The Smartest & Most Expensive-Looking Backyard Upgrades You Can Make for Under $35

Aesthetically pleasing and functional, these four solar globe lights are ideal for lining your pathways, and look good both night and day. Each consists of a tea light with a realistic flickering flame, housed inside a stylish globe. They’re a breeze to stake into the grass, are waterproof, and charge in the sun throughout the day to turn on and off automatically.

Ideal for those who don’t have much lawn space, this deck-mounted bird bath is designed to attach to the railing of your deck or balcony. An adjustable clamp makes this usable almost anywhere, and the bath itself is made of lightweight plastic that is easy to detach for cleaning.

Having a meal or a drink on your patio? This marble wine chiller is a must. It prevents your opened bottle of wine or champagne from getting warm, and from sweating all over your table. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also nice to look at: Made of solid marble, it’s sturdy and stylish. The soft, nonslip bottom keeps it stable and gentle on surfaces.

Adding twinkling string lights to your outdoor area is one of the simplest ways to enhance the vibes. Skip complicated wiring and opt for these solar-powered string lights, which are so convenient. They come with a solar panel, which you can clip onto something or stake into the ground. At 27 feet long, they cover a decent area, and they’re also waterproof and shatterproof, with a flexible, heavy duty cord.

Movie nights are always fun, but taking the experience outside makes it even more special. This large projector screen makes that simple. Made of a thick, smooth, anti-crease fabric, this offers a sharp screen and won’t wrinkle easily. It comes with 20 hooks and double-sided tape for easy installation (although you can also use nails), and you can wash it if it gets dirty. “The quality of the screen is 10/10!” one shopper swore.

Perfect for picnics, beach days, or just hanging out in your yard, this oversize picnic blanket is designed to fit up to eight people at a time. Made with outdoor use in mind, the fabric is thick and sturdy, with a water-repellent surface on top and bottom, as well as soft cotton filling that makes it comfy to sit on. It rolls up to a compact size with an easy-carry handle, and at just over two pounds, it’s easy to take anywhere. It’s machine washable, too.

This outdoor garden light is completely eye-catching. Shaped like a watering can that’s being tilted, it appears that twinkling lights are cascading into the garden. A solar panel charges it throughout the day, it’s durable enough to withstand different weather conditions, and though it produces a nice glow at night, it also adds a playful decorative touch during the day.

This compact table lamp is so handy because you can move it wherever you need it. It’s wireless and rechargeable, so is especially great for outdoor use or even for a camping trip. The sleek design and matte black finish give it an elevated look, and it’s lightweight for easy portability. Adjust the brightness to achieve the exact glow you’re after.

This cleverly designed baseball features glowing LED lights that make it ideal for nighttime use. It can glow in seven colors and operates with an easy push-button control. It’s easy to charge with a USB port, and should last for about eight hours on a single charge.

Help protect your outdoor furniture and keep it in excellent shape by regularly spraying it with this protectant spray. It helps to shield cushions and furniture from the sun and harmful UV rays that could fade them, while also making them water repellent to avoid rain damage. “This stuff works amazingly well,” one shopper affirmed.

This hammock chair has the comfort of a traditional hammock, but without the threat of flipping you into the grass. It sways gently when you’re sitting on it and comes with two plush cushions for comfort. Two hanging straps or carabiners make it easy to hang from a tree, a ceiling joist, or hammock bar. When not in use, it folds up to fit in the included bag. Choose from eight different colors.

This outdoor outlet is makes powering up anything in your yard or patio more convenient. It offers three grounded outlets and is made of waterproof material that means it’s safe even in the rain (just note that the brand recommends installing it off the ground and facing downwards). The best part is that you can control it via an app or connect it to Alexa or Google Assistant for voice commands.

These reusable ice packs are a camping essential (although of course they can be used for anything). Just fill them once and they’re ready to use over and over again — they’re durable, heavy duty, and thick, with the ability to stay cold for 24 to 48 hours. The slim design doesn’t take up a ton of space in your cooler, bag, or freezer, and they come in a pack of four.

