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    31 Things To Help Make Your Backyard A More Exciting Place To Be

    "We're out back." —everyone's mom from now until the end of time

    1. A gazebo with curtains to provide shade for you and your friends while you ~throw shade~ about the other people in your lives.

    a gazebo top shaped like an octagon with loose, flowing netted curtains hanging down the sides around a set of outdoor furniture

    2. A mini pool that fits three grown adults so you can pretend you're on vacation in the Hamptons instead of your apartment's tiny patio.

    a group of three adults drinking out of pineapple cups and splashing into a mini blow up pool with a leafy design all over it

    3. A supersized version of Connect Four that'll provide your squad with hours upon hours of simple fun in the sun. The only downfall is you might never want to play the regular version again!

    4. Or Kan Jam, an outdoor frisbee toss game that'll start as a casual game of catch and most likely evolve into a SUPER competitive battle for greatness.

    5. A pair of lounge chairs you'd easily find poolside at a resort in Hawaii.

    two tan lounge chairs with bronze metal arm rests and legs sitting side by side on an outdoor patio in front of a blue house

    6. Or a four-piece set of rattan furniture so everyone will have a spot of their own where they can unwind.

    two rattan chairs and a rattan love seat placed around a rattan coffee table outside on grass

    7. A reversible rug with checkers on one side and tic-tac-toe on the other, a must-have for any family who would rather exercise their brain muscles.

    8. A portable grill you'll be able to use to grill up a delicious feast even if you don't have an abundance of outdoor space.

    a red portable grill with two small platforms on each side, one has a pair of tongs on it while they other has bottles of ketchup and mustard

    9. A classic bocce ball set like the set your grandparents had growing up that'll bring back fond memories for them and help you all create new ones together.

    a person bending down in grass to pick up red, green, yellow, and blue bocce balls next to a white zippered square case to hold the balls in

    10. A playhouse for your kids (or friends' kids) that looks like an actual lil' seaside shack and'll make your backyard the go-to destination of the summer.

    a cute child-sized play house with a light blue tiled roof, white windows, a darker wooden door with windows, and tan wooden like walls

    11. Flamingo lawn ornaments you'll love so much you'll want to name them and make them part of the family.

    a close up of a pink flamingo lawn ornament

    12. Globe string lights that'll transform your backyard into the hipster haven you've always imagined it could be.

    13. Waterproof playing cards, so you can get a fierce game of Go Fish going without fear of the moment your kids inevitably spill their drink all over the table.

    transparent playing cards made of a plastic material so they won't get ruined if they get wet

    14. An oversized towel you can spread out on your lawn to catch some rays, read a book, or have a spontaneous picnic with your S.O.

    a person holding up a bright yellow towel with a green circle around an orange circle around a white star with the words "one with the sun" in the middle in pink

    15. A 66-inch tiki torch with a gunmetal finish that'll bring chill *island vibes* to your home while also maintaining the modern style you've carefully crafted.

    four gun metal tiki torches in a backyard at night

    16. A jumbo set of tower blocks that, just like the ones you played with as a kid, will probs stress you out as you strategize and keep you entertained for an entire afternoon — only this time you'll get some fresh air while you're at it.

    17. A hanging hammock chair for the ultimate chill spot where you can listen to your podcasts or take a nap in peace.

    a blue and turquoise striped chair hammock hanging above a porch

    18. Or a classic rope hammock, in case you have ~someone special~ in your life you'd like to snuggle up with while you gaze into the night sky.

    a strung together hammock with a wooden bar holding all the strings together and a green embroidered pillow sitting on top of it

    19. A waterproof portable Bluetooth speaker, so you'll never have to fumble with headphone wires at the beach or pool again.

    a royal blue tube-like speaker sitting on top a counter

    20. A glittery pool tube that'll look absolutely spectacular in the Instagram pics you'll definitely be taking at home in your pool this summer. Hope your mom's photo skills have improved since last year!

    a person laying on their stomach laughing while inside the middle of a glitter filled golden inner tube in a pool

    21. Or a massive sloth pool float, in case you've always dreamt of being cuddled by one of nature's cutest animals while soaking up some sun.

    a person in a bathing suit sitting in the middle of an oversized sleepy sloth pool float

    22. A set of massive bubble wands so enchanting that even the angstiest of teens won't be able to resist giving them a go.

    23. A firepit that'll also double as a wood fire grill and help transform your not-so-manicured yard into one anyone would mistaken as an up-and-coming outdoor eatery.

    24. And a Hershey's s'mores kit that'll go nicely with your firepit *and* make sure you and your family always have a sweet treat waiting to be made.

    an open hershey's chocolate bar next to a plate of s'mores nearby a fire

    25. A picnic table that'll easily attach onto your fence or a tree to give your bushy-tailed buddies a comfortable place to dine.

    a squirrel nibbling on corn on the cob while standing on a small picnic table that is screwed into a fence

    26. Spikeball, an easy-to-transport game that is kinda like volleyball and will have your friends asking you to bring it on every beach trip.

    27. A pop-up tunnel play set that'll keep little ones busy so you can kick back and enjoy an ice cold beverage.

    an outdoor tunnel system for kids featuring a bunch of primary colors

    28. Festive summer-themed melamine plates you can break out during your next BBQ to embrace the season.

    a wooden table filled with brightly colored melamine outdoor plates one has sunglasses on top of a light blue, white, and yellow triangular design while another is blue and made to look like someone is diving off a diving board into water

    29. And an outdoor dining set to add a pop of color to your yard while also motivating you and your family to eat more meals in your yard.

    a circular wooden table surrounded by four stools, all have turquoise blue, curvy metal legs attached

    30. A dog ball launcher that'll encourage your pup to get a lil' extra exercise in their day *and* give you another excuse to breathe in some fresh air in your yard.

    31. And a snow cone cart, so on super hot summer days you can retreat to the privacy of your own yard and eat as many as your heart desires.

    Future me eating my weight in snow cones like:

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