5 Tips for Making Your Outdoors Pretty

Love this post? Share it! :)

I’m embarrassed to admit that up to nearly 3 years we’ve lived in this house, I have never laid a hand on a bag of mulch, much less DIY’ed anything on the outside of our house. Isn’t that pathetic?? After moving from a 2-BR condo with no yard…..to a 4-bedroom house on 1/3rd acre….well…..you never imagine how much money and hard labor it costs to care for and “prettify” an outdoors space!

It was easier to just ignore the outside of my house and hope that one day we’d had enough money to pay someone to make it look pretty.

Yeah. Right.

We’re still waiting for that day. 🙂

I realized that no Magic Landscaping Fairy or Outdoor Design Fairy is going to appear from a bubble like Glinda the Good Witch of the North to come grant my wishes. 🙂

So here are 5 tips that I’m doing to make it happen myself!

5 tips for making your outdoors pretty

I’ve been collecting this hodge podge of patio furniture for quite a while now. It had been just sitting on my outdoor patio, collecting dirt and debris. Okay, you ready to see this? I’m warning you– it’s not pretty……..

<<<<insert gasp here>>>>

BEFORE

Thrifted Patio Outdoors

AFTER

DSC_3590

I know.

You’re shocked.

I am, too. I still can’t believe I put all my ugly business out there.

Don’t judge me 🙂 And please know that this patio is still in progress. I have many more “TO DOs” to pretty it up. But this is a good start, right?

So at one of my recent blogging conferences, I hooked up with Ryobi Outdoor, who offered to send me one of their pressure washers. Um….thank you, Ryobi Outdoor! You have no idea how you’ve transformed my outdoor living space! (well, actually, keep reading to find out!)

DSC_3584

 

Tip #1: Never Underestimate the Power of “P”

The power of pressure. Okay, make that “PW”: pressure washer! Seriously, I couldn’t wait to test drive the Ryobi Pressure Washer. When it came, of course the kids wanted the box. (My 7-year old is looking a little too much like Miley Cyrus in this picture with that tongue action! HA!)

Thrifted Patio Outdoors

 


DSC_3038 copy

It runs on gas, and has 3100 PSI, which is more than enough to clean this patio without even needing soap (although I could have used it if I’d wanted to). Still, considering I had never used one, I was skeptical. I mean….do you see this gunk?! It’s black!!!

DSC_3037 copy

 

Thrifted Patio Outdoors

But I was totally ready: Ryobi and Serena vs. the Big Bad Nasty Patio!!

I even had cute rain boots 🙂 This was going to get messy. I could tell.

DSC_3040 copy

And it totally worked well!

DSC_3057 copy

This gunk has nothing on me! This was WAR! (…and a lot of water. I hate to see what my water bill is gonna be!)

DSC_3076 copy

 

A little “Mildew Humor” kept the morning interesting, too….

DSC_3069 copy

 

 

DSC_3081 copy

I even considered leaving the Gunk Face, but realized that it probably wouldn’t fit in with my decor. LOL

DSC_3082 copy

So who won??? Ryobi and I won! Isn’t it clean??

Excuse those wires hanging down. Can’t Verizon hide that better?? The black one is an old cable wire from our Comcast days, before we kissed them goodbye. I’m tempted to cut it…Hmmm….

DSC_3085 copy

 

Tip #2: Get a Little Cozy

Nothing makes a space feel cozier than a rug. Plus, it just has this way of grounding whatever its underneath. It just looks more pulled together. Now….the truth is I hated that every DIY blogger and “they mama” were using chevron prints in every little thing. I have shied away from it. But when I was looked at the Ballard Designs website for an indoor/outdoor rug, this chevron outdoor rug caught my eye. It was on sale for $160 for a 5×7, and not only did I have a 10% off coupon for being a first-time customer, but I had a $100 gift card that I had won at the Haven Conference. With shipping and all, I paid a whopping $43 for it. BOOM! And I have to say, I actually love chevron. I can’t believe I am saying that. I feel like I’ve just hopped on a bandwagon or something. LOL

