Butterfly Stepping Stones

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Stepping stones in a garden can create a path or patio, or simply point the way on a visual trail through your garden. They make a great DIY project year round, and most can be easily done on a covered craft table or in a corner of the garage. This is a great project to get creative with and allow your personality, or the personality of your garden shine through.
Votive Chandelier

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Create your own romantic lighting for an outdoor dinner party by suspending votives at varying heights from low-hanging branches. Use clear fishing line and be sure to keep candles a safe distance from the leaves. For a stained-glass version, cover chandelier lanterns with tissue paper and get a soft glow. Don’t be afraid to try different patterns, abstract shapes, and colors.
Add a Fire Source

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If you have a fireplace inside your house, you know it’s where you love to curl up with a good book on a quiet night or where larger groups gather on chilly days. The same is true in outdoor living spaces: a source of fire draws people. If you have the space and budget, consider a full-size version; if not, investigate fire pits, which provide flexibility and affordability.
Include a Variety of Seating Options

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Benches, chairs, even pint-size stools: as many choices as you can include in an outdoor living space will help family and friends enjoy it. Scaled-down kid versions allow little ones to seat themselves, while chairs are a more flexible option – pull two together for a quiet chat or add extras around the table for a big dinner.
Outdoor Shower

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This is a great idea if you do not have a pool in your garden or backyard. When the weather is hot, you can refresh yourself in your backyard, between the flowers and soft grass.
Make Your Own Backyard Tipi

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On a flat surface in your yard, measure out a rectangle that’s 81 inches by 59 inches. Place 4 bamboo poles upright, 1 at each corner of this rectangle. Place pole 5 between 2 back poles for stability. Tether the 5 poles with the sisal rope.
Billowy Bali Retreat

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Sit on this compact deck, pull the netting around you, and you’ll feel almost like you’re floating in a cloud above a jungle of exotic flowers. To filter the sunlight that reaches the deck, build a palapa of bamboo poles and draped the crossbars with mosquito netting.
Backyard Swing Seat

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Relax into the sway of a comfortable swing for your porch, balcony, garden or backyard. You can hang a pallet porch swing from the ceiling and enjoy a quite morning coffee. Dangle a pallet swing bench from a sturdy tree in the yard so the kids can enjoy the summer vacations. If you have a bookworm in the house, get them a pallet swing chair in their room to cozy up in and loose themselves in the book’s magic world. If you live in an area that offers good weather, build a do it yourself, pallet swing bed on which you can lounge and watch the clouds go by.
DIY Fountain

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The soft splash of a fountain brings life and motion to the backyard. It attracts more birds than still water alone, and its soothing sound track transforms your space into a peaceful retreat.
Small Backyard Beach

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If you love the beach but can’t find the time for regular visits, why not turn an unused corner of your backyard into a sandy retreat? This miniature beach can be put together over a weekend for less than $200. Decomposed granite, sand, driftwood, and grassy plants complete the seaside look.