Are you looking to spruce up your patio and give it a fresh new look? Whether you have a small balcony or a spacious outdoor area, there are various ways to enhance your patio space with simple DIY projects and repurposed items. By incorporating creative decor ideas, you can transform your patio into a cozy and inviting outdoor retreat. From adding personalized touches to repurposing old items, here are some fantastic DIY decor and refresh ideas to revitalize your patio.
Repurposed Furniture and Decor
When it comes to refreshing your patio, repurposing furniture and decor items can add a unique touch to your outdoor space. Instead of purchasing brand-new furniture, consider giving old pieces a new lease on life. An old wooden crate can be transformed into a stylish side table or plant stand, while vintage ladders can serve as decorative shelves for potted plants or lanterns. Additionally, repainting and refinishing old furniture can breathe new life into worn-out pieces, giving them a fresh and modern look. By repurposing existing items, you not only add personality to your patio but also contribute to sustainable and eco-friendly living.
DIY Planters and Garden Decor
Incorporating greenery and natural elements into your patio decor can instantly create a refreshing and serene ambiance. Get creative with DIY planters using repurposed materials such as tin cans, wooden crates, or mason jars. Consider up-cycling old tires or barrels as unique planters for a playful touch. Additionally, adding decorative accents like handmade garden stakes, DIY wind chimes, or painted rocks can infuse your patio with charm and character. Embracing a bit of hands-on crafting with garden decor can help personalize your outdoor oasis while keeping costs low.
Creative Lighting Solutions
Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the ambiance of your patio, especially during cozy gatherings or romantic evenings outdoors. Opt for DIY lighting solutions like string lights, mason jar lanterns, or paper bag luminaries to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. With a bit of creativity, you can repurpose items such as wine bottles or tin cans into enchanting candle holders or unique lighting fixtures. Embracing DIY lighting projects not only adds a touch of whimsy to your patio but also offers an opportunity to showcase your crafty skills.
Seasonal Refresh and Themed Decor
Keep your patio decor dynamic by incorporating seasonal themes and refreshing the look according to different seasons. Embrace vibrant colors and playful patterns for spring and summer, while opting for cozy textures and warm hues during fall and winter. Create personalized seasonal decor with DIY wreaths, floral arrangements, or themed artwork to add a festive touch to your patio. Additionally, consider incorporating themed decor for special occasions like outdoor movie nights, garden parties, or cozy bonfire gatherings. By infusing your patio with a changing seasonal palette, you can create an ever-evolving outdoor sanctuary.
Functional and Stylish Furniture Concepts
When it comes to patio furniture, you can opt for functional and stylish solutions that enhance your outdoor living space. DIY projects such as custom-built benches, pallet seating, or outdoor daybeds can provide comfort and versatility while adding a touch of rustic charm to your patio. Repurposing old wooden pallets into coffee tables or lounge chairs can introduce a trendy and eco-friendly vibe to your outdoor setting. Additionally, consider revamping existing furniture with new upholstery or pillows to create a fresh and inviting look that complements your patio decor.
Personalized Touches and Sentimental Accents
Adding personalized touches and sentimental accents can elevate the charm of your patio decor. Display family photos in DIY frames, create a gallery wall with handmade artwork, or incorporate unique memorabilia to infuse your outdoor space with warmth and character. Consider incorporating DIY signage, personalized doormats, or custom-made wind chimes to add a touch of individuality to your patio. Embracing sentimental accents not only adds a personal touch to your outdoor oasis but also creates a welcoming environment for your guests.
Incorporating these DIY decor and refresh ideas can transform your patio into a stylish and inviting outdoor retreat. By repurposing items and embracing simple DIY projects, you can infuse your patio with character and charm while creating a cozy and personalized outdoor sanctuary.
Using a gift card to purchase crafting supplies and decor items for your patio refresh can help you save on expenses and explore a wide range of options. Consider activating a Visa gift card or purchasing an electronic gift card online for convenient access to discount gift card deals. With an eGift card, you can easily shop for all your patio decor needs and explore creative DIY projects to revitalize your outdoor space.
