Introduction: Backyard Glamping Guide
I spent April 2020 losing my mind in my living room.
We were all stuck inside, “Married & Isolated,” and I’d edited enough footage to last a lifetime. My backyard—fifteen feet from my desk—became this weird forbidden zone I’d stare at through the window. So one Friday, I grabbed a tent from the garage, threw in a sleeping bag, and slept outside. No plan. No Pinterest board. Just me, the stars, and a realization: this is the closest I’ll get to a vacation this year.
That night kicked off what I now call my “glamping phase.” Not Instagram-perfect yurts with Edison bulbs and macramé. Just a filmmaker trying to make his backyard feel less like a patch of grass and more like somewhere worth being.
If you’re eyeing your yard right now, wondering if you can turn it into something more than a place to mow—yeah, you can. Here’s how I did it, what I learned, and the gear that actually mattered.
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The Problem: Your Backyard Feels Like… Your Backyard
Most backyards are boring. Mine was a lawn, a fence, and a spot where my dog did his business. Sleeping in a tent there felt less like camping and more like pretending.
The issue isn’t the space. It’s that backyard camping lacks context. You’re twenty feet from your fridge. Your neighbor’s porch light is on. Someone’s mowing at 7 a.m. It doesn’t feel like an escape—it feels like you’re homeless in your own yard.
Traditional camping works because you’re somewhere else. You drove two hours. You hiked. You earned it. Backyard camping removes that journey, and without it, you’re just… outside.
Why Backyard Camping Fails (And Glamping Fixes It)
Here’s the truth: camping is uncomfortable, and that’s the point. You trade convenience for experience. But when you’re in your backyard, you’re not trading anything—you still have your house. So the discomfort just feels pointless.
Glamping solves this by saying, “What if we kept the experience but ditched the suffering?” Instead of roughing it, you create a space that’s intentionally better than your bedroom. A place you’d choose to be, not just tolerate.
I learned this the hard way. My first night, I used a $40 dome tent and a sleeping pad I bought in 2012. I woke up at 3 a.m. with a numb hip, cold feet, and the realization that I could just… go inside. So I did. The whole thing felt like a waste.
The next weekend, I tried again—but this time, I committed. Better tent. Real mattress. Lights. A fire pit I’d been meaning to set up for months. Suddenly, my backyard wasn’t just “outside.” It was somewhere I wanted to be.
The Solution: Build a Space That Competes With Your Bedroom
If your backyard setup isn’t as comfortable as your couch, you’ll bail by midnight. The goal isn’t to replicate a $300-a-night glamping resort. It’s to create something that makes you think, “I could sleep here and actually enjoy it.”
Here’s what worked for me:
1. Ditch the Dome Tent (Or Upgrade It)
Standard camping tents are low, cramped, and depressing. You can’t stand up. You can’t move. You feel like you’re hiding, not relaxing.
I switched to a bell tent—one of those tall, circular canvas setups you see on Instagram. Yeah, they’re trendy. But they’re trendy because they work. You can stand up, walk around, and actually arrange furniture inside without everything feeling like a Tetris puzzle.
I used a White Duck Outdoors Avalon Bell Tent (13 feet in diameter). Cotton canvas, breathable, and sturdy enough that I didn’t worry about wind. Setup took 20 minutes once I figured it out. The stove jack was overkill for summer, but come fall, I ran a small propane heater through it and stayed out until November.
If a bell tent feels too bougie, go for a cabin-style tent—something with vertical walls and a higher ceiling. Just make sure you can stand up in it. If you’re hunched over, you’re doing it wrong.
Alternative: Those bubble tents? The clear inflatable ones? I didn’t try one, but a buddy in the Pacific Northwest did. He said it’s incredible for stargazing—until it rains. Then it’s a fishbowl with condensation. Cool concept, limited practicality.
2. Sleep on Something That Doesn’t Suck
Air mattresses are a trap. They leak. They deflate. You wake up on the ground at 4 a.m., confused and angry.
I bought a gel memory foam mattress—the kind you’d put in a guest room. It compresses down, fits in the tent, and doesn’t puncture if you sneeze near it. I grabbed a Zinus 6-inch gel memory foam (queen size) off Amazon. Under $200. Worth every penny.
If you’re not ready to commit to a full mattress, get a self-inflating sleeping pad (like the REI Co-op Camp Bed 3.5). They’re thicker than backpacking pads, don’t require a pump, and won’t leave you sleeping on dirt by sunrise.
Pro tip: Bring real bedding. Egyptian cotton sheets, your actual pillow, a comforter. This isn’t a survival test—it’s a vibe. If you’re using a sleeping bag from summer camp, you’re doing it wrong.
3. Lighting That Doesn’t Scream “Utility”
I strung up solar-powered fairy lights from Amazon—30 feet of warm white LEDs, $25. They ran on a battery pack I charged during the day. No extension cords. No worrying about tripping breakers.
