If you have had a busy summer, then get ready for autumn with these great, easy-to-do, and inexpensive ideas for improving your deck, patio, garden or yard. These inspirational projects range from small and simple to complicated and involved. Small improvements to your backyard (or patio, or deck) will make your outdoor living space more livable, enjoyable, special and lively all the way through fall and come next spring. 

The following several tips are unique, inexpensive and low-maintenance for everyone and mostly consist of patio furniture and accessories, which you can simply paint or stain and simply stack and affix them to create a great coffee table, outside planter, or a simple bench! First, you will need to purchase or collect old or used wooden pallets and materials. Tip: some businesses may give away wood pallets.

  • Tired of buying the same-old-plastic or expensive ceramic containers, planters and boxes? Use old and/or used burlap bags and cardboard boxes. You can line them with plastic trash bags or shopping bags to prevent major leaks and then just add potting mix or potting soil. And lastly, add your favorite vegetables, plants, seeds, flowers or herbs and voila! You can also use old cans, watering can, old fishing bait box, or your old lunch box! Tip: some grocery stores give them away or use cardboard boxes instead of plastic bags to pack your groceries.
  • Another great idea for a bigger veggie garden planter is to use and dismantle the wooden pallet(s) and stack each individual panel on top of each other (either glue, or nails and a hammer will come in handy at this point to bind the wood panels together). This will create a one foot or higher “wall” and you can plant whatever you like!
  • An easy-to-do outside window planter only needs wood pallets, some nails, and paint (or you can leave it rustic looking). You can make this any size you like, the length of the window, or shorter, or longer. Break apart the pallet and stack the wood boards on top of each other and properly affix them with nails. Once the planter is sturdy, paint it, fill it with potting soil and add your favorite flowers!
  • Purchase lattice or wooden grid, or if you prefer to go the most inexpensive way to the end – use your wood pallets. With an imagination and some muscle work, cut sections of lattice or pallet and fit to the sides accordingly, nail together and paint your favorite color! Go wild – how about fuchsia? You can create a beautiful potting bench, which can have multiple uses: such as an outdoor serving station, storage shelf or even a coffee table!
  • Do you want to add a little bit of sparkle to your back yard? Create a beautiful flaming centerpiece for your table! Purchase a fireproof container, such as a galvanized bowl and paint it with outdoor paint! Next, pour recycled tempered glass chips (you can buy this online or in a home improvement store) into the bowl and firmly place an alcohol-free gel fuel in the chips. The flame will dance with the air for hours and illuminate the table beautifully!
  • Easy to make “not-for-stepping-only-for-decoration” stepping stones – all you need is fabric, cardboard, glue and scissors. Cut the cardboard into circles, squares or rectangles, or any shape you like and do the same with the fabric. Glue the fabric to the cardboard and tuck the pavers into the ground. They will add color to your yard and will become a great conversational piece at parties!

All of your hard work will pay off because your family and guests will be fascinated by your originality and the uniqueness of your beautiful back yard! So, roll-up those sleeves and have fun!

If your next project is more complex and you have total renovation in mind, such as new siding, new roofing, new windows or maybe you would like to install sky lights, call our office and have one of our friendly and knowledgeable representatives help you.