Beginning the Budget Redo of Our Outdoor Living Spaces

It's been a very chilly and wet April here in the Pacific Northwest. Just this afternoon, the high was predicted to be in the upper 40s F, with real feel predicted at 28 degrees F. We've had hail on 3 separate days this month. And the rain has been so prolific that I've been reluctant to do my walking outdoors on many days. So, I've been walking indoors a lot this month. To entertain myself while walking indoors, I've been watching Youtube videos of other folks' patio, deck, and front porch makeovers, in particular the ones done on tight budgets (because, as you know, a tight budget is just the sort of budget that I have).

Our outdoor living spaces really need a good makeover. And I've been inspired to turn these spaces into places where we want to linger, or play a game, or enjoy a quiet cup of coffee in the early hours, or sit and wave hello to the passersby in front.

So, here I go, jumping into my summer project of upgrading our outdoor spaces on a budget. My plan is to incorporate what we own, repair and clean as needed, pick up whatever looks interesting from free piles, shop at thrift stores and garage sales, try a few DIY projects, and perhaps spending a little more money on some quality seating.

the current state of our backyard patio, 4 plastic chairs and a fire ring

Obviously, the first place to start is to do a thorough cleaning and repair of what we already have. When the weather warms enough for me to not mind getting wet, I'll pressure-wash the hard surfaces and chairs. Our outdoor cushions have faded over the years, so I"ll purchase some outdoor fabric to make new cushion covers. And our wood furniture needs re-staining.

I got a start on thrifting some furniture pieces this week. Tuesday is Senior Discount Day at Value Village. I went looking for a long black skirt for myself, but I came out with this side table. This table looks very much like another side table that we bought new in 2001. After a good cleanup and re-staining, I'll have a near-matching pair of side tables. 

One of the aspects that I like about this table is that it folds flat for storage. Another aspect that I really like . . .

is the price I paid. It was tagged $2.99. But since it was Senior discount Day, I actually paid . . .

$2.09. Yep, the discount at VV for seniors is 30% off everything, even the long black skirt that I also bought for myself.

This won't be a quick project. I expect to be working on it for a couple of months, at the least. But I will update you on my finds and progress as I go.

The videos that I've been watching have prompted me to think about how we use our spaces and what activities we may like to use them for, if the spaces were made suitable. For example, chairs or a bench on the front porch for casual people watching and good neighboring in the summer evenings and a simple bench and cushions on the back deck for quietly reading a good novel on a summer afternoon, or a DIY outdoor checkerboard for fun games and entertainment. My hope is that this will be the summer that some of my outdoor living dreams actually come to fruition.

How about you? What do you like best about the outdoor living spaces surrounding your home? Is there any spot where you're not satisfied? What matters more to you, function or visual appeal? Any advice to offer me as I begin this new project?