Many homeowners with backyards don’t know how lucky they are to have such a serene place within their houses, even more so now during the rise of condominiums and apartment buildings. These outdoor settings are often neglected because they can’t provide the same comfort as being inside the home does.

But there are plenty of ways in which backyards can be maximized, particularly in this digital age where people are always glued to their screens. Nature deprivation contributes greatly to depression because people don’t spend as much time in the real world as they do online.

Here are five DIY projects that you can do to encourage yourself and your family to spend more time outdoors. Utilize

the space you have at home and create avenues for you to relax in the sun while breathing in the fresh air.

Patio

One of the easiest DIY projects on this list is the patio, which isn’t technically a structure but a pavement. It can provide the same function as a wooden deck or gazebo, but it’s cheaper and easier to make because there are no structures to build.

All you will have to do is allocate a space in your backyard that you can excavate and layer with cement or stone to create a solid foundation. There are plenty of materials that you can use to build this, but you’ll have to double-check with your chosen patio supplier and provider on the availability of their stocks.

Patios are normally used for recreation, especially because you can place outdoor furniture on them to make an extension of your dining room. This can be a great addition to your home if you are someone who frequently holds outdoor gatherings or enjoys the fresh air.

Gazebo

With a big open space, a classic octagonal gazebo might just be what you need to bring some life to it. Or you can go with a more functional gazebo that can double as an outdoor bar complete with stools and built-in coolers, depending on what you’re using it for.

Some gazebos can also accommodate a small grill where you can cook during family barbecues or gatherings. But you can always go for the simplest type of gazebo where you can place a table and some chairs for quaint meals.

Pergola

Being outside doesn’t mean that you need to deal with the sun rays stinging your skin or blinding you with light. You can be in the sun and be comfortable at the same time with the right shade, which the pergola was made for.

Pergolas are structures that provide shade through cross-beams or open lattices attached to vertical posts or pillars. They can be placed in any open space such as walkways, gardens, patios, or decks to provide a level of protection from the sun.

These shades can also instantly beautify any place it’s attached to because climbing plants can grow over the pillars and beams. And because pergolas are built for durability and longevity, you can place swings or hammocks to make them more comfortable. This is a great addition to your backyard, especially if you situate it near a pool.

Fire Pit

What if you realized that you can create a campfire and eat s’mores without having to leave the city? You can do all that from your backyard when you build a fire pit that is durable and can add character to your home. Plus, you can DIY this project if you have some spare time.

A fire pit can be the perfect addition to your home if you love hosting cookouts and barbecues, or enjoy jamming with your friends and family on cool autumn nights. Building this pit by yourself can give you more opportunities to showcase your talents, from the design to the material that you’re going to use.

You can use stones or bricks to create a fire ring, and add benches around the pit where you can sit to feel the warmth from the fire. You can also set up tents near the pit and camp out with your kids to give them an experience of a lifetime, without taking away precious bathroom privileges.

Deck

A well-built deck can be a place where you lounge in during lazy afternoons or have breakfast on sunny mornings. Plus, it can add character and elegance to your home, which places great value on your property just in case you plan to sell it in the future.

Wood is a timeless material that can be perfect for the deck you’re going to create. You can also place a pergola perched on top of this deck to offer you some shade and room to hang some plants. This structure can give you an opportunity to place fairy lights or decorative lamps that you can turn on during the night.

Building a deck can be more complex and time-consuming because it’s a big structure with multiple layers. This means that you will need to have more available time or hands on deck (pun intended) to make this perfect.

Creating DIY projects like these can add great value to your life. Not only will these structures encourage you to spend more time in nature, but they can also put your physical skills to good use because you’ll be building them yourself.

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