Being a homeowner is a big responsibility, and while there’s plenty to take care of inside you home, don’t forget about the outside, either. If you’ve ever looked into the cost of hiring a professional landscaper, you know they’re not cheap. Fortunately, there are a slew of inexpensive and affordable DIY landscaping ideas at your disposal, so long as you’re willing to get your hands a little dirty. From the front yard to the back, barbeque pits to bistro lights, here are 59 ways you can affordably improve your outdoor space.
7. How about creating a berm? What’s a berm, you ask? It’s when you transform your totally flat yard by creating mounds of interest. Easy, and totally affordable. Be sure to do your research first before create a berm around the base of any tree, as too much dirt can suffocate the tree.
10. DIY landscaping ideas don’t get much more affordable than this: install brick edging to outline areas of your yard using salvaged or recycled brick.
14. Display flowers in containers along steps, walkways, or on ledges. This is a great way to add visual interest if you have a lot of brick or asphalt in your front yard.
24. Get ready for DIY landscaping ideas straight out of childhood. Why not create a secret garden in your back yard? The 9-year-old in me is absolutely giddy over this idea.
35. Stack ’em up! With a little extra effort, you can transform the previous project on this DIY landscaping ideas list into a multi-level water feature.
37. This is one of those DIY landscaping ideas that is going to require the help of a friend, but if you’re into drama, consider building a stone pond fountain.
42. Nothing beats the backyard privacy of your own fence. Before you begin the building process, you’ll need to be sure of a few things: Verify your property line, check with your city or township about the limitations and height-restrictions of your fence, have someone from the city come and check for gas lines, and have a neighborly chat with anyone you’ll be sharing the fence line with.
46. Transform your privacy wall using shou sugi – the process of burning wood, making it water-resistant. Side effect, the shou sugi treatment transforms wood to a beautiful, rich black color.
48. Need lots and lots of privacy? There are cheap trees you can buy that over time will block out the neighbors, like the inexpensive Leyland Cypress.
Blooming flowers and fresh rain can only mean one thing: spring has definitely sprung! That means summer will be here before you know it. If getting your backyard in order is on your to-do list but you’re having trouble getting started – don’t fret! You don’t need a total landscaping overhaul for your yard to feel refreshed and inviting. Sometimes it’s just a matter of hanging up some string lights or creating a simple fire pit. We’ve rounded up 62 outdoor DIY projects to get you excited to be outside again as the weather warms up. From plants to playhouses, keep scrolling for more inspiration!
What ways do you want to transform your backyard? Let us know in the comments!
4. DIY Porch Swing: As Liz Lemon says, “I want to go to there!” Swinging in the spring breeze is a total DIY reality with this project from A Beautiful Mess.
9. Modern Outdoor Sofa: This number is so sleek I might want to bring it inside my house! The good news is it’s built to withstand the elements, which means you can make your back deck super classy.
11. Outdoor Bar: If you’re not really the grill master type, but more of a whiskey woman, why not make a drink bar for your backyard?
Photo: Live Laugh Rowe
12. Wall-Mounted Serving Station: Want to entertain but don’t have space for a full outdoor kitchen? Go vertical by building this simple serving station with drop-down tabletop!
14. S’mores Station Centerpiece: Acting as both a lovely centerpiece and a warming station for marshmallow and chocolate, party guests are sure to be impressed by this s’mores machine (made from glass dishes!).
16. DIY Grill Countertop: Basically like having an outdoor kitchen, this brick counter space built around a grill surely makes outdoor entertaining a breeze.
17. Drink Cooler Stand: If you’re constantly entertaining outside, or if you just enjoy having a cold beverage available whenever, this drink stand provides a classy solution to the standard cooler.
26. String Light Hanging Poles: If you want to hang string lights outside but don’t have anywhere to put them, City Farmhouse has an easy solution that also involves plants!
29. Tin Can Lights: This project is a classic, and couldn’t be left off the list! If you need a quick, easy, and cheap solution for your outdoor lighting situation, grab some tin cans, tea lights, a hammer and a large nail, and get to punching!
31. Pool Noodle Luminaries: Even if you don’t have a pool, you can set these floatable candles off in a large container of water to add ambiance to any space.
Photo: The Blue Eyed Dove
32. Flower Pot Fire Pit: Who says fire pits can’t be cute? Beautiful in blue, this outdoor DIY project only requires a flower pot, stones, and a little flame.
33. DIY Trellis with Planter Box: Give crawling plants somewhere to go by building them a trellis. This project is also great if you’re looking to fill visual space in your patio or deck area!
34. Hose Housing Station with Built-In Planter: Gardening hoses are hard to keep neat and pretty. This project solves that solution by keeping the hose hidden! Plus there are flowers involved, which is always a bonus.