Thrifted Patio3.jpg

 

Tip #3: Raid the Thrift Store and Dumpsters

I get a little envious when I look at catalogs and every outdoor setting looks perfect and so well put together. Then you look at the prices and your eyeballs pop out. Say WHAT?! Who can afford those prices? That’s why I scavenged my patio table from the dumpster one day while leaving work and then painted a gigantic flower on top of it. The wrought iron chairs I had found last year at the thrift store for $15 each. Some parts of them were badly rusted so I tried to sand them down and spray them with something that looked like it would prevent more rust. I plan to paint the little cute heart shapes in the middle–maybe white? Or cream? I just haven’t had time to do it.

The idea here is to thrift as much stuff as you can, and then slather it with paint. Or better yet–use what you already have. You will save tons of money, and you’ll also get to create something a bit more unique than what you’ll find in a catalog.

BEFORE

Found next to a dumpster!

floral-table_BEFORE

AFTER

DSC_3588

BEFORE

DSC_3117 copy

 

DSC_3121 copy

 

AFTER (in progress)

I still need some round seat cushions, but I will probably have to make some myself. But now it’s a fresh black! Love it! And, again, I’m going to paint the inner heart to accentuate it.

DSC_3570

I also found this adirondack chair for $15 at the thrift store, and had originally spray painted it white. HORRIBLE. It chipped badly because I hadn’t protected it. I repainted it Annie Sloan Old White instead, which will be long-lasting in the outdoors. The little lime side table was $6 from the thrift store, too. 🙂

DSC_3581

Tip #4: Stop trying to conquer the world.

Or, at least, stop trying to conquer your whole project! I do this allll the time. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by all the things you need to do for a project to really pull something together (hence the reason I avoided my patio–it was overwhelming!) But from my experience, when you start small, instead of trying to conquer the whole project, it’s easier to be productive and you find the momentum to keep going.

So that’s what I’m doing–starting small.

Right now I am focusing on the patio, mulch, and edgers. Once I’ve conquered that, I’ll focus on the grass, weeds, and more extensive pavers for a new walkway.

Here’s a nifty idea: If you’ve got a jogging stroller, use it as a makeshift wheel barrel. You might want to use a cover to keep the stroller clean. This saved me from lugging only 2 bricks at a time from my minivan to the backyard! (WARNING: You will look a tad bit “ghetto” if any of your neighbors see you pushing bricks down your drive way. Just sayin’. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya. HA!

DSC_3100 copy

 BEFORE

Don’t you love my Wizard of Oz bomb shelter? I know. Don’t be jealous…..Yeah, this is the door that cost us $2,200 to replace when we moved in!!!! UGH..I think we were ripped off…..But anyhow….This area needed some mulch and definition.

DSC_3101 copy

DSC_3102 copy

AFTER

It’s amazing what some pretty red mulch (which I have heard holds its color longer) and some stone edging does to a house. Now if I can only take care of those brown spots that I always create by leaving stuff lying on my grass….. LOL

thrifted patio6.jpg

BEFORE

This sad, pathetic maple in our backyard was overcome with weeds and….where’d the mulch go??? Looking at it now, it looks like some sacrificial circle with those stones around it and no mulch. HAHAHA

DSC_3105 copy

I laid down some landscaping canvas (duh–I should have used newspaper, which is free!)–to cover and kill the weeds.

DSC_3109 copy

Then I mulched. It took about 7 bags! Next time, I’m ordering a TRUCK full. It’s too expensive to buy individual bags. Since this is the first time mulching, I had no idea how many bags I would need.

DSC_3110 copy

Tip #5: Do the Math.

I spent over $200 on mulch and stones. I think I bought 19 bags and 60 stone edgers. I couldn’t believe I had spent that much money. I wish I would have budgeted it out, and planned ahead to know how much mulch I was going to need, and how much it would cost. I kept going back for 3 separate trips to Lowe’s, getting more mulch, because I kept running out, and my mulching has extended to other areas that I hadn’t considered. That’s extra gas that could have been saved if I had planned accordingly.

