The weather is (FINALLY) warming up across the country, and folks are starting to think about all of the Spring cleaning and DIY projects to tackle this season. We all know about the standard outdoor chores - washing the windows and screens, power washing the driveway and patio, sprucing up the flower beds and getting new plants in the ground. But if you really want to go the extra mile this year, here are some great outdoor DIY projects that will elevate your curb appeal and upgrade your outdoor spaces just in time to start inviting friends and family over again.
1. Add an Outdoor Fireplace or Fire Pit
We’ve all spent A LOT of time at home, and our snow storm filled winter has meant most of that time was inside. Enjoy the warm days and cooler nights of Spring with your family and friends safely outdoors by adding the perfect hang-out spot to your backyard.
You can build a simple DIY fire pit for roasting s’mores, or invest a little more sweat equity and build an outdoor fireplace. Add simple seating, potted plants, and maybe even a bit of shade in the form of a canopy for the seating area. And don’t forget citronella tiki torches to light the way to your backyard oasis; they’ll also help keep the mosquitos at bay in the summer.
PRO TIP: Preserve your fire pit stones or concrete bricks with a professional quality concrete and stone sealer. It will keep maintenance time and costs down by protecting against UV and water damage while helping to prevent stains.
2. Make Your Entrance More Inviting
Give your home an instant facelift with some easy weekend projects that can increase your curb appeal:
- Paint the front door with a fresh, trendy new color or simply refresh it with a coat of your existing color.
- Add potted plants in a lovely arrangement. Consider seasonal flowers for an early splash of color before your flower beds start blooming.
- Install outdoor lighting along your walkways, driveway, and even to highlight special landscaping features.
- Replace that old, dingy welcome mat with a brand new one for Spring.
- Spruce up your worn-out entryway and walkway with a good power washing.
PRO TIP: This year after power washing your concrete walkways and driveway, consider sealing with a penetrating concrete sealer to help protect against freeze thaw, spalling and salt damage, as well as slow the growth of mold and mildew. It will make maintenance next year a breeze!
3. Create an Outdoor Living Room
Take your fire pit hang-out spot to the next level and build an entire outdoor living space. If you’ve got the ambition this might include building a pergola or gazebo, but you can also define a small spot with pavers, potted plants, and outdoor seating. Add a canopy or free-standing umbrella to shade your new sitting area.
PRO TIP: Be sure to seal your pavers to help protect against mold and mildew, prevent stains, and add shine and color-enhancement.
4. Create a Stone Path
You don’t need to have a massive yard and a fancy Secret Garden to add a little charm to your home with a stone path. Maybe you have a swing or bench under a tree, or you’ve installed a bird bath or birdhouse? You can add a winding, curvy stone path to that spot or any other (like the fire pit we suggested above!).
Add some flowers or potted plants along the edges to add even more “wow” to your landscape. You might even consider laying down pea gravel or mulch between the stones to help cut down or maintenance and weeding.
PRO TIP: You can seal your walkway stones to keep them beautiful, and you can even use a product like Mulch Anchor to help keep your mulch or pea gravel in place, making your new path nice and low maintenance.
5. Xeriscaping
You don’t have to live in New Mexico or Arizona to benefit from the joys of xeriscaping. Reduce your water usage and save time on maintenance (no lawn mowing!) with a landscape featuring drought-resistant plants, rocks, gravel, and mulch. You can incorporate small shrubs, decorative trees, or a water feature to serve as the focal point of your new landscape design.
PRO TIP: You can lock in your mulch and small pea gravel with DOMINATOR Mulch Alchor to help withstand wind and rain.
