Thrifted Vs Styled: How To Decorate Your Patio

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When you're decorating your home on a limited budget, the patio can sometimes be your last priority. But when nice weather comes around, you might find yourself craving a beautiful place to sip iced coffee, chat with friends, or serve meals outdoors. The good news is even when money is tight, you can transform your patio with the help of your local thrift store. But, you can't just put a piece of thrifted furniture on your deck and expect it to speak for itself. Instead, follow our styling tips to build a cohesive, well-styled patio design with thrifted pieces.

All it takes are some savvy styling tips to transform your inexpensive thrift finds into a patio setup that looks elevated and inviting. The key is to take a broad look at any home pieces in the thrift store that look sturdy and have the capacity to be touched-up and repurposed. There's no need to stick to only the garden section!

To style your thrifted pieces, think in functional categories rather than traditional "indoor" and "outdoor" labels. There is a long list of materials that can hold up to any weather: ceramics, stone, glass, brick, stainless steel, and aluminum (as long as you're not dealing with electrical components or items that can harbor water or bacteria). You can use a thrifted glass cake stand or a small, secondhand aluminum stool for your small pots. By the same logic, glass bowls and other common household items can turn into beautiful planters. 

Baskets can also become chic outdoor storage—just be mindful that these items may need the protection of a covered patio, or a waterproof coating like Rust-Oleum durable topcoat. Don't be afraid to think on a larger scale here, too. If you see a solid wood table at the thrift that would look at home on your patio, you can seal it for outdoor use by applying a heavy sealant like spar varnish. Bear in mind that it's still smart to bring this furniture indoors during extreme weather if you don't have a covered patio. As you can see, you're not limited to the (often overpriced) outdoor furniture at your local home improvement store.

Another critical styling element is ambience. For instance, thrifted curtains in natural materials like linen or cotton can be suspended using eyehooks and clotheslines to filter light and add privacy. Or you can do a DIY outdoor lighting project that elevates your yard with elegance. A pre-loved outdoor rug can add texture and warmth. Style a bench with thrifted throws and cushions, then repurpose thrift store finds into weather-proof storage to keep them safe in nasty weather. If you come across a pretty hanging mobile, or even jewelry you'd like to disassemble for its beads, you can make an outdoor beaded suncatcher that makes your patio feel like an art gallery. Imagine what your dream living room would look like, outdoors.

Even a hodge-podge of thrifted items can look cozy and thoughtful when you create a consistent mood. Decorator Oksana of Foxy Oxie recommends, "A foolproof way to achieve cohesiveness? Extend your interior style outdoors." So, if your vibe is European chic, keep that going by restoring vintage French cast-iron outdoor bistro sets; or, if eco-chic is your thing, make use of tree logs to create a table with a thrifted slab top from an architectural surplus or Habitat for Humanity shop. Whatever your style, you can create ambience and cohesion with the right combination of thrifted patio accessories.