Are you looking for a DIY project to spice up your backyard for you and your kids? Then you are in the right place!
We’ve created a list of 25 awesome DIY Backyard projects. The project time commitments range from a couple of hours to several weeks.
These projects are great for doing with your family, and most are also focused on the little ones and their experience or fun in your backyard.
Read on to discover the best DIY Projects below!
1. The DIY Backyard Chalkboard
This DIY Outdoor Chalkboard is perfect for kids, or even adults to keep score of their favorite games like horseshoe tossing, football, and other exciting outdoor activities when you throw your next backyard barbeque!
Best of all, this DIY Chalkboard is easy to make, affordable, and will inspire your kids to use their imagination by drawing or keeping track of their adventures, and scores on this huge, exciting board that goes right onto your fence or other outdoor walls.
You can also use this chalkboard as a way to advertise the drinks, snacks, or food you’re serving at your next family reunion, or even let your kids play ‘store!’
DIY Details: heytherehome
2. A Colorful DIY ‘Key Windchime’ Project For Outdoors
Now you can make these easy DIY Key Windchimes to place anywhere throughout your home, may it be on your deck, patio, front, or even backyard!
This is a fantastic way to add ‘pizazz’ and boost your mood and mind every day with relaxing, smooth chimes that are sure to gain positive attention – and even give your kids something colorful to enjoy looking at every morning!
Best of all, these DIY Key Wind Chimes are made entirely from recycled keys, a few strings, and hooks to hang them up – simple enough! Right?
Check out other cool, relaxing DIY Backyard Projects at the Giving Inner Child Fun link below!
DIY Details: giving.innerchildfun
3. DIY Rope Swing For Kids!
If you’ve got kids, then you know how energetic and crazy they can be during the summertime or when they have off from school.
That’s why this DIY Backyard Rope Swing is the perfect solution.
Sure to bring endless hours of fun, kids can play on the rope together or take turns, and create countless memories this summer doing something that’s perfect for both their mental and physical health.
Best of all, you can easily keep an eye on them by hanging up this DIY rope swing right in your backyard, from a sturdy, durable tree-branch just using rope and a few other simple, tools and supplies.
DIY Details: dukesandduchesses
4. An Exciting DIY Outdoor “Xylophone”
The Giant DIY Backyard Xylophone is perfect for kids and bringing out their artsy, musical, and creative side!
Best of all, this is a cheap, easy to make project just using unwanted or recycled wood – perfect for when you do repairs or remodel your current fence and have a lot of wood leftover!
You and your kids can even paint the “Xylophone” together to match their personalities and interest, and making the wooden ‘drum stick’ to play their music is pretty easy too.
All you’ll need is a hand-saw, a few extra pieces of wood, rope, paint, and you’re ready to go!
Find more, cool, exciting DIY projects for kids at the LifeStyle link below.
DIY Details: lifestyle.yahoo
5. DIY ‘Firefly’ Lanterns For Your Backyard
These elegant and bright DIY Tin Can ‘Firefly’ Lanterns are the perfect way to brighten your garden, and give it that unique look your neighbors are sure to envy!
Simply using recycled tin cans, nails, pins, screws, and a hammer you’ll be able to make yours in just a few hours!
These beautiful, outdoor Tin Can Lanterns can be used any time of the year, and either hung on your garden walls, fence or even (carefully) spread across your garden!
What better, more natural and environmentally friendly light source could there possibly be? Read on to find out!
You can find the full DIY Tiny Can Glowing Lanterns tutorial below at the Grow Creative website!
DIY Details: growcreative
6. Use Old Toys To Create A ‘Rustic Planter’ Look
If you or your kids have any old or unused trucks lying around, this DIY Toy Truck planter is the perfect way to recycle them, and give your garden a personality like none you’ve ever seen before!
A toy pick-up truck is most ideal for this outdoor DIY garden project and will make your kids happy in the process.
This way, they can play outside with their other trucks and toys, and feel like a piece of them is in nature – which is sure to brighten their day and bring countless memories to come.
7. DIY Garden Critters Will Make Your Garden More Fun!
These DIY Garden Rock Critters are a super cute, easy way to make your backyard fun, and exciting for the little ones!
All you’ll need for this project are a few oval-shaped river-stones or granite rocks of your choice and acrylic paint. You can also opt for using other supplies like glue if you want to add ‘googly eyes.’
