Refinished Outdoor Table
Adding a dining table to your patio makes eating outdoors a real experience. There are lots of options to choose from, and you can even refinish or spray-paint an existing table for a budget-friendly option. Monica gave a weathered wooden table a makeover by sanding it down and using an exterior paint with a bit of gloss added to make wiping it down easier. When paired with elegant, high-back chairs, you’d never know it wasn’t brand-new.
Serving Table With a Drop-In Cooler Compartment
A side table for buffet service is the perfect accompaniment to any outdoor dining space. Monica crafted a stylish butcher-block serving table with a built-in cooler compartment for keeping beverages and perishables ice cold even in the hot sun. This project also features a storage shelf underneath for holding extra dishes and essentials so you never run out of room.
Grilling Prep Station
Cooking outside can be stressful if you have to keep running in and out of the house for supplies. Monica created a custom prep station for worry-free grilling. It features durable stone pavers as a top surface and painted wood slats as a bottom storage shelf and a wrapped look on the sides.
Outdoor Movie Screen
An outdoor movie night under the stars is the ultimate evening entertainment, but projection screens can take up a lot of space on your patio. Monica’s clever design incorporates cedar post planters that do triple duty as botanical décor, mood lighting and a frame for an affordable outdoor movie screen that easily rolls up for storage. For more design options, see Outdoor Theater Ideas.
This is a simple project that you can do in a weekend. It’s as easy as preparing planters with pea gravel, inserting posts, adding cement, then filling the planter with soil and plants once the cement has cured. Next, paint a drop cloth for your screen, allow it to dry and cut it down to size. Finish the project by adding grommets to the screen, predrilling holes in the posts, inserting cup hooks and attaching the screen to the hooks. Now you’re ready to enjoy your outdoor movie screen.
Timber Frame Movie Screen
Chris Shoenberg of “Third Coast Craftsman” has a different take on an outdoor movie screen. His timber frame movie screen requires a bit of extra effort, but the result is still amazing. To see how he created his screen, watch Timber Frame Outdoor Movie Screen.
Planters and String Lights
Wood barrel planters are a beautiful and rustic addition to your backyard. They’re also a creative way to showcase your new do-it-yourself (DIY) movie screen. These creative string light planters by Jenna of “Jenna Sue Design” add style and ambiance to complement the outdoor scene. Read DIY String Light Planters to find out how you can replicate this look.
More Backyard Theater Ideas
Once you have your backyard movie theater set up, make sure you have suitable speakers so the whole family can hear the action taking place on screen. You’ll also need a table for the projector and extension cords rated for outdoor use. Don’t forget to make the seating extra comfy by adding cushions, pillows and blankets to ward against the chilly night air. And, of course, make sure there’s plenty of popcorn to go around.