DIY projects to spruce up your outdoor space

Snow accumulation might be blocking your ability to imagine spring, but now is a great time to start planning the projects that will keep you outside as long as it’s light out. On that note, here’s our first suggestion.

LIGHTS UP. Hardwired outdoor lighting would be ideal, but you might want to be grilling after dark before an electrician will even call you back. Most DIY-ers opt for string lights, of which there are more high-quality options to choose from than before. Mount them to a fence or deck railing, or look at ways to lift them with standing bird feeder hooks to surround and illuminate a patio or seating area.

CUSTOMIZE CUSHIONS. You don’t have to go all in on a new outdoor furniture set to refresh the look of your outdoor seating areas. Update your outdoor furniture and extend its lifespan by reupholstering existing cushions and pillows with weatherproof fabrics. Try a brighter color or fresh print.

GO BELOW DECK. Do you use the space under your front or back porches as storage? How does it look? If the answer is “Not good,” consider ways you can use lattice or wooden planks to skirt the area and hide what’s underneath. While lattice could feel basic, it is an excellent hold for any vines you might plant to create a green wall.

PUT UP A PERGOLA. Pergolas are outdoor structures, open on all sides, often finished with a wooden grid for a roof. They work well standing alone in a larger yard or as covers for an existing patio near the home. They also can be ordered in easy-ish to assemble kits. Get a few friends or family members over and you can have a pergola raising party followed by a pergola relaxing party.

GET YOUR GAME ON. Having a place to play outside is not just for kids, so stock up on the lawn games you love to play too. Kan Jam is a cornhole alternative for frisbee lovers, Spikeball takes up less space than a volleyball net, or perhaps check out giant versions of Jenga, Yahtzee or Connect Four designed for outdoor use.

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