Add colour to your patio
Here's a simple way to add colour to your patio and recycle. Grab a couple of cans of Rust-Oleum 2X spray paint in bold colours.
Simple Wood Plant Stand
As winter draws near and shrubs and trees start to drop their leaves, it's a good time to bring some plants indoors. This elegant - yet very simple - plant stand is ideal for creating an instant feature.
Brazier from Washing Machine Drum
Here's an easy way to turn a washing machine drum into a fire pit or brazier to keep you warm on chilly evenings outdoors.
Build a Jungle Gym
If you live in the Western Cape you'll be pleased to know that you can download plans and buy all the materials you need to build a jungle gym in your garden.
How to clean a gas grill
As Autumn moves in it's time to start thinking about giving your gas grill a much-needed clean. A good clean will not only extend the life of your gas grill but also prevents bacteria build up.
Make your own garden chair
This modular garden chair is easy to make using either reclaimed pallet wood or pine that can be sourced at your local Builders or timber merchant.
DIY Hanging shelf for a balcony
Perfect for a small balcony, the triangular shape of this hanging shelf allows it to fit into any corner and you can secure to existing railings or fasten to a balcony wall.
Make a hanging herb garden
Plant up an indoor herb garden and display close to a sunny kitchen window. With this hanging herb garden you will always have fresh herbs at your fingertips.
Life lessons for kids in the garden
With their naturally inquisitive minds and active imagination, everything they hear, feel and see in the garden opens a whole new world of learning. Let your children learn in the garden over the summer holidays.
Umbrella Stand Table
Stay cool in the shade in easy reach of cold refreshments with this umbrella stand table.
Build a Garden Arch
Build your own decorative garden arch in the garden. A garden arch is a wonderful way to create separate areas within a garden, and also to have an eye-catching and interesting feature.
DIY rainwater harvesting system
With most of the country in the grip of a drought, here's a way to collect water by making a DIY rainwater harvesting system.
Garden Day - Sunday 15 October 2017
Throughout the year we tend our gardens, small and large, and Garden Day is a day to sit back, relax with friends and enjoy all the hard work you put into your garden.
DIY Garden Gate
Here's how to make a garden gate - or door - using half a sheet of pine plywood, for an inexpensive alternative to a hardwood door.
DIY for the Patio
With summer on the horizon, here are some DIY projects to get started on to have your patio ready for fun in the sun.
Concrete hands planter
Use bagged cement to make your very own concrete 'hands' planter for the garden, or for the home.
Easy to make Garden Furniture
Made of pine, these comfortable chairs are easy to make for a deck or patio, or just for lounging in the garden.
Make a simple Rain Gauge
A rain gauge allows you to keep track of summer or winter rainfall, and this simple rain gauge is made by recycling a plastic juice bottle.
Lighting and Security for a Home
Installing a motion-sensor floodlight is an easy way to light up your outdoors and add an effective crime deterrent.
Planter Boxes with French Cleat hangers
Use 16mm plywood to make planter boxes mounted on a French cleat system that allows you to easily remove the planter boxes when necessary.
Attract birds to your garden
I love to sit in the garden and watch the bird life. Adding a birdhouse is a wonderful way to attract regular visitors to your garden, and this birdhouse is easy to make.
Colourful Bird Feeder
Winter is almost upon us, and local birdlife will be looking for food. Use scraps of wood, Rust-Oleum 2X spray paint and recycled plastic bottles to make these colourful bird feeders.
Conversation-piece Tabletop Firepit
Understand working with concrete a little better by making your own unique tabletop firepit.
Galvanised pipe garden table
Make your own unique table for the garden using galvanised pipe and pine planks. You can make this galvanised pipe table in a day and save money.
Easy slat bench
This pine slat bench is easy to make and you can finish in your choice of wood tint and paint colour. Buy all your supplies at your nearest Builder store.
Reclaimed pallet daybed
Use cheap (or free) reclaimed wood pallets to make a comfortable daybed for your patio or garden.
Make your own artificial concrete rocks
Making your own artificial rocks is a cost effective way to add interest to garden landscaping or design unique water features.