What better way to add mystery and excitement to your garden than with these cute, little eyed creatures? You can even keep the cats away with these, and spread them across your yard or garden to make it more fun!
Learn how to make your own colony of garden creatures here, or click the Instructables link below.
DIY Details: Instructables
8. Bring Your Tree To Life With A Gnome Door!
Are you a fan of gnomes, have a few garden-gnomes already, or looking to give your garden a fun, and witty touch? Then this DIY Garden Gnome Door is the perfect addition for any backyard!
Using just a wooden plaque board, wooden strips, and acrylic paint you’ll be set to go! This DIY garden project is enjoyable, cute, and your kids will have plenty of fun running around your tree or playing with their imaginary ‘gnome friends.’
To top it off, you can also add a little doorknob, and complete the piece with even a little painted stained-glass window!
Dream A Little Bigger has plenty of fresh ideas like the DIY Gnome Door and more, so check out the link below!
DIY Details: dreamalittlebigger
9. A DIY Tree Stump Mini-Garden
With this slick design, you’ll be able to turn any old tree-stump into a beautiful, natural potter and best of all this DIY project is absolutely free!
Whether you want just to add flowers, or make a ‘mini-garden’ out of it, depending on the stump size, the possibilities are truly limitless.
This is an elegant design, and environmentally friendly way to add personality to your garden, style, and cater to nature in the most natural way possible.
For more information on how to get started, check out the Interioraholic link below.
DIY Details: Interioraholic
10. DIY ‘Mushroom Paradise’ Garden Project!
Making a whole bunch of cute little mushrooms to spread throughout your garden is made easy with this 5-step DIY backyard project!
This is a really cool way to turn your garden into a ‘fantasy land’ and give your kids a more pleasant experience the next time they go to play out back.
Even better, you can include your children in on the fun when you make each one of these Concrete Mushrooms!
The project will only require a little bit of plastic wrap, a bowl filled with sand, a relatively large amount of cement depending on how many mushrooms you want, and of course paint to add color, personality, and design!
DIY Details: crownhilldaybyday
11. Add An Exciting DIY Tic-Tac-Toe Board To Your Backyard
This DIY Tic Tac Toe Backyard project is the perfect way to combine fun and creativity to any garden!
Making it is pretty easy, and all you’ll need are a few round rocks, black and white paint, and a paintbrush.
Kids, family, and friends will have a great time playing outside together this summer, and you can even spread them throughout your garden or place them on planters to add to the overall personality of your garden when not in use.
Check out more awesome, fun, and budget-friendly DIY Backyard projects at the NWEdible link below.
DIY Details: nwedible
12. A Simple DIY “Treehouse” For Kids
Not every backyard tree-house has to be sophisticated, costly, and time-consuming.
With this easy, and basic DIY Backyard Tree House design your kids will be able to have tons of safe, fun, and exciting adventures!
Starting with just the platform, as seen in the picture above, kids can have a great place to hang out, tell stories, and just take in the scenery may it be your backyard or garden. It won’t require more than a weekend or two, and some basic supplies and tools.
You can build a complete DIY tree-house or ‘apartment’ for a fraction of what it’ll cost you at the hardware or specialty store, so check out the Apartment Therapy link below for more awesome ideas, styles, and designs!
DIY Details: apartmenttherapy
13. Colorful And Fun Child Stepping Stones Arts & Crafts Project
This is an enjoyable, exciting DIY Arts & Crafts project that’s perfect for making with your kids – and allows them to add their personal touch to your backyard garden.
These colorful, beautiful gemstone stepping stones will only require simple supplies like cement, a box to make the creations in, and a few other basic supplies.
You can also take your kids to the local river or by yourself to go and find a couple of perfectly rounded river stones which you can either paint or combine with other glass stones purchased from the arts and crafts store.
Altogether, this entire project should cost no more than $20, and is sure to last for years to come for you and your family to enjoy!
Check out the Pink And Green Mama link below for the full tutorial and a step-by-step guide on how to make yours today!
DIY Details: Pink and Green Mama
14. Fun DIY Garden Markers Project For Kids
This is a very budget-friendly, DIY Garden Markers project that’s sure to be fun for both you and your family to make together!
You can paint each rock different colors, styles, add polka-dots, cute and funny faces, and more!
Even better, you can teach your kids about planting, and spark their interest in fruits and vegetables, as well as teach them about various flowers by marking each plant with these unique, cute garden markers!
