What Your Backyard Budget Actually Buys

Most of the homeowners who want to design their backyards have a fixed budget in their minds

without a clear picture of what that money actually buys. Therefore, a clear understanding of how the budget works is the most important thing homeowners should know. The budget actually defines which design decisions matter most from the very beginning of your project. It then helps you turn a vague dollar amount into a practical action plan. 

At BACQYARD, our online design team helps you maximize every dollar through detailed conceptual master plans built considering your specific budget. Read this guide and get to know how it works when you have a budget of: 

$5K-$10K

Any mistake in the layout might result in some future expenses

If your budget is between $5K and $ 10K, you should focus on a single high-impact feature rather than a full yard overhaul. A full yard overhaul might exceed your budget allocation. To select the best single feature for your space, you need to prioritise what you need the most at that time. It helps you avoid any expenditure on the wrong initial feature choice.

Most of the time, this budget does not allow you to do a new construction or renew the whole space, but it just allows you to make the most of what you already have in the yard. 

For instance, a homeowner in Seattle had a budget of around $7k, and she wanted to install a fire pit and a patio in combination. Our online designer evaluated the budget and design and suggested that she does not split the money between both options, as it might result in unfinished features. She listened to the designer and went with a well-built fire pit with a small seating area. As a result, the yard looked so put together, and the client was satisfied too.

$10K-$20K 

This budget typically allows the homeowners to design a complete living zone like an outdoor kitchen setup, lighting for the whole yard, or a patio. The total costs might vary due to the selection of various materials or seasonal availability, and charges of the contractor. Sometimes homeowners do get confused about which particular zone to focus on first, but the solution is quite clear. Prioritize your usage and then make the decision! 

For instance, one of our clients in Tampa had a budget of $15000 but he wanted a pergola and a fire pit both in the backyard. It was clearly not doable on that budget, so our designer walked him through his actual usage of the yard. Then the designer learned that the client usually had gatherings and parties in the evening, so the client was advised to do a fire pit first, considering their budget and usage, and the pergola was suggested to be planned as a future phase.

$20K-$40K

You have the option of a complete backyard design in this budget range. Now you don't have to choose between a specific feature or design element; you can combine several and create your dream yard. It also helps the designers to seamlessly connect different zones in your outdoor living space to give it a fully manicured finish. At this point, design planning is very important because the layout should focus on how your outdoor kitchen links to the pergola and the fire pit. Any mistake in the layout might result in some future expenses. 

For instance, a homeowner in Charlotte had a budget of $35000 and wanted a fireplace, a seating lounge, and an outdoor kitchen in her yard. The designer planned the whole design layout, considering all three zones connected and resulting in one complete lawn instead of treating them as three separate spaces. 

$40K+ 

The budget of $40k or more allows you to do a complete property redesign, including pool and spa installation or full amenity packages. As the scale of your project increases, the complexity of the design increases too. You have to manage large elements and features like utility lines, drainage, or sightlines with coordination. Even though you have a generous budget, you still have to look over all these details while planning the design for smooth construction afterwards.

What Remains Constant Throughout

Whether a homeowner's budget varies, there are few things that remain constant overall. The design fee, which is a very small fraction of your total project spend, regardless of your overall budget. 

Regardless of the size of the project, the design plan that is delivered to the client always follows a similar process. It includes initial consultation, questionnaire, CAD layouts, and 3D renderings. The design plan is always important whether you have a higher or a lower budget, but it is especially valuable at the lower budget levels because here you have zero margin for error. A single mistake might cost you all a lot and disrupt your project. To learn more about design pricing models, read our guide explaining How Much Does Landscape Design Actually Cost?.

Conclusion

The homeowners usually ask, "What can I actually afford?" However, the more useful question by the end is, "What should this budget prioritize to feel like a living space that is complete, not just full. A certain dollar figure alone cannot answer that question, but a custom professional plan designed around your exact goals can. At BACQYARD, our professional designers are experienced in evaluating your usage and then aligning it with your specific budget to offer you the best possible design options.

Book a consultation with a BACQYARD designer and get started by working 1:1 with your designer to discover what your specific budget can achieve.