The Bottom Line

Some aspects of getting your outdoor area cleaned up and ready for a new season can be expensive, such as mulch and other decorative touches–or even the equipment to clean it (either buying or renting). But there are inexpensive things you can do to create an inviting outdoor area, such as a using indoor/outdoor rugs, stocking up on thrifted furniture, and planning which small chunk you’re going to focus on.

Thrifted Patio4.jpg

thrifted patio5.jpg

So now this is what we see when we look out the window from the family room:

DSC_3593

And my boys are able to go outside and play on a neat patio (so they can mess it up with sand and dirt–yep). LOL

Thrifted Patio2.jpg

Another look…

BEFORE

DSC_3026 copy

 

After

And my 8-year old can do his homework outside, while the two little ones play in the sandbox. All without the threat of MOLD and MILDEW at their fingertips!

 Thrifted Patio.jpg

Next Steps

I would love to hang some shutters on those windows…get a new exterior light….make cushions for the chairs…..to do, to do, to do….. One day soon 🙂


Your Turn!

How do you get your house ready for the colder months? Do you use your outdoor space? ? Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!

 

SIGNATURE

Disclaimer: I have received a complimentary Ryobi Pressure Washer that I used in this post (BIG thanks to you, Ryobi!), but I have not been financially compensated. All opinions are my own, and will always be my own. Fo’ shizzle!

 

Download the 5 freebies!

Thrift Diving inspires women to decorate, improve, and maintain their home themselves...using paint, power tools, and thrift stores! Use these 5 printables, checklists, and ebooks to get started!

Now go check your email for those freebies! Powered by ConvertKit

Love this post? Share it! :)

Similar Posts

42 Comments

  1. Hi Serena. I just stumbled upon your blog while looking through pinterest! I love it. You have great budget conscious ideas that REAL DIYers can do. I too love to thrift and cannot drive buy a piece of furniture or a junk pile curbside without picking through it ( much to my hubbys annoyance)

    Thanks

    Erin

    1. Hi Erin! Yes, the hubbies just don’t get it. But hopefully, after we make it look pretty, they see its potential! So glad you found me on pinterest. And so sorry that I’m responding so late! 🙂

  2. Great article. Yes the outdoor projects can be totally overwhelming. I’ve been working on my mine yards for 3 years. I love that you scored some of your furniture from the dumpster. I lucked out and got a huge vintage set on craigs list for $125. I’ll post pictures next spring when it isn’t covered in snow. I can relate to the crazy price of mulch. After my first year of mulching and having to keep going back to the store for more I threw in some flower seeds and started to grow flowers instead. The money I’ve spent to grow flowers was a lot cheaper than mulch..but it is a lot of work. Anyways, love your blog. Keep up the great work.

    1. Oh yeah, mulch is so expensive. I’ve heard that if you pay for a truck load of it, it’s cheaper. But I’ve only gotten the 4 bags for $10 sort of sale. Still, I have to use almost 20 bags just for this little space! I like the idea of planting flowers instead. Thanks for that idea!

  3. I wish I had a backyard – City girl! My mom does so I will give her these tips.

    1. Hi Robyn! I’m so sorry for responding late. I actually miss our condo where we didn’t have a yard! LOL. It was so much easier to keep up. And I never had to buy lawn bags! ;). Thanks for commenting!!

