Our outdoor dining table went kaput this year. It was cheap, but we thought it would last longer than four years. The wood went rotten, and one of the extensions wobbled right off. There’s a reason you’ve been seeing an increase in tablecloth usage outdoors lately. Yesterday, I convinced a hesitant husband to pack up the kids with me and head to IKEA for a replacement. We were successful, as evidenced by the car being partitioned by a very large box. I chose this table. It’s slightly smaller than our previous table, but there are no moving parts on it and I’m hopeful that it will hold up better. It already has a gray stain so it looks a smidge weathered, but I don’t want the dang thing to actually weather and fall apart the way the other did. Perhaps a winter storage cover is in order. Or a coat of paint. Or some sort of actual maintenance from us. (To be fair, the other table did call for restaining/sealing, and we never did it.) I’ll have more photos later this week.
We had some company for lunch and I put together a very red, white, and blue table setting. (Here’s a little sneak peek!) The new table is solid pine. What do you think? Any tips on helping it survive Chicago’s weather? Find some place to store it in the winter? The legs do fold down. Planning a Mini-Makeover for the BedroomHow To's & Quick Tips > How To: Clean Patio Cushions Now's the time to freshen up your outdoor seating before the season kicks into full swing. While most cushions can't be tossed directly into the washing machine, you can get the job done without even moving them from your porch or patio! Read on for the how-to. When it comes time to spiff up your porch or patio for spring, cleaning your furniture cushions ranks high on the to-do list—particularly if those cushions have been out in the elements all winter long. All that exposure to moisture doesn’t bode well for these comfy pieces when it comes to mildew potential. Fortunately, many cushions are designed with removable covers that can be slipped off and thrown into the washing machine on gentle cycle.
(Thank goodness for zippered slipcovers!) But even if yours don’t have removable covers, you can still get your cushions clean in preparation for a summer of outdoor fun—just follow these simple steps. - Fabric protector spray Pile up your outdoor pillows! Unzip cases wherever possible and run them through the wash following the instructions on the tags, then turn your attention to the cushions. Remove any loose dirt and dust from them using the upholstery attachment on your vacuum. If your cushions are tufted, be sure to run the attachment carefully over the crevices, seams, and any buttons. Next, mix 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid in a bucket of warm water. If your cushions have mildew on them, add 1/4 cup of borax to the solution as well. Generously sponge the sudsy solution onto your cushions, and let them soak for 15 minutes. Still see stubborn dirty spots after soaking? Apply more of the cleaning solution, then gently rub out the spots with a scrub brush.
Thoroughly rinse the cushions off with the garden hose. (Don’t use a pressure washer for the task, as it may damage the fabric.) Wrap a towel around the cushion to blot up the majority of the water, and then stand the cushion up on end to air-dry completely. Make sure no moisture remains, otherwise you’ll find yourself facing a regrowth of mildew. Pull out the blow dryer, if you need to! Once your cushions are dry, spray them with a fabric protector to help them resist dirt and stains from such summery things as spilled fruit punch and dripping popsicles. Taking this step now will make it much easier to keep those cushions clean the rest of the summer! Getting your outdoor space ready for the season can be a lot of work, but it’s well worth the effort. Once you’re finished, you can sit back and relax with friends and family, enjoy a summer smoothie or some barbecue, and wait for the twinkling fireflies to appear.Are you sitting down? We love us some DIY decor and a unique seat is just the thing to set your room or event apart.
From giving new life to an old chair, to creating a new chair from scratch, to decorating a chair for your wedding, these 30 DIYs will knock you off your feet. 1. Cross Stitch Chair: Cross stitching — it’s not just for Valentine’s Day cards and iPhone cases anymore ;) This chair takes the scale of cross stitching up a notch and it’s so cool! 2. Dip Dyed Chair: Add a bright pop of color to your decor with this crazy simple DIY. (via For the Love of…) 3. Screen Printed Chair: Give an old chair some love with some new-school screen-printed fabric. We’re loving the bright orange against the classic wood frame. 4. Rustic Orange and Wood Chair Signs: The complementary nature of these signs looks great without being too matchy-matchy. These would be easy to DIY in whatever your wedding color is. 5. Peacock Chair: This tutorial takes a chair that was left out as trash and turns into to a luxurious getaway in your home. (via Design Love Fest) 6. Patchwork Chair: Use up those scraps of fabric you have lying around to create a unique seat.
