The warmer months are the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. It's also the perfect time for outdoor DIY! You don't need to live somewhere extravagant to have a backyard that's worthy of a magazine spread -- all you need is some motivation and DIY know-how to make your home into something beautiful.

Here are five DIY ways you can turn your backyard into a little slice of paradise.

Work With the Space You Have

16% of first-time homeowners are looking for new homes in urban areas in 2019, and that usually means a little less outdoor space to work with. Rather than trying to cram a bunch of large projects into a small space and ending up with a bunch of clutter and very little grass, it's better to work with the space you already have and highlight its best features.

Privacy Screens

Fences and privacy screens are some of the best ways to help enclose a space or divide it into sections for specific projects. While a more standard privacy fence can certainly be a good DIY project, you have other options if you'd like to make your space a little more unique. Wooden pallets are a great DIY material and can be used for a variety of different things, including privacy screens. Set the pallets upright around the perimeter with the slats running horizontally and secure them. Then you can hang art or small potted plants from the slats to create some depth and decoration in the space.

DIY Outdoor Furniture

Wooden pallets are a great material to use for DIY, and they can hold more weight than their plastic counterparts. In fact, wooden pallets can handle up to 3,000 lbs, which makes them nice and sturdy for your DIY. One way to use pallets is to construct DIY home furniture for your patio or outdoor space. Before you start, however, it's important to be aware that pallets with a heat-treated (HT) stamp are safe for indoor use as well, while pallets with an MB stamp have been treated with chemicals and are not safe to be used inside the home.

Lighting and Fire

Fire pits are a cozy, rustic, and charming addition to any backyard. Simply measure out how big you'd like your fire pit to be, collect the proper rocks from around the property as a border, clear out a space, and start building. These additions are great for family gatherings, roasting marshmallows, even cooking dinner in some cases. They're also a cozy source of light for those warm summer evenings. Lighting can also be brought into the space in the form of candles or fairy lights strung on fences or over the couch. As always, be careful around open flames, especially if you have pets or small children.

Cover Up Eyesores

More than 21 million households in the United States use septic systems — not a public sewer — to trap and filter their toilet waste. While there's nothing wrong with septic tanks, the entry points can be eyesores in an otherwise pristine lawn. Depending on the location of the tank, you have a few options for covering it. One of the most common ways of hiding necessary equipment around your home is through some basic landscaping tricks. Placing a rock feature around the area hides the take while still allowing access to it in case of emergencies. This can be done with anything you'd like to hide but is essential for the home or yard to be safe and functional.

So there were five DIY ideas for your backyard. We hope you found some inspiration and maybe even an idea for your next project!