This Simple Backyard Now Looks Like An Oasis After A One Year Transformation

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There's nothing quite like the joy of walking through a home that has been specifically designed to fit your family's personality and unique way of living. But all that joy goes right out the window when you walk out into a drab backyard that doesn't match the comfortable interior you've worked so hard to create. That's the exact issue that design-obsessed homeower and TikToker Julia Arceri (arceriinteriors) set out to fix when she started her backyard remodel. In just one year, she transformed her simple backyard into an amazing European-style oasis of outdoor living — all with just a bit of paint, some carefully curated plants, and a new patio design.

Whether your backyard is unused or unoptimized, the simplest changes can make all the difference. It may be easier than you think to transform your space into something unrecognizable (in a good way) all on your own, even if you're renovating on a budget. That being said, hiring professionals and getting landscaping assessments in your backyard before starting the project can significantly improve the outcome. Take Arceri's redo as an example. She demolished a dinky concrete patio before installing the new one, the kind of construction job that could require a permit and heavy machinery, depending on where you live. In fact, both patio renovations and tree planting are DIY yard projects that require a call to 811 at least three days before you get started.

The amazing thing about TikToker Julia Arceri's (arceriinteriors) backyard transformation is how much more spacious the final version feels. Before breaking ground, though, taking the time to design your own yard like the pros do — on paper or digitally — gives you a clear picture of what the final product will look like. Not to mention that it will help you avoid disturbing underground utility services. With her plans in place, this homeowner revived her worn-out timber fence with a fresh coat of paint. Cleaning and staining (or restaining) the fence can also have the same impressive impact on a backyard, instantly bringing worn wood back to life.

@arceriinteriors

MY DREAM EUROPEAN INSPIRED BACKYARD TRANSFORMATION 😭 Part 1 #backyardtransformation #interiordesign #backyardmakeover #buildergradeupgrade

♬ original sound – Julia Arceri

Of course, an outdoor space doesn't truly feel alive until it has some plants. That's why Arceri added low-maintenance shrubs with a European aesthetic along her fence line. "Once the trees were in, wow. Plants, y'all — that is the magic recipe for a backyard level-up," she said in her TikTok video. With the backdrop completed, the final piece of the puzzle to complete the transformation is the checkerboard patio.

While removing a concrete slab before installing a new patio won't be necessary for every outdoor reno, any patio installation requires some digging. The checkerboard patio Arceri chose to install was no exception. She hired a contractor — who also happened to be her friend — to level off a large, square area, add drainage, and install 23-inch pavers and pea gravel to create the European-inspired pattern. Gravel glue holds the pea gravel in place. Finally, she tops off the design with rattan furniture, a large white patio umbrella, potted topiaries, trellising, and romantic lighting.

While TikToker Julia Arceri's backyard transformation involved lots of planning and hard work, it's not something that has to cost the Earth to achieve yourself. When it comes to materials, the final cost depends on material selection, the size the area you're renovating, and how much of the work you can do yourself. Paint for a fence generally costs around $20 to $80 per gallon. There are plenty of options for affordable DIY painting tools — for example, a Vonforn Paint Sprayer costs as little as $43 and will get the job done quickly. Plant-wise, a 1- to 2-foot-tall Brighter Blooms Emerald Green Arborvitae will set you back about $19. Once your shrubs arrive, all you need to get them into the ground is a spade, which costs between $15 and $35.

If you want to DIY a stunning checkerboard patio to give your backyard a luxurious aesthetic, you'll need to get your hands on square pavers, pea gravel, and mulch or gravel glue. The exact cost will depend on the exact pavers you choose, but they generally cost between $10 and $20 per 24-inch block. Pea gravel usually comes in bags of 0.5 cubic feet for about $6. You can find mulch or gravel glue at most hardware stores for $35 to $50 per gallon. If you need to hire a professional for any part of the project, you'll need a bit more in the budget. The good news is, calling 811 to locate your utilities is free. Permits may be required for the patio depending on your location and the size of the project, and they can cost anywhere from $150 to over $1,000. Landscaping contractors generally cost between $50 and $100 per hour.