Spring Patio Spruce-Up

 

With Spring here and Summer fun around the corner, I think we all get that itch to spruce up our patio’s.  For my patio I needed a dining area for those great outdoor family meals.  Although, I was not thrilled about the idea of the typical outdoor dining sets. As you may have observed by now…I LOVE a challenge.

When you are either budget tight or budget conscious, never forget to ask your friends, family and neighbors for the trash that may be your treasure. I tell everyone that I am always looking for usual to unusual items to repurpose.  Then, I politely ask if they are ever cleaning their homes out, ready to donate, sell or kick something to the curb,(literally), to please let me have a sneak peek FIRST!

So, in this picture I have a free table from a family member that was tired of it, the urn on the table was on the curb.  I called the neighbor and asked if I could have it and even offered to pay for it.

(this was to let her know it was of value and I was not wanting to just take it). This is a polite gesture to let people know you are not just looking for freebies.

She gave it to me for free and had another one she later brought over for free when she tired of it too.  The chairs were our old kitchen chairs that had seen much wear. I went online to Walmart.com and found great slip covers for under $15.00.  You could always get them monogrammed for a more sophisticated Southern look.

So don’t be afraid to ask and trust me this always pays off!  I even got a French bed from a friend that was going to donate it and remembered I liked stuff like that and called and asked if I wanted it.  I also offer advice for helping them keep their items and repurpose them.  Not to mention, paying it forward when I tire of items and am ready for a change. 

In a budget conscious time and a time when we are all trying to create beautiful spaces for less, we can all use good advice and great tips.  So feel free to write a comment and ask questions that I may be able to help with, for your design dilemmas!

Happy patio sprucing!