Spending more time at home doesn't have to feel like you're missing out on the fun. There are excellent ways to upgrade your backyard into a fun and functional place to keep all ages occupied. Learn how to take advantage of beautiful Michigan summers and enjoy the outdoors.

Outdoor Movie Theater

Watching a movie outdoors with the crisp air can be a magical experience for anyone. A relatively cheap, one-day project that will bring you joy for as long as the weather allows:

• Find a good place to sit. You want level-ish ground without anything blocking your line of sight.
• Find or build a screen support. Trees, posts, fences, or even the side of your house can all do the trick. Your screen can be made from a tightly bound sheet, or upgrade to a screen stand combo.
• Create your projector. Buying one is the easiest option, but anyone with a smartphone and a shoebox can make a decent projector for movie night with a simple DIY tutorial.

Outdoor Gym

Working out releases endorphins, and coupled with fresh air and sunshine it's a great mood boost and key to staying healthy. Create your own outdoor gym with a few additions:

• A bench. Useful for incline and decline pushups, explosive jump work, and targeted core exercises. Make sure it's sturdy and won't move while in use.
• A pull-up bar. Cement two posts in your yard and add a pull-up bar to work your chest and arms — it's also a great way to use gravity for sit-ups.
• A sand pit. Sand is an excellent way to increase the intensity of your workouts. Sprints, burpees, and squat thrusts from this surface force your muscles to work harder.

Garden

A garden is a beautiful feature that can upgrade any backyard, whether you're hoping to grow flowers or food. Even small herb boxes work in tight spaces. After you decide on a space, research what Plant Michigan recommends for your zone — this will help you choose plants suited to your sunlight exposure, planting zone, and time of year.

Fire Pit

Outdoor fires are a great way to stay warm and enjoy the night sky — already a staple of many Michigan summers.

• For a DIY fire pit, use cinder blocks, bricks, or pavers to create your foundation.
• If you'd rather not build your own, many affordable and sturdy options are available for purchase.
• Upgrade your fire pit with fireglass for a gorgeous setting, and add landscaping around the edges. Citronella, marigolds, and lemon balm are all natural mosquito repellants and excellent companions to your pit.
• Make your lighting special with tiki torches, string lights, and lanterns to complete the atmosphere.

Spending time at home can be challenging for those who love new experiences and activities. Try these simple ideas to upgrade your backyard and enjoy your homestead that much more.