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13 DIY Patio Furniture Ideas that Are Simple and Cheap

December 29, 2015 by Jenny 36 Comments

Making my own DIY patio furniture is my favorite way to save money when decorating. I basically live on my patio in the summertime, it’s always where I host my parties so it’s crucial that I have plenty of comfy patio furniture. If you want to save a little money on your own patio furniture, check out these incredible DIY patio furniture ideas. You can create all of these in a single weekend and you won’t spend much money at all!

13 DIY Patio Furniture Ideas that Are Simple and Cheap| Patio Furniture, DIY Patio Furniture, Patio Furniture Projects, Patio Projects, Outdoor Living, Outdoor Entertainment. #outdoorliving #outdoorentertainment #patiofurniture #diypatiofurniture #patiodecoration

DIY Cinder Block Bench

Put your cinderblocks to good use by using them to create your own patio furniture. The cinder blocks will be the ends of the bench, and you can use 4x4s to create the seat itself. If this has piqued your interest, check out the full tutorial from The Whoot.

Pallet Couch

Cute DIY Projects has a great tutorial that will show you how to turn pallets into a huge couch! You’ll need tons of pallets (at least 16) but you won’t have to break them apart at all. Just stack them in the way that the tutorial directs you for a fun project. This is so easy that even your teenagers could lend a hand in the build.

Pallet Table

You can truly make ANYTHING with the right kind of pallet! Including turning them into a great outdoor table. You will have to break them apart of course, but leave a hole in the center of the table to use as a cooler for drinks or even a planter for your favorite succulents. Interested in making your own? Pop on over to Far Out Flora for the full project tutorial and idea.

 

Recycle Your Old Tires

Use those old tires to create a totally retro outdoor table. Paint two in a fun color and then top it with a glass plate rested on top and a fun centerpiece. Find the directions at Madcap Frenzy. Such a great DIY patio furniture idea!

Milk Crates

Milkcrates topped with old 2x4s make for great around-the-fire seating for little bodies.  To create, simply attach four 2x4s together (cut to fit the top of the milk crate) and then zip tie them to the milkcrate. Top with a padded seat or leave it be. Think about how cute this would be in a photograph!

Birch Lounge Chair

Check out this great idea from Homemade Modern! They repurposed cut birch logs from their garden and turned them into the most amazing lounge chair. Just make sure you sand away the rough parts of the logs (without sacrificing the look, of course) before using. Trust me, your legs will thank you.

Turn Cinder Blocks Into a Planter

This is one of my favorite projects on the list because the finished product looks great as a chair AND a planter. To make your own, all you need are tons of cinderblocks arranged into a chair with their holes facing outward. Once assembled, stick your favorite plants inside the holes of the cinderblocks. Pretty cool huh? Catch the full tutorial from Funky Junk Interiors.

Create A Rolling Cooler

One of the hardest things about planning a party is deciding where exactly you are going to stick the drink station. Fortunately, that will be a lot easier with this project idea because you can just wheel the cooler around! Use this tutorial from The Home Depot to make your own rolling cooler. It could have more than one location during the party, though that may confuse your guests.

DIY Concrete Planter

Use this tutorial from Homedit to create a super cute side table also doubles as a planter because who isn’t a fan of things that have many uses?

Hand Painted Cushions

Let your inner Picasso run wild while creating great cushions for your patio furniture. You can use any kind of paint that you want to draw on your own cushions, just mix it with a bit of this product from Amazon to keep your paint looking great.

Create a Crate Bench

Kid-sized benches aren’t only thing to do with old milkcrates. Line 4 or 5 of them up together and then zip-tyle them together. Once attached, fill the top with comfortable pads and pillows. This is easy enough right?

Recycled Ottoman

YUou can make your own outdoor ottoman out of an old rug. This is perfect for those of you who love being zero-waste. Find the tutorial to make your own at Pretty Prudent.

DIY Adirondack Chair 

Make your own DIY Adirondack chair with this tutorial from The Home Depot.

Filed Under: Outdoor DIY Tagged With: DIY, outdoor living, patio furniture, patio inspiration, porches

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Frank Nazario says

    April 23, 2016 at 7:34 pm

    This design is flawed the back of this benck would not support any weight if you lean back both the concrete blocks, the wood poles and the guest would fall backwards… please indicate any adhesive or fastening method to the other bricks for support.

    Reply
    • Irene Coleman says

      July 2, 2016 at 4:02 am

      would leave the back part out completely..unless you would have to screw down those 2 cinderblocks for sure..or you will have people leaning back falling backwards…

      Reply
    • Suzie says

      March 13, 2021 at 4:59 am

      Did you read the instructions? They clearly used construction adhesive to attach the cinder blocks to one another!

      Reply
  2. Tom Chabot says

    May 22, 2016 at 1:08 am

    Absolutely agree with Mr. Nazario. Whose great idea was this and even better, who thought it’d be a great idea to post it? Don’t lean back people cause you’re going for a ride!

    Reply
  3. Gerry says

    May 26, 2016 at 3:47 pm

    I was looking for more specifics for the same reason.

    Reply
  4. Tammy Shaver says

    May 27, 2016 at 8:51 pm

    I’m sure this one is like the others I’ve seen….either liquid nails or gorilla glue was used to seal the blocks together for support. I just don’t think I could handle sitting in a planter more or less…..especially the front part with the plants under my legs…too many creepy crawlies.

    Reply
  5. Griselle says

    May 31, 2016 at 10:44 pm

    I believe they used cement in between the cinder blocks to keep the guests from falling back Since cement would be used, it should be strong enough. Looks real nice!

