Upgrading your landscape, patio or deck doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. These ideas for backyard makeovers on a budget will inspire you to create a yard you love.

You don’t need to invest big bucks to enjoy the backyard you already have (or to entice potential buyers to envision themselves enjoying it too!). First, think about what you love most about your yard. The privacy? Sitting around a campfire on the weekends? Your gardens? Hosting outdoor parties? Once you’ve figured that out, it’s time to concentrate on playing up your yard’s best features. Many of the ideas here are low-cost, yet have a large impact on the people who use—and love—the space on a regular basis.

Decorate a wall with an espaliered tree

For a high-end backyard look without high-end expense, try this interesting technique: espalier a tree. Espalier is the horticultural art of training a tree or shrub to grow flat against a support structure via careful, specific pruning methods. You might need a pro’s advice to get you started and to teach you about the technique, but it’s easier to create a living fence than it looks, and it adds visual interest and texture to a blank wall. It can also help you create backyard privacy without taking up a ton of valuable space.

DIY a seating area

Furniture can be an expensive investment for backyards, but there are creative recycling options for make-it-yourself benches, chairs and tables. Here, low-cost concrete blocks, dry-stacked and covered with a foam pad, offer lots of seating in a high-traffic spot outside the home’s back door.