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    Home » DIY » outdoor living » Backyard Camper Retreat | Perfect Guest House

    Backyard Camper Retreat | Perfect Guest House

    Published by Gail | Published May 3, 2019 | Updated January 13, 2023
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    How to complete a cozy backyard camper retreat guest space. Make your backyard your own staycation destination #MyRepurposedLife #outdoors #backyard #camper #camping #spon via @repurposedlife

    Are you ready to see my backyard camper retreat and guest house? That’s right, the camper isn’t just for me, it’s already booked for my first guests! I’m so happy to be working with Ryobi on this Outdoor Overhaul. I think my backyard is the ultimate hangout for family and friends. I’ve already been enjoying it so much, even working on some more small projects seemed less like work.

     

    cozy backyard camper retreat guest space MyRepurposedLife

    Pin IT please

    Let’s see how the final projects came together since we last checked in on the small deck install.

    dump truck gravel for camper

    Too bad my friends at Ryobi don’t offer a backhoe! I did everything I could to make sure that this dump truck was going to be able to back all the way in to the space so it could dump and move. Little did I know so much gravel would land on the driveway and need to be moved!!

     

    old vintage birdbath

    Watching the birds is enjoyable to me. Over the winter months, this birdbath had fallen over in the side yard. It had definitely seen better days but I thought it would be perfect for my new backyard camper retreat.

     

    ryobi 2300 pressure washer

    Wow! The Ryobi 2300 PSI Pressure Washer helped knock off all the dirt AND the loose paint! It was quickly ready to be painted.

     

    pressure washer cleans grime

    While I had the pressure washer out, I cleaned a table and the propane tank for the grill. Please ignore all the mess. It’s amazing how much stuff was laying around during these few weeks!

     

    moving camper to backyard

    Moving the camper was quite tricky. There were many obstacles in the way including a tree, the eaves of the garage, a fence and pipes sticking up from the former carport. These things will have to be dealt with before my first trip.

     

    camper in new parking space

    But! I have to say, just seeing it here makes me ONE HAPPY CAMPER! This was the main goal of the backyard hangout. Now I can camp in the backyard until I’m able to go REAL camping in early Summer. Plus, it’s going to make the perfect guest house! It’s a win/win for sure.

    Simple Changes to Backyard camper retreat

    how to cover a sewer clean out pipe

    I’ve had this base for years, I suppose it was for a birdbath. I needed to cover that sewer clean out pipe. This base happens to be made of resin and has a hollow area that fits right over the pipe. I didn’t want it to look fresh and new, but more like it had been around for awhile. The light coat of spray paint did just that. I placed one of my bowling ball gazing balls atop the base.

    succulents hanging on shutter vertical garden

    The succulent shutter looks nice with the newly painted vintage birdbath, don’t you think?

     

    More Paint Freshens up the Space

     

    paint foundation of house

    It’s really easy to get discouraged as the days and weeks pass. I found myself wanting to skip steps and just call this job d.o.n.e. Have you been there with a DIY project? The basement window encasements and the foundation of the house were in need of a freshening up. I practically had to force myself to continue on and not leave those last minute tasks undone. I found myself  making lists more than once.

    150-Watt Powered Inverter Generator for 18-Volt Battery

    Check out my new best friend! This 150-Watt Powered Inverter Generator for an 18-Volt Battery gives me portable power anywhere! I can easily charge my phone or use a fan in my backyard or even while camping!

    How to Store Ryobi Outdoor 40V Tools

    how to store ryobi 40v yard tools

    I don’t have a fancy shop to store my Ryobi outdoor tools, but when I cleaned out and moved the shed I told you that I got rid of a lot of stuff. That allows me to house all my Ryobi 40V Outdoor tools here as well as store the swing canopy, patio umbrella and more. You can see me using most of these tools in my post Building a Small Deck Plus Ryobi 40V Outdoor Tools.

    Backyard Camper Retreat and Guest Quarters

    backyard camper retreat

    This was the day of my unveiling for family and friends. We had a small get together with a cookout and of course some s’mores around the fire pit! The lawn suffered greatly during all of this work. I have laid sod and sewn grass seed, but of course that takes time.

    *this post contains affiliate links,  read more here*

    camper retreat in my own backyard MyRepurposedLife

    Here’s the view from the driveway side. It’s so hard to believe it’s the same space from before.

    camper retreat at dusk MyRepurposedLife

    I love the tiny solar lights atop the Texas lampposts. Did you see my post How to Make a Pallet Love Seat?

    before and after backyard camper retreat MyRepurposedLife

    I'd love for you to pin it before you go!

    So, there you have it! I’m not sure I’m done. You’ll probably be seeing a few more projects in the weeks to come as I complete the space. As I said at the top of this post the camper is already booked with my first guests. My daughter Jamie, her husband Andy and my Grandson Eli will be visiting very soon. It will be Eli’s first trip to Kentucky. I’m so excited that they will have their own little backyard campground.

