Projects That Can Make Your Garden Livelier

Image Credit: Darkroom Daze (flickr.com)

No matter how green your garden grass is, it may still feel like a desolate wasteland due to the fact that there's a lot of things missing. Personally, I like having just grass on my backyard, but that's also partly due to the fact that I hate mowing when they get too tall. If you want to add a little more detail to your garden, you can do so. If you're planning to go DIY on everything, you can always study the basics.

Planting Trees

If you don't have a backyard tree yet, it is highly encouraged to have one. Not only are you making a little mark for the environment, it's also a source of shade a few years down the line. Depending on the type of tree that you plant, it can also serve as backyard décor.

What if There Already are Trees?

If you already have trees, then exercise your creativity. There's always the tree house for your kids. If you have two trees near each other, put up a hammock for lazy Sunday afternoon siestas. If you have a tree with a really sturdy branch, you can set up a swing set. If the tree happens to be somewhat in the middle of your garden, consider building a tree bench around it.

Patios

If you're in a hurry for some shaded area in the backyard, you can have a patio instead if you don't already have one. Patios can be simple tented pavilions. At its simplest, it's even just tables and chairs in an elevated area in the backyard. You can build one yourself or you can find DIY patio kits online.

Pathways

Perhaps you're still waiting for your grass to grow or you just feel like the ground lacks a little design. Pathways are the best ways to add that extra layer of beauty to your garden or backyard. It's as simple as laying down wooden planks one after another to create a "road." If you want to create a pathway on non-grassy areas, you can start by laying down pebbles or small stones as foundation and then placing slabs of stones.

Sheds

With all the beautification you're doing for your garden, it would make sense that you have a shed to store your tools so they don't just lie around randomly on your backyard and ruining the scenery. When building your sheds, there are a few basic things that you should know.

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A Gathering of Australia's Most Creative Minds

A Gathering of Australia's Most Creative Minds

Are you an interior designer looking for inspiration? Are you an architect that has seen it all? Perhaps you're someone who wants to dabble in the world of design? Or maybe you're just someone with a taste for artful works? Prepare to visit the Royal Hall of Industries on February 4^th, and be amazed with the wisdom that leading designers can impart with you on Decoration + Design.

Decoration + Design features seminars on various designing topics. It will be spearheaded by various speakers with varying design expertise. There will also be a design competition in "The Edge." This is a chance for you to see the newest in modern design, and a way for you to stay updated with the up-and-coming designers.

Need to chill out? There's the Salon Champagne Bar. A glass of wine on one hand and shaking hands with other creative-minded people can be a great way to rest and relax. If you want to see the best that the design industry has to offer, there's Design:Made:Trade.

Whether you are interested in design competitions, advice from the best designers in Australia, or just in it for the design shows, head on over to Sydney for Decoration + Design. Event details are shown below.

The Basics of Building Wooden Garden Sheds

Image Credit: Jeremy Levine (flickr.com)

As per my intro, I'll be presenting a few tips and tricks related to DIY and home improvement. I'll start with the backyard, specifically in building a garden shed.

If you think you can build a shed straight up, think again. Building a shed requires equal amounts of planning and labor. Nothing is more frustrating that building a shed and realizing that it is not what it's supposed to be. Wooden sheds, in a particular, are susceptible to accelerated decay if you just erect one without considering where you place them. It doesn't even matter how good your timber is, you have to plan your shed construction before you start the actual construction.

In fact, there's a lot of things to think about.

Legal Stuff

Before you can even begin construction, you will want to know your city's building codes. Each city or state has its own rules, requirements, and criteria. For instance, Seattle allows no-permit constructions of sheds if criteria are met. Some cities will not require a permit for a small garden shed, but you will still need to abide by your city's building codes. To be sure, contact your local council.

Purpose

Determining the purpose of your wooden shed is important if you want to save a little money. For example, a purely storage shed need not be pleasant to look at and will thus not require an abundance of materials. If you're going for a more decorative shed, creative paint jobs will be far cheaper than using more timber to add aesthetics.

Location

The location of your shed should also be taken into consideration, and not just where it looks the best. Strategic location of your shed is important for its longevity. If you're building a shed on a slope, for instance, facing the door with the higher end is more convenient when entering the shed. Putting your shed on high ground ensures that it doesn't collect rainwater during downpours.

Base

If you're going to put your shed on a concrete area of your garden, then there's not much to worry about as the concrete can be your base. Otherwise, you'll need to think about putting a base for it. The bottom parts of the shed's walls are often the first to break down. To preserve them, avoid having them touch the ground. A steel or brick base should be enough.

Once you've considered these basics, you can then start planning how to create your garden shed. There are a lot of free plans you can get online or even watch tutorial videos. If you think it's too much work, you can always purchase wooden garden sheds online.

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Watch out for my new blog!

Hello, there! Check out this blog soon for tips and advice about anything home-related --- be it a home improvement project, a DIY task, home "lifehacks", or similar tips!