Outdoor DIY Ideas From Landscaping To Building a Deck
Summer months are made for spending time outdoors. After a long winter and a rainy spring, the sunshine beckons. While you may have used the snowy days of winter to complete your indoor home projects, the focus now turns to your outdoor spaces.
Perhaps you’ve spent the winter dreaming about making your backyard into a welcoming oasis. Maybe you’ve planned your ideal garden. Or maybe you have the itch to enhance your yard, but don’t know where to start. That’s where Guardian Mortgage comes in. We’re sharing a variety of outdoor DIY ideas to get your wheels spinning.
No matter how grand or small your dreams for a home DIY project may be, it’s worth thinking through the many possibilities for enhancing your outdoor space. Once you know what you’d like to do, prioritize based on your availability, skill level, financial commitment, and most importantly… what will make the greatest impact for you and your family.
10 Home DIY Ideas for Enhancing Your Outdoor Space
- Build a deck. If you are looking for a hands-on building opportunity, a deck is a great addition to your yard. Imagine unwinding after a long day on your DIY deck, along with family and friends. Decking materials range the gamut and include varying levels of maintenance. Research composite decking, wood decking and pressure-treated wood to see what’s right for you. Always remember to consider your city’s building code and get HOA approval, if needed, before starting any big project.
- Update your patio. Like a deck, a patio is a great hands-on DIY project. Stamped concrete, brick, stone, and pavers are popular patio materials. You can also look at adding new patio furniture, flower planters, and rugs to update your current patio space. The Spruce shares a variety of patio ideas(Opens in a new window) to get your creative juices flowing.
- Construct an outdoor kitchen. Foodies and chefs will love an outdoor kitchen. Creating a space for your grill, outdoor griddle, smoker, and all the accessories that accompany them can make cooking for friends and family so much easier. For DIY outdoor kitchen inspiration, turn to This Old House(Opens in a new window). Take extra safety precautions when building your DIY outdoor kitchen. The more complex the project, the more dangerous it can be.
- Erect a privacy screen. A privacy screen or wall at the end of your patio can add style and seclusion to your backyard oasis. Keep it simple with vertical or horizontal wood slats or dress it up with trailing flowers or herb boxes.
- Create ambiance with a fire pit. S'mores anyone? Nothing says summer like a campfire. With so many pre-built fire pit options on the market, you can find an option to meet any budget. Or use stones to create a built-in fire pit on your upgraded patio. Decor Home Ideas shares 35 easy DIY fire pit ideas(Opens in a new window) to help you plan your addition.
- Add an outdoor bar. This may be a more intricate DIY option but having a dedicated space to grab a drink while relaxing outside can be exciting. You can choose to build a stand-alone bar or add a bar to an already existing deck or patio. As with building a deck, take extra safety precautions if you decide to build something from scratch.
- Enhance your landscaping. Add value and visual appeal to your home through enhanced landscaping. If you live in a particularly arid climate, you might consider adding turf or artificial grass to keep a green look without the intense care and nursing required of grass. Or consider adding an underground sprinkler system to reduce the workload of keeping your grass healthy. You can also look at adding stone pathways, shrubs, and plants to increase your home’s curb appeal.
- Start a garden. There is something indescribably satisfying about eating food you’ve grown yourself. Build your own DIY elevated garden beds or use pots for a container garden. Then fill them with fruits and vegetables that grow well in your climate. For more information on what foods grow best in your area, almanacs serve as wonderful resources.
- Increase the fun with outdoor games. A simple but fun project to start with might be creating games for the family to play outside. Ladder golf or a cornhole set provides hours of fun while being simple enough to build before the Fourth of July. If you are really feeling ambitious, you could even explore building a playset or sandpit for the kids. These DIY projects create hours of enjoyment for the littlest member of your family, giving the adults a chance to unwind.
- Add some twinkle. An incredibly easy way to elevate your backyard is with string lights. The best thing about string lights is that the complexity of the project is completely up to you. If you have trees in your yard, you can use them as your “hooks” and have your project done in less than an hour. If your yard doesn’t have a lot of trees, you can consider hanging grommets or adding in ground posts to hold your lights in place.
No matter what project you decide to take on this summer, amplifying your outdoor space will provide enjoyment for years to come. In many cases, these projects will even increase the value of your property. If you’re looking to complete a yard DIY project but don’t know where to start, we hope these outdoor DIY ideas inspire you.
The most important thing to remember is to stay safe while completing these projects. It’s not a violation of “do-it-yourself” to ask for help when it’s needed. Ask a friend for assistance or hire a professional to help with certain elements of your DIY project when called for. The project and your safety will benefit from you “phoning a friend.”
For more information on how these changes can impact your property values, contact a Guardian Mortgage professional.
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