Month: March 2016

It’s past time to get new bar stools for your home. You find the perfect stools that fit into the decor theme of your dining room or kitchen at California Stools, Bars and Dinette Sets. Yet what do you do with the old bar stools? If you can’t gift them to a friend and your college-bound child doesn’t want the bar stools to clutter up his small dorm room, you can repurpose your former counter stool into other items that you can use in the inside and outside of your home. Here are several great ideas you may want to try to recycle the old bar stools and give them other functions.

Nightstands and End Tables

Just a dash of chalk paint or spray paint and you can transform the bar stools into instant nightstands and end tables. If you desire a wider table piece on top, you can attach another piece of wood, either square or round, to the top of the barstool seat. Keep in mind that the larger the table surface, the top-heavier the nightstand or table will become even with wide legs as bumping a large table surface could make the stool topple over.

Sofa Tables and Work Desks

Similar to the night stand idea, you can also make the table longer by adding another barstool to create a work desk or sofa table. You can cover the bar stool with fabric to match your space and create a softer feel. Use the tables as a new study area for the kids, an extra table in the craft room, or just a decorative table in the corner of the room to hold books and vases.

Outdoor Drink Cooler

It’s amazing how far a little ingenuity can take you. If you remove the bar seat and attach a metal bucket on top, you can create an instant drink cooler for your outdoor space. Fill it with ice and set wine coolers (or non-alcoholic drinks) inside as everyone can have a drink without impatiently waiting beside the wet bar.

Indoor/Outdoor Plant Stand

One of our favorite DIY barstool projects is a standing planter. All you’ll need is an old stool and dirt. Place the planter along the corners of your deck or inside your home by the window where the plants can get plenty of sunshine. You can also place herbs into the bucket to use in your cooking.

Garden Bird Houses

Bring more birds to your flower and vegetable garden who will eat up the pesky bugs that nibble on your plants by creating a garden bird house out of your old bar stools. Simply attach a large birdhouse to the top of the stool and place it in a corner of your garden. Make sure to securely mount the legs by either driving the metal ends into the ground or even cementing wooden bar legs in place.

The possibilities on what you can do with bar stools are endless. If you aren’t the type to take on a diy bar stool makeover, you can simply try to sell or give the stools away at yard sales and garage sales. Then the old bar stools can find a new home that isn’t at the local landfill.

When it comes to relaxation in the great outdoors, you want to have the perfect furniture in your outdoor living space whether you are lounging by the pool or reading a book under the pergola. California Stools, Bars and Dinettes offers a wide range of kitchen, dining room and bar sets that can be placed into outdoor living spaces. Before picking out a range of furniture for lounging, dining and entertainment, you need to understand the durable materials that are commonly used for furniture and the maintenance that is required to make the pieces last no matter the weather outside.

Types of Outdoor Furniture Materials

There are four categories of materials crafted into outdoor furniture: wood, metal, plastic and wicker. Each material has its benefits and disadvantages when it comes to longevity and maintenance, yet most of this furniture can be maintained simply by washing the dirt and grime off with soap and water. Decide on the best materials based on your personal preferences and your budget.

Metal Furniture

Out of all the materials available, metal furniture is the most durable. There are two types available: powder-coated aluminum and wrought iron. Both types are sturdy although they are pricier than other materials. Typical maintenance for metal furniture requires sealing the metal to prevent rust. One of the disadvantages to wrought iron furniture is that it can easily absorb the heat from sunlight, making them extremely hot to the touch. Some metal furniture may also be paired with glass, such as tables, or upholstered cushions on chairs so take this into consideration when performing maintenance care.

Wicker Furniture

Wicker is often preferred over other types of outdoor furniture because it has more of a garden look, making it blend into backyard gardens. Bamboo, cane, and rattan are common materials used to make wicker furniture as often wicker will be paired with upholstered cushions for increased comfort. Many wicker pieces may be made from synthetic materials to increase their weather resistance. When selecting wicker, you want to protect the cushion seat to prevent mold and mildew that can cause it to rot out. So keep wicker protected from wet weather or select weather-resistant fabrics.

Wood

Wood furniture can be beautiful and long-lasting as some pieces can stay outside for over 50 years. Furniture may be made out of a range of softwoods, such as cedar, or hardwoods like teak. Sealing and treating wood with special oils can help protect the surface from weather and maintain its original appearance. One of the major advantages of wood furniture is that it doesn’t absorb heat quickly, making it cooler to the touch versus metal furniture.

Plastic Furniture

Plastic is often a go-to material for outdoor furniture because it is the least expensive and requires very low maintenance care. Plastic furniture is also lightweight, allowing a homeowner to move it about their outdoor living space and stack it when not in use. Plastic usually is the least durable material to buy and will need to be replaced more often than the other types of materials that have been mentioned.

With spring arriving, people will be looking for outdoor furniture to spruce up their backyards. Consider the materials used to create your favorite pieces of furniture and select one that fits perfectly into your lifestyle.