41. Geometric Cinder Block Planters: Cinder blocks are at it again! With a simple paint job, you can create a modern-looking planter to house all kinds of greenery.
42. Wooden Plant Stand: If you’re looking for ways to add visual height to your plant-scape, Shanty 2 Chic has the plans to build a wooden plant stand.
44. Colorful Patio Tiles: I can’t get over what a simple and transformative idea this is! If you can’t commit to painting your patio, try chalk for a temporarily colorful time!
46. Stenciled Concrete: This stencil job mimics the look of a rug with the low-maintenance factor of concrete! Try this look on for size if you’re trying to create a more intimate outdoor living space.
53. Sandbox with Lid: It’s a gross reality, but if you have cats, you have to have a sandbox with a lid. Ana White has the plans for how to build one of your own.
54. Sandbox with Seating and Awning: Keep the kiddos safe from the sun by adding an awning to your sandbox. Plus these plans come with adorable seating!
58. Tire Teeter Totter: Alliteration aside, this teeter totter is adorable. Plus it’s made from recycled materials, so it’s good for the kids and the earth.
Photo: Simply Kierste
59. DIY Tether Ball: This DIY feels like a throwback! Do you guys remember playing tether ball long into the afternoon? Turns out it’s pretty easy to make one of your own for you or your offspring to enjoy!
62. Giant Jenga: Last but not least, this thrilling game is the perfect addition to a summertime backyard party.
Bonus! Author Christina Pfeiffer is sharing What to plant for more drought resilient containers
By their nature, containers require more frequent watering than plantings in the ground. Smaller containers in full sun can need watering twice a day during hot spells. Go large when choosing new containers to save on time and water demands.
Choose a group of plants that are compatible in looks and culture. Match up their needs for light and water first, then play with combining colors and texture.
Sedums
These perennials are my first ‘go-to’ s for drought tolerant containers. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors with blooms that benefit pollinator insects and ask for little in terms of water and fertilizer. Most will overwinter and also combine well with other drought tolerant plants.
Herbs for garden and kitchen
Culinary and ornamental herbs are another group happy in well drained soil and sun. Those with variegated foliage are stunning accents planted solo in a container. Among my top favorites are:
Variegated lemon thyme Sages that are edible and ornamental: ‘Berggarten’, ‘Aurea’, ‘Purpurescens’ and ‘Tricolor’ Oregano ‘Kent Beauty’ trails beautifully out of hanging baskets and into the marinara sauce.
Perennial favorites
These garden perennials make a successful leap between garden beds and containers and back again:
Coral bells, Heuchera ‘Green Spice’, ‘Peppermint Spice’ and ‘Moonlight’ Geranium x ‘Johnson’s Blue’ and other hardy geranium Oxalis tetraphylla ‘Iron Cross’ Dusty Miller – Sunrose, Helianthemum ‘Wisley Pink’ and ‘St. Mary’s’ Hardy fuchsia Cape fucshia
Add these grasses and grass-likes for contrasting texture
New Zealand Flax, Phormium and variegated iris both offer tall, strappy, striped leaves. Low growing glack mondo grass has dramatic dark foliage and and small white or purple flowers. Variegated lily turf, Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’, ‘Silver Dragon’ and ‘Sunproof’ all have white edged leaves and purple blooms.
Annuals that can take the heat (and a bit of drought)
Many of the popular annuals used for seasonal color do best with regular water and fertile soil. Be sure to keep these birds-of-a-feather together. Here are some great annuals that don’t like as much water and fertilizer and that combine well with other types of plants listed in this article:
African daisy, Osteospermum Symphony series Sweet allysum, Lobularia maritima Coreopsis tinctoria Dwarf snapdragons, Chinese Lantern series
Growing herbs is an easy way to get into gardening, and there are plenty of ways to make an herb garden even if you’re short on space. So to get you inspired, today we’re sharing 22 of our favorite creative herb garden ideas – both indoors and out. Click through to check ’em out!
