7 Amazing Ways to Transform Your Backyard

Nothing ruins a sunny day faster than a backyard that's too ugly to enjoy. Plus, a gnarly yard dings your home value, making it a double bummer.

Here are seven backyard before-and-afters to show how yards can become chock full of sunny-day delight - and home value.

#1 Go for a Total Yard Makeover
A before image of a front yard with wood risers for deckBEFOREAn after image of a redesigned zen garden with wood bridgeAFTERImage: LandCrafters, Milwaukee, WI
Whoa. A total landscape makeover takes this home from The Brady Bunch-ugly to Insta-lovely. Landscaping an entire yard is pricey, but you'll likely get all (or more) of the money back when you sell, says the

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#2 Dump a Dying Deck for a Pretty Patio
Decks are great. But when they need more repair than maintenance, it's time for plan B. This flagstone patio is set-it-and-forget-it, a classic look you'll still love when you're eligible for AARP membership. Plus, you'll recoup the cost if you sell before your membership kicks in.

#3 Swap Dying Grass for an Outdoor Room
A before image of a patch of grass in a backyardBEFOREAn after image from a deck with lush green grassAFTERImage: Green Apple Landscaping - a Toronto based design + build company Yes, grass adds value. But if mowing and seeding aren't your thing, it'll turn more gross than green. An attractive mix of hardscape and low-maintenance plants is money in the bank (returning around 100% - or more - of their cost) and gives you more living time, too. Fewer hours mowing mean more hours sipping cocktails on that fab patio.

Bonus: You can sell your lawnmower when the lawn is gone.

#4 Turn a Tiny Condo Yard Into a Mini Escape
What's better?

A) A patch of dirt
B) A serenity spot

Yes, exactly. It doesn't matter if Zen is your aesthetic; the point is you can transform a small yard by building the right features on it. This pint-sized yard lives large with the addition of a water feature, deck, and stone planter.

#5 Clear the Bramble and Make a Yard
Buyers LOVE well-cared-for lawns. An au naturale backyard meadow? Not so much. Because a lawn is like an outdoor carpet - perfect to pair with a patio. The raised beds off to the side make gardening an option without overtaking the yard (and are easily dismantled if you want even more lawn).

#6 Upgrade Your Pool Patio
The rule of pools is that they're all about love; they don't generally add home value. But let your pool turn into an abandoned waterhole surrounded by overgrowth, and it totally can affect home value - in the wrong direction. A savvy upgrade includes a built-in fire pit and a gorgeous patio, which both have legit ROI.

#7 Plant a Petite Patio in a Flower Bed
A master gardener would replant that dead flower bed. A master relaxer turns it into a budget-friendly patio with concrete stones and tidy brick edgers. It's money well-spent because patios almost always pay for themselves when you sell, so you'll feel even better about relaxing with a beer instead of tending to peonies.