Kids’ swing set becomes grown-up space

Parents have been known to drop hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars on a backyard swing set for kids to use. Once your little ones outgrow it, does it make any sense to get rid of the setup?

One household blogger decided to put a creative twist and, says House Beautiful, turn it into a fun piece of backyard lounge furniture for adults.

As DIY expert and contractor Brittany Bailey explains on her blog Pretty Handy Girl, before the overhaul, the wooden structure was outfitted with the typical kids swings and a slide.

It also lacked any kind of esthetic appeal.

“The landscape designer wanted us to remove the swing set. I thought we could still use it (or I was in denial that my children are growing up),” Bailey writes on her blog.

After doing away with all the kid-friendly, brightly coloured components on the swings themselves — and even doing away with the slide as well — Bailey added some inexpensive chair hammocks and such accessories as patterned throw pillows and a little side table.

What was once a space for the kids to play was transformed into a more adult space for reading a book, having an afternoon nap, or catching up with friends.

Still need some more esthetic appeal?

Suggestions include hanging some string lights, transforming the ladder into a vertical planter or herb garden, or even installing an outdoor chandelier.

“After our major landscaping project, we’ve been spending more time outside enjoying our new backyard,” Bailey writes.

Full instructions for upgrading a kids’ swing set can be found at prettyhandygirl. com/grown-up-swing-set.