People will dance anywhere when the time to move the body arrives. But the experience will be a lot better when you give them a dance floor to do so.
Whether you’re hosting a party, a wedding, or a simple reunion with friends or family and want to make everyone rock their body, then a dance floor in your backyard can be an excellent idea.
But coming with an affordable and still useful DIY dance floor idea is not easy. Mostly when you haven’t made one of these before, it gets overwhelming and confusing.
Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way. With the ideas below, we’re going to teach you precisely what to consider and how you build that dance floor quickly and on a budget. Check them out!
Steps To Make Your Backyard Dance Floor
Now that we are done with all the checklists, let’s get into the real business of how we are going to put them together to make a functional, sturdy, and reusable dance floor.
Step 1: Select The Right Spot In Your Backyard
Before we start making the floor, we need to decide where we are going to lay it. So give your backyard a look and find a spot that is spacious enough to fit a dance floor yet has some room around it.
Our tip: Place it in the middle and away from places like pools, fences, and walls. So that even if the floor gets full, people can dance around it and enjoy together. Also, keeping it in the middle makes sure the dance floor is the center of attraction, and if people want to chill and talk, they have quiet corners.
Step 2: Prep The Spot
Once you’ve finalized the ideal spot, now it is time to prep it for the floor. If you have grass in your yard, trim it down to the shortest so that the floor gets a good grip.
Also, make sure that the ground is properly leveled and doesn’t have any holes, dents, or pieces of rocks and pebbles lying around. A little undulation in the ground can make the floor wobbly and unsteady, which can cause it to break.
So this step is very crucial, DO NOT skip it!
Step 3: Take The Measurements
While you are prepping the yard, take the measurements of the floor size. Our suggestion, if you are having a party of 10 to 20, is to make the floor at least the size of at least 18 sq ft.
That way, even if six people are dancing together on the floor (which is around 30% of people at the party), each of them will have 3 sq ft of space. This will ensure that your guests are dancing comfortably and not constantly bumping into each other.
If your party size is bigger, you can apply this rule accordingly. Make the floor for 30% of your guests, where each should have 3 sq ft space.
But obviously, if you’re hosting a big party but don’t have enough space to follow this rule, you can customize it at your convenience. Just make sure you keep aside 40-50% of space in the yard for guests, furniture, and other things.
Step 4: Prep The Plywood
After getting your floor measurements finalized, it is time to prep the plywood. To make a raised floor, you first need to make the floor skeleton. For that, take wood joists and make a grid pattern frame.
The joists should be at least 2 by 3 inches, or else they will not be able to take the weight of so many people together and will have a chance of cracking.
Step 5: Attach The Plywood
Once the grid frame is ready, place the plywood piece on top of it and secure them together with screws.
Step 6: Attach The Non-Slip Padding
To make the floor more secure, you can add non-slip padding underneath it. If you have grass or turf in your yard, you can skip it. But if you place the floor on a concrete or tiles floor, the padding will add better grip.
Step 7: Assemble and Give It The Final Touch
After assembling everything, to give the floor the finishing touch, take sandpaper and buff out the rough edges of the floor. Pay close attention to the corners, as those are places where people will have more chances of getting their toes bumped.
Finally, you can leave it as it is, or you can add a coat of waterproof or weatherproof paint to make it long-lasting. Before you paint it, don’t forget to sand down the surface so that the paint sits well.
10 Backyard Dance Floor Ideas to Consider
Now that you’ve learned the basics of what it takes to build a dance floor in your backyard let’s show you the best ideas we found.
1. Sandy Beach-Like Dance Floor
A pool party is out of style already. The new trend? Drop hundreds of pounds of sand in your backyard and build a dancefloor. Don’t believe us? Consider the hundreds of different events run on beaches and sandy areas nowadays. You’ll know we’re not making it up.
The best of all? It’s simple as it sounds. The place doesn’t have to be only for dancing but also to just have fun, play backyard games, and much more.
An exciting part of sand is that you can permanently leave it in the backyard and even give a nice look to the house. It will be a positive addition to your home more than it would be an unnecessary thing in the right place.
