15 Things People Built in Their Backyards for No Apparent Reason
At what point does a backyard project get completely out of hand? Maybe when you’ve spent five months building a sauna, or when your new garden furniture is a chair that seats four people. And then there’s the guy who decided to build an entire observatory. These are actual projects people have shared on Reddit, complete with photos of the work and the finished results. Some are genuinely useful, others are just funny to look at, and a few must have raised questions with the neighbors. We can’t imagine the planning involved in some of them, but we can appreciate the results. Here are 15 backyard projects that got a little out of control.
Dad Needed a Chair the Size of a Sofa
After seeing an oversized chair in a park, a Reddit user built an enormous wooden version for his father that can comfortably accommodate three or four people.
Someone Turned the Yard Into a Mini Golf Course
One homeowner built a homemade miniature golf course using natural materials, completing five of the planned nine holes and inventing a game called “5 Ball Jimmy.”
The Kids Got an Entire Pirate Ship
After finding commercial playground sets too expensive, a parent built an elaborate pirate ship in the backyard, creating a nautical playground for the family.
Someone Built an Actual Backyard Roller Coaster
A Reddit user built a wooden roller coaster in their own backyard, complete with a traditional-style track that reaches approximately six feet at its highest point.
Stargazing Required a Personal Observatory
An astronomy enthusiast upgraded a backyard observatory into a dome-equipped telescope station, with plans to add automated controls and weather sensors.
Movie Night Needed a 150-Inch Screen
One homeowner built a backyard movie theater, installing a 150-inch projection screen, surround-sound speakers, lighting, and patio seating.
This Bush Got Its Own Sculpted Face
A gardener incorporated a hand-sculpted face into a backyard bush, using the plant’s dark green foliage as the sculpture’s hair.
Someone Decided to Build a Private Sauna
A first-time DIY builder spent five months of weekends constructing a cedar sauna in the backyard, complete with insulated windows and an electric heater.
The Fish Got an Entire Backyard Lake
A homeowner and his brother spent four months building a roughly 4,000-gallon pond, installing thousands of pounds of rock and a waterfall.
The Treehouse Was Secretly for the Adults
A Reddit user built an elaborate treehouse during quarantine, later admitting that the elevated hideaway was primarily intended as an escape for grown-ups.
Ordering Pizza Was Apparently Too Easy
A homeowner built an elaborate backyard pizza oven featuring a spiral chimney, a maple leaf, and decorative details.
Grandpa Built His Own Little Hobbiton
Inspired by a visit to Hobbiton in New Zealand, one grandparent decided the backyard needed a Hobbit-style house for the grandchildren.
Someone Built a Railroad Through Their Garden
A Reddit user installed a miniature railway right through the garden, laying 15 meters of track and using roughly 300 kilograms of gravel to complete the route.
The Playground Turned Into a Castle
A father built his children a backyard castle with a tower, slide, swing, sandbox, climbing wall, and playhouse.
Someone Built a Giant Sculpture in the Backyard
A Reddit user shared a massive homemade sculpture that a friend’s mother built in her backyard, apparently deciding that ordinary garden decorations weren’t nearly impressive enough.