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These 9 Backyard Upgrades Look Tacky not Trendy, According to Designers

By Kaitlyn McInnis Dengarden

Updated July 15, 2026 8:21 AM

Summertime means that, for many of us, our living space has suddenly doubled in size. If you're lucky enough to have a backyard, wanting to continually improve it makes sense. In fact, some of us love being outdoors so much that we pour as many resources into backyard upgrades as we do into our home improvements.

But backyard upgrades require a little extra thought and planning. It's not as easy to DIY or get creative in a space that has to be weather-resistant; according to designers and landscaping professionals, treating your outdoor space like you do your indoor space can lead to trouble.

If you want a space that feels put-together and welcoming rather than tacky and amateur-looking, these are the backyard upgrades to avoid, according to the professionals.

9 Tacky Backyard Upgrades to Avoid

Just to be clear: we're talking about the end effect, not just the amount of money spent. Some of the best-looking backyard upgrades can be achieved on a tight budget. Meanwhile, even ultra-expensive additions can end up looking wrong if they've been poorly thought through and aren't right for the space.

1. Too Many Resort-Style Features

"The biggest one I steer people away from is resort-feature overload," says Ryan Lesperance, Contractor at Clear Tech Pools. "In a small yard, a waterfall, fire bowls, deck jets, color LEDs, swim-up bar and oversized spa can start looking like mini golf; pick one or two features you'll actually use."

2. Cheaply Made Patio Furniture

"We highly recommend not cheaping out on exterior patio furniture, which can completely demolish all of the time/money spent on creating your perfect space," says Vitaliy Zagorodniy, Principal Contractor, Zagorodniy Handyman & Remodeling. "Spending a little more in the short term not only extends the life of your furniture drastically, but also extends the craftsmanship beyond just the work completed."

3. String Lights

Lighting is a key aspect of any outdoor living area, but Zagorodniy says that cheap plastic string lights and cheap pathway lights can bring your home down from a luxury estate to someone trying to fake it. "Make the investment and enjoy the result," urges Zagorodniy.

4. All-Over Concrete Slabs

According to Daniel Sowell, Owner of Total Foundation and Roofing Repair, paving over your entire backyard with a solid flat concrete slab is a major upgrade mistake that homeowners often regret. "While it might seem like a low-maintenance alternative to grass, pouring a massive, unbroken sheet of concrete looks harsh, industrial and completely strips the natural beauty out of an outdoor space," he explains.

"Aside from the aesthetic drawback, excessive concrete creates severe runoff and drainage issues," Sowell adds. "During heavy storms, water that would normally soak into the ground has nowhere to go, pooling against your home's foundation or flooding neighboring properties."

According to Sowell, if you want a durable, low-maintenance outdoor living area, opting for a custom-designed stamped or stained concrete patio is a much better choice because you can incorporate control joints, proper slope and drainage assessments to keep water moving safely away from your structure.

5. DIY Backyard Water Features

Sowell says that another tacky upgrade to avoid is installing DIY plastic or rubber pond liners to create artificial backyard water features. "Without professional drainage and proper slope integration, these elements quickly fail and collect standing water, creating unsightly dirt rings and algae growth," he explains. "In our region, stagnant water in a poorly leveled yard is a recipe for foundation-damaging soil saturation and an invitation for pests."

6. Transition Flooring

"One thing I'd flag from a flooring perspective: indoor-outdoor ‘transition' flooring slapped onto a deck or patio," cautions Lesley Upton,Manager at King of Floors. "I've seen homeowners grab bargain vinyl or laminate not rated for outdoor exposure, only to watch it warp and bubble within a season. It ends up looking worse than what they started with."

Upton says that the same goes for mismatched flooring materials across an outdoor space. "Mixing three different surface types in a small area creates visual chaos, and it usually signals ‘afterthought' rather than intentional design," she explains.

7. Interior-Grade Lumber

"The most common backyard ‘tacky' mistake I see is homeowners trying to use interior-grade specialty lumber for outdoor structures like pergolas, deck trim or custom privacy screens," says Jake Bean, outdoor expert at Western Wholesale Supply. "When people try to save a buck by using standard interior woods or low-grade plywood outdoors, intense weather quickly warps, splits and rots the material into an unsafe eyesore."

8. Exposed Metal Framing

Another major design misstep is overusing exposed metal framing or non-treated utility steel for backyard structures without proper cladding or weatherproofing, says Bean. "While steel framing is incredible for indoor commercial strength, leaving raw, unpainted or non-galvanized framing exposed to the elements creates a harsh, industrial look that quickly streaks with rust and ruins the natural aesthetic of a backyard," he explains.

9. Artificial Turf

"While there can be times where artificial turf works for a home, I would at least advise people to be 100% that that's what they want long-term before having it installed," says Steve Corcoran, CEO, Lawn Love.

Corcoran says that there are some pros to artificial turf-constantly green and uniform "grass," not having to mow, less water usage required, less weeds-there are also some pretty big cons.

"Artificial grass often has a negative impact on home value; it can get really hot, it's far less environmentally friendly and it costs a lot to change back to real grass if you want to switch again," he explains. "Speaking from experience, it's very common for people who have had artificial grass installed to want to get rid of it after just a couple of years."

Sources:

Ryan Lesperance, Contractor, Clear Tech Pools
Vitaliy Zagorodniy, Principal Contractor, Zagorodniy Handyman & Remodeling
Daniel Sowell, Owner, Total Foundation and Roofing Repair
Lesley Upton, Manager, King of Floors
Jake Bean, Outdoor expert at Western Wholesale Supply
Steve Corcoran, CEO, Lawn Love

This story was originally published July 15, 2026 at 7:45 AM.