However, be careful – if you’re not thinking of letting the sand stay permanently, it could be a lot of work to remove later. Even dropping the sand in the first place could cost you a lot.
2. Wooden Deck with Pergola Dance Floor
Decks with pergolas can always become dance floors with the right organization and decoration. In fact, they’re a go-to option for most people who just want to save money and time.
One big recommendation for this type of dance floor is to get rid of all furniture and other nuisance objects. Anything that could become a bit dangerous, get it out of the way. This not only helps to make the dance floor more appealing, but it also adds up to the beauty of the place.
3. Pallet Deck Dance Floor
Want a cost-effective alternative that can also become a long-lasting area in your backyard? A pallet deck could be the way to go.
Pallets make for super-sturdy platforms, capable of hosting a lot of people at once. That’s why they’re so sought-after at industrial and commerce warehouses.
But be aware, though. These pallets seem cheap, but they can be somewhat costly. If you can get them for free or at a low cost, that would be ideal. Arranging them is a piece of cake later on.
4. Under-Hut Deck Floor
There’s no point in going the extra mile when you can use a simple hut or roofed platform as a dance floor. It seems hard, but it’s a simple thing to do.
You just need to decorate the place more enticingly to resemble a dance floor, clean up the floor to be sufficiently smooth, and that’s it.
It will work for practically anything, going from sweet sixteen parties to weddings or simple reunions with friends or family. Either way, it’s as simple as it sounds – just use the place you have ready and decorate it to the max.
TIP: A disco ball always works wonders as decoration – especially in the center of the place.
5. Stone Patio Party Dance Floor
There’s no need to make something super-elegant, illuminated, or even cozy. If you want to make it simple, just use part of a stone, stamped, cemented, or tile backyard and use it as the dance floor.
It works better if the backyard is big, of course. But even if it is small, it will work decently well as a dance floor. Just try to decorate and organize the place, so there’s enough space for people to dance freely.
This is an excellent idea for night events with some outdoor lights, or for daylight with natural sunlight. More importantly, it costs nothing literally – you just need to organize and decorate (if necessary).
6. Vintage Recital Dance Floor
There’s no need to make intrinsic and over-the-top dance floors when you can develop something simple like a timber platform.
You can build one of these in a day or two. It doesn’t have too large either (depending on your needs). And it will be a bit elevated to host not only people dancing but also bands playing and even singers if necessary.
One huge advantage is that you can build it to be removable and add up to the versatility of a concert platform or deck. And done modestly enough, it looks fantastic in any backyard.
7. Wedding-Style Dance Floor in Gazebo
Have a gazebo unused in your backyard? Make it a dance floor, then. That’s the best and only way to come up with something interesting when you’re on a budget and under time restraints.
A few decorations and a dancing ball will be enough to transform a boring and underutilized gazebo into a more exciting and dance-oriented area.
Done the right way, a gazebo can become the center of any party or reunion. And it doesn’t have to cost much.
8. Chess Board Dance Floor on Concrete
Few people would ever think a dance floor on a concrete backyard could be impressive. But it can. For those who love vintage and unique styles, a chess-board floor can be an excellent alternative.
The advantage of this type of dance floor is that it takes almost no space. It works as decoration for your backyard and as the place to move the body when the party starts.
The best of this type of idea is that you don’t need much money to make it happen. If you want to get the tiles or slabs out beforehand, that’s possible. But your best bet would be to simply paint with black and white in a chessboard-like pattern, and that’s it.
9. Modern-Style Backyard Dance Floor
No need to come up with super-difficult dance floors that will eventually cost you a fortune. You can utilize a small tiled area in your backyard to make it happen.
This works incredibly well for slightly elevated places in the backyard but still has lovely tiles or concrete floor to dance over. You just need to remove the furniture (chairs and tables) from it and that’s it. The place will be ready for some dancing.
The best of this kind of idea is that you won’t need much more than decoration to make it work. In fact, not even decoration is necessary. As long as people are willing to move their bodies, any platform like this would be an excellent idea.
