outdoor furniture Archives | Smooth Decorator

Fun Home DIY Projects for Your Kids

May 19, 2021

As adults, we now have to be quite innovative, artistic, and imaginative to bust the boredom kids have from staying at home all the time. There is nothing like good craft projects to help them learn new skills and stop being bored all the time. Besides, there’s so much satisfaction and looking at something and saying I made that with my own hands.

If you do it right, they will be talking about that project they did back in 2021 and how they remember spending time with you. You’ll hear the pride in their voice as they talk about the home project they completed with their mom or dad. You may even get the attention of your neighbors or local home buyers that are browsing properties. Here are some of our favorite and easy home DIY projects that you can create for your kids to enjoy.

Outdoor Furniture

When feeling stuck inside, having outside furniture to relax on can make you feel great. You can create something from scratch, or find some old furniture to refinish and spruce up. Paint a table or a bench. Make a decorative stool from an old wood stump. Finish with a few layers of clear coat varnish to make the paintings last, or you can even mix a clear epoxy coat and pour it over the artistic efforts. Imagine what a fresh coat of colorful paint can do to an old wooden chair or what would happen if you gave your children creative license to paint the furniture with cool colors and beautiful pictures.

After it is all finished, you can add embellishments, such as ornamental hardware, or paint the details to the outside surfaces of the furniture. There are all kinds of crafty things you can do to outdoor furniture. You have to think of it to find fun projects that you can all enjoy.

Photo by Gary Barnes from Pexels

Make a Sandbox

A sandbox can be a fantastic addition to your existing play space for your kids. You can add borders in a rectangular or round area of your yard. Consider adding soft river sounds to make a fun place for the kids to play outdoors, where they can really feel the benefits of relaxing outdoor activities. Ask the kids to help hammer the boards of a wood frame together and then embed it in the yard. From there, you simply add sand and your kids are ready to enjoy their own personal miniature beach at home.

Create a Tree Swing

Find a big tree and an excellent sturdy branch with plenty of clearance underneath to start this project. You have several options when deciding on what type of swing you want to add. For example, you can add a big tire with rope, or make a rectangular seat that hangs from the branch.

Hardware stores have hanging supplies that you can purchase for these types of tree swings. You can involve your kids in the entire process, from purchasing the needed items to handing you the ropes. Knowing that they were a part of the creation of such a fun project will make it even more sentimental to them.

Photo by Anthony Duran on Unsplash

Wildlife Feeders

Research what local birds and other small animals inhabit your area. Some places commonly have deer, fox, and other smaller mammals that roam around. You can create a feeder or birdhouse and hang it from a patio or a tree. This can be an educational experience because it gives the kids an opportunity to observe the local wildlife right from the inside of your home.

There are a ton of home DIY projects that you can do with the kids. Consider which would be the best fit for your children and your home. At the end of the day, you will have an exciting home accessory and a conversational piece for the family for years to come.

Garden

How to Clean Teak Wood Outdoor Furniture

August 8, 2017

Emma K Loftus

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Since teak is a dense and oily wood, the natural oil that is present within the wood protects it from termites. This oil keeps the wood from absorbing the water, ensuring significant durability of your outdoor teak furniture.

This type of furniture is capable of lasting for many generations if it is skillfully crafted. When teak wood furniture is new, it has a golden honey color. But with time, it naturally fades into a light gray patina. The good news is this change in color does not affect the strength of the wood.

If you want to stick to the original golden color of your teak wood outdoor furniture, there are a couple of precautions you can take to slow down its aging. A regular cleaning routine is necessary to keep your teak wood furniture looking aesthetically beautiful for a long time. Teak is durable, long-lasting wood and only requires some basic cleaning to prevent external mold growth and remove dirt.

Here are some proven cleaning tips:

It is better to clean your teak wood outdoor furniture on a sunny day. This is important as it helps your furniture to dry quickly. Soapy water is generally used for basic cleaning.

You can also use a professionally recommended teak cleaner product, which will brighten the wood and clean it at the same time.

When you are cleaning, make sure you use a non-metallic brush and scrub in the same direction as the grain. Do not use much force and rinse off your outdoor furniture with a water hose.

After you are done with your cleaning, pat the furniture dry using a towel and let the sun dry up any leftover moisture. Allow sufficient time for the wood to dry completely, in case you wish to clean it with a teak sealer application.

Stains are never a problem for teak wood furniture if you keep cleaning up spills quickly and stick to a regular cleaning routine. Make sure you are always using a soft-bristled scrub brush and soapy water for removing stains and dirt.

In case there are a few tough coffee and red wine stains that might get into the wood, rely on a commercial product to get the job done. When that doesn’t help, you can sand the surface of the wood for removing the stain completely. Start with coarser sandpaper followed by finer-grain sandpaper for a smooth finish.

Your teak wood outdoor furniture, such as your patio furniture, can be left outdoors all year round. It is tough to handle extreme weather conditions. But if you live in an area with a seasonal climate, it helps to bring your patio furniture indoors or cover it during the winters. Make sure the cover you are using does not trap moisture. This is important because you do not want to provide favorable conditions for mold to grow on the exterior of teak wood. Tyvek is ideally used for making covers for protecting outdoor furniture.

Maria, from Distinct Homes, recommends that if you are leaving your teak wood furniture outside in the cold season, give it a good cleaning in the spring season before using it. You can enjoy your teak wood outdoor furniture for years as it remains as good as new throughout the year. Since it lasts a long time, it is the most popular choice for patio furniture items. Clean it often for your children to enjoy it with you for the rest of your life.

outdoor furniture