No matter how big or small your backyard is right now, it probably has the potential to be one of your family’s favorite hangout spots. You don’t have to sacrifice style or aesthetics for a family-friendly backyard. Here are 20 fabulous ideas to create your dream backyard for plenty of family fun. Get inspired, then get busy creating!
Lawn Care And Maintenance Tips: Maintaining a healthy and attractive lawn requires consistent care and attention. One of the most essential tips for lawn care is to water it properly. This means giving your lawn a deep watering once or twice a week rather than frequent shallow watering. Another important tip is to mow your lawn at the right height. Cutting your grass too short can stress the roots and make it more susceptible to disease and pests. Fertilizing your lawn with the proper nutrients at the right time can also help keep it healthy and green. Finally, removing weeds and thatch regularly can help prevent them from choking out healthy grass. By following these tips, you can keep your lawn looking lush and beautiful all year round.
01. Seamless Flow Between House & Backyard
Kids’ lives are generally relatively seamless—they go barefoot indoors and out, eat ice cream at 10 a.m. or 8 p.m., and wander the house as they brush their teeth. Embrace this fact by keeping the backyard seamlessly connected to the house itself.
02. Transform A Tree Into A Seat
If you’ve got a tree that seems out in the middle of everything in your backyard, consider building a beautiful seat-savvy wraparound bench. Bonus: Regarding seating, there’s always room for one more on this type of bench!
03. Build Bridges
Most children love a bridge – something about crossing over something else is thrilling and magical. Build a backyard bridge and set the stage for hours of your child(ren) ‘s imaginative play.
04. Create A “Secret” Hideaway
Tucked away in some corner of the yard, you can use almost anything to create a secret cozy nook. Here, kids and grownups can escape everyday life’s hustle and bustle. Use a chair, a bench, a swing – whatever.
05. Hang A Hammock In Your Backyard
Hammock in the backyard. A good book. It’s a refreshing beverage. That is the trifecta of joy right there. Bonus: Kids can also use it as a (gentle) swing.
06. Soak Up S Splash Pad
For relatively little cost and space, a splash pad is the perfect backyard retreat for kids on a hot summer’s day. You’ll be the neighborhood’s favorite hangout!
07. Have A Sturdy Patio Table Handy
Whether you’re often outside grilling, entertaining, or simply soaking up the sun with a good book, a lovely patio table continually enhances a backyard. There are plenty of patio tables available to buy, but the time has never been better to find a suitable DIY tutorial and make one to custom-fit your space.
08. Put In A Hot Tub
Nothing is more relaxing at the end of a long day (or in the middle of a regular-length day) than soaking in a hot tub. To keep things family-friendly, use extreme caution around the water and keep a locked cover on the hot tub at all non-use times.
09. Furnish The Patio
No one will last long in a space where seating is neither available nor comfortable. Cheer up the patio with some colorful furniture to make it inviting, then add more furniture to make it sufficient for the masses. Enjoy some teen-to-parent heart-to-hearts outside on the patio this school year.
10. Make A Life-size Checkerboard
Sod and concrete pavers are all you need to turn your backyard into a one-of-a-kind checkerboard. This is as easy to maintain as a regular lawn. Bonus: Chess tournaments!
11. Build & Decorate A Treehouse
The more like “home” you make the treehouse, the more magical it becomes to the little ones playing there. It can be extensive, fancy, simple, sweet, or anywhere. Position the treehouse so it’s visible from most of the yard or even the house to foster safety and supervision.
12. Recreate A Beach Scene, All Day, Every Day
The sand beneath your toes, some comfortable chairs, and a beach ball are the recipe for a relaxing backyard scenario. (The only thing missing is the water, but how often do you swim at the beach?) This is a great backyard idea for the family who lives too far inland to be able to get to the actual water’s edge often.
13. Install A Putting Green
A perfect outdoor family activity, putting golf in the backyard is bonding and enjoyable. Consider turf options if you’re wary of the maintenance of green grass.
14. Build A Pergola
Pergolas attract people like fluorescent lights attract moths. Probably a combination of the partial shade, the feel of seclusion, and the ability to scope out the rest of the yard from a comfortable vantage point – whatever the reason, a pergola has considerable potential to bring your family closer together. Literally.
15. Hang A Tire Swing
You don’t have to use a tire for this concept to bring out the elements of family fun. Use an actual swing seat or a wooden spool, for example. (My grandmother made a bed swing out of wire box springs with a mattress on top, hung from a branch on her enormous backyard oak tree.) Whatever works for safe swinging, do that!
16. Have Twinkle Lights Ready
While they look great during outdoor evening entertaining, twinkle lights shouldn’t be reserved solely for those occasions. Keep them hanging for a few days (weeks, if the weather permits) and turn them on nightly to encourage your family’s after-dinner outdoor migration.
17. Plant A Vegetable Garden
A vegetable garden is not only a deliciously beneficial commodity but also benefits the family that works together to plant, tend, and harvest. Raised gardens are a fantastic option for squeezing a garden into a tight backyard space; they look great.
18. Cozy Up Around The Fire Pit
Not just for s’mores and hot dog roasting (although those are fun activities, too), fire pits provide a sense of coziness and comfort, which is not always an easy feat in the great outdoors.
19. Build A Covered Sandbox
Watch your young children’s imaginary play while you relax in a nearby lounger in the fresh air of your backyard. A sandbox cover isn’t hard to make and will do wonders in keeping your kids calm, comfortable, and free from sunburn.
20. Plant Grass & Lots Of It
While many items a family can place in the backyard, sometimes the best opportunity for family activities is simply a vast open expanse of green grass. Football, tag, duck, duck, goose, kickball. The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination (and energy).
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