subject: 10 Ways To Make That Outdoor Living Space Spiffy [print this page] If your outdoor deck or patio needs some joie de vivre, then the simplest way to go about this is to add a heaping helping of color. For a few of us, it's as easy as running to the store and spending a few dollars on some daring bric-a-brac that can make a statement as far as your outdoor living space goes. It is not at all necessary to spend some money, because if you show your personality and aren't above sweating it out a bit, ordinary second-hand items can look like you just bought 'em. We've got a quick list of tips you'll definitely want to consider if you're in need of some creative ideas.
Before you begin, clear everything off of your deck or patio and give it a good pressure wash. There may be items that need staining, but buying new furniture is a shortcut you wouldn't want to take; again, the key words here are ELBOW GREASE and that would entail doing the staining or re-painting job yourself. This is one of the best times for you to tap into your personality and start working on the accents. Spin the ole' color wheel and look for something bright, yet complementary, such as teal. You can also paint a pattern or design a border around the edge of the deck or patio.
Make your deck ready for that unexpected moment when somebody at home goes, "we've got company!" The addition of metal furniture is inexpensive and comes in lots of great colors. Decorate the corner of the deck with a colorful bar cart and fill 'er up with acrylic glassware that is just as colorful.
Give your old wicker furniture a facelift by painting it in bright sunny colors, or if you're feeling adventuress, use a stencil and add flowers or other patterns. Just use acrylic paint, but seal it with varnish to protect your paint job.
Here's a literally cool trick you might want to try -- take any galvanized bucket or oblong-shaped container and paint it with bright hues of orange or electric blue and a vine pattern on the outside. Isn't it neat to discover that this trick will give each of your coolers an ice bucket? But just make sure to use a food-safe paint because you don't want harmful substance coming in contact with the food that your family eats!
When creating accents, you'll want to use quirky themes such as a seaside theme -- little fishies, cute hermit crabs like the one in the Spongebob cartoons, beach balls, the whole works. Or you can use a citrus theme, painting your deck or patio furniture in pale shades of green, orange and yellow. Use the gradient technique and paint a slatted table top, for instance, with two or three similar, yet ultimately different colors.
Who says garden sheds have to be brown and boring. Wake 'em up with some gingerbread trim, florid window boxes and some radical-looking stripes when re-painting the walls.
A boring patio can look youthful and effervescent with the right kind of lighting. Use inexpensive, colorful lanterns or string lights to hang from trees or a beam -- this not only makes your patio look funky, it's pretty affordable as well.
What's somebody to do if they have white vinyl furniture that looks great, feels great, but getting rid of not too great due to its good condition? Fear not! With paint specially formulated for vinyl furniture, and some new cushions, you can make your old chairs look brand new.
Make sure that your color schemes are congruent with the accessories in the deck. Take four chairs each painted in a different primary color and add a cushion in a common color such as red or green, and place them around a neutral table top.
