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Here Are 26 Clever Ways To Address All The Outdoor Eyesores You’re Sick Of Gawking At

You unfortunately can’t 100% conceal your AC unit, but you *can* cover it with a pretty planter.

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by Mariel Guzman

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by Courtney Lynch

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1. Set an artificial landscaping rockover those jump scares, like your pool pumps, electrical boxes, and visually unwanted sprinkler heads, without drawing any extra attention. It'll blend seamlessly into your backyard as if Mother Nature placed it there herself. Plus, it's super durable and is designed to withstand any harsh weather. 

www.amazon.com

It also comes with two stakes so you can anchor it into the ground!

Promising review: "We had an eyesore in our front yard. The new sprinkler system was ugly. I saw this on Amazon and snapped it up. It is sturdy and large enough to fit right over the ugliness and blends in with our other large rocks in our yard. I love it!" —Julie Cohen

Get it from Amazon for $48.99+ (available in 10 sizes and six colors).

2. Fluff up your grass that your dog has so kindly marked their territory all over with a bag of grass seed. Take back your yard by sprinkling this mixture of seed and fertilizer all over the problem areas and watering regularly. Now you can lay out (with at least SPF 30!) or have that picnic without the annoying, prickly dead grass. 

www.amazon.com

This is best to do when temperatures are between 60 and 80 degrees! 

Promising review: "Our grass had been washed away by Hurricane Helene in September. I was doubtful we could ever replace the lovely yard we had. We were desperate to get rid of the trail of mud that kept following us into the house. We were delighted with the results we saw after using Rapid Grass. Once again we have a lush, green lawn. This is a high quality product that we have been thrilled with. We will definitely repurchase and continue to use this product for any future lawn care needs." —Emmie A.

Get it from Amazon for $71.49. 

3. Cover up that *sarcastic tone* "gorgeous AC unit you love so much" with a genuinely darling wood privacy screen and planter box. This will zhuzh up your yard, while disguising the unit. Your guests won't even question it as they'll be too busy admiring it, especially once you add some pretty floral arrangements. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Love the idea to hide the utility box in my backyard with a planter box to plant colorful flowers. Exactly what I was looking for. Beautiful. Love it!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $124.99+ (available with two or three panels).

4. Or hide those outdoor eyesores with a privacy screen that won't take up too much space or add any extra attention to your trash cans. No one needs a clear view of those. 

www.amazon.com

It comes with two panels that measure 48x48 inches as well as ground stakes.

Promising review: "Super easy to install and took less than 30 minutes to put together, level out, and hammer in the stakes. My HOA doesn’t allow the trash bins to be visible from the street so this fixed that issue plus it matches my house trim." —Joseph and Anne Sawyer

Get it from Amazon for $160.02 (also available in additional styles/sizes).

5. Go after dandelions with a stand-up weed-puller tool if the weeds that have overtaken your yard are the only thing keeping you from relaxing. This weeder makes it easy to rip them out right by the root without throwing out your back in the process. Just place, tilt, and watch your backyard transform.  

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Grampa's Weederis a family owned business from Oregon that sells tools to make weeding easier! 

Promising review: "This was delivered today and I spent the evening pulling these evil shards of death out of my lawn. It was so easy! Even my son enjoyed using it. Worth every penny. It’s very well made and pulled weeds of all sizes. This saved my back and so much time. I really didn’t want to resort to spraying chemicals all over my lawn, now I don’t have to. My family and dogs can enjoy the backyard again. If you have weeds, you want this tool." —April K 

Get it from Amazon for $39.97.

6. And for tight areas, use a crack weeder tool to rip out the weeds that truly ruin the vibe every time you step outside. This really gets into those cracks without you needing to go in with your bare hands — that always ends with scraped up knuckles, anyway. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I've been searching for something to remove the weeds for a while and came across this amazing tool. Since I refuse to use chemicals in my yard, I've been left with scraped knuckles every time I attempt to remove weeds. The weeds have grown so tightly in the concrete cracks that I pretty much gave up; even weed-whacking it didn't help much. Yes, you do have to use a little bit of effort but the end result was so worth it!" —Shelley Arakaki

Get it from Amazon for $19.95.

7. Blast away all that nasty mildew from your patio with an electric power washer so you can stop glaring at your grimy fence that kills your vibe. It'll help transform your yard from scary gross to your favorite hangout spot. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

The five quick-connect nozzles range from intense jet to gentle spray, so you can tackle all kinds of messes such as mildew, tar, rust, grease, mud, etc. The pressure washer also comes with two detergent tanks, a garden hose adapter, a 20-foot high-pressure hose, and a 35-foot power cord. The Total Stop System trigger will automatically shut off the pump when the trigger is not engaged, which can help save energy and prolong pump life.

