Top 10 Outdoor DIY Projects You Can Do In Under An Hour

It doesn’t take much time or effort to improve your outside space. In fact, you may accomplish a project that would further transform your backyard or balcony into an outstanding sanctuary in an hour or less. Here are ten or more similar initiatives to consider.

10. Get Rid of the Pests

Insect bites are the bane of every outdoor celebration. Make your own citronella candles or a mosquito repellent torch out of an empty wine bottle. But what is the simplest and quickest bug-deterring “project”? Connect a fan.

9. Create a Vertical, Space-Saving Garden

As long as there is some light exposure, even the smallest of spaces may boast lush foliage. When you hang this canvas shoe organizer and add some herbs, it suddenly transforms into a herb garden. Add a hydroponic watering system to take it to the next level. You could also make a vertical garden out of a wooden pallet and fill it with mosquito-repelling plants for a two-for-one project.

8. Turn Your Backyard into a Theater

For less than $10, you can make a portable projector screen that can be used both indoors and outdoors (a quicker alternative to the Wired build shown above, which takes an afternoon at least). If you want to get more sophisticated and have more money (and probably more time to spend), BackyardTheater has answers to all your outdoor theatrical questions.

7. Stream Music Outdoors

You need decent music for your outdoor refuge. Build audio components into an outdoor table or, for a simpler approach, simply stream music to your phone via Plex (hooked up to portable or outdoor speakers). You can even create your own waterproof (floating!) speakers.

6. Build an Outdoor Oven

Outdoor cooking does not have to be limited to your grill. Make a low-cost tandoor oven for baking naan and other flatbreads from terra cotta pots, a metal bucket, and sand. You can also make a solar oven out of cardboard and let the sun do the rest. (Unless you’re a fast carpenter, the sturdier solar oven variant pictured above may take you longer than an hour.)

5. Create an Outdoor, Weather-Shielding Canopy

You can shade your outdoor refuge and protect guests from unexpected rain with a dropcloth and four poles. A DIY canopy not only saves time and money over a tailored shade or the purchase of an umbrella.

4. Create a DIY Smoker

Turn flower pots into smokers or hack your barbecue into a cold smoker for a different sort of cooking and the unmistakable smell of smoked meats. (As an added bonus, transform terra cotta pots into a drink chiller.)

3. Turn Mason Jars into Outdoor Lights

What about some simple, low-cost mood lighting? Hanging candle lanterns, battery-powered LED garden lights, and solar-powered sun jars can all be made from ubiquitous jars.

2. Make a Mini Fire Pit or Flaming Bowl

Consider making these burning rock bowls or a little fire pit for more eye-catching illumination. Both provide a spectacular fire show for your patio or deck.

1. Build Some Epic Outdoor Games

Finally, add some traditional fun games to the outdoor space, such as this DIY enormous Jenga, a huge Slip ‘n Slide, a super-sized DIY bubble wand, or a lawn game fashioned from pipes. Enjoy!