Whether you’ve moved into a new home or simply want to prepare for garden party and barbecue season, you’ll need to set up your outdoor space. And if your patio desperately needs some upkeep, you’ll have to decide how to divide up your budget between furnishing and repairs. Fortunately, we’ve got several DIY patio furniture options here for you so that you can set up your entertaining space exactly the way you need to without spending hundreds of dollars on custom pieces.
Some of these options are upcycling projects, some are simple and straightforward pieces, and there are even one or two more involved options for DIYers who want to learn new skills while building showstopping pieces. You’re sure to have the best backyard on the block.
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Family Handyman
Cedar Potting Bench
This super-simple potting bench will make your gardening projects much more enjoyable and help you stay organized, too! You can build this DIY patio furniture project in just a few hours, even if you’re a beginner. Once it’s finished, you’ll have everything you need to care for your patio plants in one place.
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FAMILY HANDYMAN
Timber Bench
Need outdoor seating in a hurry? This simple timber bench, based on author and ecologist Aldo Leopold’s classic design, can be constructed in a couple of hours, even if you are a novice woodworker. Unlike other ornate options, this bench will look right at home in your yard, regardless of your landscaping.
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Family Handyman
Cedar and PVC Patio Table
For large outdoor gatherings, a reliable patio table is a necessity. And while you can certainly purchase one from a store, making one yourself allows you to customize the piece however you need. If you have the budget, we recommend purchasing a naturally rot-resistant wood for the legs. We opted for cedar when we did this DIY patio furniture project.
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Family Handyman
Tile-Top Table
Combining woodworking, metalwork and tiling techniques, this Italianate tile-top table makes a lovely addition to any deck or patio. The top is made from plywood, with mosaic tiles added for a Mediterranean feel. The legs are hand-bent metal. This is a more involved DIY patio furniture project; you’ll need to make a gig to ensure accurate shaping. It will also take you several days, but it will be well worth the investment once you see how beautiful it turns out.
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FAMILY HANDYMAN
Polished Concrete Table Top
Although it certainly doesn’t seem like it would be a quick project, this gorgeous concrete tabletop is an excellent introduction to working with finished concrete, and it builds faster than you’d think. The longest part of forming a concrete top is building the form. But once you’ve mastered that skill, the rest moves along easily.
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FAMILY HANDYMAN
How to Make an Adirondack Chair and Loveseat
This Adirondack chair and matching loveseat are designed for outdoor comfort. They’re pieces of DIY patio furniture that have been designed for easy assembly so that a novice can build them. And you can build them from inexpensive, durable wood that, once stained, looks beautiful.
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FAMILY HANDYMAN
Planter Side Table
If you think you’ve got a planter you no longer have any use for, think again. Before tossing it, consider upcycling it into a side table to accompany your other patio furniture. If you want to get fancy with this, you can use stencils when adding color. Or you can simply let it be a pop of color on its own, no patterns needed.
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LAURIE NICHOLS FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
Kids’ Table
Don’t forget the little ones in your life! They need spaces to sit as well, especially if you entertain on your patio quite often. This DIY kids’ table is fairly easy to make and gives the children their own spot to eat or play during your barbecues and summer parties.
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Family Handyman
Composite Benches
Seating is one of the most important features of a patio. Why have an outdoor space if you can’t sit down and enjoy it? We built these benches with composite decking so that they’re low-maintenance. You just need to build them and then enjoy them all season long.
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