Promising review: "Power washer was delivered Monday, it’s Wednesday and I have washed two cars, cleaned driveway and sidewalks, cleaned back fence and the work keeps piling up, everything I see now needs to be cleaned! This little dude does not back down, plenty of power and it's surprisingly not too loud. Soap dispensers work great, and the tips are easy to change." —MAR

Get it from Amazon for $199.

8. And to really seal it all up, try out a semi-transparent deck stain and sealer that'll keep your wood surfaces looking pretty while protecting them from sun damage, rain, and scratches. 

www.amazon.com

This semi-transparent stain and sealer is designed to protect and highlight the natural beauty of the wood grain. It can be used on decks, fences, and siding that are made of redwood, cedar, spruce, cypress, mahogany, and more.

Promising review: "This was recommended to me by a guy who sold us redwood boards from his mill. It went on easily and it looks gorgeous! I stained a fence and two decks in the last three years and this product is far superior right off the bat. Love the richness of the color and the wood is soaking it up consistently." —I Know Jack

Get a 1-gallon can from Amazon for $36.99.

9. Add an artificial ivy privacy screen if greenery is more your vibe and you want to feel like you're in your own private greenhouse with no pesky neighbors interrupting. Tip: You can also drape it over a pergola to block out a bit of that burning sun so you *and* your margarita don't melt so quickly. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This was exactly what we needed for the backyard. It definitely provides enough privacy, and it gives the backyard a very nice ambiance! The leaves completely blend in with the other trees and plants we have in the backyard, and it looks like we made a huge upgrade in our gardening game. I'm now just hoping it can withstand the Arizona summer and not fade with the sun (product description does state fade resistant). Don't be hesitant with purchasing; it's totally worth it!!" —Amazon Customer

Get a roll from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three sizes). You'll need some green zip ties to secure them, too.

10. Or put up a waterproof outdoor curtainbecause sometimes you just want to throw a blanket over those eyesores so you don't have to deal with them — this is basically doing just that. It also works as some extra shade when the sun is glaring in your face. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Pick up a sturdy, rust-resistant curtain rod while you're at it!

Promising review: "These curtains are AMAZING! Beautiful and elegant. Hangs beautiful, very light blocking, keeps rain out of our tiki bar, we can sit out there in the rain, and keeps the heat in on a cool fall evening when we have the fireplace on!" —Sara Bushendorf

Get it from Amazon for $32.95+ (available in 10 sizes and 14 colors).

11. Sprinkle a bit of oil stain remover over those giant grease stains on your concrete, you thought would live forever. No matter how many times you try to cover them with outdoor rugs, they'll always live in your head rent-free! Just coat the stain, wait for it to dry, and then brush it away. You'll have such beautiful concrete, you'll start believing magic does exist. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Changed the oil on my girlfriend's car and some oil spilled on my NEW driveway...which I didn't notice 'til four days later. Four spots all about the size of a dollar bill baking in the Arizona sun for four days. Put the stuff on (sits on the stain like pancake batter — don't be afraid to pour liberally) and let it sit from 6 p.m. 'til about 9 a.m. the next day. It dried and the instructions said to just sweep the stuff up. It broke apart with the broom and the stains were gone, just swept up the powder pieces — took about a minute. I WAS SHOCKED! Something that actually works on oil and it's easy. Absolutely NO sign of anything that was there. My driveway is smooth concrete so I can't vouch for what would happen with a rougher surface but whoever makes this stuff is a genius. If they tried to take on World Peace, Earth would be a better place." —AmazonBob

Get it from Amazon for $17.97 (also available in a larger size)

12. Use an instant mildew remover to wake up your patio furniture that desperately needs a makeover after hibernating all winter and TBH a lot of spring. Just spray this on your chairs, swings, and walls, then rinse away all that nasty built-up gunk. It'll all look good as new and ready for your summer hangouts. 

www.amazon.com

RMR Brands is a small business specializing in professional-grade cleaning solutions for your home.

Promising review: "It rains almost every day during the Summer in Florida. By the end of Summer, my cool deck was green with mold around the perimeter. I was about to pay to have someone power wash my deck but found RMR-86 on Amazon. I purchased a bottle and sprayed all the areas that had mold and mildew. RMR-86 started working within minutes right before my eyes. It was like magic! I'm definitely getting more." —Marie Moore

Get a 2-pack from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in three sizes).

13. Or for a bleach-free alternative, spray away at those grimy areas with Wet & Forget exteriorthat gets rid of mold, mildew, moss, and algae without needing to roll up your sleeves with a scrubber. You just mix it with water and spray all over those areas you constantly side eye, then let nature (rain and wind) do the rest over time. No rinsing required. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Love the fact that you just spray and let it do its thing. No rinse-off or anything. My outdoor rugs were a little drab after the winter, and this brought them back to life. No scrubbing either. Worked well." —Chasing Fireflies

Get it from Amazon for $20.64.

