That cabinet may be the perfect shed storage you’re looking for. That bar cart? Call it your BBQ grilling cart now. Repurposing indoor furniture outdoors is the secret hack to having a super fun and unique garden on a budget. You’ll save money, reduce waste, and create a more personalized garden with these furniture makeover ideas.
The most creative gardens I’ve toured all had one thing in common: they reimagined indoor furniture, giving it a second life as a garden feature.
I’m not suggesting you move a brand-new solid wood dining table out to your patio, unless of course the table was picked up for free on the curbside. If someone discards it and you happen to be the lucky person to find it, then set about waterproofing it and let it be the star of your yard.
So much furniture that gets dinged up or a little warped turns into trash. But what if we gave it a second life? One where its history and flaws are encouraged.
Our own castoffs can be turned into something useful outside in the garden. Let me show you what kind of furniture works best, and some inspiration on how other gardeners reimagine indoor furniture outside.
- Choosing Furniture to Work Outdoors
- Revitalizing Furniture
- Weatherproofing Outdoor Furniture
- Outdoor Furniture Maintenance
- Creative Indoor Furniture Repurposing Ideas
- More Outdoor Furniture Inspiration
Choosing Furniture to Work Outdoors
Turning indoor cast-offs into outdoor treasures requires creativity, weatherproofing, and drainage holes. Start with sturdy, solid wood or metal frames that can handle the elements. Thick plastic can usually handle being outside, fading slowly with UV.
Avoid particleboard, as it can swell with moisture. Antique items that will deteriorate quickly outside should also not be used. Upholstery should also be avoided, but if it’s beyond repair, look at the bones beneath as an option.
Look past ugly paint jobs and torn upholstery to examine the structure underneath. Is it level? Are the joints tight? Will it stand the test of time? A solidly built piece will outlast both weather and your weekend project enthusiasm, becoming a permanent part of your garden’s character. You’re looking for durability, not perfection.
Check for: structural stability, loose joints and screws, existing water damage, rust or mould, and pest damage.
Revitalizing Furniture
Before setting your furniture outside, give it a little TLC. Start by giving it a deep clean, removing all dirt, oils, and old residue. Use mild soap and warm water for most items. If it requires a serious deep clean, get a brush and some heavy-duty cleaner in there (such as a rust remover).
After the furniture is dry, you may need to sand it (especially wood). Smooth any rough areas and peeling paint or varnish. Don’t skip this step if you plan to paint or stain your furniture, as sanding helps the new paint adhere better.
Repair any damage by filling cracks with wood filler, tightening or replacing old screws, and gluing any loose joints together.
Not every piece needs a complete makeover to earn its place outdoors. Sometimes, the charm lies in letting the weather do its work. Chipped paint, rust stains, and worn edges speak of years lived and stories accumulated. These imperfections become features rather than flaws when moved to the garden setting.
Weatherproofing Outdoor Furniture
Wood furniture will require sealing and protection to last outside. After cleaning and sanding, apply a primer if needed. Then, use an outdoor-grade paint or stain. You’ll want to finish it off with a waterproof polyurethane or sealant.
For metal, remove any rust with sandpaper or a wire brush and cleaner. Apply a rust-resistant primer, and finish off with a rust-resistant spray paint.
If you have any fabric outdoors, such as cushions or pillows, ideally, they should be covered in an outdoor fabric cover or under protection. Apply some fabric waterproofing spray and bring in any cushions during heavy rain.
Outdoor Furniture Maintenance
Once it’s out in the garden world, check on your furniture every so often. Keep it clean by spraying with a garden hose and giving it a quick wipe on a sunny day. Keep an eye out for any concerning rust.
If there is a vicious storm on the horizon, cover any patio furniture items. Store cushions indoors, and consider moving items under cover during the winter.
After winter, I like to check everything out as I take it out of storage. Tighten any hardware, clean mildew as you see it, and touch up any chipped paint that isn’t adding to the charm. For outdoor wood furniture, it’s a good idea to reapply the weatherproof sealant annually.
Creative Indoor Furniture Repurposing Ideas
In a previous house, I added some outdoor paint to a wooden armoire to turn it into a BBQ cabinet. It would sit on the deck, providing plenty of storage for all outdoor entertaining, and it looked cute while it was at it.
An old hutch can transform into a potting bench with character, its shelves perfect for storing tools and supplies. Add some hooks for your tools, and don’t be afraid to decorate the shelves as you would indoors.
Chairs as planters are one of my favourite ways to reuse old kitchen chairs. I’ve done this project a number of times, using a wooden chair to hold a plant or as a peony support. An ornate metal chair also became a succulent planter, as pictured earlier in the post.
A bar cart would work wonderfully outdoors. Place it on your patio as an outdoor beverage station, or even as a plant stand itself. For small spaces, it could even work as a potting station. I could also see it next to the BBQ as a place to store grilling tools.
Solid wood tables of all shapes and sizes are ideal for going outside. An old dining table can go on the patio, while a side table can become a plant stand. Add a coffee table to your patio or a bench to your vegetable garden for quick breaks. This is a great time to repurpose furniture that has too many dings and scrapes to be inside any longer.
A friend of mine turned an old wooden desk with a hinged lid into her urban flower stand.
Bookshelves can become plant stands. Add a layer of weatherproof paint, and it can work both in the garden and on the patio.
Dressers are perfect for storage, inside and out. Add one to your shed to keep items on hand and organized. The top of the dresser can also become a potting area or a place to display smaller plants.
Really, you can repurpose almost anything to go outdoors with a little ingenuity. All it takes is a mindset shift, and you’ll find yourself with so many options. So next time you redecorate the house or check out your neighbour’s garage sale, think about how it might work in the garden.
More Outdoor Furniture Inspiration
- The Ultimate Guide to Finding and Fixing Outdoor Furniture
- Patio Decorating Ideas: Turn A Small Space Into Paradise
- Cedar Outdoor Dining Table with Planter Insert + Building Plans
- Nature’s Palette: Colourful Garden Ideas to Turn Heads
- The Sharing Economy: A Simple Way to Cut Waste and Build Community
From Vancouver, BC, Holly is Garden Therapy’s Content Manager. She has a BFA in Writing from the University of Victoria as well as a diploma in Floristry Design from Burnaby CCE. At home, she loves to grow cut flowers and dried flowers for her business, Dirty Daisy Florals, and is an avid houseplant collector and lover of bees. You can find her at @dirtydaisyflorals and @hollyheuversocial.