  4. Sherry Holland says:

    Hi again Serena!
    I know you’re not selling your home, but some people have NO IDEA how important the yard and landscaping can be to buyers. I didn’t even want to look at the house we live in now because the yard and bushes were so overgrown. The sellers have already moved and not paid someone to keep it up. Our realtor insisted we look at this house and we were surprised to find it so gorgeous and well-kept inside. This was ten years ago when the housing market was hot – houses were selling within hours of listing. This house had sat on the market for 9 months just because the sellers hadn’t spent a little on yard work. There was a new two room and bathroom addition to the house that wasn’t even visible from the street due to two huge overgrown arborvitae. So, whenever I need to sell I will definitely make sure to have the outside spiffy to attract buyers! Sherry

    1. Hey Sherry! I’m so grossly late with responding. I’m sorry!! I think those bushes were put there so to deter other people from getting the house you were supposed to buy! 🙂 You are right. The yard had to look great. Curb appeal means a lot. For me, it’s hard to take care of the house outside because the inside is so overwhelming and needs to much too! It’s hard to keep up!

  5. Hi Serena,

    It looks great and $200 for landscaping is a steal even though it feels like a fortune for us thrifty people. 😉 I wonder if you called the satellite people if they would come anchor those wires to the outside of the house for you. Maybe if you suggested they are a safety hazard or that they could get pulled out of place? Might be worth a shot. 🙂

    Have a great weekend!
    Amy

    1. Hi Amy! That would be a good idea. I think Verizon is the white cord, so they at least anchored it well. It’s those pesky Comcast people that didn’t. LOL. Since we don’t use Comast anymore, I’m wondering what I can do with the wires. Hmmm….Maybe I should get creative with it or something. Thanks for commenting!!

    2. OH! And I forgot to add, you are SO right! To people like us that don’t usually or LIKE to spend money on stuff like this, $200 felt like a fortune! And that was just the mulch and stones for the BACK. You should see the front side of my house. That is going to be much more. YIKES!!!! But it needs to be done!

  6. Sherry Holland says:

    Hi Serena,
    I LOVE my pressure washer too and I just have a wimpy electric one that was $75.00 at Sears. They really don’t use as much water as you think! I was washing my deck and my daughter wanted to fill a bucket, so I just stuck the end in and tried to fill it – wow, took forever to get a couple inches! I just seems like a lot is coming out! Landscaping looks great! Right now we’re replacing our narrow cement sidewalk with old brick. Love it!

    1. Sherry, that is a great point. Thank you so much for pointing that out. They probably push water out at such a high level that they SEEM like they use much more. That’s reassuring to know. I probably could find the info somewhere about how many gallons per minute are used. Thanks for info! I’m not sweating as much now. LOL. Thanks!!!! Good luck with your project, too!

  7. marieanne honsberger says:

    Love the table and chairs! what great finds. Hard to believe the preasure washer can do such a good job on mold, good to know.

    1. Hey there, Marieanne! Yes, they are worth the investment. You can pressure wash your house, too. You know all that green stuff that grows on your house? Blasts it right off. I still need to do my driveway and my front walk-way!

  8. Anna Ibarra says:

    I think it looks great. You did a lot, and your back yard just needed some TLC, that’s all. I’ve been working on my backyard since 2 years ago, so seeing yours transform so quickly, is spot on. You can get one of those awnings that retract in and out. Maybe you should paint your Wizard of Oz shelter doors, why hide an elephant. You are crafty in that area. I love what you did around those doors. Super Duper Job!

    I love your table and chairs, and remember that you had painted that flower, awesome. Man you should have hooked me up with one of them tables. 😉 Well I hope that I can post my soon. I w/share them with you when I get done, Not sure when.

    1. Hey Anna! Yeah, there were THREE of them there. I can’t believe I only walked away with one. STUPID of me! lol. Next time, if I see three of anything, I’ll get them all. LOL And yes, please email me when you’re done with your projects. I love seeing what people are working on! Oh, and I can’t guarantee the rest of the yard will get done so quickly. I have so little time, and with it getting darker earlier….

  9. You did such a great job! I had the same issue with mulch–that stuff gets expensive by the bag. (I was buying it to go around some bushes.) And my back little concrete patio is in the same shape as your before picture. I need to do something about it. Thanks for the inspiration!

    1. Rug, rug, rug! It totally makes it feel much more cozy with a rug on the patio. Good luck in pulling yours together, too!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *