March 22nd, 2021 | Updated on May 22nd, 2023
Having a backyard is an asset that should not be underestimated, especially as the Covid-19 pandemic narrows the opportunities most of us have to spend outdoors. With a little thought and some creativity, your backyard can be an endless stage for your family activities, and a way to escape the reality of the pandemic.
A little inspiration never hurt anyone. Here are a few ideas that can help you take your backyard and transform it into your family’s favorite activity center.
1. Outdoor Movie Theater
If you’re looking for a way to socialize with neighbors and still maintain social distancing, there’s nothing that will bring everyone together than a movie night.
A projector and a screen can transform your backyard into an outdoor theater with enough space for everyone to keep their distance.
Both projectors and screens are portable and affordable enough that you can set up and take down your makeshift theater with ease. You might be tempted to make it a weekly event.
2. Obstacle Course
Playgrounds are cool and all, but a decent sized yard can offer a lot more adventure than a traditional swing set might.
Professionally-designed ties allow you to create safe swings out of any number of different materials, and the internet is rich with tutorials on how to build everything from rock climbing walls to monkey bars.
Ditch the prefab kit, and take the time to figure out what your family would want. You can learn a new skill and improve your family’s engagement in one fell swoop.
3. Outdoor Kitchen/Bar
A backyard isn’t really a backyard without a grill, but why not go a step further and just outfit the lawn with a kitchen? That could mean outfitting your standing grill with a few extra shelves, or it could mean developing an elaborate stone secondary kitchen. It really comes down to your budget and your practical demands.
An outdoor kitchen or bar can be an especially great choice if you already have a pool. In either case, doing a little extra planning will help provide potential nightmares with your utilities.
3. Campsite
Sleeping in a tent in your backyard isn’t close to the same thing as really roughing it, but there’s something special about hunkering down in nature even if your house is just a few yards away.
A fire pit can add value to just about any lawn, and bringing out some tents can offer a great way for your kids to have adventures away from home without putting themselves at risk.
The cost and setup here is pretty minimal. Fire pits come in a number of different forms, and many of them can simply be set out without the need for much installation or preparation.
4. Pool
The ability to build an in-ground pool isn’t going to be in reach for everyone, but that doesn’t mean that you have to spend your summer dry.
An above-ground pool can provide encouragement to venture outside during the hottest months of summer, and it doesn’t demand an expensive installation.
Just be sure to exercise caution. While a pool can be a refreshing oasis in the middle of the summer, you can’t afford to forget safe swimming practices.
It can be easy to stare at a backyard and picture how it could be better — but you can achieve great results by just looking at it as an empty canvas.
These ideas can help you get your mind going, but they’re just a start. Ideas for your backyard can come from anywhere, but you and your family are the only ones who can decide what’s right for your home.
