Budget-friendly Tips for Revamping Your Garden Furniture
Relax outside on long summer days with these creative ways to jazz up outdoor tables and chairs
Hannah Young
2 July 2016
Professional Organiser in Yorkshire and a member of APDO (Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers). You can find me online at www.ReviveYourSpace.co.uk or in person helping others to declutter, organise and restyle their homes. I believe it's important to make the most of what we already have and love to share the benefits of being organised and efficient, creating more physical and emotional space for the things that are most important to us.
Professional Organiser in Yorkshire and a member of APDO (Association of Professional... More
When the sun comes out, many of us love to relax outside. But what if your garden furniture is looking a bit tired or you just don’t have anything you fancy stretching out on? Here are some great ideas for revamping your outdoor furniture, repurposing reclaimed materials and finding some brilliant bargain buys.
Add a lick of paint
Refresh your existing bistro set with a fresh coat of paint. To achieve a good finish on wood, sand it first to create a smooth surface. Make sure you find a paint suitable for the item you’re revamping – your local hardware shop can offer advice.
Paint outside on a dry, still day or do the work inside, protecting your flooring with a dust sheet or old bed sheet.
Refresh your existing bistro set with a fresh coat of paint. To achieve a good finish on wood, sand it first to create a smooth surface. Make sure you find a paint suitable for the item you’re revamping – your local hardware shop can offer advice.
Paint outside on a dry, still day or do the work inside, protecting your flooring with a dust sheet or old bed sheet.
Choose the easy option
A new tablecloth might be all you need to give your outdoor dining set a face-lift. The tablecloth could be a simple flat bed sheet, or a piece of material from a local market.
Here, the dining table has been beautifully set with a casual stripy cloth, freshly picked flowers and some handmade bunting.
A new tablecloth might be all you need to give your outdoor dining set a face-lift. The tablecloth could be a simple flat bed sheet, or a piece of material from a local market.
Here, the dining table has been beautifully set with a casual stripy cloth, freshly picked flowers and some handmade bunting.
Repurpose pallets
What if you don’t have any outdoor furniture? Take inspiration from this fabulous table and benches, which have been made from pallets and finished off with some comfy cushions.
Many companies offer pallets free for collection – check out Gumtree to find ones near you. Or if you happen to discover some outside a property, ask the owner if they’d be happy for you to take them away.
Most pallets are made of quite rough wood, so you’ll probably need to sand them first to create a smooth finish. You could also add a wood preservative or varnish.
What if you don’t have any outdoor furniture? Take inspiration from this fabulous table and benches, which have been made from pallets and finished off with some comfy cushions.
Many companies offer pallets free for collection – check out Gumtree to find ones near you. Or if you happen to discover some outside a property, ask the owner if they’d be happy for you to take them away.
Most pallets are made of quite rough wood, so you’ll probably need to sand them first to create a smooth finish. You could also add a wood preservative or varnish.
Reclaim materials
To take it a step further, you could ask a carpenter to make a whole new seating area and planters using reclaimed materials. Railway sleepers, as seen here, come in different grades. The higher grades are often quite pricey, so hunt around at online suppliers or at your local reclamation yard for something that suits your budget.
Finding a new home for old materials is good for the environment, as it means raw materials are not being processed to produce new furniture.
To take it a step further, you could ask a carpenter to make a whole new seating area and planters using reclaimed materials. Railway sleepers, as seen here, come in different grades. The higher grades are often quite pricey, so hunt around at online suppliers or at your local reclamation yard for something that suits your budget.
Finding a new home for old materials is good for the environment, as it means raw materials are not being processed to produce new furniture.
Take the indoors out
Consider picking up a bargain at a second-hand furniture store and using it outside. As fashions change, many people send their old indoor furniture to gather dust in the dark. Liberate preloved furniture by repurposing it outside.
Be aware, though, that furniture intended for use indoors may be more susceptible to weathering, so you might want to paint it, use an oilcloth tablecloth, or protect it from the rain with a tarpaulin.
Consider picking up a bargain at a second-hand furniture store and using it outside. As fashions change, many people send their old indoor furniture to gather dust in the dark. Liberate preloved furniture by repurposing it outside.