(via Sombrero de Ideas) 7. Ribbon Upholstered Chair: Can you believe this was made with ribbon? The striped effect makes this old chair into a statement piece. 8. Office Chair Hack: What do you get when you combine an IKEA chair with some brass spray paint? An elegant chair that’ll add a hint of class to your office. (via Hither & Thither) 9. Pallet Chair: Make a chair from an old pallet and your yard will be the envy of your neighbors. (via Our Pinteresting Family) 10. Ombre Wedding Chair: This might be the prettiest wedding chair idea we’ve seen yet, and what’s even cooler is how easy (and inexpensive) it is! All you need is white chairs and some ribbon in your color. 11. Updated Folding Chair: Folding chairs bring to mind cheap, not-so-attractive makeshift seating. This update makes folding chairs impressive and awesome. (via Design for Mankind) 12. Upcycled Belt Chair: Definitely an outdoor chair, we’re loving the pop of color that comes from using one bright belt weaved with a bunch of brown ones.
13. Spray Painted Office Chair: We might just have to do this to some of the chairs at Brit HQ. The black and white spray paint adds a modern twist to your workspace. (via Little Green Notebook) 14. IKEA Hack Chair: Turn an IKEA countertop into a totally rad chair with pretty pops of color and a unique shape. 15. Painted Chairs: Create a rainbow in your dining room by simply painting your existing chairs in a wide variety of colors. 16. Nautical Wedding Chairs: Add a fun nautical touch to your big day by using life preservers to decorate your wedding chairs. (via Martha Stewart Weddings) 17. Shades-of-Blue Ombre Chair: It’s no secret; This blue chair is the perfect way to introduce the trend to your decor. 18. Fabric Covered Chair: Got a fabric pattern you love but you’re not sure how to use? Upcycle an old chair by covering it with your favorite fabric and add some visual interest to your dining room. 19. Chair Decoupage: This chair was made with wrapping paper!
We’re loving the unique use of materials and how the pattern works with the holes already in the structure of the chair. (via Snow and Graham) 20. Wedding Chair Silhouettes: Simple and elegant, these silhouettes are a pretty way to mark off your chairs and easy to coordinate with the rest of your wedding decor. 21. Pom Pom Chair: How fun is this chair? Hot glue and those random pom poms you’ve got lying around are all you need to make this funky (and we’re betting comfy!) piece. (via The DIY Queen) 22. Custom Seat Cushion: Add some personality to your next backyard barbeque with these colorful custom seat cushions. (via Brit + Co.) 23. Chair Revamp: We’re definitely into the subtle mismatched look achieved by painting different thrift store finds the same color. And of course, the chevron fabric on the seats is totally our jam. (via Violet and Grey) 24. Simple Mr. and Mrs. Chair Signs: Ribbon and paper make simple, understated signs for your chairs… and add a little “something blue” to your reception, for extra luck!
25. Chair Swing: Put some swing into your seat by turning a tired chair into a fun addition to your backyard decor. (via This DIY Life) 26. Map Chair: Map decor has caught our eye lately and this amazing chair is no exception. 27. Navajo Inspired Chair: This Navajo-inspired pattern mixes bright colors with the natural look of the wicker chair and the results are beautiful. 28. Chalkboard + Polka Dot Wedding Chair: Chalkboard and polka dots and colors, oh my! This simple bunting nonetheless makes your wedding chairs stand out. 29. Modern Painted Chair: The modern aesthetic of this chair combined with the sweet accent of the heart makes this a truly incredible piece that’s sure to impress your guests. (via I Love to Create) 30. Ampersand Chair: Gotta love typography. This ampersand adds symbolism and simplicity to your reception. (via Style Me Pretty) Which of these chair upgrades is your fave? Are we missing any awesome seat makeovers? Share your thoughts in the comments below.