The days are beginning to get warmer and longer, and now is the perfect time to begin planning ahead for a backyard weekend landscaping project. Studies show if you’re like most homeowners, you tend to clean up the yard every spring. Adding a few new flowerbeds, maybe plant some grass and call it a day. Have you ever thought about doing something a little more fun?
By starting a fun, creative backyard landscaping project you can create a unique look for your yard that your kids will enjoy all summer. The project itself will also be enjoyable for the whole family, turning an ordinary weekend into something a little extraordinary. Here are five great weekend projects for your family’s backyard:
Backyard Beach
Ever wish you could live on a tiny piece of beach property? Would your kids love to build sandcastles in their own backyard? Now’s your chance! By using sand, base rock such as granite, driftwood and seaside plants, you can create miniature sand dunes and the perfect spot to relax and sink your toes in the sand. It’s also the perfect spot to build a safe backyard fire pit.
Homemade Indian Tipi
Do your kids love to go camping? How about giving them their own backyard home away from home that can be a permanent, cool-looking feature of the yard? With five bamboo poles, durable weather-resistant fabric like what’s used to build patio umbrellas and some sisal rope, your kids can help you make a charming tipi. Get more details and instructions for building an Indian tipi from Sunset.
Backyard Scrabble/Board Games
Everyone loves board games! If you’re handy with woodworking equipment, you might just be able to pull off making your very own outdoor Scrabble board. The board is best placed on a patio or other perfectly flat surface. You can make the board out of wood or a mixture of concrete and wood. Either can be stained to create the different colored squares. After that, you’ll need to create tiles using baseboard and vinyl lettering.
Backyard Theater
One sure way to make your house the most exciting place on the block is to build your very own outdoor movie theater. You’ll need some specific equipment for this one, of course, notably a projector as well as a DVD player. The screen can either be purchased or made using lumber and a white bed sheet or piece of paneling.
Hobbit House
Finally, here’s the ultimate do-it-yourself project! With a little woodworking knowledge, wood, bricks, house paneling, and a large, grassy hill to work with, it’s possible to build your very own Hobbit house. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, it was a Hobbit hole, and that means comfort. Note: This project probably isn’t for beginners.
As with all do-it-yourself projects, the most important ingredient is imagination! The sky’s the limit when it comes to fun and unique project ideas to liven up your backyard and create a spring and summer full of memories.
