Ways to spruce up your backyard
By Amanda Scali

Do you stare out lovingly at your backyard right now from the comfort of your couch, thinking; "We really need to deal with that space"
 
We can often put off giving our backyard a makeover as it falls further and further down the list, and with the weather being so cold right now, it might be the last place you want to spend time in.
 
But rest assured, spending some time, effort and a little bit of money getting your backyard spruced up and in time for spring will give you something to look forward to when the weather warms, and it will give you something beautiful to admire from the couch as you sip on your afternoon tea.
 
Here are our top tips for a backyard refresh:
 

Build a fire pit
 
Bound to keep you warm until the weather heats up, you can add some style to your yard by building or buying a low-cost firepit, then you’ll have little excuse not to enjoy the great outdoors, even in the cooler months.
 
Fire pits can also be great to toast marshmallows on with the kids, or some of the more professional ones allow for a bit of BBQ cooking as well.
 

Mood lighting
 
Add some ambience to your outdoor space with some mood lighting. That could be with fairy or hanging lights, some solar lights to light up a pathway or some floodlights on various trees around your garden.
 
It is incredible what a bit of light can do to bring out the features of your garden and so you can enjoy the space even at night-time.
 
 
Build a raised vegetable garden
 
If you are looking to plant a spring veggie patch, well, now is the time to get those raised vegetable garden patches to build.
 
You can buy prefabricated ones from your local hardware store or build them from scratch with some old wooden sleepers.
 

Build a swing
 
If you have a beautiful big old tree in the backyard and some young children, why not build a swing for them to enjoy.
 
Make sure your tree is structurally up for it, do your research first and then build something they will enjoy. Outdoor play can be a great way to make family memories that last a lifetime.
 
 
Art
 
Art doesn't have to be something just reserved for inside the home. Think mural walls if you have a space that needs filling or a fence that is a bit boring.
 
Statues and water features can also add something magical to your outdoor space.