Out-of-the-Box Options for Bringing Outdoor Furniture Inside
By: Chris Long
One of the best ways to express your home décor individuality is to choose furniture that fits your personal taste and personal lifestyle. And just because something has most traditionally been associated with the great outdoors doesn't mean it's off limits for your inner walls!
Here are some out of the box ideas for putting your own personal touches on a few unique furniture selections.
Wicker Tables & Chairs
Without a doubt, the king of outdoor furniture is wicker! But that being said, there's no reason why wicker won't work well in your living room, sitting room, glassed-in or screened-in porch or sun room.
Add some pillows in your favorite fabric and place a glass top on a wicker table and you now have a special seating area for any room in your house.
Wicker Glider
When you picture the perfect nursery, there's a good chance there's a rocking chair in there somewhere. So if you want a timeless staple of nurseries the world over with a twist, go with a wicker glider.
Rattan Table for Two
At the height of its modern popularity in the middle of the last century, rattan furniture was all the rage. This is due to increased demand for outdoor furniture and an appreciation of earlier styles of furniture and this sturdier type of wicker fit the bill.
But up-fitting a rattan table and chair set with a fresh coat of paint and some comfy cushions means you no longer have to dine outside – now you and your special someone can share a café-style morning bite or an after-dinner dessert in your eat-in kitchen.
Adirondack Chairs
Originally designed to be the ultimate lawn chair, with their thick arms just perfect for resting a morning cup of coffee or sunset cocktail, Adirondack chairs have moved off the lawn and migrated indoors!
By adding a comfy cushion on the seat, the back or both, you now have a comfortable place to rest yourself and your drink while you relax on the porch, in your sunroom or in front of the TV.
Adding a pop of color with a fresh coat of paint is a great way to upcycle a previously-enjoyed Adirondack chair. Pair fun chair colors with complementary coasters, candles, pillows or rugs.
DIY Tips for your Painted Adirondack Chairs
Now that you're ready to tackle your own indoor refurb project, here are some painting tips to keep in mind:
Make sure your chair is clean before you paint.
If you use a latex paint and primer-in-one product, you can rejuvenate an older chair and eliminate a coat at the same time. My preference for furniture is to always use both an oil based primer and semi-gloss or gloss oil based paint. These take a lot longer to dry, but the end result will be a much harder, smoother surface that never feels gummy and resists scuff marks.
For wood items like these, a foam roller is a better choice than a regular nap roller because the foam creates a smooth, even application and won't pick the paint back up.
Use both rollers and brushes simultaneously – rolling will cover the large surfaces and if you use the brush while the rolled paint is still wet, you can get in between the cracks and slats for complete coverage and a nice finish.
Always allow a coat of paint to fully dry before applying another coat and it's advisable to apply two thinner coats as opposed to one thick coat – the heavier, thicker consistency has a tendency to droop and sag or even drip!
On a smaller, linear project such as a chair, always paint in the same direction to maintain consistent lines – if you start painting up and down, don't switch to back and forth.
If you must put away your paint job overnight and pick it up again the next day, place the brush you are using in a plastic bag and pop it in the freezer – pull it out at least 15 minutes before you need it the next day and you're ready to go without having to wash it twice.
If you use an interior/exterior paint product, you can move your chairs outside on occasion – like for those summer nights perched around a fire pit or sitting on the porch for early morning coffee or an end of the evening nightcap!
What are some of your favorite pieces of furniture or types of materials that are traditionally associated with the outdoors that you have tweaked to fit in with your interior décor?
Chris Long is a Home Depot store associate in the Chicago area, where he has been helping customers since 2000. Chris is also a contributor to Home Depot's Home Decorators.com website. His home décor interests range from providing advice on furniture, including end tables, bookcases and coffee tables.
