Maximizing Your Backyard Space for Entertainment

No matter where you live, you get a few months of nice weather. It’s the perfect time to spend time outdoors in your backyard. The size of the yard doesn’t matter. Whether you own acreage or a small green space, you can turn your backyard into the perfect entertainment space. All you need is your imagination and a few tips to get started.

How to Maximize Your Backyard Space for Entertainment

Turning your backyard into an amazing entertainment space doesn’t need to take a lot of time and money. Sometimes making a few changes or adding a couple of items is all that’s necessary.

Install a Fire Pit

Fire pits come in a variety of types, sizes, and styles. They may also be more affordable than you expect. For example, a tabletop fire pit. A fire pit adds warmth to an area and can turn your backyard into an outdoor living space.

Gather around the fire pit with friends and family to exchange stories, roast marshmallows, and enjoy spending time together. When you want to encourage backyard gatherings, it’s hard to beat a fire pit.

Create an Area for Games

This idea works best on level backyards. If yours is on a hill, it can limit the type of games you can play. Creating an area for games brings backyard fun for children and adults. Pets can even join in on the fun.
The size of your backyard determines the type of games you can play. You can also use your patio to create a play area. You can find outdoor table tennis, pool, and foosball tables that will withstand the elements. However, these types of games work best on larger patios.

Your grassy areas are ideal for setting up croquet, cornhole, and bocce games. Place a few chairs around a table near the action, and you will have a fun outdoor space for everyone to gather.

Larger backyards are often ideal for setting up jungle gyms and trampolines. If you want to go big, consider adding a skateboarding ramp.

Start Vertical Gardening Projects

Part of maximizing your backyard space for entertainment starts with the ambiance. Your goal is to create a welcoming area where people want to spend time. An effective way is to use vertical gardening techniques.
Not all plants will grow vertically, so it’s best to get advice and recommendations from the experts. Along with recommending specific types of plants, they can also let you know if a
trellis or arbor is necessary to encourage growth. Along with adding greenery to your backyard, vertical plants can also provide privacy.

String Lights To Add Ambiance

Fairy and festoon string lights add ambiance to backyards. The lights also make the space more usable at night.

You have plenty of options on where to place the lights. You can string them across the patio, in tree branches, or use them to light up the game area.

If you are worried about rising electrical costs or are trying to conserve energy, consider using solar-powered lights. Most are rated for outdoor use, meaning the lights can withstand rain, sun, and temperature fluctuations.

Add a Projector

Home theater projectors are dropping in price, and some have a lightweight, portable design. These types of projectors are ideal for use outdoors. Some don’t even need a projector screen. They have technology that will cast immersive images on light-colored walls.

Along with the projector, all you need are some comfy chairs. You may also want to add a table to hold drinks and snacks. Make sure the projector has a light source bright enough to counteract ambient light like a full moon, and you are ready to host movie nights in your backyard.

Install Tiki Torches

The primary downside to entertaining in your backyard is insects. Bugs like mosquitos can quickly drive you back inside, and it’s a pain to continually spray yourself down with insect repellent.

A better way to keep bugs away is by using tiki torches. The torches provide light and a pleasant aroma and keep insects away from you and your guests.

Tiki torches also add an island-like atmosphere to your backyard. You and your guests may feel like you are on a tropical vacation with the addition of tiki torches.

Build a Gazebo

You will need a larger backyard to build a gazebo. Even smaller ones can have a large footprint. Building a gazebo can be a DIY project, or you can hire an expert to construct the perfect one for your backyard space.
Gazebos add elegance and provide a comfortable area for everyone to gather. Add some comfortable seating and a few decorative items like potted plants, and you have the perfect place for gatherings and celebrations.

Add Landscaping

Regardless of the size of your backyard, there’s almost always room to add some landscaping. Whether it’s potted plants on the patio or trailing vines on the fence, plants add color and texture to your backyard.
You can create a
garden area for pollinators . Not only will you get colorful flowers throughout the season, but you can also relax in your backyard, watching the birds, bees, and butterflies visit your garden.
Guests will also appreciate the pop of color from the flowers.

A patio with a couch , chairs , table and potted plants.

Create a Comfortable Gathering Area with Pillows and Blankets

Adding chairs and couches is a good start, but you want to encourage your guests to linger. Outdoor furniture is typically designed for durability and not comfort.