These large citronella candles are a backyard and/or camping essential. Housed in a durable ceramic bowl with an elegant look, these appear almost decorative. They have three wicks that emanate the citronella scent to help keep flying pests away, and also give off a warm ambient glow. One shopper wrote simply, “They burn for a long time and keep the bugs away!”

These hanging metal lanterns are both decorative and functional. They look fantastic hanging or sitting on a tabletop, and give off a soft glow that adds nice ambiance to your space. Solar panels on top charge them throughout the day, and they turn on automatically at dusk and off at dawn. And while the candles inside might not be real, they offer a flickering flame that looks very realistic.

If you love throwing an outdoor party or barbecue, you’ll want to grab this acrylic bucket. The large capacity makes it ideal for stashing a pile of ice and more than a few drinks (or snacks), while the side handles make it easy to carry and move around. The clear acrylic looks nice and is easy to clean, and this can also double as a punch bowl.

This outdoor storage box boasts a 30-gallon capacity and is ideal for safely stashing accessories like pillows, blankets, and toys. It’s easy to assemble, is made of a durable and waterproof material, and won’t take up a lot of space in your yard. When securely closed, it’s even sturdy enough to double as a bench for sitting.

Don’t let brick walls stop you from decorating – these six stainless steel clips make it a breeze. Corrugated hooks clamp onto the bricks with no drilling or damage required, and the center is adjustable to fit most bricks. Once clamped on, the hanging hook holds decorative objects and more — and they’re also a breeze to remove.

These solar-powered globes are a chic option for low-maintenance decor on your front porch, around your patio or deck, or in the garden. They come in a pack of two (there’s a four-pack as well) and they give off a pretty glowing light at night. A sturdy base keeps them upright at all times, and because they’re solar powered, they’ll charge in the sun and turn on and off automatically.

Instead of dropping a few hundred dollars on a screen door, consider this magnetic screen door instead. The easy installation, with adhesive hook-and-loop strips and tacks, makes it a great option that’s easy to take down when no longer needed. Fine mesh blocks bugs from getting in, the magnetic strip down the middle keeps it closed tightly, and it’s easy to open so that pets and kids can get through on their own.

Stash this waterproof LED light in your cooler when spending time outdoors at night. Even stuffed into the ice, this gives off a bright light that makes it so much easier to find the drink you’re looking for — no phone flashlight required. It can be fully submerged in water and provides up to 60 hours of illumination, so is great for boating or camping. Recharging is simple and fast.

Up your grill game by keeping this magnetic smoking chart nearby. Designed to attach onto your grill so it’s always within viewing distance, it gives all the info you need: ideal smoking temperature, ideal internal temperature, and cook time for a wide variety of meats. It’s easy to follow and will make you a better grill master.

Add cost-effective lighting to your yard with these unique solar lights. They’re disguised as rocks, so even when they aren’t on, they don’t look out of place in a garden. And because they’re solar powered, they’re low-maintenance: Simply place them somewhere where they’ll get sun — they charge throughout the day via a panel on top and turn on automatically at dusk. You can adjust the angle of the light as you like, too.

This mosaic solar light is a striking piece of practical decor. It glows in different colors and, thanks to the mosaic pattern all around, gives off a beautiful light pattern on your table. It also comes with a handle so you can hang it. And because it’s solar powered, it charges throughout the day and requires zero wiring.

Whether you’re serving food or just trying to enjoy sitting outside, the last thing you want to deal with is flitting flies. These portable fly fans are a nice solution, especially if you don’t want something scented. The blades have a reflective pattern that catches the light to keep flies away. And there are no safety risks — the soft fan blades stop immediately if someone touches them. The compact size and fold-up design make them easily portable.

Take your charcuterie board to go with this convenient cheese board. Made of lightweight and durable bamboo, this looks elegant and is super portable. It comes with a clear lid that snaps on securely, while raised edges help keep everything in place during travel. It’s reversible and also doubles as a cutting board.

Glass stemware and outdoor parties aren’t always the best combo. Instead of taking the chance, opt for these shatterproof glasses. Meant to look like coupe glasses, they have a chic, vintage vibe, and come in a set of four pretty colors. Made of high-quality acrylic, they won’t break easily, even if dropped, and have an 8-ounce capacity ideal for wine, champagne, cocktails, or mocktails.