Make a shady cabana for the garden
Use PVC pipe to create a shady cabana for the garden and spend more time relaxing outdoors.
Use concrete for durable outdoor furniture
Not just affordable, using cement for outdoor furniture allows you to experiment with design to create concrete pieces that are unique, practical and durable.
Easy flower pot tables
Flower pots, whether plastic, fibreglass or cement fibre, can be painted with Rust-Oleum 2X spray paint and used to create colourful outdoor tables. Choose shallow pots for a low table, or tall pots for a higher table.
Spruce up garden chairs with Rust-Oleum
Plastic chairs are an affordable way to add extra seating outdoors, but they become grubby over time. We show you how to spruce up those plastic garden chairs with a couple can of Rust-Oleum 2X spray paint.
Patio chandelier
This sculptural metallic chandelier will add a soft evening glow to your patio, deck or entertainment area.
Build a concrete and wood garden bench
Combine the strength of concrete with the warmth of wood to make a stylish bench for the garden.
Old fan becomes a wall planter
An old fan becomes a wall planter filled with a wonderfully colourful selection of succulents. Make your own fan planter for a garden or patio.
Retreat from the hot sun
As the days get hotter and the sun becomes even more dangerous, building a wooden pergola makes perfect sense.
Colourful plant pot bird houses
Rust-Oleum supplied me with a selection of new products and 2X spray colours to try out. I decided to make some colourful plant pot bird houses for the garden. This is a busy corner and I'm sure the local wildlife will appreciate the new housing development!
Harvest grey water for your garden
With the drought in Gauteng and surrounding areas, why waste grey water from your home when you can use it to water your garden? Connect a section of pool pipe to a downpipe to re-direct grey water to your garden.
Romantic mosquito canopies
Use affordable mosquito nets to add a romantic touch to your outdoor living areas and keep hungry mozzies at bay.
Easy DIY patio furniture
Here's a super-easy way to make your own patio suite consisting of a 2- or 3-seater sofa and matching chairs. This simple design is easy to replicate for a weekend DIY project.
Quick & easy outdoor space
If you need a place to entertain family and friends, we offer some advice on an easy and affordable way to create a wonderful outdoor area.
Pine outdoor storage bench
This outdoor storage bench is perfect for a deck or patio where you need extra storage, seating or a table. It looks great and will hold up well outdoors if properly treated. Lift-off panels allow for easy storage.
Recycled plastic bottle bird feeder
I like to recycle plastic as much as possible, and love this idea for using plastic cold drink bottles to make a bird feeder for the local bird life.
Old tyres become a handy outdoor table
Builders have a great idea for using those old, worn out tyres, which have been sitting in your garage for ages. Using a few, easy steps, a couple of old tyres, supawood offcuts and some castors, you can build your very own braai storage unit.
Make your own concrete planters
When shopping for concrete planters for my front entrance, I could not believe how expensive these are. Rather than spend a fortune, here's how to make your own concrete planters.
Practical uses for breeze blocks
Breeze blocks (also known as cinder blocks and air blocks) have been around since the 70s and have been used as an affordable building material since that time. Now we are discovering many more uses for these blocks.
Breeze block and wood garden bench
Following on from our article on Practical Uses for Breeze Blocks, here's a super-easy method for making a bench using breeze blocks and PAR pine that you will find at your local Builders Warehouse.
Quick Project: Colourful patio furniture
Add some colour to your patio furniture with Rust-Oleum 2X spray paint and refresh your outdoor space.
Recycled paint container stools
If you are doing any painting projects this year, here's a great way to recycle plastic paint containers into comfortable stools. I made stools for outdoors, but you can make them for any room and particularly for a child's bedroom or playroom.
Outdoor hideaways for the kids
Kids love using their imagination for play, and these playhouses and structures are easy enough to make if you have the tools and skills.
Garden love seat
This slatted garden bench makes the perfect love seat for a garden. It's very easy to make and finished with Woodoc 25W water-borne sealer.
Maintain garden tools
Winter is the perfect opportunity to take the time to give your garden tools a good clean. Tools are expensive, and if you don't look after them they will become covered in rust, or blunt.
