Asked on Mar 28, 2020

Upcycling old patio furniture?

Lisa
by Lisa

Hi all!


I’d like some ideas on how to upcycle patio furniture. This furniture has been sitting in our back deck for almost five years since we got these when we moved in. Previous owners left it here. Since most of us are in stay at home modes, I think it’s finally time to get our back deck ready for our 2 year old to play outside. Is there a recommended cleaner to clean this up and paint that works well? Furniture padding? Etc. any ideas about how to upcycle our back swing as well? Thanks!

  20 answers
  • Morgan McBride Morgan McBride on Mar 28, 2020

    Spray paint the metal, wipe off the glass with soapy rag, you can get new cushions from lowes or HD online - Home Goods or TJ Max has the best prices but I know you don't want to go there now!

  • Maura White Maura White on Mar 28, 2020

    I've spray painted a swing of my own and gotten new cushions and it turned out fantastic. The chairs probably just need some soapy water and a hose.

  • Kathy Kathy on Mar 28, 2020

    Give it a gud clean if dirty,sand down, and paint in lvly outdoor bright colours.brighter the better but mayb co- ordernated ones. Your garden will look grand.

  • Mogie Mogie on Mar 28, 2020

    Take all the cushions off and clean them well and let them dry.

    After wire brushing spray paint all the metal the same color (black looks good).

    Then using spray fabric paint paint all the cushions to match.

    Some small throw pillows will help pull it all together.

    Do you want to keep the glass table top? If so clean it well and if you replace with a round piece of wood that has been stained and sealed well.

    Pressure wash the deck and then stain it or at least water treat it.

    Either the handrails can match the stain on the deck or paint them.

    Some potted plants in bright containers would add some needed color too.

    You want items to look like they compliment each other and are a set.

    I got some cheap cushions from the Salvation Army. The color was ugly and some spray paint fixed that. You can't buy cushions for $2 each.

  • Gk Gk on Mar 28, 2020

    Cleaning and spray painting all the metal will go a long ways to making this look better! I would buy new cushions for the swing and if there is a canopy for the swing you might have to buy that as well to coordinate. You need to check and see how good the material is on the sling chairs. You really can't spray paint that material but you might be able to replace it.

  • Bobbie Bobbie on Mar 28, 2020

    I think you should make it bright colors and deck I would give it screen it in sand it to match chairs something no one has

  • Mogie Mogie on Mar 28, 2020

    Bobbie what?

  • Nan W. Nan W. on Mar 28, 2020

    Lisa: clean up and then paint all the metal with metal Rustoleum paint. Go wild and make a mosaic top on the table -- and simply buy new cushions (with a coupon!)


    HAVE FUN!


    https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Mosaic-Table-Top

  • Annie Annie on Mar 28, 2020

    Just give it all a good scrubbing and see how it turns out. You can get really bright colorful seat cushions at Walmart or Home Depot. It would look great and shouldn't cost much at all

  • We painted our chairs and table and we gave the seats new slings. The whole set looks brand new now. As for the swing, you can get new cushions and if the frame is in bad shape you can spray it as well. Here's what we did if you want to peek: https://www.exquisitelyunremarkable.com/2017/07/how-to-replace-patio-furniture-slings.html

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Mar 28, 2020

    Hello. I was a big fan of the rustoleum universal oil rubbed bronze spray paint. I had considered getting rid of my patio set until I saw the ones for sale at big box hardware were an inferior quality to my rusted chipped one.

    The spray paint totally revitalized my set and the oil rub bronze paint really had a nice sheen and depth of color. It was so much better than the white color it was before.

  • You should add tiles to the top of the glass and do a mosaic

  • Lindsay Aratari Lindsay Aratari on Mar 28, 2020

    you Could spray paint the furniture with outdoor paint

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Mar 29, 2020

    I would start from fresh coat of paint all around and invest into new cushions

  • Lauren of Mom Home Guide Lauren of Mom Home Guide on Mar 31, 2020

    I would wash everything with soapy water and get spray painting the chairs. You could make inexpensive DIY outdoor cushions for the chairs.

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Mar 31, 2020

    Just scrub the metel down if it won’t come clean paint it green again the cushions you could wash in the machine in a pillow case one at a time

  • Some Simple Green would likely help clean everything up. Scrape off any rusty areas with steel wool and seal them with a rust stopper. The cushions may be too far gone, you might consider replacing those or making your own with foam and new fabric. Any spray paint will refresh all of it with new color.

  • Deb K Deb K on Apr 06, 2020

    Hey Lisa, you can clean this up and paint it with rustoleum or any other metal paint. Then you can buy new cushions, or make new covers to go over the old cushions if they are in good shape, I have attached a video guide to some "no sew" cushion covers.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uuA_nPYLJk

  • Lisa Lisa on Apr 06, 2020

    We started the process of using rustoleum paint to paint the chairs and table. Will try vinegar to clean the glass and will probably change out the chair liners and add new cushions / DIY cushions! Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! They are coming in handy!