How I Turned My Backyard Into an Outdoor Oasis

Updated August 28, 2025 11:34AM

This was the summer of outside. I’ve always loved gathering in the backyard, but this year I wanted to go all in on creating a space that wasn’t just pretty for one dinner party but functional every day. A place to cool off, cook meals, rest, host friends, regulate my nervous system, and enjoy time outdoors alone or with people I love.

I bought my house in Salt Lake City, Utah, four years ago and began gutting the entire thing. Every wall, every floorboard, every outdated system—ripped out and redone. It’s been a labor of love that often stole weekends from the mountains and ski days from the calendar. I spent more Saturday mornings than I care to admit pulling rusted nails from ceiling stringers or insulating the attic on 104-degree August days when I should’ve been on a river trip.

And for years, the backyard sat neglected. A patch of dead grass. No shade, no seating, no charm. But eventually, after spray-painting hand-me-down patio chairs, collecting potted plants from Buy Nothing groups, and wishing I had more reasons to linger outside, I turned my attention to the last blank canvas of my home.

I approached it the same way I approach planning or packing for any big outdoor objective: start with a clear goal, prioritize what adds value, and leave out the rest. Plus, make sure there are good snacks and cold beer involved.

Bit by bit, I turned the yard into a place I actually wanted to be. I invested in a few big-ticket items I knew I’d use for years—like the sauna and cold plunge—but I also DIY’d where I could, thrifted patio furniture, and waited for sales. It didn’t happen all at once, and it didn’t have to be perfect.

You also don’t need to replicate my to-do list (or have the same square footage) to feel the payoff. Maybe you start with a $12 citronella candle and pop up your camp chair in a shady spot of the driveway. Maybe you hang a string of solar lights or drag your old camp table onto the porch. The point is to create a space that invites you outside today, not “someday,” especially on days when you can’t go much further than your own backyard.

Below, you’ll find the gear that moved the needle most for me, plus why it earns its keep, who it’s best for, and what to try if you’re working with a different budget or space. Mix, match, upcycle, or scale way down. Either way, the goal is the same: more sun on your skin, less time on your phone, and a backyard (or stoop, or patio) that feels like the easiest adventure you’ll take all week.

Addlon Solar String Lights ($25 for 48 Feet)

If you do nothing else to your backyard, start here. String up solar lights and boom—you’ve created ambiance. These are bright enough to illuminate a whole hangout zone and cute enough to feel intentional without being fussy, and they can go up anywhere thanks to the solar panel. No wiring needed.

They’re easy to install and look great, especially at night. So far, mine have held up great, but I will likely store them inside during the winter to cut down on exposure and weather.

Purple Leaf Cantilever Umbrella ($478)

If you want to spend a lot of time outside in a space that doesn’t get natural shade, this is one of those upgrades that makes your whole setup more livable. I picked mine up used on a local marketplace to save some cash, but even if you have to buy one new, it’s worth every penny.

The 10×10-foot canopy casts a huge swath of shade, which is enough to cover a dining table, a pair of lounge chairs and a couch, or a full corner of your deck. The double-top design helps with airflow (so it doesn’t become a sail in the wind), and the UV-resistant fabric hasn’t faded, even after long, hot days of use. My favorite part: The 360-degree rotation and adjustable height/tilt. I can shift it throughout the day without dragging furniture around. It’s a splurge. But it’s also the difference between staying outside for 30 minutes or staying out all day.

Solo Stove Bonfire ($329)

I wanted a fire pit that felt permanent enough to anchor my backyard, but still portable enough to toss in the car for a weekend trip. The Bonfire hits that perfect middle ground. At just over 23 pounds, I can move it easily, but four or five people can still gather around for s’mores, full moon gazing, or post-dinner wine. Setup is easy, and cleanup is even easier (the removable ash pan is clutch).

Solo Stove makes a range of sizes depending on your space. The Bonfire sits right in the middle. I also added the tabletop-sized Mesa to the mix, which brings just the right amount of glow and ambiance to the patio table.

Soundboks Go Bluetooth Speaker ($799)

This is not your cute little travel speaker. This is the speaker you bring out when you’re ready to turn post-ride beers into a Saturday night party. The sound is loud, rich, and absurdly crisp—even outside, even when there’s background noise, even when you’re standing on the far edge of the yard. It connects via Bluetooth, holds a charge that lasts all day (and into the dance party with a 40-hour charge), and can be paired with additional speakers if you want to go full block party mode. I use it for everything from mellow workday playlists to spontaneous backyard dance breaks. Pro tip: Start with Caamp or Brandi Carlile. End with 50 Cent.

Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler ($325)

When it’s not riding in the back of my Subaru, it lives on the back deck—packed with cold drinks so no one has to trek inside every time they want a Spindrift. It sits in direct sun all day and still keeps ice frozen for days. No melt, no lukewarm cans.

The Tundra 45 doesn’t have wheels like the Roadie 32 Wheeled (which our testers picked as Best Cooler of 2025), but it’s built using the same construction and it’s incredibly spacious, durable, and airtight. I’ve been amazed at how much better a backyard gathering feels when cold drinks are within arm’s reach. A good cooler is the unsung hero of outdoor life, and this one’s the real deal.

DIY Stock Tank Pool

I’ve been dreaming of DIY-ing a stock tank pool ever since my friend John sent me a photo of himself floating in a tube with an Aperol Spritz in hand and his newborn daughter on his chest. That was five years ago, and I finally have the space and time to install my own.

I bought a literal stock tank from Tractor Supply for $600, added a pump and fittings and a few other supplies for under $400, and boom: a real, chlorinated swimming hole in the backyard. I followed a combination of YouTube videos, texted a cousin, and read this blog. While it’s not Instagrammable in its asethic, it works, and at least I know the only Band-Aids floating in there are mine. When winter comes, I’ll drain it, cover it, and call it good.

Gozney Arc XL Pizza Oven, $999

This was the hit of the summer for me (and all my new friends that appeared suddenly?). The Arc XL delivers restaurant-quality 16-inch pizzas in under 60 seconds. The lateral rolling flame means fewer turns, and the results are those perfect, blistered, chewy crusts I usually only get from my favorite wood-fired spots with long waiting lists.

My topping of choice? Peaches, burrata, prosciutto, basil, and a drizzle of hot honey.

I made one mistake however: I didn’t buy the Gozney stand, and my cheap Amazon one fell apart almost immediately. So now I haul it out of the garage for every pizza night. Learn from me: buy the real one. Other than that, it’s easy to use, super efficient with gas (I just hook it up to the propane tank from my old grill), and surprisingly lightweight, though I do recommend having a friend help you move it.

Plunge Original Cold Plunge Tub ($5,941)

This is the thing I’ve used the most in my backyard this summer. I’m simply a better person after I’ve jumped into an alpine lake—but I can’t always get to one in the middle of a workday. I can get to my backyard, however, and this plunge has truly been life-changing. It’s helped on days when my anxiety disorder feels unregulated, when period cramps are wreaking havoc on my body, when my back is sore from mountain biking, or when it’s just too damn hot out and I need to chill.

Mine is set at 55 degreesFahrenheit, and I’m still only staying in for five minutes, but the app makes it easy to track, adjust, and follow challenges to build your tolerance for the uncomfortable. I’m working on channeling my inner Wim Hof and using it morning and night. Installation was extremely simple. The chiller is quiet, the acrylic tub is roomy and durable, and the design is sleek enough to sit right outside my garage out of sight from the neighbors.

Plunge the Standard Sauna, $12,591

A sauna in your backyard sounds like a luxury—and it is—but it’s also one of the most grounding, body-resetting rituals I’ve added to my life. I opted for the Plunge Sauna because it’s compact enough to tuck into a side yard or corner space, sleek enough to not look clunky, and it heats up fast (from cold to 174 degreesFahrenheit in under 20 minutes). Plus, the cedar wood smells amazing. The standard size fits up to five people (the Sauana Mini fits two; the Sauna XL seats up to seven), with a folding bench that allows for more movement space instead of seating. Hot yoga, anyone?

While it says it can be assembled in a few hours with two people, I chose to have it professionally installed because #time (and it still took nearly a full day). I also hired an electrician to add a special outlet to my garage panel because this requires a dedicated circuit.

You can control the temperature and lighting through the app, and the full glass door gives it a modern, inviting look. For me, it’s the ultimate bookend to cold plunging, but even on its own, it brings a whole new dimension to outdoor living. What I’m most looking forward to is using it this winter post-ski day. Apres just got very zen at my house.

The Payoff

This backyard project was about creating a space I actually wanted to be in (away from screens!), inviting in all weather, and restorative in every way. Now, it helps me recover after long days, host friends without stress, and soak up sun, fresh air, firelight, and good carbs.

The upgrades I made range from big to small, but they all share one purpose: making it easier and more joyful to be outside. Whether you’re stringing up lights or going full backyard revamp, the invitation is the same—step outside and stay a while.

How I Turned My Backyard into an Outdoor Oasis (and How You Can, Too)