Level Up Your Backyard Design With Tips From HGTV's Property Brothers

While it may not be your top priority when remodeling your home, giving your backyard a refresh can totally upgrade your property. If you're a little stumped on where to start with your backyard makeover, we've got you. Well, actually, HGTV stars Jonathan and Drew Scott, collectively known as the Property Brothers, have your back as you take on your next backyard project.

If you're willing to take some time out of your busy schedule (and some money out of your bank account), you can create a gorgeous, lush, versatile space, where you can do whatever you please. For instance, you could spend your summer days sunbathing in the shade of an awning. Or you could have a backyard deck that's the place where your friends come to gather, gab, and eat plenty of barbeque fresh off the grill. Whatever features you choose, you can use some clever design tips from the Property Brothers to totally level up your backyard.

All home chefs know that an outdoor kitchen is an absolute must for your backyard. With a cooking area in the backyard, you won't need to be pulled away from the action to check on the progress of the meal. However, there's a little risk involved with installing an outdoor kitchen. For instance, your cabinetry might deteriorate because of the elements. This is why Jonathan Scott recommends getting stainless steel cabinets for your outdoor kitchen.

"I used outdoor cabinetry...stainless steel cabinetry...that looks like wood, but it will never warp, never fade, and that's important for outside," said Jonathan while showing off his parents' backyard kitchen in a YouTube video. While Jonathan picked out faux wood stainless steel cabinetry, you've got other options to choose from. For instance, if you prefer something sleeker and more modern, you could opt for stainless steel cabinetry without a finish for an industrial look. You could even pick something that can be easily moved around your backyard, like the Keter Unity XL Portable Outdoor Table for Kitchen Prep. This way, you won't be locked into your current backyard's setup. 

While the backyard seems like it's completely separate from your home, Jonathan Scott wants to remind you that's not the case. He's actually made an effort to bring interior design into outdoor spaces when doing remodels. For instance, while giving fans a glimpse of his parents' backyard, he noted that his mother and father's pergola had the same wood tones seen inside their house.

"We decided [the pergola] actually had to serve the purpose of shading them from the sun. But in addition, we wanted to tie in to all the wood tones throughout the property. And it's integrated throughout the house, so it's totally seamless," said Jonathan in the YouTube video.

If you decide to install your pergola against your house, as opposed to somewhere farther in your yard, we recommend taking Jonathan's advice. Now, you don't have to go and find the exact type and texture of wood you've used in other places within your home. Instead, just take note of the color of interior wood features, and do your best to find a stain in that exact shade. Another option is to paint the wood pergola a color seen throughout the interior of your home. For instance, if you have sage curtains and a matching rug, you can pick up a can of Glidden Master Finish Satin Green Sage Spray Paint and Primer for your pergola. Whichever you choose, your pergola will look like a very purposeful addition to your home, instead of something simply functional.

After deciding where your main outdoor seating area will be, you might realize that there are a few unused spaces throughout your backyard. While this isn't a huge deal, empty spaces can look just a bit awkward. But don't worry, Drew Scott has a remedy for this issue. In a YouTube video for his and Jonathan's official channel, Drew gave fans an exclusive look at his and his wife, Linda Phan's, backyard. He showed that he made a quaint seating area out of a previously unused space near his lemon trees. "This is creating an extra space out of no space. Because it would just be open, but we put a couple of egg chairs here," he explained.

Having multiple seating areas is ideal for those with larger families or those who enjoy throwing parties. This way, you'll have several outside spaces where small groups can gather. In addition, this is an opportunity for you to pick out different types of furniture for your backyard. For instance, you can use a cozy outdoor loveseat for one of your previously unoccupied spaces and two papasan chairs for another. And if said areas aren't naturally shaded, it's probably a good idea to get an umbrella. This way, the space will be protected from the sun and will feel enclosed, giving it a more intimate quality. If the space is particularly small, you'll probably be best off with a half umbrella, like the Pure Garden Half Umbrella Outdoor Patio Shade.