Make decorative concrete spheres
These decorative concrete spheres can be used for small plants or herbs, or spray the inside with Rust-Oleum Metallics, pop in a candle, and add unique lighting to your next outdoor event.
Make a braai cart or prep station
Get a head start on spring projects. Ideal for use indoors or outdoors, this mobile braai cart offers plenty of additional prepping space and ample storage space for braai tools and beverages!
Not your average pallet outdoor furniture
If you are thinking about making pallet furniture for outdoors, take a look at the range offered by Paletten Moebel.
Aluminium can plant holder
Here's a way to repurpose aluminium cans into an attractive plant holder to add a touch of greenery to any room in a home.
PVC pipe mobile hose cart
Use PVC pipe to make this handy, mobile cart for your garden hose pipe. You can move it around and store a garden hose pipe with ease.
Homemade pressure washer
There are times when a high pressure washer - even a small one - comes in handy. We show you how to make a homemade pressure washer.
Cupcake concrete planters
I was looking at an empty cupcake tray (after eating all the cupcakes... on my own) and thought it would make the perfect mould for small succulent planters.
Cool DIY hammock for hot days
What better way to spend a lazy afternoon than in a hammock in a beautiful garden. This easy DIY only takes an hour and costs under R200 – now that’s pretty cool.
Clean and nourish outdoor furniture
Even though you apply sealer to your outdoor furniture, it still needs cleaning on a regular basis. Using Woodoc Penetrating Wax cleans and protects at the same time.
Mosaic stepping stones
Making your own mosaic stepping stones is a great way to introduce some colour and pattern into a garden. You can easily modify the design to create your own unique mosaic stepping stones.
Terracotta pot smoker
A store bought smoker can cost a small fortune, but you can make your own smoker with a few supplies and a couple of terracotta pots.
Terracotta pot serving stand
Here's a fun way to turn terracotta pots into stylish serving stands. All you need are some terracotta pots and Rust-Oleum 2X spray paint that you will find at your local Builders.
Painted terracotta pots
Still struggling to come up with gift ideas? Buy some terracotta pots at Builders Warehouse, add painted decoration, and fill with a beautiful arrangement of succulents.
Add more seating to your garden with a garden bench
Garden benches are ideal for gardens large or small. You can incorporate freestanding or built-in benches, and design a bench that complements any garden design.
Make a hanging hammock chair
With temperatures soaring it's nice to have a relaxing place in the shade to kick off your shoes and relax. These hanging hammock chairs are perfect - and you can easily make your own.
How to make a water blob
For the past year or so the water blob has become the most affordable and easy way to add a new element of fun for the kids.
Recycled plastic herb pots
I have become a fan of KFC's kream balls and the plastic containers can easily be upcycled into plant holders for small herbs or succulents.
Easy concrete fire bowl
Casting concrete is easy and allows you to make items that will last a lifetime. A fire bowl is not only easy to make, it adds so much ambience to outdoor entertaining on cool evenings.
Drainage solution for waterlogged gardens
If your garden has drainage problems, here's an easy way to allow for water run off and add a decorative touch at the same time by adding a pebble drainage bed.
Spray paint outdoor furniture
Add colour to your outdoor furniture with a can or two of Rust-Oleum Universal spray paint. You can use Rust-Oleum spray paints on wood, plastic or steel furniture to give them an instant update - or a new look!
Concrete planters or water features
Concrete planters and garden ornaments, such as small water features, are easy to make and are a wonderful way to add interest to the garden. Buying ready made can be expensive, but one bag of cement goes a long, long way!
Use galvanised pipe to mount curtains for privacy on a patio or deck
Galvanised pipe offers an easy way to mount curtains on a patio or deck for privacy. Using galvanised pipe for a curtain rod allows you to mount long lengths and fit around corners.
Upcycle tyres for garden furniture and planters
There are so many ways to upcycle tyres in fun and practical ways. In this article we look at recycling tyres for the garden, whether using tyres for planters or furniture.
Easy geometric concrete planters
Make your own arrangement of concrete planters and fill them with colourful succulents. They look wonderful on a coffee table or dresser, or to add a touch of greenery to a bathroom.
Outdoor table with built-in ice cooler
Here's a great project you can do in a weekend using supplies that you will find at your local Builders. This outdoor table has a built-in ice cooler to keep all your summer refreshments cold on hot, hot days.
Make a braai using wheel rims
Turn an old rusty set of tyre rims into a braai that you can use for potjiekos, breakfast on the braai, or add a grill and use as a conventional braai.
Restore steel or metal garden furniture
Restoring metal or steel garden furniture is easy, and a couple of coats of Rust-Oleum Gloss Protective Enamel Spray gives your garden furniture a new look to enjoy meals outside. Find all the brilliant colours at your local Builders store.
How to make a shade sail
After fitting a small - very small - shade sail outdoors to cover my outdoor sofa I decided to rather make my own much larger shade sail to provide shade outdoors, and save quite a bit of money in the process!
DIY ideas for an outdoor bar
The weather is warming up and it's time to start planning for summer outdoors. We put together a collection of ideas for a DIY outdoor bar.
Water-borne Woodoc for garden furniture
When I originally made my outdoor sofa I wanted to leave the wood as natural looking as possible. But after seeing how Woodoc Water-Bourne transformed my deck I decided to do the same to the outdoor sofa!
Clean and sharpen your garden tools
With summer just around the corner it's time to get out those dull and rusty garden tools and restore them to good condition ready for use in the garden.
Make your own patio table
We are lucky enough to have sunny weather almost all year round. If you have a deck or patio you need a table, and this circular patio table is easy enough to make.
Wine barrel furniture
Oak wine barrels range in price from R500 each depending on condition and source of supply. Here in South Africa our wine estates replace their wine barrels on a regular basis, so there will always be local availability if you want to make up an outdoor set.
Painted pebbles cacti
My kids brought back a whole bag of pebbles from the beach and I decided to paint these to resemble potted cacti and placed them in colourful pots. They will provide a wonderful splash of colour on the patio.
Self-watering plant containers
In the summer we go through bottles and bottles or orange and guava juice and I decided to save all the plastic bottles to make self-watering plant holders for colourful annuals, succulents, and even cacti
Build a concrete firepit
With chilly evenings heading our way here's how to build a simple concrete firepit that will add a dash of style to an outdoor patio, while warming up cold nights in the garden. This project is easy enough to complete in a weekend.
Make herbal soap
What better way to spoil our moms for Mother's Day than with a simple, fun and creative herbal soap that the kids can make with a little help.
No-weld braai or smoker
This drum braai smoker is just the thing for when the power goes out. You can easily pop in a roast or chicken and not have to worry about load shedding. Plus, you don't need any welding tools to make the braai smoker.
Mosaic planter
I wanted a small planter for outside on the patio and decided to go with a mosaic planter using mosaic tiles that match the upholstered cushions on the outdoor sofa.
Make a Swedish fire log
Turn a tree stump into a Swedish fire log and heat up the potjie on a chilly winter evening with family or friends.
Garden table with channel for condiments or herbs
Making your own garden furniture can be expensive, but this pine garden table has an aluminium channel that sits in the centre and can be used to hold condiments or filled with planted herbs.
Recycle pool floating into hanging plant container
You know me... I don't like to throw anything away until I have exhausted all my ideas for recycling or re-purposing. This time it's a way to recycle plastic pool chlorine floaters into hanging plant holders.
Easter scavenger hunt
Scavenger hunts are fun for children and they are also a great way to turn those frowns upside down when the excitement of the Easter egg hunt is over.
Hanging herb garden
Very simple to make but stunning to look at, this hanging herb garden would look great on a sunny wall outside a kitchen, or even indoors if there is enough light.
Floating pool noodle beverage bar
Use a pool noodle and plastic storage box to make a floating beverage bar for a swimming pool and enjoy lazy summer days by the poolside.
Recycled can outdoor shower
Hot summer days, kids playing in the pool, fun outdoors... this recycled aluminium can outdoor garden shower is one way to rinse off after a day swimming in a chlorine or salt water pool.
Make outdoor tikki torches
Make your own tikki torches using bamboo poles, recycled bottles and a few supplies you will find at your local Builders Warehouse. Use citronella lamp oil and your torches will also keep the mozzies at bay.
