3 Easy Ways to Upgrade Your Backyard

BY Jenica March 9, 2022

Ready to level up your outdoor entertaining experience? With the weather warming up, it’s time to start prepping for the most optimal time of year to spend in your yard. Whether you’re trying to be bougie on a budget or looking for the best of the best, there’s certainly something here for everyone’s budget.

Gazebo

If you’re expecting a surprisingly hot summer, gazebos are perfect for providing that extra shade coverage when you want to spend some time in the sun without getting a sunburn.

Budget: Fabric and steel framed temporary gazebos

These can be purchased for a couple hundred dollars and moved anywhere into your yard. They can be found anywhere online and a majority of furniture and home improvement stores. 

Splurge: If you’re looking for a more permanent fixture to spruce up your backyard, wooden or metal framed gazebos will cost more out of pocket but will last more in the long run. Steel ceiling gazebos will last longer in harsh weather while wooden structures may look nicer, but will need touch ups every few seasons. If you aren’t wanting to fully block the sunrays and are willing to dish out more out of pocket, we recommend looking into a polycarbonate double roof hardtop that allows breezes and light to pass through. These often come equipped with netting and privacy curtains for an added bonus.

Outdoor Fire Pit

Whether you want a place to fulfill your s’mores craving or just want a space to read a book on an outdoor sofa in the evening, a fire pit will really add an ambiance of classiness to any outdoor entertaining area.

Budget: Did you know you can get a decent fire pit for less than $100? Budget fire pits will likely come in a large metal bowl where you can add your own firewood. While they tend to be larger maintenance and messier with ash and embers, they still do the job. 

Splurge: If you’re wanting something that looks like it’s built into the yard without all the extra handiwork, there are some fancy fire pits fit for a king that are easy to install. Find a fire pit table where guests can roast their marshmallows from their chairs, or a large concrete slab that looks fit for the cover of a magazine. These don’t require any firewood but will just need a propane refill every now and then. You can find these decadent fire pits anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. 

Outdoor Sound System

Nothing livens an outdoor party more than music, and while the speaker on your smartphone may suffice for a small gathering, you’ll likely want something a little louder for a party.

Budget: Fit for any weather, Bose and Sonos have excellent options for outdoor speakers. They quickly connect via Bluetooth and are easy to move into any space. The bonus with these options is they are easily connected to a full multi-room audio system if you decide to invest in a full audio experience for your home. However, if you’re sticking to a budget, the single speaker is plenty loud and can be purchased for under $200.

Splurge: Short only of hosting full rock concerts in your backyard, weatherproof sound systems will kick up your parties to the next level! Enjoy a 2-6 speaker surround sound that can be built into the ground, hung up on the siding of your home, or installed into your fancy gazebo! Don’t cheap out on anything living outside. Diligent research in the weather proofing will save you lots of money in the long run when you don’t have to replace them after a single summer. Expect to pay anywhere from $400-$1000 depending on the size, number of speakers, and brand name. 

Discover Your Next Upgrade with Progressive Leasing

If you’re ready to design a personalized outdoor living space, Progressive Leasing offers simple, flexible payment from thousands of retail partner locations across the country. Find a store near you by visiting our website at progleasing.com.