7 Backyards That Prove You Don’t Need a Pool to Have Fun in the Sun

Ready to embrace your competitive spirit? Turn your backyard into a game zone. “​​If you have a patch of grass then section it off to make room for a game area,” says Los Angeles designer Linda Hayslett. “If you have more concrete than grass, then get a small patch of artificial turf from the hardware store and then create a space where you can do corn hole and other fun games.” The result: A yard that will pack on the fun for the entire family.

Sometimes, the very best backyard ideas boil down to bringing your favorite parts of the great indoors outside. Case in point: This deck from Denver-based designer Nadia Watts, which includes its very own flat-screen television. (Entertainment enthusiasts, here’s your chance to have a binge session al fresco.) If you are going to place a television outdoors, it’s important that it’s nestled under a covered area so your screen doesn’t spark. Or, for a budget-friendly alternative, spring for a portable projector and screen. Once you get everything set up—and select your show—you can plop down a few blankets for a movie night under the stars.

“Just because you are outside doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy art,” says Watts. “Create your own art sanctuary with outdoor sculpture, paintings, and prints.” If you have some extra ground to spare, consider this your sign to sprinkle a few weather-resistant throughout your backyard. Short on outdoor space? You can always fashion a casual art gallery on your deck or patio. The key, Watts says, is to use materials that are tough enough to withstand Mother Nature.

If lawn games feel more like child’s play, up the ante with a mini golf course just as Katelyn De Spain of San Francisco-based firm Makehouse Design Studio did here (yes, we know there’s a pool here, but this idea will work with any backyard space). “We incorporated a two-hole putting green and an outdoor ping-pong table that converts to a beautiful dining table with seating for 10,” she says. “Whether you’re reaching for a golf club or a ping pong paddle, this outdoor project serves up plenty of fun without the expensive upkeep of most water features.” In other words, this tip is like the PGA of backyard design ideas.

If you’re going to have an outdoor kitchen—whether it’s decked out with islands and appliances or as simple as a mere grill—you might as well make it look nice. When in doubt, take a page out of Heather Hilliard’s design book. “We hoped to create a space they could use year round for entertaining and hanging out as a family,” the San Francisco designer explains. “We specified an outdoor kitchen in a bright blue that mirrors the hues inside, and plenty of seating.” But perhaps the star of this space is the live wall, which Hilliard calls “a fun addition that brings some extra greenery to this city home.”

When it comes to building an on-point, pool-free backyard, you’ll want to think about how you’ll enjoy your property after-hours. For Los Angeles designer Kathy Taslitz, that means setting your space ablaze with a fire pit. “The fire brings in warmth and this space is flanked with tall bushes that create a cozy feeling, while also hiding the view of a neighboring home,” she says of the blackened steel fireplace and wall she added to her backyard. “The juxtaposition of the steel and greenery really feels balanced and interesting.” From curling up with a refreshing iced tea or crafting some s’mores from scratch, a fire pit is one area you can enjoy all day (and night) long.

We know we’ve been making a pretty strong case for forgoing the pool this summer, but there’s still a chance that you want to splash around. Problem is, installing a pool is expensive… and time-consuming… and, ugh, such a headache. The solution? Make your own from scratch by filling a large stock tank with water and taking a dip! As this setup from Dazey Den’s Danielle Nagel proves, you can even jazz your stock tank up with a fresh coat of paint and some folding chairs.