Are you tired of it getting dark at 5 PM every day? I know I am, but we're in luck: this year's Winter Solstice fell on December 21st, which means that the days are getting longer, and that summer will come again, and that this is a perfect time to start thinking about sunny days and outdoor projects. Here are 10 of our favorite outdoor-space transformations from 2012.

TOP ROW:
1. Before & After: Bare Patio Turned Luxurious Cabana
2. Jane and Justin's Backyard Before & After
3. Before & After: A Shed Goes from Farmhouse to Modern
4. Before & After: Family-Friendly Deck
5. Before & After: Empty to Lush Backyard

BOTTOM ROW:
6. Before & After: A Dull Deck's Flower Power Makeover
7. Before & After: 1 Day, $1000 Patio Transformation
8. Before & After: Bare Backyard Turned Lush Patio
9. Before & After: Eliza's Baby Blue Deck
10. Before & After: Back Stoop to Garden

(Images: See linked posts for full image credits)