Be aware, though, that furniture intended for use indoors may be more susceptible to weathering, so you might want to paint it, use an oilcloth tablecloth, or protect it from the rain with a tarpaulin.
Plump up
How about updating old conservatory cane chairs with some new cushions? Pick up some chairs from a charity shop and find a local upholsterer to re-cover the cushions.
To make your cushions more durable, use a waterproof or water-resistant fabric, or apply a waterproofing spray to add a bit more resilience.
Track down upholsterers in your area in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
How about updating old conservatory cane chairs with some new cushions? Pick up some chairs from a charity shop and find a local upholsterer to re-cover the cushions.
To make your cushions more durable, use a waterproof or water-resistant fabric, or apply a waterproofing spray to add a bit more resilience.
Track down upholsterers in your area in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Add a touch of glass
Any table can be upgraded by adding an elegant glass top. Your local glass cutter will be able to supply a bespoke design to suit your needs. Be sure to discuss what you’ll be using it for, to ensure you get toughened glass with rounded edges that’s strong enough to support whatever you need it to hold.
Any table can be upgraded by adding an elegant glass top. Your local glass cutter will be able to supply a bespoke design to suit your needs. Be sure to discuss what you’ll be using it for, to ensure you get toughened glass with rounded edges that’s strong enough to support whatever you need it to hold.
Amazon
Coordinate texture and colour
Hanging some beautiful fabrics over an awning has a multitude of benefits. It can hide a tired table top, create privacy and an intimate feel, provide shade from the sun and protect you from the wind and rain. Team it with some throws and cushions, and you’ll quickly have a cosy corner.
To make a more permanent structure, hire a carpenter to build a pergola over which you can drape fabrics whenever the sun comes out.
Find carpenters in your area and read customer reviews.
Hanging some beautiful fabrics over an awning has a multitude of benefits. It can hide a tired table top, create privacy and an intimate feel, provide shade from the sun and protect you from the wind and rain. Team it with some throws and cushions, and you’ll quickly have a cosy corner.
To make a more permanent structure, hire a carpenter to build a pergola over which you can drape fabrics whenever the sun comes out.
Find carpenters in your area and read customer reviews.
Go back to school
Old school furniture is easy to obtain – try Freecycle or local ads in the paper. Then cover it in anything you can think of – vintage fabrics, old newspapers, a favourite comic strip or stencilled patterns. Finish off with several coats of clear varnish to hold your design in place and protect it from the rain.
If you prefer a more comfortable seat, cut some foam to shape, cover it in oilcloth and fix it to your chairs.
Tell us…
How do you pep up your garden furniture? Share your tips and photos in the Comments section.
Old school furniture is easy to obtain – try Freecycle or local ads in the paper. Then cover it in anything you can think of – vintage fabrics, old newspapers, a favourite comic strip or stencilled patterns. Finish off with several coats of clear varnish to hold your design in place and protect it from the rain.
If you prefer a more comfortable seat, cut some foam to shape, cover it in oilcloth and fix it to your chairs.
Tell us…
How do you pep up your garden furniture? Share your tips and photos in the Comments section.
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There are many water based varnishes, Ronseal make one that I like called Diamond Hard, I should think any Wickes or similar place would sell it.
I live in Spain now so the makes I use have different names.
Most water based varnishes are acrylic and can be very hard wearing, even good enough for sports floors.
I tend to be a belt and braces man so I wiould say to use at least 3 coats I go for 4 or 5 usually.
I use a 'wax effect' varnish by Titan here, in the UK Polyvine make one that I know sells on Amazon the finish has a soft waxy feel to it that is fantastic for furniture.
I forgot to say, that if you are considering sleepers, then also used telegraph poles are worth considering for gardens and to make swing chair frames etc. They often come with a lot of the fittings like steps and insulators still on them which can also be used for decoration.
chrisosh, thank you so very much! I will try the Ronseal Diamond hard varnish. I tried a Ronseal 'clear' varnish which sadly turned things a very yellowy colour. Not what I was after! I'll also try to source the Polyvine soft, waxy feel varnish on Amazon. Bless you.