or a pro, depending on how much time, effort, and funds you have. Here are three medium-sized backyard renovations.

Build an outdoor firepit

This intermediate backyard design is sure to add a focal point to your backyard and give your family a cozy spot to gather. After checking local codes to ensure a firepit is allowed in your neighbourhood, and if so, whether a permit is required, you can either tackle this project yourself or hire a pro.

Firepits can be constructed from various materials like brick and flagstone and can be either wood burning, propane, or natural gas. If you plan to build your firepit yourself, expect it to take an entire weekend and require several helpers.

Install a backyard patio

If your backyard already an oasis but lacks a place for family and friends to gather comfortably, consider adding a stone patio. A stone patio can be constructed from various materials, including brick, flagstone, or concrete, and is a project you can tackle as an experienced DIYer with a few friends or hire a pro.

Since patios are not load-bearing structures and are low to the ground, they rarely require permits, but check with your municipality before you begin. If you’re considering installing a backyard patio, make sure to take your time in the research and preparation stage. Rushing through preparation work can result in a stone patio that separates, develops dips or waves, or generally does not age well.

Create a home theatre

Take your backyard from basic to exceptional by prepping it for outdoor movie nights that your family and friends will remember for years. Outdoor home theatre setups are typically not permanent structures, especially in Canada, where harsh winters can wreak havoc on electronics.

You can do most of your home theatre setup yourself, from setting up a screen and organizing comfortable seating. Still, you may need to hire a pro to add electrical outlets at critical points in your backyard for projectors and speakers.

Best backyard renovations for the pros

If you want to overhaul your backyard completely, this project may be best left to the professionals so that you can complete the job promptly before the best summer weather arrives. Here are some major backyard renovations that will utterly transform your backyard.

Add to or expand your deck

Wooden decks are massive selling points for homes, and it’s easy to see why. These wooden structures are natural gathering places for family and can be a focal point for your backyard. Since a wooden deck is often load-bearing and requires a permit, unless you have extensive DIY experience, it’s a good idea to leave this renovation project to the pros.

Build an outdoor kitchen

Are you an avid cook who hates the idea of standing over a hot stove in the heat of the summer? Get the best of both worlds with an outdoor kitchen. This renovation project is a little more specialized than others on this list and is highly customizable. An outdoor kitchen could be as simple as a built-in barbecue or as extensive as a complete set up including a wood-burning pizza oven.

A pro can help you design your outdoor kitchen and coordinate the project, and you can expect this project to cost several thousand dollars.

Build a pool

If you have plenty of space in your backyard, a pool may be the perfect addition to elevate your family’s backyard satisfaction from good to great. There are a wide variety of options when it comes to adding a pool to your property, from inexpensive temporary above-ground pools that you can assemble yourself to permanent in-ground pools that a professional should install.

Your choice should reflect your available funds and whether you want the pool to be a permanent fixture with its associated maintenance costs for the long term.

Regardless of what backyard renovation you choose to tackle this summer, be sure to make sure it fits within your budget, makes sense for all Canadian seasons, and that you are capable of managing this additional piece of maintenance in years to come.