10 Spring Must-Haves Under $100 to Upgrade Your Outdoor Space

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Fresh, healthy grass, a vibrant garden, and a clean patio all help to improve the appeal of your yard, but when it comes to upgrading the outdoor space, price often gets in the way. However, even if you’re on a tight budget, there are many products that can increase both the convenience and the aesthetic allure of your yard so you can get the most out of it this spring and summer. Consider these 10 spring must-haves under $100 to upgrade your space for less.

Relax outside day or night with this portable fire pit by Blue Sky Outdoor Living. Instead of having a fire pit that takes up space in the yard, you can set up this fire pit whenever you need it and put it away afterward. With a heavy-duty alloy steel construction and attractive design, it’s an excellent choice for your yard or even to take to the cottage or on a camping trip. The smokeless dual-wall design allows it to start burning quickly and efficiently while keeping ash to a minimum.

What our tester says: “I tested the Ridge fire pit with both firewood and pellets. Both fuels worked very well and burned smoke-free. The visual flame quality and warmth were excellent. However, the small interior dimensions (less than 12 inches in diameter) of the burn chamber made it necessary to use very short firewood pieces. Plan on cutting store-bought firewood in half, or consider this smaller model as an excellent choice for burning wood pellets.”—Mark Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Blue Sky Outdoor Living Ridge Portable Fire Pit at Amazon for $64.62.

There are countless tools, equipment, and other items that are often just tossed in the garage or even left out on the deck or yard throughout the spring and summer season because there isn’t a convenient place to put them. However, with this Suncast deck box, you can increase your storage space without worrying about the appeal of the yard due to the attractive stony gray design. The deck box has a 50-gallon volume, and it comes with a reinforced lid, providing you with an additional seating location for your outdoor space.

Get the Suncast 50-Gallon Deck Box with Seat at The Home Depot for $106.42.

Keep the sun at bay while improving the appearance of your yard with this Sunnyglade patio umbrella. This easy-to-set-up umbrella has a lightweight aluminum construction with a powder-coated finish to keep it safe from rusting and corrosion. It has a low crank lift, so you don’t need to stretch to open or close the umbrella, and it includes a push-button tilt mechanism that is perfect for adjusting the shade throughout the day.

What our tester says: “Those searching for shade at an affordable price should check out Sunnyglade’s patio umbrella. This market umbrella creates 9 feet of shade under its polyester canopy in a choice of 13 different colors. The umbrella was simple to set up and looked attractive in the red color we selected.”—Kristen Mosier, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Sunnyglade 9-Foot Patio Umbrella at Amazon for $44.28.

Nothing says spring quite like the sound of birds calling in the morning. If you enjoy watching all types of birds through your windows or while sitting in the yard, then adding this attractive Perky-Pet bird feeder is a great idea to encourage more frequent visits. The bird feeder is equipped with weight-activated perches so that when an animal that is heavier than a bird lands on the perch, the feeding port closes, ensuring your bird feeder won’t be raided.

What our tester says: “The birds flocked to this feeder as we tested it in our yard. We loved the way this feeder looked, and we appreciated its sturdy construction.”—Debbie Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Perky-Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone II Feeder Home at Ace Hardware for $49.99.

Give your patio a touch of elegance and extend the time you and your guests can spend outdoors with this Onlyfire tabletop fire pit that measures 28 inches in length, 8.5 inches in width, and 5.75 inches in height. The fire pit is made with durable high-quality steel, has a rust-proof finish, and comes with decorative glass rocks to enhance the visual appeal. Simply connect the included hose to a standard 20-pound propane tank, then use the electric ignition system to light the fire pit and adjust the flames.

Get the Onlyfire Loom X Propane Tabletop Fire Pit at Amazon for $85.99.

Improving the appearance of the yard isn’t all about aesthetics; you should also look for products that can help with the functionality of the home, like this flat-back RTS Home Accents rain barrel. The barrel is designed to look like a traditional oak cask, yet it is made of durable plastic that can hold up under year-round exposure. Thanks to the flat back, it can sit flush against the wall, reducing the amount of space it takes up while it captures rain you can use to water your lawn and garden, a process which is made incredibly easy thanks to the built-in brass spigot.  

What our tester says: “This was one of the best-looking models I tried—it genuinely resembles a stained wooden barrel from a few feet away. Available in three different finishes, it strikes a great balance between appearance, durability, and ease of use.”—Paul Rankin, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the RTS Home Accents Flat Back Rain Barrel at The Home Depot for $99.00.

Gardening enthusiasts will love this garden potting bench table by Yaheetech for its functional design and its aesthetic appeal. The potting bench has a sturdy tabletop with ample space for potting your plants, as well as a shelf, drawer, and locking cabinet for a range of convenient storage options. While you will need to assemble it yourself, the instructions are clear and easy to follow, making this potting bench an excellent choice for enhancing your outdoor space. 

What our tester says: “We think the standout feature of this potting bench with storage is its locking cabinet. This feature provides a convenient storage option to keep essential gardening supplies out of sight while still within easy reach. Overall, we highly recommend the Yaheetech garden potting bench table to anyone looking for a functional and elegant piece of furniture for their outdoor space.”—Debbie Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Yaheetech Garden Potting Bench Table at Amazon for $101.99.

Illuminate your space to make the yard appealing even when the sun sets with these Edison-style LED solar string lights by Brightech. The set of string lights comes with 12 individual bulbs, which are spaced about 20 inches apart and have a vintage Edison-style appearance. After setting up the solar panel in a location where it will receive optimal sunlight, you can turn the light on for a runtime of 5 to 6 hours or keep the switch turned off so that the lights are ready to go when you need them, such as during a late patio party or barbecue with your friends and family. 

What our tester says: “This was a really nice-looking light set with plenty of installation flexibility, providing bright light for the advertised 6-hour runtime and equipped with heavy-duty hardware for a long working life.”—Mark Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Brightech Ambience Pro Solar String Lights at Amazon for $34.99.

Easy to set up and even easier to use, simply insert a propane cylinder into this Cuisinart tabletop heater, then turn the dial and hold it down for 30 seconds to immediately experience the 11,000 BTUs of radiant heat this patio heater promises. The patio heater can be used in your backyard, on the front porch, or you can take it with you when you go camping. It even comes with an anti-tilt safety feature, which will immediately shut off the gas if the unit is bumped or tipped. 

What our tester says: “While its output doesn’t match full-size towers, the Cuisinart Portable Tabletop Patio Heater delivers a reliable, easy-to-use heat source for compact spaces and quick outdoor gatherings. We think it’s just the ticket for two-person sitting arrangements or balcony use.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Cuisinart Portable Tabletop Patio Heater at Amazon for $99.99.

Instead of paying a significant amount to install a massive fountain in your garden, you can simply set up this solar-powered koi fountain by Smart Solar on any available tabletop or flat space. The fountain has a glazed ceramic cobalt blue design that immediately draws the eye, yet because it is a solar-powered fountain, you don’t need to worry about finding a place to plug it in. Just set up the attached solar panel in a discreet location and enjoy the ambiance this fountain creates.

What our tester says: “Unlike other fountains that shoot water into the air, this fountain operates by circulating water through a pump from the bowl, passing it through a very cute ceramic koi’s mouth and back into the bowl, creating a gentle trickling noise we found very relaxing.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Smart Solar Ceramic Solar Koi Fountain at The Home Depot for $91.26.

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