It’s great if you can turn your backyard into a permanent party spot for birthdays and family gatherings, but some events only happen once, like weddings. And what if you want to use your backyard for something else in the future, or if you’re moving soon? The best solution is to go for something temporary that’s easy to install as well as easily removable. What you’re looking for is flexibility, speed, practicality, and stability. A surface that protects your guests from soggy grass, dirt patches, and unstable or unlevel ground. That’s exactly what you’ll get from these temporary backyard flooring ideas for events.
1. Outdoor Rugs
Outdoor rugs are the simplest, fastest, easiest, and possibly the most effortless to clean of all the temporary backyard flooring ideas. They cover uneven surfaces in an instant, hide stains (especially patterned options), and define party zones like invisible walls. Large rugs are the better option because they reduce tripping hazards and cover bigger areas, but there’s nothing wrong with small, layered rugs. The best options will always be polypropylene or weather-resistant fibers to withstand moisture, spilled drinks, fading, and foot traffic. You can prevent the rugs from curling or shifting by weighing them down with weights, tape, or furniture legs. Cleaning is simple (shake, hose down, or sweep) and removing/storing them is even easier.
2. Gravel With a Fabric Base
Gravel is the most natural of all the temporary backyard flooring ideas, which makes it perfect for outdoor dining, cocktail areas, and informal seating zones. But don’t let it fool you because gravel can also be used for more formal events. Place small pea gravel or crushed stone over landscape fabric to prevent weeds from poking through. The chance of gravel sinking unevenly will also be reduced and drainage will be much better. Don’t overdo it with the amount of gravel because a thin, even layer will be much more stable, especially with timber or metal edging. If you’re worried about the longevity of gravel and how hard it’s going to be to remove afterwards, rest assured. The landscape fabric base also makes the gravel easier to scoop up and put away.
3. Artificial Grass Rolls
Backyards don’t always have grass, and sometimes the grass they do have isn’t up to standard. It can get patchy, have muddy puzzles during rainy seasons, and turn brown during the year. And somehow it always happens right when you want to host a party in your backyard. Fortunately, there’s a quick, easy, effective, and low-maintenance solution. Artificial grass can transform your uneven backyard into a smooth, soft, green surface in an instant. Lay a roll over compacted soil, sand, or gravel and secure the edges with stakes, tape, or weights. It’s not going to need any mowing, watering, or fertilizing and it’s just as easy to put away as it is to install. Modern artificial grass feels soft, looks realistic, is able to handle foot traffic and furniture, and has drainage holes to prevent water buildup.
4. Interlocking Tiles
When the event ends, interlocking tiles detach easily for storage or reuse. If that sounds ideal, wait until you hear the other benefits. Installation is so straightforward that you can put the kids to work. The tiles just need to be laid down side by side and snapped together. You can trim the edges if necessary, but it’s better to work with what you’ve got so they can be repurposed in other situations. The tiles are available in PVC, rubber, foam, cork, and composite deck options and they require no adhesives, nails, or permanent fixtures. The raised design allows water to drain underneath, it can handle excessive foot traffic, and the tiles are available in a range of colors and textures.
5. Pallet Decking
With this temporary backyard flooring idea for events, you only need a couple of pallets laid tightly together on level ground. It creates a stable surface for furniture, stages and high-traffic areas. Think dancefloor, buffet table, and seating area. The pallets can be reused for future events or you can repurpose them to make furniture or other structures afterwards. Simply hand down the rough spots and splinters, and add an outdoor rug or plywood sheet for extra smoothness. The raised structure improves drainage and airflow beneath, which reduces mud or dampness. It all comes together to create a practical, temporary structure that’s aesthetically pleasing.
6. Heavy-Duty Tarps
Tarps aren’t just for camping, construction sites, and gardening – and they’re definitely not too informal for a good backyard bash. Use heavy-duty tarps as a fast, temporary floor covering that protects guests and furniture from mud, dust, spills, and messes. Secure them down with weights, stakes, or tape to prevent shifting during dancing and mingling. If you want to cover a larger area you can overlap multiple tarps in multiple colors with multiple patterns. It sounds chaotic but it works. This temporary backyard flooring is especially useful for casual events like BBQs and outdoor movie nights. Tarps are lightweight, easy to store, and reusable for multiple occasions.
7. Plywood Sheets
Plywood sheets are perfect if you want a smooth, uniform surface to hold up all of your partying. Lay the sheets side by side, secure them with weights, or temporarily anchor them for a bit of extra stability. If the space in your backyard is irregular, cut them to fit. To prevent barefoot and high-heeled guests from getting hurt, sand the edges and cover the sheets with rugs or tarps. The sheets distribute weight evenly, which means the risk of furniture sinking into soft ground is reduced/eliminated. If your plywood is treated it can resist moisture and last for multiple events, but it’s also easy and cheap enough to remove and discard. Or to use as firewood.
