If you’re upgrading an existing landscape, you can reuse pavers from an old path or patio to create your new outdoor space.

7. Build a patio in stages.

To save money on construction costs, build a patio in sections. If you need to have soil compacted to create a solid base for a patio, plan ahead by leveling the entire area. Then build the patio in stages, as your budget allows for expansion. In the meantime, you can cover the unused area with mulch.

8. Mix and match materials.

“The first thing you do in a small garden project is to take inventory to do an analysis, so you can make decisions about the things that are existing and are good,” says landscape architect David Godshall of Terremoto, who elected to salvage an existing concrete patio as part of a garden rehab (shown above) in Los Angeles.

Mixing materials—such as redwood decking and poured concrete—can add interest and texture to a patio (while saving money).

9. Create a focal point with inexpensive furnishings.

Instead of expensive outdoor furniture, you can hang a hammock to create a focal point for the patio. Create a seating arrangement with flea market finds or outdoor furniture from Ikea—versatile pieces can do double duty indoors in the off season.

1o. Define a patio’s perimeter with potted plants.

Building a fence or wall around a patio is an expensive undertaking. A budget-friendly alternative to create privacy is to group together a few tall potted plants.

See more ideas:

N.B.: This post was first published January 2019; it has been updated with new photos, prices, and links.

(Visited 6,251 times, 615 visits today)