All you’ll need is a little bit of creativity, patience, and you’re sure to have the best summer yet with friends and family!
Check out the Adventure-In-A-Box link below for more details.
DIY Details: adventure-in-a-box
15. DIY Recycled Tin Can Bird Feeders
There aren’t many things or experiences that can compare to the beauty and excitement of being able to watch different types of birds visit your garden to eat every day – and this DIY project is also an awesome way to teach your kids about nature!
These DIY Tin Can Bird Feeders are pretty easy to make, and will just require a little creativity, imagination, paints, and of course recycled tin cans.
This DIY project is overall pretty effortless, and shouldn’t take more than one day to complete with your loved ones – and birds are sure to come back for more all season long to relax, eat, and bathe in your garden!
Check out the Momtastic link below for the full instructions, and other awesome ideas!
DIY Details: Momtastic
16. DIY Cute Garden Laddy Bugs And Critters!
This is a charming DIY project for you and your kid’s garden, and you’ll be able to paint ladybugs, bumblebees, and all their other favorite animals or characters on these golf-balls – all for less than just $10!
All you’ll need for these DIY Garden Critters are used or unwanted golf balls, paints, a tiny paintbrush, and googly eyes if you want to bring your funny, cute little creatures to life!
See more cute and fun outdoor DIY projects at the Cute DIY Projects link below.
DIY Details: cutediyprojects
17. Natural Loom
Combining nature and knowledge, weaving vegetation through a natural “loom” can be lots of fun, especially if there’s more than one child playing together.
This is also a wonderful activity for growing respect for nature, and, improving their sensory skills at the same time!
DIY Details: babbledabbledo
18. Fairy Crowns
What child doesn’t want to ‘play’ royalty for their outdoor adventures? Combining simple items from around the house like tape, old grocery bags, and, flowers from your yard or garden is the perfect way to fill your child’s imagination.
This is a limitless activity, and great for your child to do whether alone or with other kids.
DIY Details: smallhandsbigworld
19. Delicious DIY Smore’s ‘Cones’ For Those Hot Summer Days
This is a very delicious, pleasant DIY Project for really satisfying you or your child’s sweet tooth, comes in a wide variety of flavors and can be done either in your backyard, or the next time you go camping with your loved ones!
Ingredients needed to make these goodies are your favorite waffle or sugar cones, mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, and a couple of butterscotch chips to top off the flavor!
Combining the best of both worlds, you’ll be able to keep cool, and have plenty of fun the next time you and your kids go out back to bond, make memories, or play outdoor games together.
Head to the below recipe shared by Frugal Coupon Living to learn the few simple steps of preparation.
DIY Details: FrugalCouponLiving
20. DIY Glowing ‘Capture A Fairy’ Mason Jars
These glowing ‘fairy jars’ are a terrific DIY project for kids to have fun running around your garden, exploring, and story-telling at night while lighting up their surroundings.
Each glowing jar should last at least 8-12 hours, which means your kids can play with these all night – and even take them to bed to keep their room glowing into the morning!
To create these DIY Fairy Jar Creations, you’ll just need a few simple things like recycled mason jars, diamond glitter, glow sticks of course, and a serrated knife.
What brings these ‘fairy jars’ to life is the glow-sticks behind the glass, as they’ll reflect vibrant colors of the different glitter you glue on the inside or outside of each jar.
Check out the Mom Dot link below for other cool, DIY Outdoor Projects your kids are sure to love!
DIY Details: momdot
21. DIY Weaving And Knitting Project For Kids
Now, weaving with your loved ones and kids is made possible and is a lot safer than just using a metal pin or needle and yarn. With this DIY Backyard project, you and your kids can relax out back, and make different creative yarn projects from dreamcatchers to their favorite animals, cartoon characters, or even clothes like dresses and shirts for their toys.
This DIY Summer Project is easy to get started and will require some basic tools and supplies. All you’ll need is masking tape and scotch tape, a pom-pom maker, beads, cardboard cut-outs around 6×8, scissors or an Exacto knife, twigs, and a few other essentials that should cost no more than $5.
Read more at the Art Bar Blog link below!
DIY Details: artbarblog
22. Budget-Friendly Stilts For Kids Using Coffee Cans!
These DIY Can Stilts are the perfect way to save money and time. Your children will love playing on them, and you can make more than one pair pretty quickly, so they can play with their friends!