This article originally appeared on GiftCardGranny.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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25 ways to find cheap furniture that looks like a million bucks
Furniture shopping, whether you’re giving a room a much-needed update or moving into a new space, can be fun. It gives you the chance to daydream, make inspo boards, hunt for great pieces, and personalize your space.
But it can also be an expensive endeavor. However, that doesn’t mean you’re destined to purchase pieces that scream “first apartment furniture.” Just because you’re buying furniture for cheap doesn’t mean it has to look it.
Here are smart hack that will have you feathering your nest for less and even, in some cases, for free.
Scoring great furnishings on a tight budget takes some planning, and also knowing where to buy affordable furniture. Here are 25 ideas for creating a great space without spending a lot.
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Before going out to buy new stuff, you may want to do a walk-through of your space and make a list of what you already have. You can label each item “keep,” “donate/sell” or “toss,” so you know exactly what you need. (Learn more atPersonal Loan Calculator)
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Do you have family members who may be harboring some perfectly good but no-longer-needed furniture? Consider scoping out their basements, attics, and garages for some free treasures.
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It’s okay to dream a little. In fact, a good way to start furnishing a new home is to go to your favorite furniture store’s site and fill your cart without considering price. You can then cull down your list to essentials, and start looking for those pieces (or something similar) for a cheaper price tag.
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If your furniture budget is super tight, you may want to consider renting furniture from a company like CORT or Feather, rather than buying everything you need. Renting can also be a good option if you’re only going to be in your current home for a short time.
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Knowing when to make big purchases can help you get some steep furniture discounts. Furniture stores tend to get new inventory at the end of winter and end of summer. To make room for newer items, they will often run good sales in February and August.
When it comes to furnishing your porch or patio, the right time to buy furniture is typically the end of summer and fall, when retailers are trying to clear out any leftover inventory.
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Cheap is great, but free can be even better. Consider going to a reuse/recycle site like Freecycle to see what people in your area may be looking to get rid of. You may want to keep in mind that good items often go fast.
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It’s easy to fall madly in love with a cool sectional sofa and give in to impulse buying that can leave you with major debt. Before you pull the trigger on a pricey new piece of furniture, you may want to press pause. By giving yourself a week or so to really consider the purchase, you may realize you don’t actually need it. Or you may be able to scout out a cheaper but equally good option.
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Here’s another way to buy furniture cheap: You can often get a high-end look by splurging on one or two classic investment pieces and then going with cheaper, trendier accent pieces and accessories.
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You may want to use social media to let people in your network know that you are on the hunt for furniture. You can even specify what you’re looking for (dining table, a chaise for the yard) and what you’re willing to offer (or barter) in return. You may be surprised at the response you get.
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To bolster your furniture budget, you may want to sell pieces that no longer work for your space. If you have a lot to get rid of, you might host a yard or garage sale. For just a few items, you can list them on a resale site like Craigslist, OfferUp, or Facebook Marketplace and see how much you can score.
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If you see a piece you love but it doesn’t fit your budget, you can download a photo of the item and then go to Google Images. If you click on the “Search By Image” button (the camera icon) and upload the photo, you can search for similar items. You might find the item’s twin at a better price.
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Craigslist may be an oldie, but it’s still a goodie when it comes to finding affordable furniture. You can head to the site (which hasn’t changed much over the years), click the furniture tab, and search the possibilities.
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Mass market retailers like Target, Walmart, and Home Depot actually have large furniture departments. You may be able to find stylish pieces at good prices, along with free delivery.
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How else to buy furniture cheap: Check out Amazon Warehouse , a corner of Amazon’s main site that is dedicated to selling used, pre-owned, and open-box products (often things that were returned unused or close to it). You can click on the furniture tab and either search for your needs or just see what’s available.
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You can spend a Saturday or Sunday morning driving around town looking for treasures. Or you can check out yard sales listings online, then map out a route that hits the yards or stoops with the most potential.
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If there’s a piece in a store you absolutely love but it’s a bit out of budget, you can always ask the manager if they will sell you the floor model for a discount.
Since it is likely to still be a considerable amount of money even if the price is reduced, remember this when paying: If you buy it on credit, make sure to use the card that will give you the most rewards.
