18 DIY Backyard Ideas That Are the Envy of Your Neighborhood

Winter is a great time to plan for DIY backyard ideas. We are dreaming and scheming of backyard ideas to create the *best* backyard space.

Hammocks… deck beds… patio tables with built-in wine coolers… Isn’t that the stuff summer dreams are made of?

Best Backyard Ideas to Upgrade Your Outdoor Space

Any backyard can be made a little cozier with these ideas for making your space more beautiful, useful, and fun.

1) Create an Outdoor Dining Room

Build a pergola to help define your outdoor space. It can also add style and shade to create a lovely dining area. Just add your favorite seating or outdoor bench, and a rug to give a pop of color, and you are on your way to dining al fresco.

2) Wooden Walkway Creates Instant Charm

If you’ve ever desired a meandering pathway in your garden somewhere, you will love this easy project! Create a pallet walkway with wood pallets to add a bit of rustic charm to your garden or yard. You can make it in one afternoon with pallet boards or pretty much any scrap wood you may have on hand!

3) Nifty Backyard DIY Idea for Upcycled Pallet

Short on space, build yourself a vertical garden decoration. It’ll look gorgeous filled with flowers, herbs, or succulents.

4) Add Some Chic Seating Around Your Fire Pit

No backyard makeovers are complete without a fire pit, but what really makes the space rock is a gorgeous seating area. Build yourself one of these easy DIY curved fire pit benches to really wow your friends!

5) Makeover An Old Door To Create A Serving Space

We love, love, love this vintage beverage bar station made out of an old door. Isn’t this DIY backyard project just gorgeous? Cream sodas and root beers all around!

6) Free Your Kids’ Imagination With Some Chalk Paint

The kids will have loads of fun drawing on their giant DIY outdoor chalkboard. How fun is that?

7) Build A Comfy Daybed on Your Deck

A daybed on your deck? or a DIY hammock? Why that’s just heavenly. Imagine reading there on a breezy spring or summer day. (See more of our deck hacks!)

8) Use Pavers to Dress Up A Blah Corner of Your Backyard

Build a cobblestone patio or walkway to add some pizzazz to your yard. It’s easier than you think.

You can get a mold to create pavers out of concrete or purchase individual pavers from a home store. Or for a more rustic look, see if you can mix-and-match pavers or remnants that you get on clearance or on from a neighbor.

9) DIY a Simple Bench for Added Seating

From neighborhood barbecues to pool parties, backyard gatherings require plenty of seating. Don’t rush to the furniture store, though, because this is a great chance for a DIY project!

You don’t have to be a DIY guru to build something fabulous. This outdoor seating area is made of wood and cinder blocks – the hardest part is carrying all the blocks from store to car to the backyard. Add some paint and a pretty cushion on top, and you’re done!

10) Built a One-of-a-Kind Playhouse For Your Kids

Not only is this a FUN hangout spot but it also is PERFECT as it closes up when not in use!! This DIY backyard playhouse will certainly be the envy of the kids in the neighborhood. The triangular space makes it interesting to look and it’s got two stories. The epic roof hatch opens to a playhouse equipped with a chalkboard wall, storage underneath the floor, and a loft with a fixed ladder. It’ll make the perfect kids’ clubhouse.

11) Create an Affordable Water Feature

Want to use water to add a little ambiance to your outdoor space? This contemporary water feature only costs $30 to make. It’ll look nice surrounded by some succulents.

Don’t forget, if you are looking to add live plants, you need to be sure to put this in a sunny spot!

12) Awesome Pizza Oven Project for the Backyard

Beside your patio, add a pizza oven!!  Is any food greater than the tasty, portable pizza? We don’t think so, and if you agree, you’ll want this outdoor pizza oven in your life. Homemade pizza is the stuff dreams are made of.

13) Backyard DIY Idea with Wine Bottles

Wine bottles make beautiful torches. They’ll look amazing lit up in the evening. Speaking of wine bottles, have you seen all the things you can do with wine corks?

You don’t need to use wine bottles for this project. You can use any bottle you like as long as it’s glass and the neck is 1” in diameter. You can use regular oil or change out for citronella oil to keep the mosquitos away.

14) Create Your Own Peaceful Outdoor Sanctuary

A hammock, pillows, table, and plants underneath make this one of the most magical outdoor spaces I’ve ever seen. I could read there all day!

In front of a fence, corner is the perfect backyard spot to create a peaceful sanctuary like the one below?

15) A Tree Swing Makes Any Backyard Better

All kids whether they are young or just young of heart want to fly, and every time they ride on a swing, they get closer to that Peter Pan moment. But you don’t need a whole playground to feel the spring breezes swoosh by. All you need is to make a good old-fashioned tree swing!

Even if you don’t have kids, a tree swing is a must. There’s no way you can feel anything but happy after playing on a swing.

16) Clever Bowling Alley Project

Build a bowling alley by your fence. In this version, the pins are attached to a rope to make standing them up much easier. You could even make pins out of recycled water bottles.

This backyard game would take a little more skill than most to really set up nicely, but your yard would be the hit of the neighborhood!

17) Make Giant Outdoor Versions of Your Favorite Games

Want a great way to get the family to spend more time outdoors? Bring Family Game Night outside.

The word nerd in me loves this outdoor Scrabble seating area. Great for outdoor entertaining!

18) Build a Unique Table for Entertaining in Style

And, finally, who can’t appreciate a DIY patio table with a built-in wine cooler? This is really a creative and clever idea for people who love to entertain in their backyard. Nobody wants to be at a party and have to search out for the drink cooler.  Or have to get up in the middle of a fun meal with friends and family just to get cold drinks, right?

Authored By Donella Crigger | One Crazy House