Quick: choose the one room at your house designed for fun. (Hint: it's not a room, and it's not in your house.) Give up? It's the backyard, of course. It may not possess all the traditional elements of a room (walls and ceiling, for instance), but when the weather turns balmy, it's everybody's favorite place to hang out. Even unadorned, the backyard offers advantages you won't find anywhere inside the house: sunshine, fresh air, and--my daughter's favorite--the opportunity to run really fast without getting yelled at.
But like any other room, the backyard can be made even better with the application of a little creativity and a dash of sweat equity. Don't worry about fancy materials--under the broad blue sky (and drenching rains), simple practicality impresses us most. That's the guiding principle behind the projects that follow. A classic tire swing, a homemade sports goal made from PVC pipe, the open-air theater shown above: All are designed with the elements in mind. Plus, they're a breeze to assemble, which means you and your family can get right to the stuff that really matters: enjoying the "room" with plenty of room for fun.
CLOTHESLINE THEATER
This simple theater sets the stage for hours of backyard fun.
TERRIFIC TIRE SWING
An old tire, some rope or chain, a tall tree--could anything be simpler? The backyard tire swing has been entertaining kids pretty much since backyards were invented.
MAKE YOUR OWN SPORTS GOAL
For about $30 in materials (and an hour or so of time), you can build this versatile sports goal, just right for games of backyard soccer or driveway street hockey.
OTHER IDEAS:
Tree Trolley
String the cable between two strong trees (or other support), and let kids fly. To order call Highlights Catalog at (800) 422-6202, or Back to Basics at (800) 356-5360.Bocce
A cross between croquet (without mallets) and bowling (without pins). To order: Call Hearth Song at (800) 325-2502 or visit www.lawn-toys.com
