How to Freshen Up Your Deck

Do you have a dark screened-in deck?

This weekend I finally decided to make a start on making my screened in deck/back porch into a more comfortable space. When I asked you all for advice on lightening and brightening up the deck, I was surprised to get several responses that said I just needed to continue what I was doing.

I loved getting that response because, continuing is SOOOO much easier, and quicker, than painting.  I started moving stuff around and trying to finish up the incomplete project.

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These chair cushions above are ones I made a couple of years ago, and they were fine. But I remembered that I had bought some cushions last year for outside that I never used, and the color scheme would be PERFECT for the deck.

My color scheme was inspired by the green that I was already using and this flower pot that I found at the drug store on clearance. I had spray painted these chairs with Rustoleum spray paint. I also had bought blue fans last year. I love the blues!Now that I have a color scheme in mind, things are starting to fall into place.

These other cushions are some that I had purchased at the same time and they work perfectly in the chair swing.

So far, so good! I am really liking the way this is turning out.

Now for the other side of the deck! Here is what it looked like before:

I changed out the little table between the chairs, which were painted the same color as the bar stools with Rustoleum spray paint, for a taller one that is also in the new color scheme.

Much better! It is actually a stool but the height is perfect to hold a glass of tea. I had already painted the stool in Rustoleum Spa Blue from Home Depot.

Then I stole this rug from the basement “mud room” and put it underneath the swing chair.

Next I decided to move the table and put the chairs in its spot. I feel like I will sit in these chairs more now since they are where I can look out into the yard.

But it needs something. It just looks bare.  I think I know just the thing! There are some shelves out in the shed that are the perfect color….

Now we are talking!

AND if I take the other rug out of the “laundry room” ……

This shopping in my home is really working and FUN! Although, I now have to find a new rug for the laundry room.

After I got the table set up in the corner, I started thinking about what else I needed. I went into my kitchen and got this ladder and brought it out. I am hoping it will work to hold towels and swimsuits to dry after hot tub use. Those items are usually hanging on the backs of chairs and on the swing. Maybe this will make it look a little neater.

I first put the ladder in front of the stationary part of the sliding glass doors. Later that night when I went inside, I realized it blocked too much of the view from inside and made it feel darker inside. I sure couldn’t have that. So I moved it down past the glass door and against the brick wall. Much better from inside.

And here is the corner where I moved the table. Its a little bit cramped, but I like the change up.

I plan to hang the blue shelf on the wall above the table.

In fact, the next thing I have to figure out is what to hang where. You may have noticed the hanging lamp behind the ladder, and my helicopter landing sign. Both of those need to be rethought and I am waiting on inspiration for the other items you see sitting around that I haven’t done anything with yet. Please give me any suggestions you might have to spur me on to get this job done! And I can’t decide on what color curtains to use. What do you think?

Do you have a painted deck? If so, how much trouble is it to keep the paint looking fresh?