Serving food outside means dealing with annoying bugs. Keep them off your snacks with these mesh food tents, meant to sit directly over plates of food. Lightweight and easy to lift up and down, the pop-up design makes them collapsible for easy and compact storage.

You don’t need an expensive and bulky machine to make the perfect crushed ice — this ice mallet and canvas bag do the trick, and look good while they do. Simply fill the bag with ice cubes, then use the mallet to crush it into your preferred size for drinks. It’s durable, looks great in a bar setup, and is oddly satisfying to use.

Want to do some birding in your own backyard? You’ll need to get them there, which this tile-look bird feeder stylishly accomplishes. Fill it with bird food (it can hold over 2 pounds), then hang it from a tree branch or your home. The hexagon shape offers a wide surface for multiple birds to land at once. The design allows for continuous seed replenishment as well, so it’s very low-maintenance.

Turn a single water outlet into two with this convenient hose connector. It’s sturdy, heavy duty, and very durable thanks to the solid brass construction. The valve handles turn easily and you can adjust the flow or turn these on and off individually, which is a nice bonus. “One of my favorite splitters,” one customer shared. “[...] I connect a watering system to it and I can use the other side for my hose.”

These insulated wine tumblers are perfect for enjoying your favorite drink outside of the house. The double-wall insulation helps keep beverages chilled up to 12 hours (or hot for up to six hours). Handy lids feature a rubber gasket that seals up to prevent leaks. They have a 12-ounce capacity, shatterproof design, and comfortable grip.

These wireless solar lights are an easy-install option any homeowner can appreciate. The lights are powerful and bright, and solar powered so don’t require any complicated wiring. They offer three different light modes: Security mode turns them on and off with a motion sensor, all-night mode keeps them on continuously, and smart brightness control keeps them on all night to glow brighter when detecting motion.

You’ll want to add these convenient pathway lights to your front and back yards because they’re such a breeze to use. Simply stake them into the ground and let them do their thing – these are solar powered, have a nice vintage design, and a weather-resistant construction that keeps them safe even in the rain. And for a pack of six, this is an excellent price point.

If you have a large cooler, you know how annoying it is digging around to find what you want. That’s where this cooler divider comes in: Just slip it inside and it creates two compartments that make it simple to organize things. As a bonus, it doubles as a cutting board you can use on the go. There are different sizes compatible with different Yeti coolers, so be sure to look for the correct one for your setup.

Put your plant babies on full display with this popular wooden plant stand. Constructed from waterproofed eucalyptus, this three-tier ladder stand accommodates over seven small to medium-sized plants. Its triangular structure offers exceptional stability, while the vertical design maximizes light exposure.

Feel like a backyard meteorologist with this weather wizard on your wall. This wireless digital thermometer and hygrometer system delivers real-time temperature and humidity data, with three sensors you can place in different areas. The 4.5-inch wide backlit LCD display offers accurate readings at a glance and updates every 30 seconds. It includes USB- and battery-power options and has adjustable brightness.

This little Bluetooth speaker seriously does it all. Designed for immersive, on-the-go audio, it has full IPX7 waterproof submersion protection, making it ideal for poolside lounging, beach days, or the shower. Equipped with Bluetooth and a built-in microphone, it supports wireless calling and versatile playback — all while a vibrant LED light show (with seven colors and six modes) enhances ambience.

These four solar-powered post lights are such a smart (and easy) way to elevate your outdoor space. They automatically turn on at dusk, giving off a warm glow thanks to 12 ultra-bright LEDs. The durable, weather-resistant plastic construction is designed for outdoor use and installs with included screws on most standard wooden posts.

This little fan packs a serious punch, capable of delivering up to 13,500 RPMs of breeze. With five speeds and a powerful motor, it cools you down in seconds. A USB-rechargeable battery has a 12-hour battery life, it weighs under 7 ounces, folds down for storage, and has a handy lanyard for cooling wherever you go. Choose from six colors to suit your vibe.

Hosting just got a whole lot cooler. Designed for entertaining, this inflatable buffet tray measures over 4 feet long and features a built-in drain plug for easy cleanup. It accommodates multiple beverages and snacks, keeping them chilled with added ice. It’s ideal for indoor and outdoor use, and can be hosed down to clean.