You can easily fix this by adding pillows and blankets, and you can find a variety of styles and designs for outdoor use.

While pillows are almost always a good idea, where you live determines if blankets are a necessity. If the outdoor temperature stays warm throughout the year, blankets may be a waste of money.

Smaller patios can still be used to create a comfortable gathering area. Instead of large couches and bulky chairs, consider bean bags. Not only are bean bags inexpensive, but you can also find outdoor designated ones in an array of styles and colors. You can save additional money on pillows since bean bags are comfortable without additional padding.

Install a Fountain

Outdoor fountains elevate your backyard design, and you can find a style to fit almost any taste and budget. Some fountains have an elegant design, while others are more mystical. The fountain can become the focal point of your backyard, especially when landscaping is added.

Remove Clutter with a Backyard Shed

Sheds are multi-purpose buildings. You can also choose the size and style ideal for your backyard. Want a shed resembling a small house? It’s available.

Backyard sheds are ideal places to store garden tools and other supplies. It keeps clutter off your patio while also adding a design element to your backyard.

Hang a Swing

Whether the swing hangs from the beams on your patio roof or a favorite tree, it adds a fun element to your backyard entertainment space. Children will love swinging back and forth, and the same applies to adults.
You can find swings in a variety of styles ranging from full-size to one and two-seaters.

Turn Your Backyard Into an Entertainment Space

With a few additions, you can turn any size backyard into an entertainment space, and the professionals at KG Landscape are here to help. Contact us for additional ideas or when you need help with your backyard project. Our friendly team is here to assist.

Ready to Start on Your Next Project?

Call us at (763) 568-7251 or visit our quote page.

Picture of a side yard KG Landscape regraded to solve a problem in Minneapolis
By Kent January 26, 2026
Struggling with side yard water problems in Minneapolis–St. Paul? See when French drains or re-grading works best for small yard drainage fixes.
By Kent Gliadon January 22, 2026
Protect your Plymouth patio and deck from frost heave by installing French drains that keep clay soil dry around hardscape and footings.
Backyard fire pit area with plantings around it
By Kent Gliadon January 15, 2026
One Edina family had a 25-foot slope and nowhere for their kids to play. See how we turned it into a lawn, sport court, and fire pit.
Front yard landscaping at corner of the garage with waist bin storage
By Kent Gliadon January 14, 2026
See how one Plymouth project turned an overlooked side yard into a design feature that matches the rest of the property.
By Kent Gliadon January 12, 2026
A Plymouth family turned a steep, unusable side yard into a private hot tub area with stone steps, drainage solutions, and boulder walls.
By Kent Gliadon January 11, 2026
See how a Plymouth family replaced basic builder landscaping with a custom flagstone walkway, strategic plantings, and a front yard that matches their home.
By Kent Gliadon January 9, 2026
Learn how French drains solve drainage problems in tight Minneapolis side yards without sacrificing walkway space or function.
By Kent Gliadon January 7, 2026
Stop roof water and sump pump discharge from saturating your Plymouth yard. Learn how to tie everything into one drainage system.
By Kent Gliadon January 3, 2026
Where All That Water Is Actually Coming From  Your backyard stays wet. You've noticed the soggy spots, the mud, maybe some frost heave damage to your patio or fence. You're thinking about French drains. But before you start digging trenches, look up. A huge amount of water hitting your yard isn't coming from rain falling on the lawn. It's coming from your roof. A moderate rainfall on a typical Plymouth home puts hundreds of gallons through your gutter system. Every bit of that water exits through your downspouts. Where it goes from there determines whether you have a drainage problem or not. Then there's your sump pump. Every time it kicks on, it's pushing water out of your basement and into your yard. On a wet property, that pump might run dozens of times a day. All that water has to go somewhere. If your downspouts dump water next to your foundation and your sump pump discharges into a side yard that drains toward your backyard, you're adding water to an already saturated situation. French drains alone might not be enough. You need to manage the sources. The Problem With Surface Discharge Most downspouts in Plymouth end with a splash block or a short extension that dumps water a few feet from the foundation. That's technically moving water away from the house, but not far enough.
By Kent . December 6, 2025
Why wooden lake steps always fail—and why Minnetonka and Orono homeowners are switching to stone. A contractor explains the replacement.