21 DIYs to Do With Dad
Rather than buying something your dad may not actually want for Father's Day, why not gift him with your hands and do a DIY together?
So Father’s Day is looming – and a present needs to be sought. Instead of shelling out for yet another gift card this year, why not gift your dad some of your time. Together you could, perhaps, tackle some home maintenance or beautifying tasks he hasn’t quite gotten around to doing or completing yet. Not only does this mean you can give him something out of the ordinary to show your appreciation, it also gives you a chance to spend a bit of one-on-one time with the man for some parental bonding. Here are some fun ideas to do around the home.
2. Put up some shelves
This might be a good one to ask for Dad’s help with, and you may want to do it together at your place, especially if you’re in a house or apartment with minimal storage. If you’re renting, check with your landlord first that it’s okay to do.
This might be a good one to ask for Dad’s help with, and you may want to do it together at your place, especially if you’re in a house or apartment with minimal storage. If you’re renting, check with your landlord first that it’s okay to do.
3. Create some stump stools
If you or your parents have trees in the garden or nearby that have been removed and cut into pieces, or if you happen to be on a day out in the country or bush and come across some tree stumps, bring them back home. You and Dad could try your hands at cleaning them up, levelling them out and turning them into stools, side tables, or even plant stands. All you need for this one is a tree stump, some sandpaper, and a love of the rustic look.
If you or your parents have trees in the garden or nearby that have been removed and cut into pieces, or if you happen to be on a day out in the country or bush and come across some tree stumps, bring them back home. You and Dad could try your hands at cleaning them up, levelling them out and turning them into stools, side tables, or even plant stands. All you need for this one is a tree stump, some sandpaper, and a love of the rustic look.
4. Plant a living wall or frame
If your dad’s got a hint of green in his thumb, this could be a great, simple project for the two of you to do together. You can make it as big or small as you like, and if you’re using succulents, it can easily suit both indoors and out.
See how to make a living picture
If your dad’s got a hint of green in his thumb, this could be a great, simple project for the two of you to do together. You can make it as big or small as you like, and if you’re using succulents, it can easily suit both indoors and out.
See how to make a living picture
5. Make a water tank
Gardening can be a great stress reliever, something that many overworked dads can benefit from. But if he’s worried about the cost of constant water usage, or the environmental impact, a rainwater tank could be a useful alternative to hosing from the mains.
Search salvage yards, industrial roadsides or Gumtree for some old plastic barrels, and give them a good scrub once you get your chosen vessel home. Next, mark out a wide, round circle in the top of the barrel by tracing around a side plate, cut this out with a Stanley knife, and cover it with a bit of flyscreen mesh, stuck down with PVA or silicon sealant.
You can add a tap with another hole near the base of the barrel fitted in place with some more sealant, then presto! Place your tank out in the garden and get your rain-dancing shoes ready.
Gardening can be a great stress reliever, something that many overworked dads can benefit from. But if he’s worried about the cost of constant water usage, or the environmental impact, a rainwater tank could be a useful alternative to hosing from the mains.
Search salvage yards, industrial roadsides or Gumtree for some old plastic barrels, and give them a good scrub once you get your chosen vessel home. Next, mark out a wide, round circle in the top of the barrel by tracing around a side plate, cut this out with a Stanley knife, and cover it with a bit of flyscreen mesh, stuck down with PVA or silicon sealant.
You can add a tap with another hole near the base of the barrel fitted in place with some more sealant, then presto! Place your tank out in the garden and get your rain-dancing shoes ready.
6. Set up a fire pit
Fire pits can be a little involved as DIY projects, but if, like me, you like to dive right in, it’s a fun one to do. First, select a location that’s not likely to catch on fire, and which is far enough away from anything that you’d be worried about having flying embers land on. Like trees. Or the dog’s house. If your pit is properly insulated (and if you don’t mind the odd char mark) a setup on a timber deck should be fine. Just maybe have a fire extinguisher on hand.
Next, get two silicon basin moulds (one large, one slightly less large), a couple of bags of concrete and a really big bucket from your local hardware store. You’ll also need some gloves, safety glasses and dust masks for safety. Gear up, then mix the concrete in the bucket. Get Dad to pour it into the larger basin, then set the smaller basin inside and weigh it down with some stones. It should be sitting about three to four centimetres above the first basin.
Let it set according to the instructions on the bag while you and Dad enjoy a cuppa or a cold one together, then de-mould, and clean up the edges with a bit of sandpaper. When hard, place it somewhere that’s not flammable, fill it with firewood or coals and set it on fire. The stuff inside that is, not the pit itself. That would be silly.
