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You might just have to start stamping hands to make sure you don't have anyone sneaking into your parties!

There are all kinds of ways to compete with your neighbors, but curb appeal is just one. You know the real heat is in the backyard, far(ther) away from your nosey neighbor's prying eyes. And it's almost time for peak backyard season, so you can start plotting how you can make yours the envy of the block. Read on for some ideas....

Promising review: "Perfect for our patio. Easy to clean and feels great on feet!!" —JS

Get it from Amazon for $67.99+ (available in four sizes and seven colors).

Promising review: "Living in Hawaii you have to select wise items that are weather-, salt-, and red dirt–proof, etc... In total I ordered 11 boxes to complete my yoga deck. I have a few left over to make steps on the back. Very pleased and happy. May order more for an outdoor shower project!" —Adazzle

OK, so painting your concrete patio may not sound like the easiest upgrade but if you're no stranger to painting and want a big impact, give it a try!

Promising review: "Excellent, easy to use and clean up. My outdoor patio is a little rough, and it took a full gallon to cover 200 sq feet." —RLB

Get it from Amazon for $35+ a gallon (available in two shades of gray).

Promising review: "I first used this product about two years ago on the awning on my RV. That awning was so bad that I thought I was going to have to replace it. After using this Scott's product as directed, the mold and mildew completely disappeared. This product definitely works and it works GREAT! What more can I say — it saved me nearly $500." —R. Latreille

Promising review: "We had a 2005 truck parked on our paver driveway for years. The area in the photo was thick with oil leak residue. I tried several products that didn't make any difference. But with the "Pull It Out" product, the oil is gone! You can see the stark difference in the photo, with the area that was treated and the area that was not. This goes on as a liquid; it absorbs the oil from the bricks as it dries. Then I lightly scrub and hose it off, and voila! Gone! Even better, it's biodegradable!! I rarely post reviews for a product, but this product earned it. This is the best I have seen for taking leaked oil out of a driveway." —Robocop

Promising review: "Planted a handful of the seeds in our front lawn area. Few months later, and we had a spectacular color array. Great flowers!" —Shane

Check out this full ~stunning~ backyard makeover. (Seriously, the "before" images are gonna make your jaw DROP.) And check out more amazing before and afters on Sweeten.

You can get a variety of similar terra-cotta pots from Amazon or The Home Depot.

Promising review: "The weight of each pot is perfect. Light enough not to be heavy when filled with soil but sturdy enough not to get blown over too easily. The speckled finish is quite modern and can go with many different styles of decor. The only thing I’d ask for to be different is the drainage system… the holes are on a plateau inside the pot. This means that certain plants will suffer from root rot as there will be about an inch worth of standing water. As long as you’re careful though, this may not affect you. I have had these pots outside on an uncovered patio year round now.. they still look new." —A. C.

Get them from Amazon for $62.99+ (available in three styles).

Reviewers note that you should remove the bulbs before stringing up the strands and then install the bulbs.

Promising review: "These lights were perfect for my patio, I've recieved plenty of compliments so far. The Edison light bulbs and beautiful and offer the perfect amount of lighting for any occasion...the clips were ideal for my eaves, the overhang of the roof, which made for simple installation...now just need to find a dimmer capable of handling the required wattage and the package will be complete." —Brody Vins

Get a strand from Amazon for $14.79+ (available in six styles and lengths).

Promising review: "These lights were just the thing to finish off our new yard and show pathway edges during the night. Worked right out of the box but I charged for a day in the sun before placing them. Work great and very happy with them." —Joseph H.

Get eight from Amazon for $39.98+ (available in three sizes).

Promising review: "I wanted to wait until the grass had a chance to grow before leaving my review, and I’m very pleased! The germination rate was quick, the grass came in thick and healthy, and it’s already looking great in my yard. Easy to plant, grows strong, and definitely worth it. Highly recommend if you want reliable results!" —Richard lademan

Get it from Amazon for $28.99 (available in two bag sizes).

Grampa's Weeder is a small biz. Made with a bamboo handle and powder-coated steel, it uses a simple lever system to made weeding easy.

Promising review: "Oh my god, I friggin' love this tool. I bought this on a whim given we bought our first house and know nothing about caring for a yard. Boy has it come in handy. Our new house had a ton of weeds in the front yard and this tool helped me get most of them out in no time. In fact, the process of yanking out the weed was strangely satisfying! I don't think anyone can say that weeding is fun but this tool made it as close to fun as you can get, especially when you see a long root along with the weed you pulled." —JG

Promising review: "Leaving mine out, so I did use landscape fabric and pea gravel under it. It keeps dogs from tracking in mud when it rains and from trampling my plants. Sturdy and convenient! I bought a second one. I love it so much." —Kindle Customer

Get an 8-foot path from Amazon for $74.95.

