Tour four bold and budget-minded outdoor rooms to findinspiration for your backyard.
The tree-covered area right outside the walkout basement serves as the patio site.
The homeowner built aretaining walland used crushed-limestone fill to level the steeply sloped space.
Flair in the Flooring
The flooring is made of salvaged slate tile nestled into pea gravel.
Distinctive Decor
Miscellaneous freestanding rocks gathered from the homeowner’s travels surround the site.
Old galvanized tubs and stainless-steel food-service containers serve as pots.
For a traditional touch, the homeowner chose Adirondack chairs.
He finished by painting the spacers with a concrete stain to darken and soften their utilitarian look.
Affordable Outdoor Kitchen
Anoutdoor kitchencan easily cost several thousand dollars.
Originally, the cinder blocks were part of the chimney at the back of the house.
Decorative painting gave them a pleasing gray patina.
The homeowner also uses the counter for potting, arranging flowers, and carving pumpkins.
High Style, Low Price
This outdoor room looks expensive.
but that’s just what the homeowner wants you to think.
Inexpensive building materials such as gravel, cinder blocks, and pressure-treated wood form the backbone of the design.
Budget-Friendly Bench
The homeowner built a clever concrete block bench for only $30.
Scrap fabric covers the pillows and the plank that top off this truly brilliant seating area.
The potted succulents that surround this space are drought-tolerant and need to be watered only once a month.
An alfresco dining spot, is arranged under a metal gazebo.
Snap-on weather-resistant fabric panels shade the space from sunlight.
Here, blue glazed containers filled with fragrant flowers make a lovely centerpiece and complement the blue-and-white table prefs.
A simple Moravian star extends dining hours and provides a decorative element for this easy-to-build outdoor room.
