DIY Tarp Projects: Creative Ways You Can Use Your Tarps at Home

You may be aware that tarps are great homeowner tools for everything from covering vehicles or appliances to acting as a temporary fix for a damaged roof. However, there are so many uses for tarps that there are likely some you may want to try you might never have thought of before.

Keep reading to find some of our favorite creative and fun ways that you can use tarps around the home. If you need a new tarp to put some of these DIY tarp project ideas into action, shop the wide variety of poly tarps, vinyl tarps and canvas tarps for sale at A1 Tarps.

Set up a DIY tarp canopy.

Let's say you're planning to host an outdoor get-together on your porch, patio or simply in your yard. If it's going to be a hot and sunny day, you may realize your guests will likely be uncomfortable without some shade. Besides, too much exposure to UV rays can lead to sunburn and even an increased risk of skin cancer.

Luckily, if you have a tarp on hand, you can use it to set up a DIY tarp canopy with relatively little time, effort or additional supplies. Secure your tarp to some poles and then lift them up until the tarp is taut overhead. Secure the poles to the ground with tent stakes and rope, and erect another pole at the center for stability. You might choose to use a poly tarp for this project, since it's lightweight, and poly tarps from A1 Tarps are UV-resistant. Or, you might choose a mesh tarp that will provide partial shade for a more breathable canopy. The choice is yours!

Make a tent for playtime.

Looking for a fun at-home activity with your kids? You can suggest they "go camping" - even if it's just in the yard. In terms of how to make a tent for them to use, simply take a clean tarp and some rope or paracord. Stretch the rope or cord between two trees and drape the tarp over it, with one half hanging over each side.

Pull each corner away from the center until it's at an approximate 45-degree angle. Then, secure the tarp canopy corners to the ground with some rope or cord and some stakes. Voila - you have a simple A-frame your kids can play, read or even nap in. (And if you want a barrier between them and the ground, simply lay out another tarp beneath the tent.)

Create a backyard water slide.

We've saved the most fun for last: an at-home "water slide." All you need is a waterproof tarp (vinyl tarps work particularly well for this), running water and some environmentally friendly shampoo or dish soap.

Lay out the tarp on a flat, grassy area and wet down the surface. Spread a thin layer of the soap or shampoo over it to make it extra slippery. Then run a soaker hose along the edge of the tarp and keep the water running low while the kids slide and play on the tarp's surface. Just be sure to play safe: Ensure the area is free of rocks or potentially sharp debris before you put the tarp down, and don't run on the tarp. (You'll want to wash off all that sticky shampoo or soap when you're done too.)