14. Install a set of interlocking teak tiles to take your backyard from basic to luxury. They're made with real wood and are designed to last, so your "tropical resort" won't need constant updating. Plus, they make it easy to cover any dried-out grass or flooring that's beyond repair — just snap them into place, and voila!  

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Spendy, but hey, if you have the $! They added a very nice touch to our backyard. We are renting our townhouse, so we didn’t want to do too much back there, but these are perfect! For sure! We have gotten so many compliments. We reside in Portland, Oregon, where it rains cats and dogs, so they are durable for sure!" —Tally  

Get 10 square feet from Amazon for $77.99.

15. Fix up your walkways with stepping stones so your guests can have a clear path to your humble abode. No need to hire a professional to pour out concrete, these are easy to place and will be the cherry on top of your outdoor makeover. 

Home Depot

If you want to recreate the look above, don't forget to purchase a bag of red lava rock as well!

Promising reviews: "It's a great product, exactly what I needed and the price was right. Purchased 40 so far for a path that my dogs use so they don't destroy the grass chasing squirrels." —xaqeria

"Home Depot rarely lets me down. These stepping stones made a beautiful walkway from my driveway to the main walkway in the front yard." —CherokeeSmiles

Get it from Home Depot for $1.78/each (available in four sizes and various finishes).

16. Tidy up your garden beds with a roll of perma-mulchthat is easy to install and makes a world of difference. This eliminates any extra weeding and trimming by creating a clean-cut border that still allows water and air to reach your plant babies. Your friends will think you hired a landscaper but nope, its just you — pat yourself on the back! 

Wayfair

Promising review: "This faux-mulch border was just what I was looking for. I wanted something simple (not elaborate) to keep my bark in place. It looks good and now I need to order more : )" —Eva

Get a 1'' H X 120'' W X 4.5'' D roll from Wayfair for $34.95 (originally $39.95; also available in tree ring or pathway styles).

17. Hide away any outdoor essentials in a storage bench so you always know where your spare pool towels, floaties, and seat cushions are. It also looks a lot better than having them scattered all over your yard or collecting dust in your basement. Plus, this keeps your items safe from the outside elements as it's quite durable and weather-resistant. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "We bought one of these to store towels and pool stuff a couple of years ago and it's been great – assembled easily by my 12-year-old son and keeps everything dry while providing a place to sit. So we bought a second one for our front porch since we wanted a bench there — made sense to add some storage at the same time!" —bluegrassgrl03

Get it from Amazon for $152.99 (available in graphite and brown).

18. Or if you need something smaller, stash your outdoor pillows, gardening tools, pool toys, and your dog's growing collection of stuffies in a deck storage box. This can hold those items that you always end up tripping over without taking up too much space. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Put together in less than five minutes by myself and no tools needed. This is a nice little box, holds the lumbar pillows along with other things I need for my backyard on a regular basis. The box fits nicely on my small patio." —ALM329

Get it from Amazon for $31.99+ (available in seven sizes, three styles, and six colors).

19. Coat your wood surfaces in some wood polish and conditioner to give them some much needed TLC. The wax will add a nice shine, while also adding some extra protection. You'll have your guests fooled that you could treat yourself to new furniture. In this economy? no way. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I bought this after reading about a million BuzzFeed articles recommending it. I wish I hadn’t waited so long because this stuff works! It’s amazing. I have a mid-century hand-me-down dresser that is a beautiful piece of furniture, but it was covered in water stains and other marks from decades of use. One coat of this stuff on a clean rag, and it’s totally refreshed! Now, it’s not going to fix places where the finish is completely worn off (you have to sand for that), but it will significantly improve the appearance of the wood. And it makes watermarks disappear. I’m glad I didn’t spend the time and money to have this refinished when a coat of this stuff has done the job just fine." —Maureen Foley

Get it from Amazon for $10.98 (also available in multipacks).

20. Tackle that dirt and grime that ruins your outdoor decor with a set of drill brushes. Just attach the brush to your drill and let that bad boy clean off that stuck on filth like nobody's business. You don't need new decor, it just needs a powerful scrub. 

www.amazon.com

Check out this TikTok of the drill brush kit in action. 

Keep in mind the drill is NOT included. This is a set of three brushes that attach to your existing drill. If you need one, check out this drill.

It's available in six versions — from soft bristles for upholstery and leather to hard bristles for industrial use — and you should choose which to buy depending on the surface you are cleaning. 

Drill Brush is a small business based in New York State that makes cleaning brushes that attach to drills.

Promising review: "I used to have to scrub my bird bath fountain using brushes. Then I discovered these! It’s still a difficult job but these do make it SO much easier. I’ve attached before and after photos. Pretty amazing! I bought the red ones, and they work really well on this concrete fountain but I’m going to get some of the black ones, which are a bit stiffer, to compare." —George Scott

Get them from Amazon for $19.99 (available in six colors).