    Backyard Camper Retreat

    Hangout Challenge

    You may remember this Hangout Challenge is a collaboration with me and three other great DIY bloggers! You can vote next week for your favorite space. I’ll keep you posted on Facebook, Instagram and other notifications. So, be sure to check out their awesome spaces (I’ve seen sneak peeks)  Smile

    Thrift Diving

    H2O Bungalow

    The Handyman’s Daughter

    What's your favorite part of the new space? Mine keeps changing. One evening I literally sat in all the areas. I felt like goldilocks . . .

    gail

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Rebecca Payne

      May 27, 2020 at 12:25 pm

      I love the blue in your backyard

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 27, 2020 at 8:21 pm

        Thank you so much Rebecca! Blue has always been my favorite color. It continues to make me smile....

        gail

    2. Bliss

      May 25, 2019 at 7:00 am

      OK... gonna talk gramma to gramma here and say it like it is; you've just created the best memory for that grandson of yours! He will always remember that first exciting trip to your house where he got to CAMP. That alone is way too cool, and worth every bit of sweat you put in to it, even finishing off the painting at ground zero!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 26, 2019 at 9:41 am

        Ohhh, Bliss!
        Your comment makes me smile! I hope Eli and I have many more memories to make in that camper together. 🙂

        gail

    3. Brette

      May 15, 2019 at 5:33 pm

      From bare too beautiful. A happy place for Lulu.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 16, 2019 at 11:51 pm

        Indeed! A happy place for Lulu and her mom! 🙂

        A new post coming about the cushions and how I share my space with my sweet girl.

        gail

    4. Kate Horrell

      May 04, 2019 at 5:49 pm

      WOW!!!! What a difference. I love it. Is there a post on how u made ur light posts? I want to make them so I can put up a sail shade to cover my patio n hang lights.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 05, 2019 at 10:44 am

        Kate,

        I haven't written the directions up yet for the Texas Lampposts. I will be doing that very soon.

        gail

    5. Marie

      May 04, 2019 at 12:26 pm

      I LOVE this makeover, Gail! What a great idea for anyone who has their camper parked in their yard/driveway to incorporate it into a backyard camping retreat. Your hard work paid off. What a night and day transformation and such a great idea! Enjoyed the video tour your cute little doggie took us on too 🙂

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 05, 2019 at 10:37 am

        aww, thanks Marie! Silly Lulu Mae! After having the camper parked in the front driveway since last summer. . . this is sooo much better! It was a lot of work, but so totally worth it.
        I appreciate your kind comment.

        gail

    6. Lorraine

      May 04, 2019 at 4:57 am

      Lots of great ideas in this post! I love that you're using a camper as a guest house. We have been working on our backyard as well, making it into a private retreat for relaxing. It's coming along.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 05, 2019 at 10:43 am

        Lorraine,

        If you're like me you will probably be asking yourself why you waited so long. I guess I needed a good reason to do my makeover. 🙂

        Good luck completing your private retreat! It's the best staycation, right?

        gail

    7. Tammy Miller

      May 03, 2019 at 11:54 pm

      What an awesome backyard entertainment spot. I like the use of the camper for a quest room and a get away for yourself. I would love to be your guest.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 05, 2019 at 10:42 am

        Tammy,

        Thank you! The backyard camper retreat is so much better than camping in the front driveway. lol

    8. Paula

      May 03, 2019 at 6:22 pm

      It looks amazing, Gail!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 05, 2019 at 10:41 am

        Thank you Paula. I do love my new space so much! Still a lot of work to do, but I'm patiently waiting till I can complete the look.

        gail

    9. girlfromwva

      May 03, 2019 at 5:50 pm

      looks very inviting!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 05, 2019 at 10:40 am

        Nova,

        I worked so hard on this, very very long days! I'm so glad I didn't give up. I still don't believe it when I walk out the back door onto my new porch. 🙂

        gail

    10. Vineta Jackson

      May 03, 2019 at 12:08 pm

      It looks amazing! You put every inch of that backyard to good use! 🙂

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 03, 2019 at 4:56 pm

        Yep, EVERY inch of my tiny backyard. 🙂 But I love it so much and can't wait for my daughter to visit and stay in the camper. 🙂

        gail

    11. bringingthefarmhome

      May 03, 2019 at 11:01 am

      Wow- great job! It looks so inviting!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 03, 2019 at 4:57 pm

        Thank you !!!! I think I can call it a success--I lived through it! 🙂

        gail

    12. Terry hayes

      May 03, 2019 at 10:59 am

      It is an awesome looking space! I love love love it!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 03, 2019 at 4:57 pm

        awww, you're the BEST! Thank you for your inspiration and all your help and ideas! But I'm not ready for you to have any other great ideas anytime soon!

        ng

    13. Jennie

      May 03, 2019 at 10:11 am

      It’s so comfortable looking. It’s going to get a lot of use. So you have someone coming in a few weeks? Is it someone about 3 feet tall? Did you remove the fence on the far side of the trailer?

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 03, 2019 at 5:00 pm

        You're one smart cookie! Yes, about 3 years old, not sure he's that tall yet. 🙂 I haven't seen him since March!!!

        I did remove one section of fence on the side, and one that was blocking the backyard (from the driveway) They about whooped me! So many nails and stubborn boards.
        Like I said, several things need to change in order to make the camper easy in and out. It was too stressful getting it back there. I can't go through that with every trip. But for now, since I can't go camping it's working perfectly!

        gail

    14. Maria L Wolfgang

      May 03, 2019 at 9:40 am

      Wow, everything turned out so pretty. Thank you for sharing your experience

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 03, 2019 at 9:47 am

        Thank you so much Maria. I appreciate your comment. It's been 25 years since I've spent time in my backyard. It's hard to believe it's the same space.

        gail

    15. Leah McGrew

      May 03, 2019 at 9:32 am

      Texas lamp posts? I live in Texas and have never heard of this... not that I go outside much, I'm pretty much allergic to everything outside.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 03, 2019 at 9:48 am

        hahaha

        I am NOT from Texas, but that's what I heard them called. lol

    16. Roseann

      May 03, 2019 at 8:56 am

      You did an amazing job! All is comfy cozy.
      I’m still working on my out door scape.
      Will send you some updates.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 03, 2019 at 9:49 am

        thanks Roseann!

        I love all the seating options. I think there really is something for everyone. 🙂

        gail

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    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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