5 Items You Need if You Want to Create Outdoor Furniture

With a bit of paint, nails and dedication, you can make cool outdoor furniture practically for free. However, scavenging can be just as hard as repurposing—you need to keep your eyes open at all times, and if you see any of the following items, pick them up.

These five items can be essential in your quest to create fabulous backyard furniture on a super small budget.

Palettes

Palettes, after a bit of sand and varnish, can be reconfigured to create a range of outdoor furniture. Stack two on top of each other for a low slung outdoor dining table. Add cushions to half pallets to create benches around your fire pit or prop pallets up on their sides to create a vertical patio garden.

Cinderblocks

If you can only gather a couple of these highly useful blocks, they are the perfect antidote when you need extra seating around the fire. If you have several of these blocks, they can hold up a tabletop, or they can even be used to create a fully functional outdoor kitchen with a built in charcoal grill.

Old Doors

Beautiful antique reclaimed wooden doors make absolutely beautiful tabletops when attached to an inexpensive set of folding table legs or when propped up on cinder blocks. However, do not overlook the value of a cheap hollow core doors, either.

If you encounter a free door, take it. If it has a couple of holes, patch them with a thin piece of plywood, cover the table with a cheap oil cloth or decoupage it with fun decorations, and you have a great table. You can even make repurposed doors into porch swings!

Industrial Cable Spool

If you prefer a round table, look for an industrial cable spool. Often discarded by phone or power companies, these spools can serve as side tables or dining tables, and when painted and stained, they look fabulous. Stack two on top of each other for a high-top table effect.

Logs

If you know someone in the tree removal business, you have a great connection for logs, and many people in this industry may be willing to give you old logs for free if you agree to pick them up with no hassles. Old logs can be carved into benches, turned into rustic picnic tables, or just used as small seats.

For more tips or ideas on outdoor furniture, use resources like http://www.furniturenmore.com.au.