Outdoor sofa gets new fabric covers
Having recently made my outdoor sofa and upholstered with navy blue bull denim, I wasn't quite feeling the excitement and sense of achievement that I should have been. So I decided to recover them.
Outdoor storage coffee table
A couple of months back we featured step-by-step instructions for making your own outdoor sofa. In this project we made a storage coffee table, so that we can store the upholstered seat cushions when not in use and make sure they are kept dry.
Sandpit with seating and lid
Young children love a sandpit. This sandpit has a lid that can be easily placed over the top to keep out cats and ensure the sand stays clean. It also doubles as a daybed or play platform when not used as a sandpit.
Easy fabric sun lounger
I have seen sun loungers similar to this on the Internet, but this design has a couple of practical and eco-friendly differences. I used old pillows for filling the sun lounger and it has an adjustable back that allows you to set the angle you want to sit at.
Gabion-style outdoor table and benches
Use gabion baskets - or make your own using steel mesh - fill with pebbles or stone and add reclaimed wood or railway sleeper tops and you have a modern outdoor dining set that is easy to make.
Tree stump left in the garden
When you have a large tree cut down in the garden, using a tree feller costs anywhere from R2000 upwards - and that's just to cut the tree down to size. So what can you do with a tree stump that's left behind?
Gorgeous outdoor dining tables
If you haven't yet set up a space for outdoor dining, we have put together a collection of gorgeous outdoor dining that will inspire you to grab your power tools and some wood, or shop around for affordable alternatives.
Kiddies PVC pipe garden chair
Here's a quick and easy project for making kiddies chairs using PVC pipe that you will find at your local Builders Warehouse. The chairs are painted using Rust-Oleum 2X spray paint and are finished with colourful fabric seats.
Upholstered cushions for outdoor sofa
My DIY outdoor patio sofa was finished a couple of weeks back and I finally got around to making the upholstered seat cushions.
Make your own patio furniture
A few months back I featured an article on making your own designer patio furniture. Having priced a similar design at anywhere from R10 000 upwards it will only cost about R2 600 to make my own.
Dressed up flower pots
While looking for ideas for a flower pot arrangement for one corner of the garden I came across these ideas for dressing up plain flower pots using an assortment of branches or twigs.
Revamp breakfast table and chairs with Rust-Oleum
I am in the process of paving my outdoor area and want to set up a spot where we can sit outdoors on warm mornings and enjoy breakfast. Using cast-off plastic and steel chairs and a concrete pedestal table, everything was painted with Rust-Oleum spray products.
Old garden shed becomes children's playhouse
Having just demolished my old garden shed to make way for a veggie garden, this project that turns an old shed or garden hut into a children's playhouse struck me as a wonderful way to re-purpose a hut or shed rather than throw away.
Copper crafts for garden decor
Copper is a wonderful material to use for outdoor projects. Copper pipes, rings and copper sheet is soft and reasonably pliable, as well as fairly inexpensive. What's nice about using copper outdoors is that it acquires a beautiful patina over time.
DIY designer patio furniture
Forget my last feature for DIY outdoor furniture, this is definitely one garden suite that I want to build. The outdoor patio suite probably costs a small fortune but is a simple DIY project that anyone could tackle.
Winter gardening
Living in South Africa we are blessed with sunshine for three hundred days (possibly more), each year. And winter is just a quick break from our hot summers - it's also the best time to get planting and preparing the garden for the new growing season.
How to make a concrete bench
Concrete is an inexpensive way to make a variety of projects, but it's also the ideal material to use for making a garden bench that not only offers a comfortable place to sit and relax, but also becomes a feature in a garden.
DIY ideas for concrete or wood garden benches
Making a garden bench out of concrete of wood provides a place to sit and relax in the garden. But a garden bench can also be a decorative feature, or provide storage. Here are a collection of DIY concrete and wood garden benches that you can make for your own garden.
DIY building fences
Using reclaimed timber or planed pine to build an outdoor fence is an option that allows you to enclose your property with materials other than vibracrete, concrete or brick walls.
DIY fold up - drop down table or desk
The secret to this handy wall-mounted table is that it folds away easily when not in use. The two side flaps open up to hold the top of the table in place while you work. You can use this fold up - drop down table in so many ways.