Promising review: "Purchased for my grandson who loves to play in the water. Perfect height for a 2-year-old. Easy to put together, sturdy and lots of different things to do. The top part is like a waterfall, it has lots of little holes for the water to come through." —dd

Promising review: "Good quality. Easy to assemble. Parts are individually bagged and labeled. Holds two 32-gallon round barrels — which is what I wanted it for. Very compact, which was a factor for where i had to put it." —Joe in Brooklyn

Get it from Amazon for $279.98. Also check out a similar shed in several sizes to find the right one to fit your space and needs.

Tiki Toss is a small business that took a classic hook and ring game to the next level by creating several unique ways to play it. 

Promising review: "We all love this game. Everyone who comes over cannot stop playing Tiki Toss. So simple and so fun. Quality and design of product is fantastic. Also makes a great gift." —jzek

Get it from Amazon for $26.28+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "My family has had a blast with these this summer. Easy to fill up to get the fun started! Just make sure to make all players agree to the yard pickup afterwards, but it’s worth it!" —Momof3

Get 350 balloons from Amazon for $20.85 (available in three color combos).

Several reviewers shared that this little pool kept their kids engaged for hours.

Promising review: "My kids love this. It is soo easy to plug the hose into and turn the water on and the kids can have hours of fun. Once the kids are done playing, I disconnect the hose let the water drain, and hang it over the porch." —Austin

Promising review: "I used this Gloss White to paint an old garden arch, gate and a trellis over a garden bench. It was just a dreary, tired black; the white changed the look and feel instantly. Definitely get the trigger grip accessory if your project takes more than one can — mine was eight cans and that grip was a great idea.The paint is a true bright white with a bit of a shine after it dries. I did have to do two full coats to completely cover the original black wrought iron, but there's no color bleed through as a result." —Dogs & Horses

Get it from Amazon for $6.94+ (available in a variety of metallic colors).

Promising review: "Pricey but worth it! My patio cushion covers would have cost a fortune to replace, given their unique shape. This is the ONLY fabric spray that has EVER held true to its promise of preserving the fabric’s original soft texture. Shake Suddenly Sapphire well, it will need at least three coats for an even application because it comes out very fine. Example: I needed one whole can for the first coat on the tops and sides of two cushions. At $14 a can, it can get up there, but it’s still better than replacing cushions!" —Juanita

Get it from The Home Depot for $9.98 (available in eight colors).

But really though, why isn't every grill equipped with these from the factory?

Promising review: "This was a surprise for my husband. He loves them. The lights are nice and bright and make grilling those last few things that didn't get finished before dark hot. He's also used them early in the morning when he's setting the smoker up before dawn. He's happy and finding them very useful. He especially loves the magnet on bottom so he can hang them off of so many things while he's busy and he can use the flexibility to shine them where he needs them. Very awesome and easy to use." —Holly Gomez

Promising review: "My whole family and I recently went to Miami for a quick vacation, and we had a barbecue, so I decided to order this grill for my house so I can cook on my back porch. One of the best things about this grill is it’s so easy to move — anyone can move it from one place to another. My wife and I assembled this, and it took us about 35–40 minutes to put together, and it was so easy to assemble. I cannot wait to use this grill with my family and friends." —NP

Promising review: "Couldn't be easier to use really. I tested it with ice water and boiling water and it seems to be pretty accurate. I've already cooked some steaks using it and they came out perfect. Plan to use it a lot with my smoker and expect good results there too. I love that it has the magnets so I can stick on the fridge, the grill or the smoker and it's always handy. And you really can't beat the price at under $10!" —FCC

Promising review: "Why put your beer on the ground when playing corn hole? Also, why ever do that. PURCHASE these now! We're buying more because of how amazing they are. ALSO, perfect house warming gift for a friend who loves to have backyard barbecues." —Ashley

Get a set of six from Amazon for $39.95. 

Promising review: "Bought as a surprise to grandkids. They love it and a half way healthy snack for them on hot summer days. Helps keep them hydrated! Very simple to use, like that you can use regular ice and don’t need to use a special ice mold worth the extra cost for that. Safe even for the kids to use. Simple to assemble." —Amazon Customer

Champion Sports is a family-owned and operated small business that's been operating out of New Jersey since 1961. 

Promising review: "I bought this for the kids to play during cookouts. We have corn hole and other games as well, and I find myself playing this as much, if not more, than corn hole. Great quality, and it comes with a carrying bag to put away for easy storage and clean up." —Alan Rich 

Get it from Amazon for $119.99+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "Great product! I did my entire fence line with the 15-degree nozzle, and it blasted off 15 years of mold and sun fading with ease... Definitely recommend! Next up the driveway..." —Trent

Beach State is a small business specializing in premium, high-quality beach umbrellas. 

