24 Awesome DIY Project Ideas to Customize Your Backyard

If you have the itch to spruce up your backyard as the warmer weather approaches, our 24 DIY ideas will keep you busy. It doesn't matter what size your outdoor space measures, there's a project for you here that'll make you excited to spend every spare minute in your outdoor oasis.

Build a simple piece of patio furniture, brighten up your space with a fire pit or rope lighting, paint everything from your floor, fence, and furniture, and entertain yourself and the kids with a hammock or swing from a tree. The sky's the limit when it comes to DIYing your own style of furniture and accessories in the great outdoors.

01 of 24

DIY Rope Light Sign

A Beautiful Mess

Get a similar look as you would from a neon sign by using a rope light to make your own illuminated signage. It's one of the perfect outdoor lighting solutions for shining some extra light when you want to enjoy the evening on your patio with friends and family.

DIY Rope Light Sign Tutorial from A Beautiful Mess
02 of 24

DIY Outdoor Timber Side Table

Francoise Et Moi

If you have a tiny balcony, here's an ideal DIY project that fits the bill. Give yourself a stylish place to set your drink with this teeny timber side table.

DIY Outdoor Timber Side Table Tutorial from Francoise Et Moi
03 of 24

DIY Outdoor Concrete Fire Pit

Man Made DIY

Roast marshmallows in your backyard over your DIY concrete fire pit. This project requires a large bowl and quickly setting concrete mix. Outdoor fire pits are one of the easiest DIY projects thanks to proven creative ideas. The stunning result helps to keep you warm on cooler summer nights.

DIY Outdoor Concrete Fire Pit Tutorial from Man Made DIY
04 of 24

DIY Pallet Plant Bench

Monsters Circus

Enjoy relaxing beneath the shade of two small trees with this creative bench idea. A recycled wood pallet slipped between the trees makes this bench and creates extra seating for your yard.

DIY Pallet Plant Bench Tutorial from Monsters Circus

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05 of 24

DIY Outdoor Wall Makeover

Sarah Hearts

Temporarily add the look of wallpaper to an exterior wall of your home or fence. Add this leaf stencil using a free stencil template, and color in the stencil design with chalk to add a bold pattern to your backyard. The wall design will naturally wash away on its own over the season.

DIY Outdoor Wall Makeover Tutorial from Sarah Hearts
06 of 24

DIY Hammock

The Merrythought

Relax underneath the trees in your backyard with a DIY hammock made with a simple canvas drop cloth and rope. Grab an outdoor pillow and throw to make it cozier.

DIY Hammock Tutorial from The Merrythought
07 of 24

DIY Outdoor Serving Station

Live Laugh Rowe

Safely grab your circular saw and make an outdoor serving station. If you're tight on space, this serving station attaches to the wall and takes up little space, but handles loads of drinks and snacks. The best part? It closes when it's not in use.

DIY Outdoor Serving Station Tutorial from Live Laugh Rowe
08 of 24

DIY Outdoor Bench

Creative Green Living

Build a set of two designer-inspired outdoor benches to add seating to either side of your patio table. Or, create an L-shaped seating arrangement in the corner of your deck or patio. Replace any worn plastic patio chairs with these sturdy and affordable wood benches.

DIY Outdoor Bench Tutorial from Creative Green Living

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09 of 24

DIY Patio Umbrella Stand

Delia Creates

Prevent your patio umbrella from falling over by crafting an umbrella stand out of a large plant pot that's sturdy enough to keep your umbrella standing upright. A concrete planter, concrete, a bit of PVC piping, and heavy rocks all pulled together to do the trick.

DIY Patio Umbrella Stand from Delia Creates
10 of 24

DIY Painted Patio Tiles

A Beautiful Mess

Fix your stained or bland patio tiles with paint and a plan in mind. This graphic design was planned with lots of painter's tape and patience, but the result looks like a painted outdoor rug.

DIY Painted Patio Tiles Tutorial from A Beautiful Mess
11 of 24

DIY Rolling Grill Cart

Jen Wood House

Give yourself some extra space to lay down food trays while you are grilling on the BBQ. Roll this DIY cart next to the BBQ grill then roll it over to the patio table so you don't need to carry all that food. If you're looking to create more of an outdoor kitchen, try your hand at a DIY BBQ island.

DIY Rolling Grill Cart Tutorial from Jen Wood House
12 of 24

DIY Leather Sling Chair

Kristi Murphy

If you love leather, grab a seat. Upgrade your deck with a leather sling chair. Achieve the look by reupholstering an old fabric sling beach chair that's seen better days with a piece of leather. The leather from this chair was rescued from an older leather sofa. Bring the chair indoors in colder seasons. With outdoor living, anything goes when it comes to patio seating.