10. Grass Carpet Backyard Floor
You don’t need to remodel your whole backyard to make a dance floor that’s worth using. By simply mowing the grass sufficiently low, you can make any place enticing enough.
It doesn’t even have to be real grass. If you want to give your backyard a bit more life, just buy a grass carpet and install it. This will add up to the beauty of the place and make it pleasant enough to dance on.
The best about this idea is that it doesn’t have to be a dance floor only. You can use the carpeted place for any kind of outdoor game or just relaxing beside a pool.
Tips for Making It Party Ready
If you are putting so much effort into making a dance floor for your backyard party, you would definitely want everyone to get on the dance floor and show some moves.
While most of your party-loving friends will do that anyway, there will always be some shy souls that need to be nudged a little to get on the dance floor.
So here are some planning tricks you can add to your party decor to make sure your guest gets naturally drawn toward the dance floor.
- Place everything around the dance floor. Meaning, keep the sitting area on one side of the floor and food, drinks, and exit on the other side of it. With this setting, your guests will have no choice but to cross the floor at least once. And if the beats are right, those few moments will be enough for them to get used to the floor and groove.
- Use a lot of lights and decor around the floor that makes the place look photo-worthy. Nobody would want to dance on a floor that is in a dark corner and away from glitz and glamour. So make it peppy and welcoming.
- For those who are going to give the excuse of wearing white sneakers and painful heels, keep some pair of cheap sandals for them.
- You can put some anti-fatigue floor mats on the plywood to make the dancefloor uber-soft and extra comfy.
Things to Consider for a DIY Dance Floor
While it may seem like a straightforward thing to do, a dance floor can take more work and money than you expect. That’s why it is essential to plan what you want and how you want to do it.
If you’re familiar with some of the basics below before starting, you’ll have an easier time building that dance floor:
1. Size of the Area
How big of a dance floor do you need? It seems obvious, but many people tend to forget that the larger the dance floor, the more money and time they’ll have to spend. Of course, other factors matter more than size, but it is a general thing to be well-aware of how big you want it beforehand.
2. Material of the Dance Floor
Some materials work better than others for dance floors. For example, tile is an excellent material, but slabs and stones are typically too smooth. A decent option could be wood or concrete, but a pebble dance floor can be annoying. Also, some are more expensive than others – so choose wisely.
3. Dance Floor Level
This refers to whether you want a dance floor at the standard backyard level or want something elevated, like a deck or platform. The difference is that leveled dance floors are easier to get on and much safer, but they don’t make it clear they’re dance floors like a deck or platform would.
4. Removable or Not
A dancefloor you can put on your backyard and then put off whenever you need it can be a better idea than a permanent one. Movable decks and small platforms are ideal for mobility. But if you’re looking for something permanent, build a concrete or tiled space instead (which could be costly).
FAQ’s
Yes, you can while professionals generally install commercial dance floors, you can quickly build a dance floor for home use.
Yes, you can use plywood for a dance floor. Many home dance floors may be made of plywood, but sealing it will increase its tensile strength. Build a dance floor that can fold up for simple transport and storage in a carpeted space.
The dance floor thickness you desire will rely on safety, practicality, and demands when designing a flooring installation for dancing at home or in a studio. It should be at least 100 mm high above the floor.
Yes, If you’re feeling adventurous, you can make a platform dance floor by using pallets as a subfloor and securing plywood sheets.
Hardwood floors are best for highly professional dance studio flooring. It’s high-performance, versatile, ideal for all dancing styles, and stunning.
The experts said you could anticipate receiving quotations for dance floors in the $1,000.
For an event with 100 guests, a 12 by 12 dance floor is a reasonable size. This can handle 30 to 40 dancers at once.
Conclusion
Making a dancefloor in your backyard is simple if you know what you’re doing. With our many ideas below, making that DIY dance floor won’t be much of a problem.
Just remember to plan it beforehand and go on with an open mind. Even the dullest of places can become an exciting dancing area if you put your creativity to work.
So, what are you waiting for? Go build that dance floor now!