    Reply
  6. Lisa says

    June 1, 2016 at 5:54 pm

    I have looked at these ideas on Pinterest for a while now and have seen on several others that you need to use contractors glue (caulk) to glue them together. Anyone with half a brain would realize you can not lean back without it being stabilized!

    Reply
  7. Patty says

    June 2, 2016 at 8:52 pm

    Could motor the bottom blocks that would be a sturdy bench with out a back

    Reply
  8. Patti says

    June 3, 2016 at 6:33 pm

    I agree. A really cute design….but dangerous. I am thinking it could be quite dangerous if kids are around.

    Reply
  9. Daniel Serrato says

    June 4, 2016 at 5:48 am

    I would place this against a wall or fence to keep the back from falling. Another idea would be to use the base only without the back as a bench.

    Reply
  10. Chadd Skinner says

    June 4, 2016 at 3:50 pm

    Liquid Nails will solve any issues with a person leaning and falling backwards.

    Reply
  11. Joni says

    June 5, 2016 at 4:08 pm

    Would using a mortar work?

    Reply
  12. kayla says

    June 6, 2016 at 3:25 pm

    Can’t you just use ready mix cement in between the blocks? Let dry and nothing is going anywhere………

    Reply
  13. Donna says

    June 8, 2016 at 1:07 am

    My husband said the same thing about it not being supported, I may use gorilla glue or liquid nail I didn’t know there was such thing as liquid nail…I am already doing this project and may use a rope to tie the wood together as well, in three parts one in the middle and both sides, just to stabalize the wood… Wish me luck!

    Reply
  14. Jewels says

    June 8, 2016 at 1:55 am

    Contractors glue is used for the black cinder block

    Reply
  15. Jewels says

    June 8, 2016 at 1:56 am

    I meant back cinder blocks.

    Reply
  16. Patrick says

    June 9, 2016 at 1:12 am

    This is brilliant! Can’t wait to make one myself.

    Reply
  17. sra says

    June 17, 2016 at 1:52 pm

    I think this would be a great idea for my front porch and place the back against the wall. I’m a FYI pro with liquid nails, contractors Grade. I even used oven liners, and aluminum oven liners and liquid nails to do body work on my car and a hole in the trunk to pass PA State Vehicle Inspection. Swear by that stuff.

    Reply
  18. Jerry Shapley says

    July 23, 2016 at 12:49 am

    Just use adhesive base coat ( used in the EFIS system) or something like a polymer fortified thinset to attach upright cinder blocks and it should be plenty strong for the back of the bench.

    Reply
  19. Annie Cruz says

    July 29, 2016 at 7:35 pm

    OMG, these are ideas, not products’ sales. Comments are good to improve not to destroy or merely diminish other’s ideas. If you don’t have something positive to say, don’t say it. If you don’t like it, don’t pin it and keep it to yourself.

    Reply
  20. G says

    August 30, 2016 at 3:58 pm

    I think I’d trust some liquid nails or liquid construction adhesive before I’d trust mortar on that joint.

    Reply
  21. Ward says

    November 12, 2016 at 6:49 am

    Two part epoxy at Home depot.

    Reply
  22. Terri says

    November 15, 2016 at 7:09 pm

    I built these, three of them actually. I used gorilla glue. Big men, small children & everything in between have used them, fully. No problem.

    Reply
  23. Will says

    March 5, 2017 at 11:32 pm

    Most people just love to complain. This is a neat idea and will soon be on our patio. Since most of you have no common sense at all… figure out a a way to create the supports for the back. Gorilla glue or liquid nails and large washers with a long bolt to anchor the cinder blocks in place. Dont leave comments if all you do is complain. It’s called DIY for a reason….so get off here and go Do It Yourself.

    Reply
  24. June colgan says

    May 17, 2017 at 11:59 am

    Does anyone know what size blocks were used was it 4″ or 9″

    Reply
  25. Lara Marshall says

    August 18, 2017 at 7:48 am

    We created this bench ourselves and it is beautiful. We simply placed the first row of blocks slightly below ground. We filled the blocks with dirt to help steady them. We then used landscape adhesive to keep all the blocks in place. It is perfect and they do not move at all.

    It really is a lovely bench and very very sturdy.

    Reply
  26. Dave Whiting says

    May 30, 2018 at 10:20 pm

    I can’t believe the comments on here. Folks actually need to be told like kids that u need an adhesive. OMG, do u have someone come to your place to tie your shoes for u too?

    Reply
  27. L.A.W. says

    June 8, 2018 at 11:25 pm

    Come on folks! I’m no builder of anything but thought this to be really sweet.
    Did not look at directions. Just thought what a neat idea!
    Of course, one would need to fasten all pieces to prevent collapse. It’s called COMMON SENSE. Can’t believe anyone would build this as a stacking project, alone. Of course, it would collapse.!!! Duh???

    Reply
  28. Maureen says

    May 20, 2019 at 1:39 am

    Wow, people can be so snarky! If you don’t like something, don’t build it. My mother always used to say there are people who would complain about a free lunch. I think it looks great and I know my husband would insist on securing it as would anybody. Thank you for the awesome idea!

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Jenny Wallentine, a Certified Master Gardener, and lover of all things outdoors! My mission with beesandroses.com is to help you find useful, practical solutions to all of your gardening challenges--and help you love it as much as I do. I’ve come across many helpful tips and tricks to make gardening more enjoyable and more productive. You can learn how to layout your garden for a better yield, use a variety of natural pest controls, the “ins and outs” of organic gardening, and much more.

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