Check out a TikTok of the umbrella in action. 

Promising review: "This umbrella is exactly what my family was looking for as our everyday beach umbrella — large diameter, high quality, and cute retro design. It is a higher end umbrella but still slightly less expensive than the other big name designer beach gear company that we were considering. It is easy to pop up and stays standing, and we’ve had many compliments from other people at the beach asking where we got it. The customer service from the company was excellent. Would definitely recommend these umbrellas!" —Taryn

Get it from Amazon for $140.21(available in six colors). 

Note that this includes just the umbrella, not the table!

Promising review: "I normally don’t like buying products like this sight unseen, but I’m very pleased with the look and especially with the solar lighting. We enjoyed a pleasant evening on the deck with just the right amount of ambient light tonight, and we are hopeful that it will prove to be durable." —Dee Williams

Get it from Amazon for $71.99 (available in 11 color combos).

It has three different brightness options so you can set *~the mood~* perfectly. It also requires AA batteries, so be sure to pick those up as well.

Promising review: "This light is great!!! It has three settings, to adjust the amount of brightness you need. Lowest level is great for just sitting around your patio table and having a couple of drinks with friends. Brightest setting is PERFECT for playing cards! We play cards a few times a month. We decided to try and play outside. There are two 70+-year-olds who did not complain that they couldn’t see. So, works great in my book! 😁" —Mandie Jordan

Promising review: "This is the second privacy screen I've purchased from Amazon. I have an area in my garden visible from the street. The screen hides all my gardening stuff (i.e. wheelbarrow, buckets, etc.). It truly looks like the real deal!!!" —soooz

Get a 94-inch X 39-inch roll from Amazon for $39.99.

Promising review: "The only problem I have with this chair is: I only have one of them and the whole family now fights over it! Seriously, it is THAT comfortable and relaxing. Pretty easy to put together, my husband got it all assembled in less than an hour and then proceeded to open up a beer and fall asleep in it next to the pool, HA! I like to take my laptop out with me and work in it as the moveable umbrella shades my screen. Love love LOVE it!!" —Erin S

Get it from Amazon for $199.99+ (available in four colors).

Lots of reviewers actually bought this to use as a Christmas tree!

Promising review: "The palm tree was a perfect addition to our backyard patio! We like it very much. Everything about it works great." —James Poppe

Get it from Amazon for $85.99+ (available in two heights).

FYI, this includes a spreader bar for easy setup and can hold up to 450 lbs.

Promising review: "Have been wanting to get a hammock for my back yard for the longest time. I am really pleased as it was really simple to install, very sturdy and love the fabric — it's soft and comfortable. Wide enough for two people." —D

Get it from Amazon for $74.49 (available in 14 colors).

Promising review: "These roasting sticks will get the job done. They retract easily and will be perfect for light use (roasting marshmallows) with our fire pit. Not extremely sturdy but not flimsy either. The metal points are not sharp which is a good thing if kids are handling them. I like the storage pouch it comes with too." —Sheri J. O

Get a set of five from Amazon for $7.94+ (available in five color combos).

Get them from Uncommon Goods for $90+ each (available in two sizes). Also check out some similar velociraptor garden sculptures.

Promising review: "Planted succulents in each one and hung off my white fence in backyard. Looks great." —Truggi

It's just ready and waiting for a vine you can train to climb it!

Promising review: "⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Easy assembly, lightweight yet sturdy, used outside on a freshly made patio! Added ivy and solar lights along with solar fireflies! The stakes for these are super strong and easy to put into the ground. This set up with a turtle fountain, solar accent lighting, some plants, a chiminae, and the fencing for covering the garbage bins has the neighbors stopping by with envy!" —Dena

Get it from Wayfair for $44.99 (available in two colors).

Sunrise Domes is a South Killingly, Connecticut-based biz that specializes in geodesic domes. Reviewers also use these structures from this Etsy shop as sculptures or even to contain their yard turkeys!

Get it from Sunrise Domes on Etsy for $1,650.

Promising review: "My pool is awesome when it gets into the hundreds of degrees here in California. We decided to grab a 20x20x20 triangle and holy cow does it do a number on the backyard! Not only does it keep my pool better-shaded, but it also keeps the sun off of my back patio during the hottest part of the day." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $26.98+ (available in 6 sizes and 13 colors).

But what do you do with them? Well, you can use them to play huge versions of your favorite dice games or invent your own! Plus, they come with dry-erase game boards to keep all participants honest ;).