1. Take advantage of the vertical space on the side of your house by making this fun wall-mounted herb garden out of cans and metal cleats. Get the how-to here. [Photo: Simple Stylings]
2. Create a beautiful hanging planter out of a basket, and fill it with all of your favorite herbs and even some cherry tomatoes. Get the tutorial over at HGTV. [Photo: HGTV]
3. Reclaimed wood makes the perfect backdrop for small potted herbs. Just attach little metal buckets to the wood and plant your favorite herbs inside. Found over at Decorating Your Small Space. [Photo: Decorating Your Small Space]
5. If you’re into woodworking, give this vertical herb garden a try. Head on over to East Coast Creative to check out the full tutorial. [Photo: East Coast Creative]
8. Turn a hanging shoe organizer into an herb garden! This is a great option for those with very limited space. Learn more here. [Photo: Good Housekeeping]
9. This IKEA hack by yours truly is a clever way to reinvent the IKEA Vurm wine rack… check out the full tutorial here. [Photo: Faith Towers Provencher]
11. A window box is another great herb garden idea… it adds greenery to the outside of your house, and you can also easily access it from inside. [Photo: Bless My Weeds]
18. This might be my favorite… attach rain gutters to the side of your house and plant herbs inside. Just don’t forget to punch drainage holes in the bottom! [Photo via: Inspire Bohemia]
20. Here’s another clever one… fill a caddy with plants, putting a different herb in each section. This one is handy because you can carry it inside to harvest the herbs. [Photo: Backyard Boss]
22. And last but certainly not least… add some pizzazz to your boring fence with colorful herb planter boxes! Get the how-to here. [Photo: Not Just A Housewife]
Did you enjoy this article? Share it on Pinterest! [Photo: Backyard Boss]
Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and you know what’s better than a mom? Nothing! If you want to show your momma you care for her in a special and unique way, then handmade is the way to go. We’ve rounded up 48 doable Mother’s Day ideas you could craft for your mom, or for the other mothers in your life. Maybe you’re a mom too, and you want to treat yourself – go wild. It’s your day. Mom will love the care and thought put into her homemade gifts, and not only that, but all these DIY Mother’s Day gifts are totally not-tacky. She might even think you picked her gift up at a store!
What do you do to celebrate Mother’s Day? Let us know in the comments!
15. The great thing about giving grapefruit and rosemary bath salts as gifts for Mother’s Day is that you can make it in bulk and gift it to all the special moms in your life. Every mom needs a little me-time in their lives.
23. If you’re short on time, this floral ring dish can be crafted in just a few minutes with the help of temporary tattoos – making it totally personalized and last-minute-friendly.
31. Gift your mother some DIY watercolor coasters so she knows, yes, you heard her all those times she told you to get your drink off the coffee table.
34. Shoo, negative energy! Gift some good vibes with a simple crystal planter. When you’re giving your mom this present, don’t forget to include some air plant care instructions!
36. Can’t get enough of concrete? These planters are mixed with copper (FYI, this tutorial is in German, but the images make it easy to follow along!).
41. Mom’s cooking is simply the best, there’s no argument against that! Compliment her culinary skills with a handmade half apron (this one can be sewn in just half an hour!).
Spring is in the air! To me, spring is always, first and foremost, about color. It’s also my favorite time of year to keep flowers in the house, but this can be a very expensive habit. Instead, I’ve committed to getting my flower fix by picking one or two flowers from my daily walks to display in small bud vases. To honor each bloom, I wanted to whip some special bud vases to give them just-the-right place to live.
I found these pretty little glass jars at Michaels, and used standard acrylic paint to paint the insides of the vases and then splattered them with liquid gold leaf, which gives them a beautiful shimmer unlike plain gold paint.
Materials:
Small glass jars/vases
Pastel acrylic craft paints
Liquid gold leaf
Paintbrush
Spare newspapers/magazines
Latex or plastic gloves
Step
First, cover your workspace with spare papers or even plastic to protect it from paint. Be cautious and use several layers of paper for maximum protection.
Step
Add several drops of the desired paint colors to each small vase. Then add 1-2 drops of water and shake to combine. (This waters the paint down enough to move easily without changing its effect.) Carefully shake and move the paint around the inside of the vases until entirely covered. Then place top-down onto the paper for the excess paint to drain.
Step
Allow the paint to drain and dry for several hours or overnight.
Step
Turn the vases right-side up several inches apart and replace the paint-covered paper with new layers. Put on gloves to protect your hands. Dip the paint brush in the liquid gold leaf (may need to shake vigorously before opening) and lightly tap the paint onto the vases to create a speckled or splattered appearance. Repeat until satisfied with the pattern and set aside to dry completely for several hours.
*In my experience, liquid gold leaf will stain your hands and surfaces very easily so take extra precaution as it may not be washable.
Once the paint has all dried, insert flower buds or plain leaves to add color and life into your decor. With bud vases, there’s no need to buy a whole bouquet (unless you want to, of course)! Simply place bud vases around the house and add one stem to each to instantly update the space.
Are you looking for the perfect wall decor to fill in that nagging blank space where nothing else seems to fit? Or are you starting fresh with a new decorative theme, and need a place to begin? Let this post inspire you. We’ve collected smart and stylish living room wall decorations from across the web – from budget friendly selections to highly collectible accents from renowned designers. Whether your style leans glamorous, rustic, industrial, or natural, there’s something here for every decor style. Let your living room walls come to life as a canvas for your one-of-a-kind decorative style.