21. Transform your floors with concrete paint instead of paying an arm and a leg for someone to replace your whole patio. It might take more work, but the results are worth it. You'll be doing a happy dance after the first coat. 

www.amazon.com

Painting your concrete patio may sound like a hard job, but if you have some experience painting and want an impressive change, you should definitely go for it.

Promising review: "Works great. Used it in the basement for a quick, simple, inexpensive upgrade to brighten up the floor a bit and give the cement a clean look. Did a fairly good job filling in some of the hairline cracks as well." —T

Get a gallon from Amazon for $35+ (available in silver gray or slate gray).

22. Or grab some anti-skid acrylic paint that works on most surfaces so you can jazz up your porch or walkways that were giving monster house. Reviewers say it's easy to lather on and dries quickly so you don't have to wait days to invite people over. 

www.amazon.com

This requires prep before painting — your surface should be fully clear of dirt, dust, oils/grease, wax, and old paint, as well as fully dry, before you go in with the first coat. 

Promising review: "I tried several paints on my mom's deck stairs, and they all peeled within a year. This paint solved the problem. Heat, sun, rain, snow, no problem. And it really adds a nice grip to the surface. Definitely worth the investment for me." —DL

Get it from Amazon for $42.50+ (available in three sizes and six colors).

23. Clean up your shed or outdoor area with a set of tool organizers that'll keep your shovels and rakes in a neat row instead of leaning in a sad corner. They're a must if you're like my dad, who leaves everything lying on the floor — I have definitely almost been taken out by stepping on a shovel. They also come pre-drilled and with mounting hardware, so you can set them up with no problem. 

Hang This Up / Etsy

Hang This Up is a small biz based in New Jersey that specializes in creative organization solutions.

Promising review: "We had a new shed constructed from scratch, and knowing it was always going to be used as a true “shed” (not a she shed), we wanted yard tools to be organized and nice looking. We bought these tool organizers and absolutely love them. Great quality and easy to install (the included drill bit worked fine for us). We couldn’t be happier with the results and highly recommend." —Joan Kilgore

Get a set of five (10 total pieces) from Hang This Up on Etsy for $47.25 (originally $52.50; other styles available in their shop!).

24. Clean up your firepit area with a firewood rack that'll keep your logs nice and organized instead of having them be a tripping hazard. Plus, it comes with a protective cover that'll keep them dry when rain decides to pay a visit. 

Amazon

Sunnydaze is a small biz that specializes in outdoor home goods.

Promising review: "Perfect size for our needs. The hoop holds about two to three days' worth of wood for our wood stove so we don't have to refill it all the time. The cover is awesome – it is large enough to fit over bulky or oversize logs, and keeps them all dry and protects the hoop from the weather too. Very happy with this hoop and cover!" —CMish

Get it from Amazon for $93.95 (available in three sizes).

25. Conceal that bulky tank of gas that just sticks out on you patio like a sore thumb with a propane tank hideaway table. Yup, you head me right, it doubles as a table! So when your enjoying a little afternoon marg with your bestie, they won't know your table is actually a hiding spot. 

www.amazon.com

Note: The propane tank is not included! This hideaway measures 16.1 x 16.1 x 20 inches and is designed for 20-pound propane tanks.

Promising review: "This is perfect for concealing your standard grill tank outside. It's also a side table. Love it!" —Happy customer

Get it from Amazon for $79.99 (available in black or carbon gray).

26. Install a new junction box, if every time guests walk by your old one you have to announce, "don't look at that." This comes with everything you need: a mounting plate, wall brackets, and a weatherproof hinged cover. This will keep any electrical equipment safe without attracting too much unwanted attention. 

www.amazon.com

Promising reviews: "Mounted this box on the outside of our home to clean up and hold coax cable from an internet provider we are not currently using. It is a great box for the $ and was better than anything at HD or Lowe's. I drilled the holes I needed in the back and then sealed them with an exterior epoxy." —Tuff Products Co.

Get it from Amazon for $22.99 (available in various sizes and with a grey or clear cover).

Want even more outdoor space inspiration? We're here to help:

*  Ways To Create An Outdoor Oasis Worthy Of Its Own Magazine Spread

* Things Under $50 That’ll Help You Make Your Backyard Your Own Personal Oasis

* Cheap Summer Upgrades That’ll Make Your Home And Yard Way More Fun To Be In

* If You’re A Beginner Gardener, Here Are 27 Products To Help You Care For Your Plants

* Anyone With Basic Skills And A Weekend Afternoon To Spare Will Love These 32 DIY Backyard Upgrades

* If Your Garden Is Your Happy Place, Buying These 27 Products Will Feel Like A Little Treat For You (And Your Plants)

Plus, finds from Ikea, Lowe's, Walmart, and Wayfair.

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Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.