Fire pits can be a little involved as DIY projects, but if, like me, you like to dive right in, it’s a fun one to do. First, select a location that’s not likely to catch on fire, and which is far enough away from anything that you’d be worried about having flying embers land on. Like trees. Or the dog’s house. If your pit is properly insulated (and if you don’t mind the odd char mark) a setup on a timber deck should be fine. Just maybe have a fire extinguisher on hand.
Next, get two silicon basin moulds (one large, one slightly less large), a couple of bags of concrete and a really big bucket from your local hardware store. You’ll also need some gloves, safety glasses and dust masks for safety. Gear up, then mix the concrete in the bucket. Get Dad to pour it into the larger basin, then set the smaller basin inside and weigh it down with some stones. It should be sitting about three to four centimetres above the first basin.
Let it set according to the instructions on the bag while you and Dad enjoy a cuppa or a cold one together, then de-mould, and clean up the edges with a bit of sandpaper. When hard, place it somewhere that’s not flammable, fill it with firewood or coals and set it on fire. The stuff inside that is, not the pit itself. That would be silly.
7. Fashion a bedhead
Your mum will probably appreciate this one, too, but if you’re making a head for your parents’ bed it’s a good idea to check with her first about the style she’d like.
There are some great ideas already on Houzz, so find something that appeals to you and your folks (get Dad checking out the options with you to find one he’s happy with, too) then get makin’.
More creative ideas for DIY bedheads
Your mum will probably appreciate this one, too, but if you’re making a head for your parents’ bed it’s a good idea to check with her first about the style she’d like.
There are some great ideas already on Houzz, so find something that appeals to you and your folks (get Dad checking out the options with you to find one he’s happy with, too) then get makin’.
More creative ideas for DIY bedheads
8. Make a storage rack
This is great for adding extra shelf space to the bathroom, living room, bedroom – you name it, if it ends with ‘room’ it’s probably a good space for some cool shelving.
The rack is going to provide more storage than a single shelf, obviously, and as an added bonus it’s moveable, so you don’t even have to ask permission to install it into a rental.
TIP: You may want to make two, just in case you really like it as well. Stealing your dad’s Father’s Day present is not cool.
This is great for adding extra shelf space to the bathroom, living room, bedroom – you name it, if it ends with ‘room’ it’s probably a good space for some cool shelving.
The rack is going to provide more storage than a single shelf, obviously, and as an added bonus it’s moveable, so you don’t even have to ask permission to install it into a rental.
TIP: You may want to make two, just in case you really like it as well. Stealing your dad’s Father’s Day present is not cool.
10. Put some pallets to good use
Go for a drive with Dad to a nearby industrial area, and search around for some pallets that’ve been left out as rubbish. Pick ones that are in good shape, structurally, and you won’t even have to pull them apart.
Read up on some great ideas on what to do with them once you get them home.
Go for a drive with Dad to a nearby industrial area, and search around for some pallets that’ve been left out as rubbish. Pick ones that are in good shape, structurally, and you won’t even have to pull them apart.
Read up on some great ideas on what to do with them once you get them home.
11. Build a deck
Obviously this is going to be a slightly more advanced project, but if you and Dad feel like getting stuck into it properly, check out the how-tos here.
Obviously this is going to be a slightly more advanced project, but if you and Dad feel like getting stuck into it properly, check out the how-tos here.
12. Oil an existing deck
If you already have a deck, this is a good time of year to get it back into shape and ready for a lot of summer use. Also, if you and Dad get everything in on-deck sorted together, come the barbecue on Sunday to celebrate his special day of appreciation, you’ll probably be first in line when he’s handing out the sausages.
See how to do it right
If you already have a deck, this is a good time of year to get it back into shape and ready for a lot of summer use. Also, if you and Dad get everything in on-deck sorted together, come the barbecue on Sunday to celebrate his special day of appreciation, you’ll probably be first in line when he’s handing out the sausages.
See how to do it right
13. Lay down a garden path
Creating a garden path that looks great and is easy to walk on is a wonderful, and relatively easy way – depending on the method you use – to add a bit of interest to Mum and Dad’s backyard.
Have a chat with Dad to see what style would suit him best, then head down to your local hardware or garden store to get the materials you need, whether they be timber sleepers, slate stepping stones, or just a few bags of gravel.
