Home Decorating Outdoor Living How to Create a Family-Friendly Outdoor Space—for Under $1,000 With a little creativity and just $1,000, Outdoor Upgrade designer Riche Holmes Grant helps one family make over their bare deck for family get-togethers. By Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand has more than 20 years of experience as a lifestyle writer and editor, writing thousands of articles on topics that help people live better and healthier lives for Real Simple, Parents, and dozens of other top publications. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on April 22, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Manish and Hina had big ideas for their backyard deck—including space for their family to gather, a little storage for the grill, extra lighting, and a family-friendly fire pit. But with only a $1,000, that meant designer Riche had to really get creative to fulfill as many of their wishes as she could. A few of their ideas had to be sacrificed (goodbye, fire pit!), but Riche was able to create the perfect cozy outdoor space for family gatherings. If you need some inspiration, consider these three design takeaways for your space. 01 of 20 Repurpose indoor furniture A wooden stool or cart that's just gathering dust indoors can be the centerpiece of your outdoor design. To help your furnishings last longer, sand them down and apply waterproof outdoor-grade stain and urethane to help minimize weather damage. 02 of 20 Opt for benches Bench seating can generally fit more people—and is often more budget-friendly than individual chairs. You can add cushions to make them more comfortable. 03 of 20 Look for double-duty products Manish and Hina wanted shade during daytime, and lights to make outdoor parties easier late into the night. An umbrella that has LED lighting installed inside is perfect for hot afternoons, and after-sundown entertaining. 04 of 20 Best Choice Products 10ft Solar LED Offset Hanging Outdoor Market Patio Umbrella walmart.com $100; walmart.com This umbrella is the perfect addition to your patio for night and day. By day, it provides shade over your seating area, and at night, its LED lights add a soft glow. 05 of 20 Three Posts Burruss Patio Sectional wayfair.com $420; wayfair.com A stylish wicker sectional set can be rearranged into other seating styles—or use zip ties to help hold the sections together. 06 of 20 Katia Outdoor Acacia Wood Bench with Rustic Metal Accents walmart.com $167; walmart.com Sturdy benches provide plenty of flexible seating, and can be more cost-effective than outdoor chairs. 07 of 20 Paul Outdoor Acacia Wood Dining Table walmart.com $267; walmart.com Acacia wood is a great outdoor-friendly furniture option—this generously sized table is perfect for a casual barbecue or dinner party. 08 of 20 Aperto Moroccan Diamonds Indoor/Outdoor Ivory Rug rugsusa.com $27 and up; rugsusa.com When you're designing a larger patio, use rugs like this outdoor-ready option to delineate living and dining spaces. 09 of 20 ZOUTOG Flower Pots, 7 Inch Plastic Pots Amazon.com $19; amazon.com These pretty ribbed planters add a bit of texture to your outdoor space. 10 of 20 Moroccan Leather Pouf amazon.com $53; amazon.com This pretty pouf makes for cozy and kid-friendly outdoor seating. 11 of 20 Fairfield 10-Pound Poly-Fil Premium Polyester Fiber amazon.com $48; amazon.com Use a large vat of filling to stuff outdoor-fabric pillowcases and poufs. 12 of 20 Areca Palm Trees for Sale fast-growing-trees.com $30; fastgrowingtrees.com Give your outdoor space a touch of the tropics with a palm tree. (Just bring it indoors when the weather starts getting cool.) 13 of 20 ZENSTYLE Rolling Wood Kitchen Island walmart.com $74; walmart.com This multifunctional wooden cart can be a perfect outdoor bar or grill stand—as long as you sand and refinish to protect it from the weather. 14 of 20 Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane Aerosol amazon.com $12; amazon.com Protect wood furniture for outdoor use with this urethane spray, which helps reduce graying and fading—and keeps moisture out. 15 of 20 Wooster 2 in. Pro Nylon/Polyester Short Handle Angle Sash Brush homedepot.com $10; homedepot.com A good brush makes applying stains and sealants simpler. 16 of 20 Varathane Natural Interior Wood Stain homedepot.com $27; homedepot.com If you have furniture with a mix of wood colors, consider refinishing them all with a single color—and topping it off with an outdoor-friendly finish. 17 of 20 Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Matte Clear Spray Paint homedepot.com $7; homedepot.com Keep metal furnishings or hardware in great shape for years with a quick spray of this protectant enamel. 18 of 20 Kiuree Faux Leather Lumbar Pillow Covers amazon $15; amazon.com Faux leather adds a touch of luxe to these outdoor-friendly throw pillows. 19 of 20 Flash Furniture Rattan Indoor-Outdoor Restaurant Chair walmart.com $204; walmart.com Stylish dining chairs can be used for outdoor seating away from the table—just add a cushion or two to make it comfy for a longer visit. 20 of 20 Throw Pillow Covers and Cases amazon $38; amazon.com Coordinating sets of throw pillows make it easy to create a cohesive mix-and-match set. 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