15 Of The Most Creative Backyard Decorating Ideas

I love to decorate both inside and outside, and I’m sharing my favorite tips! Here’s 15 of the most creative backyard decorating ideas!

Ultimately, the best backyards are multifunctional, striking the perfect balance between visual appeal and convenience—after all, this is a place to gather with friends and family, so you want it to look beautiful!

I love to decorate outside in our backyard just as much as I love to decorate inside. I like to treat our yard as a living space, adding decor to gardens, planters, and even just under a shaded tree, and create small “rooms” throughout. I love to add a little bit of whimsy and a little bit of the unexpected, and totally bring on the comfort and charm to our backyard; lots of options to sit down, take a load off, and up the ante to what was just an ordinary planter. Above all, I want our backyard to be relaxing and enjoyable.

Luckily, with the right outdoor décor ideas and tools, you too can create a backyard that feels welcoming and relaxing.

15 Of The Most Creative Backyard Decorating Ideas

 

1. Create A Seating Area For Two

It’s nice to have a big table where groups can be together, but there’s something equally appealing about creating quiet areas for smaller gatherings, too. Pockets of outdoor seating, either in the garden, by a pool or even under a small shaded tree, will serve as great conversation areas or spots where two can sneak away. No fanny fatigue! For this quiet get away for two, I added seat cushions to wrought iron garden chairs for added comfort in conversations.

2. Add A Firepit Area

You don’t need much space to enjoy a fire in your backyard. Investing in a fire pit allows you to sit around the warm flames with friends and family on cool spring or summer nights. Fire pits come in all shapes and sizes, whether you build one for more of a permanent structure, or buy one brand new or from a salvage shop!

3. Add A Park Bench To A Shaded Area

Park benches and shaded areas go together hand in hand. Think about it – how often do you see a bench placed in full sun with no shade protection? And, when/if you do come across this scenario, how often do you ever see someone sitting on the bench just to take a load off? Seldom, if ever. Shaded areas are meant to host a bench to cool things off and provide a bit of respite. That’s what it’s all about, after all.

4. Exterior Lighting

Lighting is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to cast an enchanting spell in your backyard. Even small solar lights and a few LED candles tossed in can create a cozy evening and allows guests to linger around longer.

More Creative Backyard Decorating Ideas

 

5. Add Decorative Garden Bed Borders

Give garden beds definition. Decorative borders make a big impacts and certainly add pretty design to your backyard. I have several different kinds of garden borders around our backyard, and none of them are the same. To me, this creates even more interest. Keep your eyes peeled when shopping flea markets and salvage shops where beautiful garden border fencing can easily be found.

6. Design A Curvy Pathway In A Garden

I love garden pathways because I want to lead people to different areas of our backyard and enjoy walking them myself, with lots of design along the way. Still a work in progress, our shade garden is coming along. This curvy pathway was the first thing I created, even before planting any ground cover. There’s romance in a garden path. It doesn’t need to be a long one, even just a few feet will make a lovely impact in your backyard.

7. Create An Outdoor Living Room

I’m all about an outdoor living room! Truly! It’s like bringing the inside, out. Centering your backyard around a living space is a great idea if you want to gather outdoors with your family and friends more often. This open-air living room is a modern mix next to our 203-year-old house. Added bonus,  this DIY outdoor furniture was all built in less than an hour! See how, HERE!

8. Create A Quiet Seating Area

Just off the back of the garden house is a quiet terrace that I created. I built the stone floor from stones that I brought back from our favorite summer vacation spot over several summers. I’d bring 5-10 home each year and saved them until I could finally create this very spot. My intention: to design a seating area that’s quiet, comfortable and relaxing. I brought in pillows to add soft elements and wooden furniture to warm things up. I have to say that my patience paid off.

9. Create Clever Vignette For Plants

I found this bird cage at my favorite flea market this year and knew that I wanted to fill it with plants. It is outdoor decorating at it’s finest, and brings in great garden detail as well. Whenever I see images online of birdcages filled with plants, I’m always inspired. It certainly is a clever way to create a vignette for plants. Another creative backyard decorating idea!

10. Incorporate Path Lights

Be sure to layer the lighting in your backyard when designing your outdoor space. This path leads to the garden house, which is over 100 feet from our house. Discreet landscape lights highlight the pathway and invite you to follow the way.

11. Design Pretty Tablescapes On Outdoor Tables

Dress up an ordinary ho-hum outdoor table by creating a beautiful setting. Tablescapes can make open-air meals feel memorable, and your guests will feel special. Design a tablescape even on the smallest of tables. Check out how I transformed a wooden cable spool to a table, HERE! 

12. Add An Archway For More Creative Backyard Design

Add visual appeal and an invitation to enter a garden with an archway or trellis. You can leave them to their own design, or even plant vines and flowers to grow over them.

13. Incorporate An Obelisk In Flower Pots

Add height and even more design to your garden planters by adding a small obelisk. They provide beautiful appeal, and a surface to secure tall plants from falling over. Whenever I’m shopping flea markets, I’m always on the search for garden decor, especially obelisks. I’d have one in every single container if I could. Maybe someday, I will.

14. Create A Vegetable Garden

I’ve had a vegetable garden for  7 years now, and I try to make at least one enhancement every year, whether I add obelisks, a bench to sit for a sec, pea gravel for the pathways, and even changing out the trellises. Growing a sustainable garden is so, so rewarding, even if your backyard space only allows for a small one.

15. Add Some Zen

I had always wondered what the semblance was for Buddhas in gardens. And too, for years I wanted to have one in mine. A Buddha garden is a sacred space designed to cultivate peace, tranquility, and spiritual connection in the midst of nature. It is a harmonious blend of natural elements, symbolic statues, and mindful design. Total zen moment.

More Backyard Design Inspiration

For everyone that is new here, welcome! In 2020, we built a garden house in our backyard out of reclaimed windows found by a dumpster, and an 8 year long dream.  Lots of inspiration and more creative backyard decorating ideas, it’s a place where I go to find my center, to be inspired, and to entertain. I filmed the entire process, and can watch every video, HERE! 

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