Creating a garden path that looks great and is easy to walk on is a wonderful, and relatively easy way – depending on the method you use – to add a bit of interest to Mum and Dad’s backyard.
Have a chat with Dad to see what style would suit him best, then head down to your local hardware or garden store to get the materials you need, whether they be timber sleepers, slate stepping stones, or just a few bags of gravel.
14. Put up a retaining wall
Retaining walls come in many shapes and sizes, and can be built from any number of materials. They are particularly useful if you’re working with a sloping site, and can add the finishing touch to a garden, or even create built-in garden beds that Dad can use to create a lush planting feature, or even a vegie patch.
If you decide to dig in with Dad and create one together this Father’s Day, it might not be a bad idea to read a bit more about what’s required in a retaining wall before you get started.
Retaining walls come in many shapes and sizes, and can be built from any number of materials. They are particularly useful if you’re working with a sloping site, and can add the finishing touch to a garden, or even create built-in garden beds that Dad can use to create a lush planting feature, or even a vegie patch.
If you decide to dig in with Dad and create one together this Father’s Day, it might not be a bad idea to read a bit more about what’s required in a retaining wall before you get started.
15. Make a hanging planter
For dads with smaller outdoor spaces, something like this could be a fun project to do together.
See the step-by-step instructions
For dads with smaller outdoor spaces, something like this could be a fun project to do together.
See the step-by-step instructions
16. Build a fence
Putting together a fence is a great job for two people to do, as you’ll often need another pair of hands to help hold things in place while you measure and cut the palings. If Dad’s been talking about getting this one done for a while, why not offer your hands up to help and get the job done right?
Putting together a fence is a great job for two people to do, as you’ll often need another pair of hands to help hold things in place while you measure and cut the palings. If Dad’s been talking about getting this one done for a while, why not offer your hands up to help and get the job done right?
17. Paint the fence
If there’s already an existing fence on your parents’ property, but you note it could do with a bit of TLC, this might be a job you could even offer to do by yourself.
If there’s already an existing fence on your parents’ property, but you note it could do with a bit of TLC, this might be a job you could even offer to do by yourself.
18. Create an insect hotel
Boys love bugs. Men are often referred to as overgrown boys. Ergo, there’s probably some truth in the belief that many dads are going to be fond of the creepy crawlies. If that sounds like your dad, this could be a great afternoon project to do together. And at the end of it, you have a hand-over-able gift to give the old man. Bonus!
Build your own insect hotel
Boys love bugs. Men are often referred to as overgrown boys. Ergo, there’s probably some truth in the belief that many dads are going to be fond of the creepy crawlies. If that sounds like your dad, this could be a great afternoon project to do together. And at the end of it, you have a hand-over-able gift to give the old man. Bonus!
Build your own insect hotel
19. Build a bird house
Bird houses can be as simple or as complex as you’d like to make them, so if you want to make one of these with an ornithologically-minded father, pick a style that suits both of your skill levels.
If all else fails, you can always just go to the hardware store together and buy one, then have the joy of picking a spot for it, putting it up, and watching feathered friends flutter in and out all year.
Bird houses can be as simple or as complex as you’d like to make them, so if you want to make one of these with an ornithologically-minded father, pick a style that suits both of your skill levels.
If all else fails, you can always just go to the hardware store together and buy one, then have the joy of picking a spot for it, putting it up, and watching feathered friends flutter in and out all year.
20. Repurpose some old crates …
There are any number of things you can do with old crates. Use them as shelves. Turn them into planter boxes. Build a bedside table out of them. You can pick them up at vintage stores and markets, and when it comes to what to do with them, the only limit is your imagination. And your dad’s.
There are any number of things you can do with old crates. Use them as shelves. Turn them into planter boxes. Build a bedside table out of them. You can pick them up at vintage stores and markets, and when it comes to what to do with them, the only limit is your imagination. And your dad’s.
21. … Or a couple of ladders …
Same goes for an old ladder or two.
Same goes for an old ladder or two.
21. … Or a door!
TELL US
What do you plan on doing with your dad this Father’s Day? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
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Browse more DIY stories for ideas
TELL US
What do you plan on doing with your dad this Father’s Day? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more DIY stories for ideas
For something simple, but with a finished product that’s good for relaxing, pick a spot around the house or garden and hang up a hammock.
All you need for this one is the hammock itself, a couple of trees or posts, if they’re available, or a strong ceiling or beam and a pair of hooks. Dad probably won’t really need your help with this, but if you suggest it and help to hang it up, you just might get to have a go in it once he’s done.