Worn-out patio furniture now looks like new—here’s how this couple did it on a budget!

What a great transformation! Tiina, where did you get the idea to revamp the sofa set?

The polyrattan sofa set is about six years old, and as It stayed outside all year, it has ended up looking pretty rough. I had tried to save it by washing it a couple of times, but last winter it lost its shape so you couldn't even sit on it, because the material began to deteriorate. Years ago, I saw a video of a similar project and decided to see how much work it would take. Luckily, our efforts paid off!

Here’s what the sofa and table looked like before the makeover:

Kept outdoors, the sofa had deteriorated so badly that without a makeover, it would have ended up in the trash.

How was the process of the makeover?

First, we used a utility knife and scissors to easily remove the polyrattan from around the frame. It was secured with staples, which were harder to take out. There were many staples, and they were firmly stuck in the metal frame.

Then we lightly sanded the frame, applied primer, and finished it with glossy black spray paint. After that, we attached the boards.

Here’s how the makeover progressed:

The most time-consuming step was removing the staples that kept the polyrattan in place.

The frame revealed underneath the polyrattan was given a coat of glossy black paint.

How much did the revamped outdoor furniture cost?

For this project, we bought boards, paint, and bolts. The boards were the biggest expense, so if you already have some, you’ll save a ton. Altogether, we spent about 150 euros. Fortunately, the original sofa cushions were still fine. Seems like they stay in place much better now, because the sofa's material isn’t as slippery. The whole project took about a week at a relaxed pace, working in the evenings after work.

It was worth the effort! The table that came with the sofa set got a new look, too.

Was the end result a success?

I’m really happy with how it turned out. Without the makeover, the sofa set would probably have ended up at the dump pretty soon. Now we’re using the furniture a lot more. We're just waiting for the weather to warm up!

Do you do a lot of similar DIY projects?

I used spruce up several pieces of furniture and I also worked on concrete projects at one point in time. I love all kinds of hands-on crafting. I watch online videos for ideas. I don’t always follow them to the letter, but I do pick up a lot of small tips.

Pekka is a lot like me—he enjoys creating things and is always ready when I have a new idea. For us, probably the most fun way to spend time together is tackling a project. We love to try everything. We don’t always love the final outcome, but at least we tried!