DIY outdoor patio furniture ideas on a budget

by Carolyn Andrews 06/22/2025

If you’re in need of outdoor patio furniture ideas that won’t break the bank and look great in an outdoor living room, there are plenty of stylish options to consider. Whether you upcycle items you already own or create them from scratch with your DIY skills, you can decorate your outdoor space on a budget in a variety of ways.

Some of the best patio ideas can be achieved with a simple DIY process and a few inexpensive materials. To help inspire you, here are some great budget outdoor patio furniture ideas:

Crafty crate tables

Wooden crates are a goldmine for DIY furniture inspiration. They fit in recreational outdoor rooms, dining areas and other outdoor spaces. In fact, one excellent budget-friendly option for outdoor patio furniture is to make a coffee or cocktail table from wooden crates. By laying a crate on its side, you can create a surface for food, drink or your favorite book.

At the same time, the open side can be used to store any number of items, from children's toys to potting supplies. The built-in storage is especially advantageous for small patios and yards.

Add a coat of paint in a fun, fresh hue to bring a pop of color to your space. Or, choose a weatherproof wood stain to enjoy the natural wood texture in your outdoor area.

Perfectly painted lawn chairs

Don’t give up on outdated folding outdoor seating. Whether they’re upright or lounge chairs, a quick wash and a coat of outdoor spray paint can completely transform them into stylish outdoor furniture that’s easy to store away when not in use.

Not only is spray paint an excellent budget-friendly solution, it’s easy to change down the road. If you decide to change the color scheme of your patio setup, you can always add a fresh coat of paint. Spray paint also works on a wide variety of surfaces, so you can use this same idea on wicker chairs, woven chairs and more.

Simple slipcovers

Rather than replace the cushions on your patio benches or lounge chairs, try enhancing your sitting area for less by making budget-friendly DIY slipcovers from a variety of fabrics around the house. One chic option for homemade slipcover material is colorful beach towels.

With beach towels, you’ll have colorful pillows in a pinch. They’re also inexpensive and easy to clean. So, when it’s time to wash the slipcovers, simply toss them in the washing machine to make them good as new.

These are only a few ways to upgrade your old patio furniture on a budget. Rather than buy something new, revisit items you may have stowed away. You might be able to give them new life with something as simple and inexpensive as a coat of paint.

About the Author
Author

Carolyn Andrews

Carolyn Andrews has over 30 years licensed Brokerage experience in both California and Colorado. Born in England, Carolyn moved to California in 1980, then relocated to Denver, Colorado in 1991. Carolyn has also received recognition for Top Sales at RE/MAX Alliance Aurora in 2007-2008 and is a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame & Chairman’s Club, as well as a recipient of the ReMax Lifetime Achievement Award. Carolyn has sold over 2000 homes personally in her career. Carolyn has been actively involved in many aspects of the Real Estate business including investment property, luxury homes, mountain resort property, skiin/ski out, REO/default management, loss mitigation, valuations, and disposition. She has been a speaker and panelist at several conferences and has been consulted on many occasions by various organizations in the REO/financial industries for her expertise and served on many boards. She has attended numerous ongoing classes to stay abreast of changes in the ever-evolving Real Estate industry. She is the prior State Director for Colorado for VAREP(Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals). She is a member of 3 boards of Realtors including Metro Denver, Colorado Springs and Summit County mountain areas. She heads up The Andrews Group and is or has been an active member of NAR, CAR,REOMAC, CIPS, CRS, AREAA, NAPW, NAHREP, and is an original member of the ELITEReal Estate network. She was ranked #1 for most homes sold in Denver 2007 by Denver Board of Realtors, #2 for 2008, and #2 for 2009, #5 in 2010 and #4 in 2011 and has been consistently in the top 10 ever since. Carolyn Andrews has been a top rated Endorsed Local Provider for the Dave Ramsey Organization and also a Top Producing agent for 2018 for the Homelight Company.