Strokes Of Genius: DIY Painting Tips To Make Old Patios Look New
Designer Genevieve Gorder shares how to makeover a weathered outdoor patio into a bright, bold, designer-worthy summer retreat.
By the LifeMinute Team
June 10, 2015
Summer is all about living al fresco, but to do so in style, your winter-weathered patio may need some sprucing up. Don't worry. You don't have to ditch your worn-down dull pieces and spend a fortune on new furniture, flower pots and the likes. We asked designer and TV personality Genevieve Gorder to share some DIY budget-friendly tips on how to make what's old in your outdoor space new again. The best news--all you need is a can of paint.
Create A Deck Of Art
"Typically decks and patios are notoriously dark grey or a dirty brown, which looks tired. Plus, they're weathered from winter and lots of sun," says Gorder. Her simple solution to livening up a drab deck: Turn it into a piece of art by using a stencil to paint a designer-worthy pattern on it. "Stencils cost about $30 or you can even cut out your own. Just paint over it with Valspar Porch and Floor Paint. You'll create this living, breathing, beautiful geometry that can be made into an area rug or it can cover the deck in its entirety," explains Gorder. "Florals, textiles, everything will pop off of this graphic landscape," she adds.
Dip Weathered Chairs In Bright Paint
"Another trend that I'm seeing a lot of is this idea of 'dipped' furniture. Typically, little boots of chairs and the feet of a table are just dipped, but now the dip is going up a little bit higher, and I love this on outdoor furniture," says Gorder. She recommends taping off the top 10 percent of the chair, then painting the rest in a fresh, summery color. "You'll have this beautiful contrast between weathered and new. It's just like what we do with indoor interiors, where there's vintage and new mixed together. We're always balancing everything out, marrying the old with the new. It's a perfect marriage, and it works as well outdoors," she says. The fresh coat of paint also adds an additional protective layer, prolonging the life of old wooden chairs. "Do it on the patio table, too!" she suggests.
DIY Designer Pots
Summer inspires many of us to get gardening. Liven up an outdoor garden with a collection of designer pots. "Decorate a whole bunch of terracotta pots. They're humble looking, so wake them up with color. This is an easy, quick project you can easily do with kids. Spray paint the pots or dip them on an angle to create a real designer look in a couple of minutes and for just a couple dollars. It's really effective and wakes up that outdoor dramatically." Teracotta pots can range from $1 to $99.
Try A Bold Accent Door
"Your front door sends a message to everyone about the personality of your house. The trend of accent doors is happening pretty boldly all over the country. Fuchsia, yellow, bright green doors on the exterior of your home show great personality. You can even be a little bolder and bring the accent color into the interior, if you dare. It is a really fun home accent to play with all year round," says Gorder.
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