31 DIY Outdoor Furniture and Decor Ideas

Whether you want to transform an old piece of furniture into an outdoor bar or turn a shipping pallet into useful outdoor seating, these DIY outdoor furniture projects can be perfect weekend activities to help you save money and retool your outdoor space.

First up? Our darling DIY potting bench. This lively project transforms an old bedroom dresser into an outdoor potting bench fitted with a memo chalkboard, dry sink and storage aplenty.

No barn? No problem. You can add cozy country charm to your outdoor space in one afternoon with the help of our brilliant barn-quilt tutorial. The beginner-friendly project makes a statement on any exterior wall with its grand scale and cheery colors. Plus, it’s easily customized to suit your space and style.

Bring the heat to your patio design (literally) with our tabletop fire-pit project. The contemporary tabletop design looks just as sleek as expensive store-bought fire pits but comes at a fraction of the cost. Best part? Each fire pit is customizable and one-of-a-kind. Start with a ceramic or metal planter that complements your existing outdoor decor, then follow our step-by-step guide to turn your vessel into the ultimate centerpiece for your alfresco dining or lounge space.

If you consider yourself an avid outdoor entertainer, pull out your notebook and have your writing utensil ready because you need this planter beverage station in your party arsenal ASAP. This clever project works overtime for your space, serving as an inviting cocktail table and a roomy beverage tub for storing all your favorite bottles of bubbly.

Liven things up on your back deck or patio with our lush planter bench. The triangular silhouette is space-saving and sleek, making this a perfect addition to your pint-sized patio or spacious porch. Play up the geometric design by building three integrated flowerboxes at each point, filled to the brim with seasonal blooms for a pop of color and texture.

Make a splash in your backyard design with a chic striped stock-tank pool. This project is way easier to complete than you might think. And the best part? Stock-tank pools are exponentially cheaper than traditional in-ground pools. Get the step-by-step guide to installing a stock-tank pool in your yard in the link below and find inspiration for a customized stock tank façade from these stunning designs.

If you have to have an old tree taken down on your property, save a section and turn it into an attractive sculptural oversized planter. This natural art project starts with chiseling off the bark, then firing up the chainsaw to hollow out the inside. Once you've got it cleaned up, apply varnish and attach chic midcentury paperclip-style legs.

Crank up the curb appeal on your front porch with our head-turning homemade brick planter box. The mixed material design calls for a wooden base and a texture-rich brick box punctuated by reflective brass house numbers for a personalized touch.

Pamper your pooch with a pawesome DIY outdoor washing station. Copy our full-service suds stop for your four-legged family member by installing two garden trellises near a water spigot on an exterior wall. Create a base using smooth river stones and border pavers, then paw-lish off the design with a few dog-themed hooks to hold their leash, shampoo and towels.

Porch pirates won’t stand a chance against this stylish and secure package bench. Put your carpentry skills to work and make our wooden storage bench to create cozy seating for your porch and keep the offspring of your online shopping habit out of sight — and reach — from passersby.

Unwind at an alfresco happy hour in your backyard with this clever outdoor furniture project: a DIY drop-down window bar. Follow our lead and install a hinged wooden bar beneath an exterior window to create a cozy spot to savor a glass of vino with your partner after work or serve your littles an after-school snack before diving into homework.

Anchor your deck or patio lounge area with a dreamy DIY outdoor pergola. Unlike pricey store-bought pergolas, this project is easily customizable to suit the dimensions and style of your outdoor space. Even better? It’s easier to construct than you think. Watch our in-depth guide in the link below to create an oasis-worthy pergola for your outdoor space.

Get into the swing of things this weekend with the help of this easy-breezy DIY. This outdoor swing is a beginner-friendly project using a miter saw, treated wood boards and twisted jute twine hemp rope. Follow our step-by-step instructions and install your swing on your new DIY pergola or covered porch.

Swing yourself to sleep with this nap-friendly daybed. Easy to build and inexpensive, this daybed provides the perfect spot to read or nap in your backyard retreat. Make sure to use heavy-duty lag bolts and nylon rope when hanging your daybed so you can nap with peace of mind.