While wood is a popular material to use for decks, Drew Scott recommends using something resembling wood made out of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), instead. In his YouTube video where he showed off his deck, Drew explained his reasoning. He explained that the PVC material he used is fire-resistant and was made partially out of recycled materials. In addition, he noted that unlike wood, the PVC material won't fade, meaning that you won't have to re-stain your deck. Also, there are plenty of different colors you can choose from when it comes to PVC flooring. 

In addition, you could give your deck a unique look by having some fun with the placement of the PVC slabs. Instead of something traditional, consider opting for a chevron, a parquet, or diagonal pattern. While changing up the placement design is relatively simple, it will make the space feel more playful and unique. 

Speaking of decks, Drew Scott issued a warning about what color you should choose for flooring. While giving his fans a look at his deck, he said he'd avoid picking out a very dark color. "A tip for your house or even for decking materials, if you go really dark, if you do black, for example, you're going to be seeing the dirt a lot easier," said Drew. He then showed that he decided to pick an English walnut, which he described as "a sophisticated color" and "a natural tone," for the area.

Luckily, you still have plenty of super cool colors to choose from. Those wanting a chic, modern look can pick out something in the tone of an aged grey oak. Or you could warm up the space with flooring in a red oak color. If you aren't sure what will look best for your deck, pick up a plank or two from your local hardware store in a couple of colors. Lay the planks out on your deck so you'll get a better idea of how the color will look in the light.

Many homeowners have gravel in their backyards. After all, it looks nice, is somewhat inexpensive, and serves functional purposes. That being said, gravel does come with some issues, like the fact that one wrong step can cause some serious upheaval. But don't worry. Jonathan Scott has a solution to keep your gravel in place. In a YouTube video, Jonathan showed that he and his fiancée, Zooey Deschanel, chose a stabilizer grid from CORE landscape products for the gravel in their backyard. He explained that the product is shaped like a honeycomb and keeps the stones from shifting.

"We can also use it under the grass, in case we ever run any vehicles under there or the kids' toys or chairs, whatever it might be, we have a solid surface. It still looks beautiful on top," he continued in the video. Like Jonathan, you can purchase stabilizing grids for your backyard. And just a quick reminder, you might want to shop around to see what brands best fit your needs and price point. For instance, this 2" Thick Gravel Ground Grid is priced at around $40 and is designed for driveways and pathways. 

Most of us want to decorate our home, including our backyard, with every new season. However, this isn't always in the cards because of a lack of time or money. During a joint interview on the "Jennifer Hudson Show," Jonathan said he has a great time-saving solution to change up the vibe of your backyard for different events, specifically holidays. According to Jonathan, he and Deschanel have decided to "leave the lights up year-round" in the trees in their yard. He explained that his lights have a remote that enables them to change colors so that they correlate with the aesthetic of different holidays. 

Such lighting can be found on Amazon, like these LED Outdoor String Lights with Remote Control. And if you're not interested in stringing up lights, you can also place something like the Linkind Smart Solar Spot Lights Outdoor SL5C on the ground to light up your pathways. However, if you have existing light fixtures you'd like to upgrade, simply swap in a color-changing light source like this RGB Multicolor Bulb.

If you've ever wanted a pergola, you might be aware that it's not always feasible to install one. Even the Property Brothers have run into some pergola-related issues. For instance, in "Celebrity IOU" Season 10, Episode 5, the HGTV stars couldn't install a pergola due to zoning issues. But not all was lost. Instead, they decided that having a retractable awning would be a simple, yet sophisticated solution to bringing some much-needed shade to the backyard. Not only that, but the space underneath an awning is a great spot to put your main outdoor furniture, whether it be a dining table or a sectional couch.

There are also so many different retractable awning options to choose from. Because of this, you can easily find the perfect awning that not only fits the overall vibe of the property but also will provide the type of shade you need. A model like Diensweek Retractable Patio Awning has a neutral color and simple mechanical controls. However, if you'd like to make more of a decorative statement with easier operation, Advaning's Luxury Series Electric Retractable Awning features motorized controls and comes in several striped hues.