DIY Leather Sling Chair Tutorial from Kristi Murphy

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DIY Tree Swing

The Merrythought

Keep your kids entertained for hours with a backyard tree swing or indulge in your childhood nostalgia with this classic DIY project. Even if your kids already have a playground set, a little solo swinging in another part of the yard or garden can help a child unwind.

DIY Tree Swing Tutorial from The Merrythought
14 of 24

DIY Painted Patio Chairs Makeover

Sarah Hearts

Outdoor spray paint covers a multitude of rusty sins. Grab a can or two and fix up your stained or lightly rusted metal patio chairs with a fresh coat of paint. Today's paint formulations fight off rust and juicy, vivid colors make your chairs look brand new. You can achieve the same magic using appropriate paint on plastic outdoor furniture, too.

DIY Painted Patio Chairs Makeover Tutorial from Sarah Hearts
15 of 24

DIY Wood Outdoor Bench

DIY Candy

Though it looks expensive, this contemporary outdoor wooden bench costs a handful of dollars to make. This pine bench, made without screws and only with adhesive, is stained with a dark color to make it look even richer and more inviting.

DIY Wood Outdoor Bench Tutorial from DIY candy
16 of 24

DIY Marble Fence

C.R.A.F.T

For an eye-catching, playful, and decorative finish to your yard, build a section of fence or a gate with marbles built into the wood. The sun bounces off the marbles while light shines through marbles of various sizes and colors. All it takes is drilling holes to match the sizes of the marbles, then pounding them snugly into the wood using a rubber mallet. Fences make the perfect canvas for whimsical project.

DIY Marble Fence Tutorial from C.R.A.F.T

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DIY Ikea Outdoor Bench Makeover

Sarah Hearts

Give an old or unfinished IKEA wood bench a makeover with outdoor paint. This bench appears to have legs that were dipped in paint, but the look was achieved using tape to keep the lower half of each leg its natural color.

DIY Paint Dipped Ikea Outdoor Bench from Sarah Hearts
18 of 24

DIY Outdoor Succulent Wall

Sugar And Cloth

This outdoor succulent wall adds extra greenery to an empty space in your backyard without taking up much room. Stain some wood rails and hang shiny pots filled with unusual succulents.

DIY Outdoor Succulent Wall Tutorial from Sugar And Cloth
19 of 24

DIY Outdoor Kids Playhouse

Jen Wood House

Young children will surely adore having a playhouse where they can pretend to have a house of their very own in the backyard. Add a wreath and window box for the real deal. The key is working with simple tongue-and-groove planks to create the frame.

DIY Outdoor Kids Playhouse Tutorial from Jen Wood House
20 of 24

DIY Concrete Fire Column

In My Own Style

Light up your pool and patio with soft flickering candles that are safely protected from the wind pushing them over or blowing them out. A constructed concrete base sturdily holds the candle in place, while the glass prevents the candle from blowing out. Make them tabletop size or tall for the floor.

DIY Concrete Fire Column from In My Own Style

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21 of 24

DIY Painted Outdoor Rug

A Beautiful Mess

Tired of tripping over your outdoor carpet? Make one that lays flat by painting directly onto a part of your concrete patio. Bold paint transforms your patio. Prep and prime for a lasting design. Use a stencil or create your own using painter's tape.

DIY Painted Outdoor Rug Tutorial from A Beautiful Mess
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DIY BBQ Grill Countertop

Jen Wood House

Do you love to cook outdoors on the BBQ? Chances are you'd love more counter space next to your grill to help you prep the food. This sturdy grill counter lets you grill will ease. If you have a heavy grill, like this kamado model, you'll want this super durable table plan with extra support on the bottom.

DIY BBQ Grill Countertop Tutorial from Jen Wood House
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DIY Painted Patio Umbrella

Lovely Indeed

Update your plain or solid color patio umbrella with a spattering of latex paint. All it takes is a simple pattern to bring that wow factor into your backyard. This pattern is a simple brush pattern using horizontal strokes with unfinished edges that give it an artsy feel.

DIY Painted Patio Umbrella Tutorial from Lovely Indeed
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DIY Outdoor Sectional

The Design Confidential

Up for a DIY challenge? Make your own sectional for a fraction of the cost it would be for a new set. The cushions here come from Pottery Barn, but you can make your own as thick and comfy as you'd like.

DIY Outdoor Sectional Tutorial from The Design Confidential

24 Awesome DIY Project Ideas to Customize Your Backyard

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