Is your backyard looking kind of tired? Boring? Blah? Meh?
If you answered yes to any of these, then the very idea of turning it into your own personal little oasis must sound exciting.
But, there’s also a chance that it sounds totally unattainable because, let’s face it.
The economy is not that great, and money doesn’t grow on trees.
Upgrades of any kind cost money, and you don’t want to go into debt just to add a fire pit.
Don’t worry, I don’t want you to go into debt, either, which is why I’ve decided to create a list of money-sucking mistakes I see too many people make when they start to renovate their backyard.
5 Mistakes You’ll Want to Avoid
Let me just preface this by saying that everybody messes up.
And we mess up especially big when we’re excited to start renovating, but learning from other people’s oopsies is free, so let’s look at some stuff that can put a damper on both your bank account and your renovation.
Don’t Skimp on the Important Stuff
You’ll be tempted to fall for the pretty stuff first, and I’m speaking from experience.
The fancy birdbath, the delicate ornaments, the POOL.
Now, I like a pool as much as the next person, but do you need it? And even if you can afford it, you have to be careful about how it’s built.
That means – climate.
Your climate is a huge factor here, so if you’re somewhere that gets a lot of cold days, like Pennsylvania, you’ll need some extra features.
What I’m saying is that, if you contact pros in ground pool installation King of Prussia PA residents would hire, and you tell them you don’t want a cover or a heating system in order to stay within the budget, they’ll tell you you’re off the rails.
Basically, you can’t act like you’re in Arizona, where it’s pretty much summer all the time, so those extra features are a must. If you even decide you need a pool, that is.
Not Thinking About Utility Access
Picture having a beautiful patio done.
You look forward to sipping your morning coffee on it, entertaining your friends, working out, reading books… You first need to drag an extension cord across the yard because you have to plug in your lights.
Yep. That’s what happens when you don’t think about outlets and such on time.
A total facepalm moment that you could have prevented if you just walked around and thought about whether you’ll need outlets, a hose, or anything else.
Long-Term Maintenance
Do you want a perfect green lawn or a sparkling pond?
Let me tell you, I want both, but I don’t want the maintenance that comes with either. If you decide to give either of these a go, ask yourself if you have the time and money to keep it looking nice.
Some plants need constant babysitting, and some materials need to be cleaned and sealed regularly. Do you really want all that work on the weekends? Why not swap that thirsty lawn for native plants?
They’re a breeze to take care of, and they’re good for the environment.
Not Sticking to a Set Budget
I never go grocery shopping when I’m starving because I come back home with way too much stuff I realistically don’t need, plus I spent a lot more money than I wanted to.
What I mean by that is you always need a clear budget, and you absolutely must stick to it. Write down a number and decide you won’t go a cent over it.
So what you do here is, you list the must-haves first. Price them all out.
Yeah, also, a pro tip here is to add a ‘surprise tax’ (10-20%) to the total budget, because there might be items out of stock, forcing you to buy a more expensive option, or there might be additional things required, there might be extra unforeseen charges, etc.
And then, after all that, see how much of your budget is left.
Chasing ‘Trends’ Instead of ‘Timeless Design’
You saw a bright pink, trendy patio on Pinterest, and you MUST have it.
But the problem with this is that the patio will probably look dated in like 2 years. Or, while it looks great on a Pinterest picture, you’d quickly come to realize that it doesn’t handle dirt well, and it’s a pain to maintain, which might cause it to look worn out in just a few months. And what (usually) happens here is that you’ll hate looking at it because it’ll remind you of you going for that impulsive decision instead of being smart about it.
So maybe, instead of blowing your entire budget on what’s hot right this moment, you go for something classic? Neutral-colored furniture, simple stone or gravel, clean lines, things like that?
You can always add trendy accents with cheap pillows or a rug.
Conclusion
Give yourself plenty of time to do this right.
If you can’t find the perfect sofa right away, wait. Visit a flea market, go on Facebook Marketplace, try to find a garage sale nearby, etc. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and I know your backyard is hardly Rome. Rushing will probably make you go over your budget.
And speaking of budget, now you know a few other things that will eat your money like nobody’s business, so be smart with your approach to this upgrade.
If you do it right, you’ll have a beautiful space you’ll be able to enjoy for years to come.