Reclaimed wood herb or plant stand
Knowing that I still needed to do a project for easyDIY magazine, I thought it might be nice to make a herb of plant stand using the leftover bits of reclaimed wood and some old drawers that I have been wanting to use.
Make a DIY garden privacy screen
This pine privacy screen is perfect for a patio or balcony. You will find a selection of PAR pine products at your local Builders and you can modify the size of the panels to fit your particular situation.
Make a kitchen herb tower
This herb tower is easy to make with a selection of different sized flower pots that you will find at your local Builders Warehouse, or may already have lying around in the garden or shed.
DIY concrete water feature
Buying a simple water feature can cost anywhere from R800 upwards depending on the size. Or you could make your own custom concrete water feature with a few basic supplies that you will find at your local Builders Warehouse and a cardboard carpet tube.
Decorative concrete planters
Making your own concrete planters is a fun way to create your own personalised pots for a garden. You can add glass or stone pebbles, mosaic or any other decorative trim to finish off the concrete planters. You can also use this same method to create a water feature.
Make a simple raised garden bed
Raised beds are the solution to many gardening problems and you can modify the design for various situations in any garden, whether to rectify a garden that has poor soil, or to create areas that are easy to care for or planted up with assorted vegetables.
How to install a rain barrel
Prepare your garden for dry spells and reduce water consumption by fitting your own rain barrel. A small rain barrel won't take up a lot of space and is easily fitted to a downspout to collect rain water for use in the garden.
DIY outdoor garden furniture
With easy access to tools and materials for DIY enthusiasts, making outdoor garden furniture has become a growing trend that many like to take on as an alternative and affordable option for outdoor furniture.
Design a decorative side pathway
If your garden is anything like mine, at the far end of my house the side path is used as a dumping ground. Here's how to lay a decorative gravel and paved path that looks good and enhances your outdoor area.
Comfortable sunroom or patio chaise
I love to stretch out on a hot summer's day with a good book and a cool glass of wine. This comfortable chaise is simply a basic pine frame upholstered with a layer of foam and wrapped in fabric.
DIY outdoor slat chairs
If you need chairs for outdoors, these slat chairs are very comfortable and would look good on a deck or patio, or when creating a cosy corner to sit and relax.
How to make an LED outdoor sparkle ball light
If you have plastic cups leftover from entertaining over the holidays, here's a way to recycle them into an LED light that is perfect for your New Year's party.
Outdoor garden table and benches
If you're planning on entertaining during the festive season and won't fit all your guests around that small outdoor patio set, you need to make this large outdoor dining table and bench set.
Copper pipe tikki torches
Make your own tikki torches using copper pipe and a few other essentials that you will find at your local Builders Warehouse. Push your torches into the ground throughout your garden or around your patio, light them and relax.
Nail varnish dipped plant pots
Forget about paint dipped pots. This project shows how you can use nail varnish to add a colourful dipped effect to plant pots, or anything else for that matter. Buy a few bottles of inexpensive nail varnish in your choice of colours and experiment.
Lazy susan turntable for outdoor dining table
A lazy susan turntable is perfect for an outdoor garden table. All your condiments, sauces and jams can be placed on the turntable for easy access to everyone sitting at the table. And making a lazy susan is easy if you use a lazy susan bearing.
Eco-friendly garden craft projects
Here's a way to have some fun with your power tools and be eco-friendly at the same time. We've put together a selection of eco-friendly garden craft projects that will save you money and make gardening easier!
Reclaimed timber garden swing chair
The ideas for using reclaimed timber just keep on coming. These reclaimed timber garden swing chair is made from timber pallets and is just the place to relax in the shade of some trees on a hot summer day.
Classic slat garden bench
A place to sit and relax in the garden is a must have, and this classic garden bench combines contemporary good looks with comfort. You can make the bench out of PAR pine, meranti or any hardwood of your choice.
Groovy garden table
Entertain in style with this groovy garden table. We used PAR pine to make our table and then finished it off with exterior sealer. The groove design adds an decorative touch to the table and is not something you can buy in a store.