What a great way for kids to exercise, practice their hand-eye coordination, and balance! All you’ll need for this DIY Backyard Project is recycled coffee cans, yarn, a hammer, and nails.
This is also an excellent way of teaching your kids to recycle, as well as practicing hand-eye-coordination and patience by creating their stilts.
The supplies you’ll need in addition to a few sturdy recycled coffee cans are a hammer, nails, and yarn. They don’t have to be made too large, and you can customize the size of each stilt by sawing the necessary diameters. Your kids are sure to have a blast, and summer they’ll never forget!
Check out the full details on how to make yours at the Teach Mama link below.
DIY Details: teachmama
23. Colorful And Sticky DIY Slime For Kids!
This Sticky And Colorful DIY Slime project is the perfect way to bring smiles to your child’s face and give them an activity that they can do anytime with their friends and neighbors.
You and your kids can customize the colors you make, and even add glitter for an extra shiny touch!
For this fun and sticky DIY Slime, you’ll just need a few simple things like borax, Elmer’s (glitter) glue, and water. Only requiring four simple steps, this is sure to bring you and your kids endless hours of gooey fun!
Check out The 36th Avenue link below for more excellent, unique DIY ideas and projects for the ones!
DIY Details: the36thavenue
24. Let Your Kids “Print” Their Own Soapy Foam Adventures!
The DIY Soap Foam Printing project is messy and exciting in all the right ways! Kids can have tons of fun letting their imaginations go wild, and not have to worry about making a mess.
You can purchase your children a water-color friendly easel and paper sheets so that they can draw with the soap foam after they make it. Altogether, this entire project should cost just $10 or less.
Best of all, the DIY Soap Foam Printing project will allow them to create and explore different vibrant colors, variations, combinations, and make their very own art without limits!
All you and your kids will need to get started are liquid watercolors, watercolor paper, dish soap, straws, whisks or rotary beaters, and a bowl to mix up their whacky foam creations!
Read more at Fire Flies And Mud Pies below.
DIY Details: FireFliesAndMudPies.com
25. Cute Bottle Cap Bugs For Your Garden
Kids will have hours of fun with these cute, adorable little bugs made out of bottle caps, Sharpie markers, scissors, a hot glue gun or super glue, and a few googly eyes.
This is an excellent way to recycle unwanted or unused bottle-caps and educate your kids on being environmentally friendly at the same time! Children will have a ton of fun, adventures, and enjoy themselves playing with these litter critters in your backyard and garden.
Whether it’s a day off or holiday for your little ones, finding budget-friendly and fun activities for them to occupy their time with can be difficult – which is why we know you’re sure to have a blast with your kids in making these little Bottle Cap Buggy Adventurers!
DIY Details: Artzy Creations
26. DIY Altoids Can Critters Toy For Kids
This is an especially fun, easy to make backyard project and a modern DIY favorite among both parents and children alike.
Why not reuse those unwanted Altoid or other mint tin containers to make cute little tin toys? The DIY Cute Bugs are a great, budget-friendly way to let your kid’s imagination run wild by using various colors, stickers, or even adding glue-on wiggly eyes to add personality and craziness to their toys!
To make these DIY Altoid Bugs, you’ll just need a few leftover recycled paper scraps, scissors, strong, clear glue, and recycled Altoid cans.
To add to design and fun, you can also glue ribbons, sparkles, and other neat little arts and crafts supplies you might have laying around your home.
DIY Details: makinglifeblissful
27. Bringing The Beach To Your Backyard And Garden
Getting to the beach all the time can be costly, and if you’ve got a particularly busy schedule, letting your kids play in the natural sand and enjoy the water outside can be tough.
But, worry no more, as this DIY Sand Footprint project is the perfect way to combine both the beach and the comfort of your home for kids.
You can even use their footprint or handprints to decorate your home later once it’s dried so they too can cherish their art-work for years to come!
To get started, you’ll need a good bit of sand, Plaster of Paris, water to make the plaster, cardboard for smoothing the sand, a spray gun or sealer, glue gun, seashells and glitter for decor – and of course picture frames to hang-up your kid’s artwork once it’s dried!
DIY Details: pagingfunmums
Please feel free to leave comments below about your experiences with any of our DIY Backyard And Garden projects.
Also, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to share a Backyard or Garden idea and creation of your own! We’d be happy to add it to the list 🙂
Happy Summer!
