Seven Ways to Decorate Your Outdoor Dining Space (Under $100 Each)
As the weather gets warmer, many of us are ready to get outside and grill. Enhancing your outdoor dining experience with a place to eat outdoors is a great addition to entertaining, but it can be expensive to create. If you don’t have the budget for a complete patio remodel, here are some budget-friendly outdoor kitchen and dining ideas that can up your BBQ game.
Create some counter space
Adding an island or rack to your grilling area can make outdoor cooking much easier. You can turn the rolling cart ($37.99) into a work table or counter by adding some countertop material on top. You can usually purchase countertop scraps at a discount at cabinet or building supply stores. You can also use a ready-made kitchen cart ($85.49) or a thrifty shelf set, then add some more durable casters ($25.19) for outdoor use. Having a table top on wheels makes it easy to move it indoors for seasonal storage, or use the work surface as a dining surface if you have less space.
Add a mini fridge
A small refrigerator will up your outdoor cooking game by giving you a place to keep food chilled while you cook or keep a few cold drinks on hand. You can add a really tiny cooler ($46.27) that holds up to 15 12-ounce cans, or you can opt for a slightly larger cooler at 1.6 cubic feet ($98). Make sure there is an outdoor outlet nearby to keep the refrigerator plugged in.
Add an ice bucket
If you don’t have an outlet for an outdoor refrigerator, you can still serve frosty drinks using an ice bucket to keep them cool. You can add a pair of simple four-gallon ice buckets ($25.98) or use a drop-in tub ($37.50) that can be cut into an existing countertop or table. You can also opt for an ice bucket that can be used as a side table ($54.99) for extra table space along with cold drinks.
Shed some light
Adding lighting for both cooking and ambience can help you transform your outdoor space from a plain old cooking space into an outdoor kitchen. You can add some corded outdoor industrial sconces ($29.99 for two) if you already have power outdoors. If not, you can opt for solar sconces ($29.99) if you have a place to hang them in the sun. For ambiance, you can add a solar pendant light ($22.95) or multiple lanterns ($29.99 for two) to your living or dining area to brighten it up.
Turn a shelf into a bar
You can add a shelf to the side of your house or shed by hanging a 12-inch board ($14.22) with shelf brackets ($69.99 for four) or folding brackets ($13.99 for two) to create a surface for drinks and plates. without taking up a ton of space or breaking your budget. You can also transform a thrifty console table, shelf or desk into a bar space by adding some quality exterior paint ($28.04 per liter) to protect it from the elements and make it easy to clean. Adding a few bar stools ($61.99 for a set of four) can help give your outdoor bar a more finished look.
Add color to your table
Adding a textile such as an outdoor table runner ($5.90) or a new tablecloth ($29.99) can give your old table a whole new look and make your outdoor dining space much more inviting. If you have a table that’s showing some wear, you can resurface it with a good sanding and paint ($15.96). If the surface is great, you can also freshen up an old piece by painting the legs instead.
Use pots or benches to delineate the space.
To define your outdoor kitchen while also giving people a place to sit, using benches ($54.99), planters ($35.99), or a combination of both to outline your space can be very effective. Planning the shape of your outdoor kitchen can be critical to keeping the space attractive and functional. If you’re handy, you can build several benches out of cedar planks ($9.25 each for a ¾” x 4″ x 8″ plank) supported by several wooden planter boxes ($60.99 for a set of two). Make sure your bench seat has support every two feet or so to ensure it remains secure.