Bring a peaceful melody to your patio with this striking wind chime. Spanning 32 inches tall, it’s crafted from durable iron for long-lasting outdoor use. The design complements a variety of aesthetics, while its delicate songbird motif and soft, melodious tones will have your neighbors asking, “Where did you get that?”

Turn your backyard into a fairy rave with these LED net lights. Measuring 10 feet by 10 feet, they feature 360 LEDs and multiple lighting modes, including steady, twinkle, and fade. Designed for outdoor use, they’re water resistant, and you can connect up to three sets for expanded coverage. Equipped with a timer and memory function, they add a festive touch to gazebos, bushes, and fences.

[page not available - replace]

This little tabletop fire pit brings outsize vibes. Designed in Germany, it burns ethanol for a smoke-free, odorless experience, and has high-grade borosilicate glass and stainless steel components. The flame is adjustable to three levels and can burn up to four hours. Ideal for both indoor and outdoor use, this delivers warmth and style.

Offered as a two-pack, this icy hero helps keep your party snacks cool without leaking all over the table. With each unit containing 88 built-in ice cubes, they provide up to two hours of cooling. These chiller mats have an easy-to-clean nylon surface and insulated base that protects your furniture. Consider it a snacking game-changer for backyard gatherings, buffets, and receptions.

A little rustic charm goes a long way — and this trio of galvanized metal flower buckets is proof. With a durable weather-resistant finish, you can hang them outdoors or in for an instant farmhouse feel. Whether you’re dropping in fresh blooms or faux greens, they’re the simple and effective decor upgrade you didn’t know you needed.

These chic bolster pillows were made for poolside lounging and backyard bliss. Designed to withstand the elements, the water- and fade-repellent fabric and plush filling ensure structure, softness, and long-term performance on patios, porches, or poolside lounges. They come in a bright turquoise or rich wine red.

This door mat means business — the smart design combines synthetic turf with burly strips of rubber for quick and effective shoe cleanup. Its low-profile construction allows clearance under most doors, while a PVC rubber backing keeps it firmly in place. Designed for high-traffic areas, the mat is easy to maintain and offers a clean, polished entry either indoors or out.

For any barbecuing after dark, these flexible LED grill lights have your back. Each features nine ultra-bright LEDs and a flexible gooseneck design for customizable lighting. A strong magnetic base provides secure attachment to any metal surface, while the weatherproof construction is designed to hold up in outdoor conditions. Each set includes two lights and six AAA batteries for them.

This 12-inch round wall planter is constructed of sleek black galvanized steel with a gently distressed finish, giving a rustic yet elegant look. Ideal for both outdoor and indoor use, its steel construction is built to last while creating a stylish display for succulents, herbs, or small flowers.

This LED hover soccer ball is designed to glide across hard surfaces like asphalt and hardwood. With LED lights that brighten up gameplay and foam bumpers that help protect from damage, it’s a unique way to encourage active movement for kids and adults alike.

Twinkle, twinkle — with 100 warm white LED lights spanning a 33-foot strand, this set of star-shaped string lights has eight sparkling, ambience-enhancing modes. The low-voltage adapter promotes safe use, while the waterproof construction is suitable for outdoors or inside. Extendable up to 10 sets (or 1,000 LEDs), these energy-efficient lights are a gorgeous way to light up your space for occasions or every day.

Crafted from heavy-duty steel, these two shepherd’s hooks support up to 8 pounds each and offer three adjustable height options ranging from 33 inches up to 65 inches. The three-prong base enhances stability, while the anti-rust coating ensures durability in outdoor environments. These make a snazzy home for planters, bird feeders, solar lights, and lanterns.

Fashionable and functional, this pickleball bag has a dedicated pocket that can handle two paddles, with multiple interior pockets and a water bottle holder. A padded shoulder strap and handle provide versatile transport. Made with durable, lightweight materials, this lets you grab and go to hit the courts.

Crafted from wood and bamboo with a weatherproof roof, this insect house has a variety of nesting materials, including pine cones and wood chips, which appeal to different bugs and pollinators. Pre-assembled and with versatile mounting options, this helpful house supports backyard biodiversity.