Wanna make your backyard awesome this summer? Whether your idea of summer backyard fun is quiet nights having dinner al fresco with friends, or a yard full of giggling and squealing eight year olds, we have the DIY projects to make your backyard awesome! Pick one for major fun, or smaller projects to make the entire space just a little bit cooler than it is today. And make this summer your awesomest.

What is summer without the beach? This amazing tutorial by Sunset magazine shows you how to build a beach, in your own backyard! So dig out the beach towels and sand pails…

 

Now that you have the beach, how about an outdoor shower? Learn how to make this simple one from Sweet Paul magazine…

 

Brambleberry Cottage created these DIY garden mirrors from old windows. What a great way to make your backyard magical! The mirrors double all the amazing in your yard!

 

Now, you need a place to kick back in this gorgeous yard of yours, so learn to make your own hammock! ‘Outside Mom’ has great instructions to make one using fabric, some rope and a sewing machine!

 

Once again, this project, featured at the top of the post from ‘Camille Styles’, is another great option for a nice lazy day hammock. This one made from muslin.

 

The Art of Doing Stuff gives us directions on how to make a dollar store pot lantern! Yes, dollar store! Great for those evening meals in the backyard this summer. Or forget the meals, and make it Merlot. Or tea, but I prefer the Merlot. :)

 

‘Home Sweet Homemade’ made these seashore wind chimes. No tutorial on this, but lots of close up photos for you DIY’ers with a detective in the family.  Just remember, the knots are everything! Just what you need to “sing” you to sleep while you kick back in that amazing hammock you just made!

 

This modern family table by BHG has a short and easy to follow tutorial. This project is so easy, I would do it by myself! But it looks very high end… Love the clay chimney flues as a base!

 

You may need a place for everyone to hang out when they aren’t eating, so try this DIY outdoor sectional by Shoestring Sophistication. Made from pallets and left over 2x4s, this is a budget and earth friendly project.

 

This drive through kid bike wash sprinkler by Momfluential is so cute… I can imagine kids using this as a sprinkler toy all summer long!

 

The folks at DIY Network give us step by step’s on how to build a bocce ball court… If you’ve never played, you should start. It’s a great lawn game..one of our local wineries here in Washington wine country has even created courts at their outdoor seating area…they are always full on summer evenings. Find out how to play bocce ball.

 

Really want to make your backyard awesome? Check out our post on making a backyard movie theater!

 

Light your way to the twilight “feature” with this cool idea we found on Pinterest… instead of just sprinkling Tiki torches around the yard, bunch them into pots… It makes a better statement! And they are cheap, so you can afford to go a little crazy!

 

Also from Pinterest, hanging globe lights over your backyard makes for magical summer nights… So easy! I like the globe lights at Target.

 

Domesticated Engineer built this DIY patio table with cooler for less than $140! They show you exactly how to do it, complete with their lumber supply list. Can you imagine, not even having to go inside to the fridge?

 

Lastly, what summer is complete without a good ol’ fashioned fire pit! Check out the tutorial from Lowe’s on how to make this one or check out one of our previous posts on how to Make a backyard fire pit!