Promising review: "So much fun!! I have two boys, 9 and 6, who are very tough on toys, and these dice hold up great to their wear 'n' tear. Perfect evening game to play in the backyard during the summer. Durable carry case hold everything neatly 'til the next game!" —HeatherE

It isn't inflatable like other little pools, so you don't have to worry about your dog puncturing it. Plus it's foldable so can be more easily stored. And while we're on the subject, check out hot weather pet tips from the ASPCA.

Promising review: "The perfect size for our golden retriever (80 lbs). Easy to open, unfold, fill up, and put away! Very happy I selected this model and size when searching for a pool for him." —Katy Ryan

Each light cycles through red, blue, white, and green.

Promising review: "My pool is so old school and boring that I bought these to liven it up, and what a difference!! My pool went from 'meh' to WOW! The balls are easily inflated by mouth like a beach ball. Once inflated, a few hours in the sun, they are charged and ready to go. They light up after dusk ( it has to be rather dark). There is no manual way to power them on or off; they glow all night long. The changing colors are vibrant and very beautiful. They have a loop at the top if you would like to hang them. They would be magical, hanging in a tree or from a pergola. I really liked how easy these were to fill and charge, and I like the solar power and the amazing color display. They make my inner child happy." —J. Matheson

Get a set of four from Amazon for $59.99.

Promising review: "We are so happy with our purchase so far. This pool is plenty big for our purposes and was well within our budget. It took more than 60 minutes to set it up but it wasn't terrible. There were four of us working. We are fortunate to have a flat concrete slab in the back yard that was just large enough for this pool so I can't comment on leveling dirt, etc. The concrete is pitted though so we bought an extra pad to put under it to make it a bit softer against any potential sharp edges. The sand filter is nice. We've used traditional filters in the past on a much smaller pool and this seems like it will be easier to maintain in the long run." —Mad Cassandra

Get it from Amazon for $789.69+ (available in seven sizes and with or without a sand filter pump).

Promising review: "I have had this pool for about two weeks now and I LOVE IT!!! Was simple to set up, I got a little electric pump and it took about 10 minutes to inflate, then about half an hour to fill with water. Pay attention to making sure you set it up on level ground or it will be lopsided. It is probably good for two adults, maybe one adult and a couple of kids. The built-in seat and headrest are really quite comfy and relaxing. I will definitely buy this same pool again if it springs a leak and can't be fixed, if I could give it a 10 stars I would. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!!" —kathryn j.

South Beach Bubbles is a small biz specializing in bubble kits. The kit comes with the giant bubble wand, two pouches of bubble concentrate, and a booklet to help you become a skilled bubble creator!

Promising review: "Love this!! Easy for kids to use — my six-year-old son figured it out pretty quick — and fun for adults as well (my husband and I might have played with it as much as our son did...) Makes amazing bubbles. The bubble mix it comes with is fantastic." —Thomas Durant

Get it from Amazon for $15.19+ (available in six styles).

We've been seeing people's pets enjoying these all over TikTok! It is designed for kids ages 3–8.

Promising review: "I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of this item and the matching picnic table and chairs. However the cabana is much more difficult to assemble then the picnic table set. There was a step in which two people were absolutely required and you need a cordless screwdriver and hammer. My granddaughter loves them and I absolutely would recommend this purchase to anyone." —Terri

Get it from Amazon for $139.99 (also available in tan or gray).

This weatherproof fan has a fully sealed and permanently lubricated industrial motor to protect it against wetness.

Promising review: "Great fan at a good price! I bought this fan for my backyard to help circulate the air in hot days and to help deter mosquitoes at night around the fire pit. This fan worked perfectly. It has three speeds, the highest of which is super strong. The fan at high speed is a bit noisy, but nothing unexpected of a powerful fan. It is also 100% waterproof, which is a must. My only minor issues would be 1) it would be nice if the fan came with a cover for when it’s not used (I bought 20-inch tire storage covers to do the job), and 2) the fan is only adjustable up and down not side to side — if they could make it oscillate that would be great. Having said that, I would recommend this fan for sure and would not hesitate to buy it again." —Bigdad

Get it from Amazon for $104.99+ (available in three sizes).

Promising review: "Very, very sturdy and easy assembly. We had a reunion, and this swing kept the kids busy for hours. I definitely will be buying another." —msbakwudhic

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Plus, options for your WFH space, and finds from Anthropologie, Etsy, Ikea, Urban Outfitters, Walmart, and Wayfair.

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Elizabeth Lilly is a deputy editorial director with more than a decade of lifestyle journalism spanning a range of subjects under her (tool) belt that includes four and a half years at a home improvement magazine. 

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.