Inside the tent, I used a rechargeable camping lantern (the Goal Zero Lighthouse 400 is solid). Dimmable, lasts forever, doubles as a phone charger. I hung it from the center pole and it lit the whole tent without feeling like a hospital.
Skip: Those cheap LED strips that cycle through colors. They’re fine for a kid’s birthday party. They’re not fine for pretending you’re in a Wes Anderson film.
4. A Fire Pit That Doesn’t Require a Building Permit
I’m not digging a fire pit in my yard. I rent. So I bought a portable propane fire pit (the Outland Living Series 401). Propane tank, fake logs, adjustable flame. It looks like a real fire, requires zero cleanup, and I can move it onto the deck when I’m done.
If you’re a purist and want a wood fire, get a steel fire pit bowl (like the Solo Stove Bonfire). They’re efficient, don’t smoke as much, and won’t scar your lawn. Just check local fire regulations—some cities are strict about open flames.
5. A Rug (Yes, Really)
This sounds ridiculous until you try it. I threw a cheap outdoor rug from Walmart inside the tent. Suddenly it felt like a room, not a tarp. Plus, it’s warmer underfoot than bare ground, even with a tarp groundsheet.
I used a 5×7 reversible polypropylene rug ($40). It dries fast, doesn’t mildew, and I hosed it off at the end of summer.
Implementing the Solution: What to Actually Buy (And What to Skip)
Here’s my no-BS shopping list, based on what I used and what I’d buy again.
Must-Haves
- Bell tent or cabin tent (13–16 feet diameter) – White Duck Outdoors, Stout Tents, or Kodiak Canvas
- Gel memory foam mattress or self-inflating pad – Zinus, Coleman, or REI Co-op
- Real bedding (sheets, pillow, blanket) – use what you already own
- Rechargeable lantern – Goal Zero, Black Diamond, or BioLite
- String lights (solar or battery-powered) – any brand on Amazon
- Portable fire pit (propane or wood) – Outland Living, Solo Stove, or Breeo
- Outdoor rug – Walmart, Home Depot, or Amazon Basics
Nice-to-Haves
- Portable BBQ (Weber Q1000 or Char-Broil Portable) – if you want to cook outside
- Camp chairs or a folding table – ALPS Mountaineering, REI Co-op
- Hammock – ENO, Kammok, or Wise Owl
- Outdoor speaker (Bluetooth, weatherproof) – JBL Flip 6, UE Wonderboom
Skip Unless You’re Going Full Glamping Resort
- Chandeliers, ottomans, or decorative throw pillows
- Bubble tents (unless you’re in a bone-dry climate)
- Expensive yurts (they’re permanent and expensive)
- Fake grass or AstroTurf (just… no)
What I Wish I’d Known Before I Started
You don’t need permission to make your backyard cooler. I spent weeks overthinking it—researching tents, reading reviews, watching YouTube videos. Then I just set it up and adjusted as I went.
Start small. My first “glamping” night was a tent, a mattress, and a fire. That’s it. I added lights and a rug later. You don’t need to buy everything at once.
Weather matters more than you think. I learned this in June when a surprise rainstorm soaked everything because I didn’t stake the tent fly correctly. Now I check the forecast and always bring a tarp.
Your neighbors will ask questions. Mine thought I was building a guest house. Once I explained it was just for fun, they wanted to try it too. Turns out, people are desperate for reasons to be outside.
Final Thoughts
Backyard glamping isn’t about Instagram. It’s about giving yourself permission to treat your yard like it’s worth something.
I’ve spent nights out there editing footage on my laptop, writing scripts by lantern light, and falling asleep to the sound of absolutely nothing. It’s become my reset button—a place I go when I need to disconnect without actually leaving.
You don’t need a $2,000 yurt or a Pinterest-perfect setup. You just need a space that doesn’t suck, and the willingness to sleep somewhere other than your bed.
Your backyard’s already there. Might as well use it.
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About the Author:
Trent Peek is a filmmaker specializing in directing, producing, and acting. He works with high-end cinema cameras from RED and ARRI and also values the versatility of cameras like the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema.
His recent short film “Going Home” was selected for the 2024 Soho International Film Festival, highlighting his skill in crafting compelling narratives. Learn more about his work on [IMDB], [YouTube], [Vimeo], and [Stage 32].
In his downtime, he likes to travel (sometimes he even manages to pack the right shoes), curl up with a book (and usually fall asleep after two pages), and brainstorm film ideas (most of which will never see the light of day). It’s a good way to keep himself occupied, even if he’s a bit of a mess at it all.
P.S. It’s really weird to talk in the third person
Tune In: He recently appeared on the Pushin Podcast, sharing insights into the director’s role in independent productions.
For more behind-the-scenes content and project updates, visit his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@trentalor.
For business inquiries, please get in touch with him at trentalor@peekatthis.com. You can also find Trent on Instagram @trentalor and Facebook @peekatthis.
