4 Projects to Make Your Backyard More Family-Friendly

When you have kids, you want your home to be as family-friendly as possible -- and this includes the outdoors. Unfortunately, if your backyard area is plain and boring, then your family may not want to spend a lot of time out there. But whether you're like the 80% of Alabamians who mow their lawns weekly or biweekly or you don't maintain your lawn very well, there are plenty of ways to spruce up your outdoor area. So let's take a look at a few easy projects you can do to encourage the whole family to use the backyard more often.

Create a Secret Hideaway

Do you have an area in your yard that's a little more secluded, maybe in a corner or an area hidden by trees? If so, you can easily create a secret hideaway area. This area can consist of some chairs, a bench, a hammock, or whatever you want. But the whole family can enjoy having a little privacy, even when outdoors. This area can be used for reading, chatting, or even napping. Having a quiet area to retreat to when the hustle and bustle of life gets to be too much can help the whole family enjoy the space. Even on warm summer nights, the whole family can cozy up together and look at the stars.

Invest in Outdoor Furniture

One of the most simple things you can do to make your outdoor space more family-friendly is invest in some outdoor furniture. Now, you don't need to go out and spend thousands of dollars on brand new tables, chairs, and more. You can buy some cheap furniture or even use stuff you already have, even if it's just folding chairs. With the average U.S. household having 300,000 things in it, you're bound to have an old table or chairs you can use outside. Having some sort of furniture that can be used outside will make the area more inviting. This way, the whole family will have a place to sit, talk, eat, and bond. This can be especially beneficial with large groups so you can expand outside instead of being crammed in the house.

Build a Treehouse

Treehouses are a place where kids can play with friends and let their imagination run wild. And if parents are lucky, they can join in on the fun, too. And the great thing about treehouses is that they're perfect for smaller yards, as long as you have a good tree to build in. But even if you don't have a good treehouse tree, you can simply build a mini playhouse for the ground. Treehouses don't have to be fancy, they can be built with scrap materials and the kids can even help design it and paint it. As for windows, or even a mini porch, consider a woven material -- mesh materials can feature a 50% open area, allowing for more airflow and increased visibility, which can be great to use on treehouse windows. Having a treehouse, or a playhouse on the ground, can encourage kids to get outside and even play with nearby neighbor kids.

Have a Designated Play Area

If you're one of the 90% of Americans who think having a well-maintained yard is important, there may be certain areas in your outdoor space you want the kids to stay out of -- perhaps near a garden or certain flowers. If this is the case, you may want to consider creating a designated play area. Choose an area in your yard, preferably near the house, to fill with various play elements. You can hang a hammock, put out a bin for outdoor toys, and maybe even paint a fence or the side of a shed with chalkboard paint. In doing this, you'll create a space just for the kids and encourage them to get out and play.

It's important for the whole family, especially the kids, to have a welcoming outdoor area to explore. So keep these simple projects in mind to inspire your family to utilize the backyard space more often.