Skip to content

Top Navigation

Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes & Gardens
  • Gardening
  • Home Improvement Ideas
  • Cleaning and Organizing
  • Recipes and Cooking
  • Decorating
  • Holidays
  • Rooms
  • Shopping
  • News

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin

Explore Better Homes & Gardens

Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes & Gardens
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Only Weed Identification Guide You'll Ever Need: 33 Common Weedy Plants to Watch For

      The Only Weed Identification Guide You'll Ever Need: 33 Common Weedy Plants to Watch For

      Don't let these pesky plants crash your garden party! The first step is to know your enemy. Then you'll know the best way to deal with your weed problem. Read More
    • 6 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Get Organized for Good

      6 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Get Organized for Good

      A professional organizer offers advice on how to tidy up your home without feeling overwhelmed. Read More
    • 5 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie for a Healthy Boost

      5 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie for a Healthy Boost

      Anti-inflammatory smoothies do exist! Instead of blending in boatloads of sugar and artificial ingredients, try these smoothies for inflammation that are stoked with ingredients that may help lower your risk for chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, depression, and more. Read More
  • Gardening

    Gardening

    See All Gardening
    4 DIY Seed-Starting Pots You Can Make With Items You Already Have

    4 DIY Seed-Starting Pots You Can Make With Items You Already Have

    Upcycle old newspapers, junk mail, and other waste paper to make these easy, eco-friendly containers you can use to sprout new plants for your garden.
    • Flowers
    • Houseplants
    • Plant Encyclopedia
    • Garden Pests
    • Trees, Shrubs & Vines
    • Caring for Your Yard
    • Edible Gardening
    • Garden Design
    • Gardening By Region
    • Landscaping
  • Home Improvement Ideas

    Home Improvement Ideas

    See All Home Improvement Ideas
    What Style Is Your House? The 10 Most Popular House Styles Explained

    What Style Is Your House? The 10 Most Popular House Styles Explained

    With so many types of house styles, narrowing the list down to your favorite can be overwhelming. We'll show you the top 10 most popular house styles, including Cape Cod, country French, Colonial, Victorian, Tudor, Craftsman, cottage, Mediterranean, ranch, and contemporary. Here's how to tell the differences between each architectural style.
    • Home Exteriors
    • DIY Home Electrical Tips & Guides
    • Outdoor Structures
    • Home Remodeling
    • Plumbing Installations & Repairs
    • Remodeling Advice & Planning
    • Flooring
    • Lighting
    • Decks
    • Porches
  • Cleaning and Organizing

    Cleaning and Organizing

    See All Cleaning and Organizing
    A Whole-House Cleaning Schedule You'll Actually Stick To

    A Whole-House Cleaning Schedule You'll Actually Stick To

    Cleaning your home doesn't have to be a daunting, time-consuming chore. The key to managing household duties quickly and efficiently is to design an easy-to-follow routine that includes all the most important tasks. Follow these step-by-step instructions for creating a customized whole-home cleaning schedule.
    • House Cleaning
    • Laundry & Linens
    • Cleaning Tips
    • Closet Organization
    • Organization Tips
    • Kitchen Storage Organization
  • Recipes and Cooking

    Recipes and Cooking

    See All Recipes and Cooking
    21 Essential Baking Tools Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 That Are Nice to Have)

    21 Essential Baking Tools Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 That Are Nice to Have)

    If you're a beginner baker who's just starting out (or a master chef looking to declutter), start with this list of baking tool must-haves. We'll help you set up a baking essentials kit for beginners with 21 pastry tools. For those who already own these handy tools, this list may finally provide the motivation you need to toss that never-been-used soufflé dish. Building your essential baking tools and equipment inventory starts here.
    • How to Cook
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Fish Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch
    • Dinner Recipes & Meal Ideas
    • Ethnic Food
  • Decorating

    Decorating

    See All Decorating
    7 Interior Design Trends Everyone Will Be Trying in 2021, According to Experts

    7 Interior Design Trends Everyone Will Be Trying in 2021, According to Experts

    Designers weigh in on the most popular decorating styles, colors, and materials you can look forward to in the coming year.
    • Choosing Color
    • Expert Decorating Advice
    • Fireplace Design Ideas
    • Do It Yourself Magazine
    • Window Treatments
    • Styles & Decor
    • Interior Painting
    • Home Makeovers
    • Small-Space Decorating
    • Traditional Home
  • Holidays

    Holidays

    See All Holidays
    International Women's Day: The Powerful Story Behind This 111-Year-Old Tradition

    International Women's Day: The Powerful Story Behind This 111-Year-Old Tradition

    What began as a small movement, has grown into a global holiday dedicated to celebrating the strong women in our communities.
    • Valentine's Day
    • Mother's Day
    • Easter
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July/Memorial Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year's
    • Juneteenth
    • Hanukkah
  • Rooms

