Build a Better Backyard: Easy DIY Outdoor Projects

Add fireside ambiance to your backyard with an outdoor fireplace made from stacked stone.

Tree stumps make ideal outdoor side tables: They're inexpensive, durable and can double as extra seating. To make the hefty chunks of wood easier to move around your outdoor room, attach casters to the bottom of each stump, like Emily Henderson did here.

Transform a basic drop cloth into a one-of-a-kind outdoor area rug with a ruler, some painter's tape and stripes of your favorite bold hue.

It's easy to blow your entire outdoor budget on planters. Instead of buying new ones at the home improvement store, hit the flea market or thrift store to find old metal washtubs. Drill holes in the bottom, like Emily Henderson did here, to give your plants proper drainage.