Perch Studio

Spring into the warmer season with a project to get you outside and create something together.   These are our top 10 ideas for spicing up the outdoors at your space.

1. Build a Firepit – While those firepits in the warehouse stores are cute and handy, wouldn’t it be great to have a cozy built-in firepit to call your very own?  Dream your dreams, dreamers!  Here are eight easy ideas for building the firepit of your dreams from DIY Network.
2. Planter Table – Lowes Creative Ideas has come a long way.  We love this super cute-cute blooming table.  The Lowe’s version requires the construction of a hypertufa (concrete, pearlite and peat moss mix) mould that is used to create a planter-base for the table.  We thought that simply buying a planter for the base would be just as cute.  (The level of commitment would best be left up to your skills, budget and time frame.)  The top of the table is custom cut from plywood and bonded for strength.
3. Optimize a Small Space – We are simply smitten with these gorgeous wall gardens.  What a great idea for bringing some green to an urban or otherwise small-space outdoor environment.  Find seven more great ideas for limited quarters from Curbly here.
4. Secret (Side Yard) Garden – While they often go neglected, a side yard is a great place to get creative with a landscape design.  Why not try turning yours into a secret garden retreat.  Here are some tips for which plants to select from Garden Guides.  We also suggest adding something special to the design, like a swing, fountain, or small sitting area.  We imagine you will enjoy many hours reading and meditating in your new sacred space.
5. Colorful Container Gardens – Just as shipping containers make use as unexpected housing components, so too, can various unused vessels become inspiring gardens.  We really like these upcycled gardens from Creative Jewish Mom.  Add some abundant seasonal color to really make these floral designs pop.
6. Waterfall Box – Think that having a waterfall in your garden is a privilege reserved for the rich and famous?  Oh contraire mon frere.  Waterfall boxes make it relatively quick and easy to add a waterfall to an existing pond or spice up your outdoor living space with actively flowing water.  Here’s a How To from eHow on building a garden waterfall.
7. Outdoor Train Depot – We really love the idea of creating a small niche space for the kids that doesn’t have to be an active play area.  Check out the How To’s from Lowe’s Creative Ideas on building a Toy Car Road, Toy Car Tunnel, Play Houses & Trees and Construction Zone Sandbox
8. “Lawn” Loungers – As we age, we never forget the reminiscent feeling of laying in the yard on fresh spring grass, picking cloud animals from the sky.  Well, it’s time to embrace that feeling once more by building some sod furniture.  Easy to upkeep with a simple trim here and there, sod furniture can come in all shapes and sizes.  Thanks to This Old House for their informative tutorial on building a sod sofa and for their great-looking pics.
9. Re-Color – Thanks to my friend, Jessica Farber who writes a blog at The Painted Rabbit and owns One Loom Studio for coming up with some great ideas for our outdoor deck space.  To enliven an outdoor area, rethink the bland and boring.  No need to be satisfied with what you can buy in a store.  Upcycle an existing gazebo with bright and colorful gazebo curtains sewn from outdoor fabric or paint the deck an unexpected color instead of re-staining this year.  If painting the whole deck seems overwhelming, here’s a How To on Painting a Deck Rug from Shelterness.  Also included is a link to Interior Design Magazine (a trade pub for Interior Designers) with advice on exterior colors and palettes.
10. Rainbow Wooden Floor Mat – Find the tutorial here to create this festive welcome mat at Lowe’s Creative Ideas.  Although the How To does not go into detail about this, we suggest painting the blocks then laying out the pattern before beginning the construction of the door mat.

So, unite Weekend Warriors of DIY!  Which project will you complete this weekend?