Spruce Up Tatty Tables and Chairs and Get Them Looking As Good As New
REVAMP A METAL TABLE
Mirror nature and bring new life to an old metal table with stencilled floral motifs. Use spray adhesive to hold the stencils firmly in place to get precise edges to your chosen pattern. Bostik Fast-Tak Repositionable Spray, £5 paperchase.com.
STRIP IT BACK
Take on the trend for all things industrial and remove peeling paint back to bare metal. Brush away loose flakes using a wire brush first, then apply a stripping solution using a paintbrush, scraping the paint away with a putty knife. B&Q Paint & Varnish Remover, £3.80 diy.com.
STENCIL ON SLATS
Budget bistro chairs needn’t be bland! Give yours a little colour and character by painting the frame and individual slats in a range of complementary shades. Leave some plain, adding a few different stencilled patterns to the rest. Ta-da! Tärnö Chair, £10 ikea.com.
REVIVE NATURAL FIBRES
To bring dry, cracked or split rattan and bamboo back to life, use a paintbrush to apply boiled linseed oil until your furniture will no longer absorb it. Wipe it clean with a soft cloth, then leave it to dry and harden on the furniture before using. Gloss Boiled Linseed Oil, £6 diy.com. Bamboo Conversation Set, £125 wilko.com.
ADOPT THE BLUE TREND
This summer’s big colour story is blue, and it will instantly transform a tired bench or table. Use a wire brush to remove peeling paint, wipe clean with warm soapy water and leave to dry. Apply two coats of paint, allowing to dry completely in-between applications. Cuprinol Garden Shades in Coastal Mist (bench) and Pale Thistle (chairs), £11 wilko.com.
TRANSFORM A PLAIN PARASOL
This project takes a little time but is well worth the effort. Create a colourful display using laser-cut upturned bunting stencils – find a selection at The Stencil Studio (thestencilstudio.com). Choose a range of bold fabric paints, and stipple on the stencil and around the triangle edges. You’ll need a narrow table to work from – a console table works perfectly here. Place the fabric of the parasol over the table with the pole underneath, in-between the table legs. This will give a flat base to stencil on – simply rotate the parasol segment by segment as you work. Högön Parasol, £35 ikea.com.
Use a selection of colourful washi tape, winding it around the chair back and legs, and criss-cross it across the seat. Add some washi tape tags, too, and finish with a faux flower. Instant cheer! Washi Tape, £5/24 theworks.co.uk.
CREATE A COLOUR CONTRAST
Inject new-season style into a tired table and chairs with modern paint tones that clash and contrast. Here, Giddy Green and Flamingo Pink are perfectly at odds! Protek Royal Exterior Range, £16/1L protekwoodstain.co.uk.
PAINT METAL FURNITURE
Let garden colour spill over from pots and planting and dare to be different, updating furniture in dramatic tones. Clean with soapy water to remove dirt and oil, then use fine sandpaper to remove flaking paint and create a smooth surface Wipe down and spray on multiple light coats of PlastiKote Twist & Spray, £8.35 amazon.co.uk.
REUPHOLSTER A DECKCHAI
Fabric on garden chairs doesn’t weather well, but it’s easy to give otherwise-fine furniture a re-think and save it from the scrapheap. Simply remove the fabric and use as a template to create new covers.
SIT PRETTY
Macramé is having a moment this summer, and this heritage craft is the perfect way to bring a dated lawn chair back to life. Rip away the old seat webbing and then weave some magic with colourful nylon craft cord and a chunky crochet hook. Search ‘Macramé Lawn Chair’ online for a simple step-by-step tutorial.
TILE A PATIO TABLE
Make strides towards sustainable living and breathe new life into a coffee table that’s destined for the dump. Use off-cuts of old tiles or unwanted samples to transform a tabletop for just a few pounds, using tile adhesive and a little grout. An afternoon project to be proud of!
WAX LYRICAL
If your metal garden furniture is looking a little weary, spruce it up using some car wax, which will help moisture easily run off the surface. Protect all the non-metal areas, then spray on Halfords Spray Wax, £5 halfords.com. Rope Lounge Set, £250 wilko.com.
RESTORE WEARY WOOD
Wooden garden furniture goes grey over time, but it’s so easy to bring it back to its former glory. Apply Ronseal Hardwood Garden Furniture Restorer (£19/1L, diy.com) using a paintbrush, then work it into the surface using an abrasive scrubbing pad or stiff bristle brush. Rinse off then allow to dry. Wooden Arbour, £162.99 wayfair.co.uk.
GET THE OMBRÉ EFFECT
Ombré is still on-trend this summer, and it perks up a chair for just a few pounds. Choose one colour and then pick out tester pots in tonal shades, adding one to each slat of an old chair. Protek Royal Exterior Range, £1 per tester pot protekwoodstain.co.uk.
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