DIY for the Patio

With summer on the horizon, here are some DIY projects to get started on to have your patio ready for fun in the sun.

05/09/2017

Every patio or deck needs a comfortable place to sit. It's almost three years since making the Outdoor Sofa, and it still looks good. While the sofa is made using Meranti - you can easily substitute with pine for a more affordable version. With a regular application of Woodoc Exterior Sealer, there's no reason why pine shouldn't last just as long.

If you decide to use Meranti as we did, the outdoor sofa should cost in the region of around R4500, while pine will work out at around R3000. Still excellent when you consider that a similar ready-made piece will cost around R20 000.

The Storage Table is made using marine plywood, and it's ideal for storing away the cushions when not in use.

Over the years we have made several outdoor dining tables, from a modern table design featuring a central condiment tray, to a groovy garden table that folds up for easy storing. Both tables are made using local pine, which means they won't cost an arm and a leg to make - and they are perfect for setting up an outdoor dining area.

If you need to seat a large family, or love entertaining with your friends, you can make a large dining table and benches using pine or reclaimed wood. This one is finished with a tiled top for easy cleaning and maintenance.

Just perfect for an enclosed patio or garden room, this comfortable chaise lets you stretch out and relax on a hot summer's day. Making your own outdoor chaise is easier than you might think and is made using pine that you can source at your local Builders or timber merchant. On a sunny patio, use outdoor fabric so that the colours don't fade.

For the small patio, courtyard garden or entertainment area, a hanging hammock chair provides a relaxing way to bask in a cool breeze on a hot day. Set up the hanging chair in a shady spot on a patio or under the shade of a tree.

Where your entertainment area or patio needs privacy from neighbours, you can make up a simple privacy screen using pine or reclaimed timber. Add panels to suit your particular situation - large or small.

If you want to add privacy and shade to a covered patio, consider installing curtain rods around the perimeter to hang translucent drapes.

Homemade tikki torches add ambience to any outdoor setting, as well as lighting up the night and keeping mozzies at bay. You can make your own tikki torches using materials you probably already have - plus a few extras.

One of our most popular projects, the floating pool noodle bar is perfect for the summer pool. Fill up with refreshments for poolside fun - for you or your kids. All you need to making a floating bar is a pool noodle and plastic container.

Enhance your outdoor entertainment area with a garden table with a built-in cooler box. The centre of the table has a removable plastic (plant box) insert that can be filled with ice to keep all your refreshments icy cold on a hot, summer's day.

Let the entertainment flow with an outdoor bar. There are plenty of ideas on different outdoor bar options, from using reclaimed timber, to combining concrete and wood to make a stylish feature for a patio, deck or entertainment area.

And for cooler evenings, building your own fire pit will warm up the night. You will find several options in the Garden Crafts section, from cast concrete to Swedish fire logs.