18 DIY Backyard Ideas That Will Turn Your Outdoor Space Into an Oasis

Create a Vining Garden

Want to bring more color and privacy to your backyard? Grow vining plants, like climbing hydrangea, roses, or honeysuckle, up over a section of lattice. While it's a fairly hands-off project—you'll just need to set up the lattice panels, and then plant your preferred shrub—it will require time for your flowers or greenery to become established.

Add Some Color to Your Furniture

Use some paint to add a pop of blue (or whatever hue suits your fancy) to your backyard furniture—the finished product is sure to delight. This simple restoration will make your outdoor area your new favorite place to get some fresh air. If you don't have an old outdoor sofa to upgrade, seek one out at a flea market or antique store.

Build a Pond

Yes, it is possible to create a pond in your own backyard, but it's a project that'll require some time and a fair amount of work. The finished product is well worth that effort: Not only will it look great, but the trickling sound of water has a calming effect, too.

Use an Outdoor Rug

Who says rugs (when they're made of the right fabric) can't be used outside? If you have one that you love but it has seen better days, make this easy DIY: Simply purchase an outdoor-friendly runner and, using water-resistant paint, stencil on some stripes.

Make a Bird Bath

Terra-cotta is a tried-and-true medium for an array of DIY backyard projects, but we think it lends itself most beautifully to a bird bath. Make your backyard an oasis for feathered friends, too, by setting up this beautiful piece in your backyard.

Give Your Patio Set a Refresh

Elevate your backyard furniture with a little bit of paint and creativity. After a few hours, you'll have transformed your entire seating area without ever having purchased new pieces.

Grow Fragrant Flowers

A backyard idea that will delight multiple senses? Plant sweet-smelling blooms like gardenias or sweet peas, pictured here. Most flowers will require some level of ongoing tending, but the beautiful, colorful results will make the process entirely worthwhile.

Plant an Herb Garden

Create this tower of herbs and you're giving yourself the gift of fresh, flavorful ingredients all season long. Add it to your backyard and place it where it'll receive ample sunlight.

Hang a Wreath

Whether hanging from a tree or your back door, this citrus garden wreath is a fun idea to liven up your outdoor space. Best of all, it's a project you can complete quickly, which means you can easily swap it out for a new design anytime the mood strikes.

Make a Bird House

Whether you're a bird watcher or love to experience animals in the backyard, creating a birdhouse is the perfect DIY project for you. Creating this modern A-frame is easier than it looks, but it does involve a bit of woodwork. Customize your finished piece to suit your home's unique style.

Construct a Deck

If you have ample backyard space, building a deck is a great way to make the most of it—and it can even add to your home's curb appeal. The process is definitely time-consuming and will require a great deal of work (and potentially permit requests from your municipality), so it's important to fully consider what you're getting into first. If a DIY doesn't sound up your alley, talk to a local contractor about having one professionally built. Either way, it's bound to be a feature you'll use for years to come.

Add a Raised Garden Bed

Whether you want an elevated patch to save your back or you love container gardening, incorporating a raised garden bed into your backyard will help you yield lots of gorgeous crops.

Grow a Vegetable Garden

Do you have an unused plot of land in your backyard? Put it to good use by transforming it into a vegetable garden. After all, few things are quite as rewarding as enjoying the fruits of your labor. Plant anything from peppers to tomatoes—depending on the climate—and enjoy your harvest.

Make a Water Fountain

Yes, you can make a trickling water fountain in your backyard—all you need are a few extra pots, a pump, and some piping. Here's how to do it:

1. Collect three "display" pots and two "support" pots. The measurements should not matter, so long as the bases and tops correspond as shown above. (The display pots we used measure as follows: 12 inches wide at top, 6 inches at base; 17 inches at top, 8 inches wide at base; 23 inches at top, 12 inches at base. The smaller support pot is 8 inches at top, 6 inches at base; the larger one is 12 inches at top, 10 inches at base.)
2. Plug the drainage hole of the largest pot with foam sealant. Place the pot on a level surface. Cut a length of 1-inch-diameter flexible plastic tubing that, when inserted into a 375-gallon-per-hour pump, extends through both support pots and 6 inches above the base of the smallest display pot. Insert the tubing into the pump.
3. Place the pump in the base pot, running the power cord over the rim, toward a grounded exterior outlet. Invert the larger support pot over pump, propping it on wooden shims to allow water to flow underneath; feed the tubing through the drainage hole. Spray foam sealant around tubing to seal.
4. Position the second display pot; feed tube through hole. Seal with foam. Repeat with the remaining support and display pots. Add a flow-control valve a few inches from the end of the tube. Add water until the pots are overflowing; plug the pump into the outlet, adjusting pressure as needed.

Make a Fire Pit

Making a fire pit is easier than you might think—and it serves as a welcome addition to any backyard once the weather begins to cool off. If building your own sounds too labor intensive, purchase a pre-built option and devote your time to landscaping around the area where you'll set it out.

Welcome Bees

Bringing pollinators to your backyard is a way to ensure your garden stays blooming all season long. You have a few options on how you'll achieve this goal: Building a beehive that they can call home is great, but filling your beds with pollinator-friendly plants will also welcome these important creatures to your backyard.

Set Up a Trellis

Trellises are perfect for growing vining plants, but they also help create a shade-like canopy and lots of visual interest. Purchase a pre-built trellis, then get to work planting your favorite flowers and greenery to grow along each section.

Plant Fast-Growing Shade Trees to Cool Off

Every yard needs a respite from the sun, and you can do that easily by planting some fast-growing shade trees to provide some sweet relief. Choose trees like sycamore, ficus, or red maple, which all have growth rates between 1 and 3 feet per year.