    Rooms

    See All Rooms
    Living Room Furniture Arrangement Ideas

    Living Room Furniture Arrangement Ideas

    Get tips for arranging living room furniture in a way that creates a comfortable and welcoming environment and makes the most of your space.
    • Bedroom Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Bathroom Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Kitchen Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Living Room Decorating and Design
    • Dining Room
    • Home Office
    • Kid's Rooms
    • Baby Nursery
  • Shopping
  • News

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. BHG.com
  2. Home Improvement Ideas
  3. Porches & Outdoor Rooms
  4. Outdoor Rooms
  5. Do-It-Yourself Outdoor Project Ideas

Do-It-Yourself Outdoor Project Ideas

Caitlin Sole headshot
By Caitlin Sole May 20, 2016
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin FB
patio
Sprucing up your deck, patio, or yard just got an inspirational boost, thanks to these projects you can do yourself. They range from small and simple to more intricate and involved, and all are worthwhile to make the outdoors more livable and lively come spring.
Start Slideshow

1 of 17

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Pallets in a Perky Palette

patio

Wooden pallets are easy to come by on the cheap -- many businesses will even give them away! They are the building blocks of a coffee table so low-maintenance, it can stay outside year-round. Our version stacks two pallets together for height and features a window box-style planter (which we filled with Scotch moss) as a centerpiece.

 

Get the DIY instructions.

1 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 17

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Double Duty

garden party

Boost the function of a store-bought potting bench, which doubles as an outdoor serving station. Cut sections of lattice to fit the sides and back, paint them to match -- we chose a saucy hot-pink -- and fasten the lattice with screws. Use S-hooks or screw eyes to hang garden tools, gloves, buckets, or other necessities so they’re always within reach.

2 of 17

3 of 17

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Flaming Centerpiece

pallets

Conjure up a festive mood with this outdoor fire bowl. Start with a fireproof container, such as this galvanized bowl that we primed and coated with outdoor paint in a cheery hue. Fill the bowl with recycled tempered glass chips, and tuck in a can of alcohol-free gel fuel. With a click of a lighter, the flame will dance and enchant for hours.

3 of 17

Advertisement

4 of 17

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Fancy Fence

garden boxes

All fences are functional -- even the simplest ones are good at delineating the neighbor's yard from your own -- but this one takes practicality to new heights. Not only are the boards brushed with green, blue, and gray exterior wood stain for a lively striped look, but the fence also holds aloft a couple of gutter gardens. That's right: Inexpensive vinyl gutters -- the ideal shallow plant container -- were cut into 3-foot sections (folks at the hardware store can do it for you) and then sprayed with two shades of green paint. Once we attached the gutters to the reinforced areas of the fence, we filled them with potting soil and plants for an easy, almost-instant garden.

4 of 17

5 of 17

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Easy Concrete Orbs

Make these easy, inexpensive concrete orbs for your garden using either a glass globe or a Christmas ornament.

5 of 17

6 of 17

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Suzani-Style Stepping-Stones

colorful garden stepping stones

These enchanting stepping-stones rival a rainbow with their riotous color! But it's not paint that beautifies them: It's fabric. And the pavers are amazingly easy to make yourself.

 

Make this project.

6 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 17

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

A Table that Rocks

patio

Create an outdoor cocktail table both rustic and glamorous with just a few supplies. Five feet of heavy-duty metal hairpin fencing forms a wire cylinder, and we used additional wire and pliers to secure the cylinder shape. (Clip the bottom to a finished edge so there are no jagged spots.) Set the cylinder near a cozy seating arrangement and fill the wire frame with 30 to 40 river rocks, arranging them so that flat stones sit flush to the interior walls of the cylinder and so that the top tier of stones sits below the top edge. That way, a tempered glass tabletop can crown the whole assembly.

7 of 17

8 of 17

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

From Fins to Feathers

vintage bait box birdhouse

An old bait box no longer assists in catching fish; these days, outfitted as a birdhouse, it beckons to feathered friends. Drill an entrance hole into the door, and smooth the edges with a metal file. Position a doorknob plate an inch below the door, and secure with quick-setting epoxy. Clip the metal points off of brass house numbers, and adhere them a few inches below the door with dabs of epoxy to give this abode an address. To hang, thread rope through the bait box's loop and a vintage spring, and knot onto a sturdy branch.

8 of 17

9 of 17

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Bag of Greens

tomatoes

Salvaged burlap bags and a cardboard box almost magically transform into a mini garden brimming with herbs and tomatoes -- all it takes is a bit of ingenuity. Split the burlap bags at the seams, piece them together to fit around the box, and sew the burlap with right sides together to form a tube. Turn the tube right side out, then fit it over the box, tucking and gluing extra burlap inside and underneath to conceal the cardboard. Line the box with a plastic trash bag to prevent leaks, and add potting mix and plants.

