The key to a successful garden makeover is thinking carefully about your needs and creating a detailed plan.
An inspiring example of a successful project is how Bunnings Workshop member James Spiteri took an overgrown backyard and transformed it into a welcoming outdoor area designed for everyday family life, including lawn, retaining walls, decking, planter boxes, bench seats, planting and lighting.
“I had a vision – I wanted the kids to run around and play there,” says James.
Known as @Jimi on Workshop, the Bunnings Trade account manager rates his D.I.Y. skills as "pretty good". He says everyone makes mistakes, you just need to learn from them.
“Making mistakes is part of renovating. If I make a mistake on anything, I rip it down and tweak it until I get it right.”
In his backyard makeover project, what began as a backyard crowded with yuccas and thick planting gradually became a much more usable and inviting space. James worked on the transformation over two years, working around a full-time job.
James cleared the area, refined his plans, and slowly built a backyard with open lawn, extended decking, paving and a pergola. The result is a space that feels practical, generous and made to be enjoyed.
What makes James’ project especially relatable for the Bunnings Workshop community is the attitude behind it. He approached the makeover with patience, persistence and a willingness to learn along the way. That mindset helped him push through the tougher parts of the build and create an outdoor area his family can now enjoy every day.
The most challenging aspect was the extensive crazy paving. "With crazy paving, each paver has a different thickness so working that out was a bit tricky. I was motivated by the satisfaction afterwards.”
James has shared many other inspiring projects on Workshop, including front landscaping with deck and crazy paving, a customised pergola for the alfresco, a built-in barbecue bench, a steel shed and an ensuite renovation. They show a member who enjoys solving problems, improving his home and creating spaces for the family to enjoy.
Read more on the Bunnings website: How one family turned an overgrown backyard into a dream family space.
