With warmer weather right around the corner, now is the perfect time to give your backyard a little love before it’s time to host friends and family.

Wondering what to avoid as you prep your space for the season? Here, three interior designers chime in with five things that make backyards look bad and why—be sure to steer clear of these pitfalls at all costs.

Treating the Space As An Afterthought

Designers stress the importance of designing your backyard the way you would any interior area of the home.

“The number one thing that will make your backyard not look as great as it could is to not put the same level of intention into it as you do your indoor spaces,” Kathy Kuo, the founder of Kathy Kuo Home, says.

Do not be afraid to take small steps to elevate your outdoor space, Kuo adds, noting that even just hanging string lights or displaying a cluster of planters can go a long way. Chloe Judge, an interior designer at Mackenzie Collier Interiors shares similar sentiments, noting that many people view the backyard as an afterthought.

“It’s where people tend to place hand-me-down lawn chairs and mismatched pillows, resulting in a space that feels poorly designed,” she says.

To avoid this pitfall, Judge recommends determining a color palette for the space and buying rugs, pillows, planters, and furniture that corresponds accordingly. This will allow you to create a space that flows seamlessly with the rest of your home, making it a place you’ll want to spend time in, Judge says.

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Not Bringing in Color

Additionally, when designing your backyard space like you would an interior room, do not shy away from the use of color, Judge adds. Judge explains how many people often stick with gray as a safe neutral, worrying that lighter colors will get dirty or that brighter colors might be too bold.

That said, Judge believes that pops of color make a backyard look much more inviting and will go a long way to make your yard feel like a thoughtfully designed extension of your home. Judge encourages people to look at their surroundings to select hues that either complement or contrast what is nearby.

Not Thinking About Ambient Lighting

Every design enthusiast understands the importance of opting for a layered lighting scheme indoors, but people will sometimes forget to weave the appropriate lighting into their outdoor spaces, Judge explains.

“With a singular overhead light, the space will feel unfinished, less inviting, and halting the design from blending with the entire backyard,” she says.

Instead, the designer recommends bringing in some accent lighting, citing portable table lamps, lanterns, and modern string lighting as great options that will infuse lighting to the whole yard, making it feel more high-end like a hotel or spa. Candles are an excellent choice, too, adds Sara Hillery, the founder of Sara Hillery Interior Design.

Selecting Cheaply Made Furniture

While you definitely do not need to break the bank when decorating your backyard, you should be mindful of purchasing furniture pieces that are built to stand the test of time. Otherwise, you will end up having to replace these items year after year—spending a bit extra up front will pay off in the long run.

“You want furniture and cushions that will stand up to sun fading and harsh weather conditions,” Hillery says. “Inexpensive furniture tends to have flaking paint and fading colors within a year of sitting outside.”

Hillery recommends opting for pieces made with performance fabrics designed specifically for outdoor use.

Not Thinking About Your Landscape

You don’t have to hire a professional landscaper to make over your yard, but you should pay at least some attention to its appearance, Hillery notes.

“Nothing looks worse than bare beds and scraggly plants,” she says. “Think in terms of evergreen anchor plants and create a garden plan with plants that bloom each season.”

The designer also recommends purchasing nice looking planters, which will elevate the overall look.