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10 easy ways to enliven outdoor areas

Jason
Community Manager
Community Manager

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Bunnings Workshop members have transformed many neglected gardens, unsightly backyards and tired alfresco areas to make them more inviting to enjoy with friends and family.

Here are some quick and easy ideas from the community for inspiration for your own home. Please let us know if we can assist with your outdoor project. We're here to help.

 

1. Train climbers to screen your fence


Workshop member Roy used Star Jasmine and cable to train the plant to cover their fence. A simple yet effective way to add greenery and enliven a boring fence.

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For tips on how to train climbing plants, check out the guide How to create privacy by planting.

2. Add an outdoor bench seat


Workshop member Sandy's easy and attractive corner makeover included a bench seat made using Besser blocks and a concrete planter. A stylish and functional addition that made her backyard more inviting.

 

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Workshop member Rob created a step-by-step guide How to build a Besser block bench seat with a full list of tools and materials so you can build your own.

 

3. Use screening to hide unsightly views

In this quick and easy project to screen a hot water system, Workshop member Pete used pre-made screening panels from Bunnings and a fast-growing climbing Ficus. 

 

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Don't miss 10 screening ideas for outdoor areas for more inspiration on building an outdoor screen. 

4. Paint your fence

Painting a fence can quickly and easily improve the appearance of your garden for a relatively low price. Workshop member Dearne used a spray gun to paint her old fence, saving hours and ensuring clean up was easy.

 

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You can find more ways to enliven your fence in this collection of easy fence makeovers shared by Bunnings Workshop members.

 

5. Build a vertical garden

A vertical garden can provide greenery and colour to enliven a drab location and provide plenty of growing space, even in compact areas. Workshop member Karl’s vertical herb garden on reinforcing mesh uses reo and a copper garden border to cover a damaged outdoor wall.

 

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For more inspiring vertical garden projects, check out 8 ways to create a vertical garden.

6. Install outdoor lighting

Not only are festoon lights energy efficient, they're also affordable and easy to install. Workshop member weekenddiyer enhanced their backyard area by installing festoon lights. A great low-cost addition for outdoor entertaining.

 

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The Bunnings team has shared a step-by-step guide How to hang festoon lights for anyone looking to add their own.  


7. Add seating around your fire pit

Raymond's bench seats with built-in planter boxes help make his fire pit area more relaxing and inviting.  

 

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Check out our collection of Fire pit entertaining areas shared by Bunnings Workshop members for more inspiration.


8. Extend your fence

Looking for extra privacy, Workshop member Shannon added panels to extend the height of his fence using a modular design that can be removed for easier maintenance. 

 

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Experienced Workshop member Pete shows you How to add an extension to a Colorbond fence in his step-by-step guide.


9. Build an outdoor feature wall

 

Matrix screen panels and Merbau decking were used to create a feature wall fence by community member Rufaro, while fellow member Nicole took a simpler route with an easy-to-build artificial plant wall to cover boring bricks.

 

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An artificial plant wall can offer a low-maintenance touch of greenery in any space. Create your own with this step-by-step guide: How to build a plant wall feature.

10. Hide an air conditioning condenser

Adhering to the airflow requirements for the air conditioning condenser, this air conditioning condenser screen by community members Aletheia and Brent includes a hinge so the screen can be opened when the air conditioner is in use for added piece of mind.

 

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Our collection of Top 10 most popular screening projects contains more inspiring ideas to cover other eyesores, including bins.

More inspiration for your home

Bunnings Workshop community members have shared many other amazing projects that you can use as inspiration when renovating your backyard, front or sideway.

Our collection of Top 10 most popular outdoor projects is a great place to start. If you are looking to tackle something more specific, check out these inspiring collections:

 

 

 

 

 

Why join the Bunnings Workshop community?

Workshop is a friendly place to learn, get ideas and find inspiration for your home improvement projects