9 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 17

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Modern Family Table

Personalize It

Though it looks like a pricey designer piece, this cedar patio table was actually crafted out of materials from the local home center. The base consists of two 24-inch-tall clay chimney-flue liners set atop 4-inch-thick concrete blocks (so that the table is at a comfortable height for sitting and eating). We made the tabletop from 2x4 boards alternating with 4x4 posts in decay-resistant cedar set ¼-inch apart. (We cut them 8 feet long and used enough lumber for a table 5 feet wide, but you can size the table as you’d like.) For braces under the tabletop, cut several 2x4s an inch shorter than the table’s width, and place them evenly along the length of the table, making room for the clay bases. (We used five braces.) Decking screws secure the braces to the tabletop; we then turned the entire assembly over to set on the bases.

 

See the step-by-step makeover.

10 of 17

11 of 17

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Sized to Suit

shed

Most of us wouldn’t even try to build a house by ourselves, but shrink down the scale to the size of a garden shed, and all of a sudden we’re eager to roll up our sleeves! And why wouldn’t we be when a shed can be as detailed and dapper as this one? We designed it to be 5x8 feet so we could use standard, 8-foot boards, and it sits on a level spot so that water flow isn’t an issue. And because it’s meant to endure the elements, we used galvanized nails and weather-resistant materials throughout to avoid rust and rot.

11 of 17

12 of 17

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Window Box Brightener

barn

A salvaged shutter perks up an otherwise plain window box almost as easily as flicking open the louvers will light up a room. Find a shutter about the same size as the front of the box, and paint it if you'd like. (We coated ours with a sunny yellow shade.) Once it's dry, use screws to attach it to the box.

12 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 17

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Spruce Up Pots

Pretty up terra-cotta pots with paint. Watch and learn how with this simple how-to video.

13 of 17

14 of 17

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

An Edgy Flower Bed

stone

Got a smidgen of space for flowers or a veggie garden? Make this easy planter out of concrete pavers and edging (both readily available at home centers) for handsome raised beds that belie their humble price tag.

 

Make this project.

14 of 17

15 of 17

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Easy Garden Bench

bench

Would you believe that this chic, modern garden bench backed by lime green lattice panels was once an old paneled door? First we cut out the panels on both ends of the door for the shrub containers, filling in any visible channels with wood scraps and putty. (Choose containers that are beefy enough to support the weight of someone sitting on the bench. They should be larger than the door panels but narrower than the door so that the door will rest securely on top.) Reinforce the door by screwing 1x3 boards along its edges, then prime and paint the whole thing. Once dry, set the door atop the containers in the desired spot in your yard, and fill the containers with potting mix and shrubs. Now take a seat -- you've earned it!

 

Get the step-by-step instructions

15 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 17

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Fantastic Fountain

Outdoor Project

What's more refreshing in a backyard than the playful babbling of a fountain? Even more appealing, a water feature will drown out street noise and welcome birds and butterflies into a garden. You may need to track down some of the supplies from a water-garden shop or online, but such an eye-catching -- and ear-delighting -- feature is well worth the effort.

 

Get the step-by-step instructions.

16 of 17

17 of 17

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Great Wall of Concrete

100844541

Few features have as much impact on a garden -- both visual and architectural -- as a regal retaining wall. Such walls can tame a pesky slope and expand a yard's gardening potential, all while adding structure and interest to a landscape. Walls up to 4 feet high are safely within a do-it-yourselfer's capabilities, but you'll get a workout: Concrete blocks can weigh 20 to 80 pounds! Grab a friend (or three) to tackle such a project together.

 

How to build a retaining wall

17 of 17

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Caitlin Sole

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 17 Pallets in a Perky Palette
    2 of 17 Double Duty
    3 of 17 Flaming Centerpiece
    4 of 17 Fancy Fence
    5 of 17 Easy Concrete Orbs
    6 of 17 Suzani-Style Stepping-Stones
    7 of 17 A Table that Rocks
    8 of 17 From Fins to Feathers
    9 of 17 Bag of Greens
    10 of 17 Modern Family Table
    11 of 17 Sized to Suit
    12 of 17 Window Box Brightener
    13 of 17 Spruce Up Pots
    14 of 17 An Edgy Flower Bed
    15 of 17 Easy Garden Bench
    16 of 17 Fantastic Fountain
    17 of 17 Great Wall of Concrete

    Share & More

    Tweet Email Send Text Message
    • Better Homes & Gardens BHG Logo Products at Walmart
    • Better Homes & Gardens BHG Real Estate Real Estate Services
    Better Homes & Gardens

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Better Homes & Gardens
    • Help
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithBH&G is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Better Homes & Gardens. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.bhg.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Do-It-Yourself Outdoor Project Ideas
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.