A Place in The Sun: On the Cheap

We helped out the bf with his patio situation so that he would have a place to hang out outside instead of squinting into the sun. Only issue was that he really didn't want to spend any money, and certainly not on new stuff, so we used our heads and put this together for a little over $100.

With a little patience we were able to pull this together and this weekend we enjoyed limeaid out on the deck without getting a sunburn.

The Table: Craigslist for $35 plus a can of brown spraypaint $3
The umbrella we really wanted stripes but the one at Pottery Barn was way too much so we bought a saffron colored one off Overstock for $50 and traded it for my mom's striped one.
The Chairs: I already owned and wasn't using (I paid about $40 a piece for them originally) so we sprayed them with a new dusting of white and they were good as new: $3.
The foot stool: Thrift Store for $12 plus spray paint $3.
The cushions: on clearance at Ikea for $3 a piece.

Grand total for a place to hang out outside? $112. Not bad, right?

Comments (5)

This is a dumb question, but it works well to spray-paint resin outdoor chairs? I'm picturing flaking and peeling. No? Did you prime first? Seal after?

posted by optimuscrime on July 21st 2008 at 11:00am
view optimuscrime's profile

Nice work, but I have to ask- why didn't you protect the legs of the chair when you spray-painted the seat? Little things like that (and the umbrella base) really jump out at me....I feellike they make the difference between an average makeover, and something really great...is that just my OCD-self?

posted by maggieann on July 21st 2008 at 11:19am
view maggieann's profile

nice work for $112.

i agree that thrift stores are awesome, and occasionally i find something great, but i would love to see a low budget makeover based on furnishings/accessories bought from stores everyone has access too!

not everyone has the same luck with thrift stores!

posted by eribear12 on July 21st 2008 at 3:03pm
view eribear12's profile

Awesome job for $112. I'm currently doing the same for my bf, but it's a MUCH bigger project with ripping up concrete and laying down sod in the yard. I'm doing the craigslist thing and/or donations from friends for the patio table and plants, 99 cents stores for gardeing tools (yes I got a sprinkler there for the lawn.) And I got two large Ikea pool chaise loungers from Out of the Closet Thrift Store just the other day. They were $15 each, which is a bargain, BUT it was 50% off furniture day, so I got them for next to nothing. I got some much needed (brand new) string party lights there for $3 a strand as well. Can't beat it!

posted by krpm1 aka Kelly:) on July 23rd 2008 at 12:14pm
view krpm1 aka Kelly:)'s profile

Get the Fusion spray paint line for outdoor plastic chairs.

posted by kaanswfm on July 24th 2008 at 12:19pm
view kaanswfm's profile