The Awesome Backyard is an independent website about backyard design, outdoor living, outdoor entertaining and backyard structures. We publish guides for homeowners and renters planning, furnishing and using a backyard or patio, with a focus on planning backyard layouts and comparing outdoor furniture, shade, lighting, cooking and structure options for how a space will be used.
Who we are
The Awesome Backyard launched in its current form in 2026 and is run by a small, independent editorial team. We are an online-only publication. We are not owned by, and do not work on behalf of, any manufacturer, brand or retailer, and no company reviews or approves our guides before they are published.
Websites that used the domain name theawesomebackyard.com in earlier years were run by other people and are not connected to the current site or its content.
What we cover
Our guides are organized into these sections: Backyard Design, Outdoor Living, Backyard Entertainment, Backyard Structures and Backyard Maintenance. Each guide explains what matters for a given situation, which trade-offs to expect and where its advice stops.
How we research
Our content is written by the The Awesome Backyard editorial team. We base our guides on manufacturer specifications, assembly and care instructions, fire-safety guidance from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Fire Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and local building and permit information, and we link to the source when a guide states a figure or a safety point.
We are clear about the limits of our work. Unless an article explicitly describes our own use of a product, our guides are research-based and are not hands-on product tests. We do not invent test results, ratings or statistics. Read our Editorial Policy and How We Review for details.
Safety and scope
Grills and fire pits need safe clearances from structures and must follow local burn rules. Sheds, decks, pergolas and gazebos may need permits and must be anchored as the manufacturer specifies. Contact 811 before digging post holes, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for every product.
How we are funded
The Awesome Backyard is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. When you buy through some links on this site we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Commissions do not decide which products we include or how we describe them. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
Get in touch
If you spot an error or have a question about one of our guides, please contact us. Our Corrections Policy explains how we handle reported errors.