Summer is officially here, and that means it’s time to rev up the weed whacker and start thinking about outdoor design. But, what if you need a little inspiration for landscaping projects? Here are eight ways to decorate your yard.

1. Start a Vegetable Garden
Tired of limp, lifeless veggies from the store’s produce section? Grow your own vegetables and pluck them off the vine at the height of their crispness and freshness. Enjoy your own homegrown carrots and tomatoes.

2. Build a Deck
Decks are great for parties, dinners or just sitting outside and enjoying the sunshine on a cloudless day. You can build your own or call the professionals at companies like Archadeck.

3. Build a Loft
Lofts are the perfect nighttime retreat for spending some quiet time with a loved one or just stargazing into the depths of the universe. You can even add an outdoor entertainment system for open-air concerts or movie nights.

4. Make a Treehouse
Not only will it delight your kids and start all kinds of secret clubs, but you may also find yourself visiting it when there are no witnesses around. A treehouse is a dream that you never outgrow.

5. Plant Fun Flowers
Anyone can cultivate a rose bush on the side of the house, but how many people create fields of passion flowers or plant giant alliums that are taller than toddlers? Make your yard the talking point of the neighborhood with a unique selection of flora.

6. Add a Fire Pit
An excellent centerpiece for social gatherings, a fire pit is great for barbeques, garden parties and informal dinners. You might also enjoy kicking back and toasting marshmallows around it on a balmy night.

7. Decorate With Art
It isn’t just for your hallway. Picasso may be a little out of place next to your child’s swing set, but you can always have fun with moss art, which can be sculpted into everything from grassy statues to actual words.

8. Hang a Hammock
Take a nice nap in the fresh air when you install a hammock in your backyard. You don’t even need trees for the hanging; you can use wooden poles and canopy-style constructions to put a hammock anywhere at all.

If you’re tired of your conventional yard, these eight ideas can shake things up and breathe new life into your lawn. The only limit is your imagination, so don’t be afraid to dream big.