Almost-Free Outdoor Project Ideas

Painting a bright "rug" on the floor and adding bright orange stools and curtains lends a party atmosphere to this deck.

This chair cost $1 at a yard sale, and RMSer ltmulligan gave it a $2 paint job. Now it offers a pretty contrast to the yellow yarrow.

When a neighbor tore out a deck and left the pieces on the curb, RMSer Chicago Recycler had the materials for her porch redo. She built this table out of the 2x12s (top) and 4x4s (legs), using scrap 2x4s for the supporting structure, and she gave it an antique mahogany stain. She also built the benches at each end, using a nailhead finish to secure the cushion fabric. To dress up the blank wall, she built a faux fireplace out of the scrap wood.

This homeowner's path to the backyard wound past a blank side wall of the house. To camouflage its awkwardness, he hung a simple trellis and a birdfeeder, and thereby created an instant garden nook.