Create Dreamy Outdoor Spaces for Under $300

When the temperatures start to warm up and the days get longer, the pull to spend more time outside is strong. In fact, nothing quite says spring and summer than hours spent lounging in the backyard. If your patio is feeling ho-hum, you may be feeling the itch to give it a little makeover. But patio furniture always seems so expensive, even for a small conversation set. However, with a bit of ingenuity and $300, you can create dreamy outdoor spaces.

The patio space I decorated was about 10×10. Of course, depending on your space, you can adjust the plans for size. I even included a graphic to help you determine how much furniture you’ll need. Let’s get to it!

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1. Plan your outdoor living space.

Measure your space carefully to figure out what will fit once you get into the store or shop online. Here’s what my space looked like along with a few area measurements to keep in mind, in terms of how much space these items typically take up.

You also need to ensure plenty of walk space between furniture and people, about 22 inches between objects. And then account for about 12-18 inches between a coffee table and couches or chairs.

 

2. Grab some outdoor furniture.

Depending on your space, you can go with a simple 3-piece bistro set or all out with a 6-piece patio set. Here are two sets I found at Walmart that can easily fit within a $300 budget. I went with the 6-piece set.

 

3. Buy a strand of outdoor lighting for $12.35.

To help light up your space so you can use it day or night, hang a strand of incandescent outdoor lights. I recently bought a strand for about $12 at Target.

 

4. Grab an outdoor grill for about $22.

If you ain’t grillin’, you ain’t chillin’. I believe any outdoor living space needs a grill to make it special. Prep your patio area for summer with an inexpensive grill from Amazon. This little guy is a win-win. You can use it in your backyard or take it on the go.

 

5. Scoop up plants and flowers at Lowe’s and Walmart for $1 each.

Save on plants and flowers when you head to Lowe’s and get plants on clearance. My store had a variety of plants marked down as low as $1.

Please note that clearance varies by store. Be sure to check the garden center at your local Lowe’s to see which plant deals you can score.

You can also find perennials like Daffodils, Tulips, and Muscari Hyacinth for $1 each at Walmart.

For my project, I spent $20 on 20 plants.

PRO TIP: Compare prices on everything to help stay within your budget. Check Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart, and Target for their price matching policies.

 

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6. Buy some flower pots — otherwise DIY them.

If you don’t have pots for your new plants, scoop some up from Lowe’s or Walmart. Rather go cheap? How about free? No problem. DIY planters for $0. I couldn’t resist this blue planter from Lowe’s. Don’t forget potting soil.

Related: Check Raise or Gift Card Granny for discount Lowe’s or Home Depot gift cards. You can save anywhere from 1-8%.

 

7. Grab an outdoor rug or two.

For less than $20 at Walmart, you can dress up your deck or patio area with a decent size rug. If you like the layered look, grab a couple. Since I went with the more expensive furniture set, I got just one rug on sale to stay under budget.

 

8. Throw in a few outdoor pillows.

Pick up a few outdoor toss pillows and make your company feel right at home. I bought two of these cute pillows from Better Homes & Gardens I found cheap at Walmart.

 

9. Calculate your total costs.

How’d you do? Were you able to stay on budget? Here’s what I spent to dress up my 10ft x 10ft outdoor living space:

• Patio set: $107
• Lighting $12.35
• Grill $21.99
• Plants/Flowers: $20
• Pots: $25.98
• Potting Soil: $2.29
• Palm: $19.53
• Rug: $15.97
• Pillows: $28.76

Final price: $253.87

I made it under my budget by $46.13. Yay!