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It can take a little time and effort, but you can often find great, affordable treasures at flea markets. Sometimes a little DIY is all it takes to transform something past its prime into the perfect thing for your place.
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In the winter months, you can often get the flea market experience by combing through antique stores or, even better, antique malls that have multiple booths housed indoors.
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Sites like OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace (where you may have listed items to sell) can also be a great resource for finding what you need. You can even do a search for a specific item you saw in store to see if anyone is offloading that same piece.
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Large thrift store chains like Goodwill and Salvation Army typically get lots of donated items every day and can be a great place to find your next book shelf or coffee table. Local thrift shops can be worth checking out too.
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One of the most widely known salvage stores, Habitat ReStore , has locations throughout the country and often sells new and used furnishings, as well as appliances, for far less than retail. Bonus: They are helping to divert those goods from the waste stream.
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Once you’ve made your big item purchases, it’s time to think small (and cheap) with accent pillows, throws, artwork, and other decorative accessories. These items don’t need to cost a lot to add serious personal style to a space. You may fall for a $150 throw pillow but, odds are, you could find a super cute one for a fraction of the cost.
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You can often find beautiful, high-quality pieces of furniture, as well as artwork, at estate sales for a fraction of what you’d pay at a store. You can find estate sale listings in your area on Craigslist as well as Estatesale.com and Estatesales.net .
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No matter where you are shopping for furniture, it can be worth trying to haggle the price down a bit. You can ask a seller if the listed price is as low as they can go, if they will offer a discount for buying multiple items, or if there is any wiggle room on the delivery fee.
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You can use Nextdoor , the neighborhood online hub, to let neighbors know what you are looking for and also scroll through the site’s “For Sale and Free” listings to see what your neighbors are selling or giving away. (Learn more atHome Affordability Calculator)
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Here are some factors that contribute to whether a piece of furniture has a high or low price:
- Production: Mass-produced pieces are likely to be less expensive than a piece that is made in smaller batches or handcrafted by an artisan.
- Supply and demand: An item that is popular is likely to be pricier than something that has fallen out of favor.
- Materials: A solid wood piece, for example, is probably going to cost more than a similar item made of particleboard.
- Supply chain: If a manufacturer is using, say, a material that is scarce due to supply chain issues, they may have to pay more to obtain it. Those additional charges could be passed along to the consumer.
- Source: Depending on trade conditions, labor, shipping, and other factors, there could be a price discrepancy based on whether the item was manufactured in the U.S. or elsewhere.
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Secondhand furniture can be a great resource when you are buying furniture on a budget. Btw, you can even shop for used furniture online at sites like AptDeco and Kaiyo.
Here, some buying furniture tips when you’re hunting for preloved treasures:
- Just say no to used mattresses. They can be a repository of stains, smells, dust mites, bedbugs, and more.
- Inspect for structural damage. Cracks, duct tape, and evidence of past repairs can spell trouble.
- Avoid upholstered furniture with an odor. Whether mildew, smoke, or pet smells, these smells can be very hard to eliminate.
- Be wary of painted pieces that might have lead paint; they would have been made before 1978 when laws were passed banning lead paint. Crackly, “alligator skin” painted surfaces can indicate lead paint. Also, if you rub your hand over the surface and get a chalky residue, it might be lead.
- Check for signs of mold, which may look like a patch of dirt that won’t rub away. That’s another health issue you don’t want to deal with.
Now, after you’ve read those warnings, also remember that you could get a real deal by buying secondhand. Go ahead and use your imagination. Often, with the addition of a coat of paint and new hardware or a slipcover, you can grab a bargain. Many inexpensive, tired pieces can become treasures when spruced up. Look online for how-to ideas.
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Furnishing a new place can be daunting, especially if you’re shopping on a budget.
But by thinking beyond traditional furniture stores and turning to alternatives like flea markets, resale and salvage shops, estate sales, and online marketplaces, you can often score chic and cheap pieces that won’t fall apart in a year or two.
You can also stretch your furniture budget by mixing higher-end investment pieces with cheaper accent decor and sprucing up secondhand finds.
This article originally appeared on SoFi.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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