Maximize your patio-entertaining potential with homemade nesting tables. This space-savvy trio expands and shrinks to suit your ever-evolving needs. Slide the smaller tables out for a tiered look or scatter them throughout the space to cater to various guests on a special occasion. Get the how-to and materials list below to make your set. Oh, and be sure to follow our lead and employ an ombré paint job to add flair to your alfresco lounge.

Escape the eyes of your next-door neighbor and retreat into an intimate outdoor oasis with our DIY privacy screen. Re-create this dreamy display this weekend with chic woven basket planters, repurposed shower curtains and bamboo poles.

Who says you need to spend thousands to create an outdoor kitchen? Fire up the grill and serve your legendary barbecue ribs to the whole family without trucking back and forth to the kitchen with the help of our upcycled cart tutorial. Transform an old kitchen cart into a new storage-laden, weather-resistant outdoor island primed for food prep and serving.

Add extra seating to your patio or deck with this DIY outdoor bench featuring beautiful fretwork panels and hidden storage under the seat. Using minimal tools and a few supplies from the home improvement store, you can build this stunning storage bench in one weekend.

Put your scrap plywood to work and create an oversized abstract painting for your porch or patio with our easy-to-follow guide. All you need to get started is a 2' x 4' plywood sheet, exterior wall paint in a color that complements your existing outdoor furniture, white exterior wall paint and a stencil of your choice.

Warm up your patio this winter without splurging on a pricey outdoor heater. Our DIY terra-cotta flowerpot heater is easy to construct using low-cost materials (some you already have) and brings ample ambiance to any outdoor space. Get started with an old terra-cotta pot, a ceramic or stoneware bowl, and pillar candles.

Before you kick that old dresser or vanity to the curb, consider upcycling it into a vibrant multifunctional piece of outdoor furniture with storage galore. Remove the mirror (repurpose that for another project) and swap it out with pegboard and hooks to hang tools or decorative items. Replace the rust-prone metal drawer pulls with inexpensive jute rope pulls then apply a coat or two of bright exterior-grade paint for gobs of personality.

Keep the kids entertained for hours with this easy-to-build play bench. Add sand and water to the refillable basins for extra, hands-on fun. Pegs on the back frame keep the play tools neat and organized.

Outdoor rugs are a great invention — they're soft underfoot and they can really pull your outdoor space together. But, like their indoor cousins, stylish outdoor rugs can be expensive. Solution: Find a budget-friendly outdoor rug and paint on the personality. No special skills are required, just a few basic tools, painter's tape and a few sample-size jars of paint.

Even if you have a small deck or patio, you can still enjoy lots of lush greenery by taking advantage of vertical space. This living wall adds style as well as shields you from the eyes of nosy neighbors. As the plants grow, the privacy and style increases.

Add some sophistication to your backyard with this modern planter bench that provides both seating and a space for some gorgeous greenery. It's perfect for framing a porch or patio. This simple woodworking project can be built in less than a day yet last for years to come.

Take family movie night outside by setting up a backyard movie screen. Made inexpensively from PVC, plastic flowerpots and a white sheet, this movie screen can be assembled in an afternoon and easily disassembled for wintertime storage.

If you can score some free wooden shipping pallets, you can build some sturdy outdoor seating. Get creative and paint your pallet furniture in vibrant colors and then add some coordinating cushions.

Make your porch or patio more lounge-worthy by building a simple porch swing using an upcycled door and some basic lumber. This simple DIY porch swing project takes just half a day and requires only moderate DIY skills.

Treat your feathered friends to a fine dining experience and add interest to your outdoor space in one fell swoop with the help of this mod acrylic bird feeder. The midcentury-inspired design is easy to throw together over the weekend using acrylic sheets, a wooden dowel, a stencil and acrylic paint.

Have an old hutch or cabinet at home that’s just collecting dust? Turn it into a beverage and food station for your outdoor entertaining area. Add a mini fridge and wineglass racks, and you’ll have yourself a multifunctional piece of furniture for serving and storage.