CREATING A RELAXING AREA
Q I like the idea of making my own outdoor seating spot, which can be easily moved or modified if I have guests. How could I achieve this? Amy Sumner, Derby
A One of the easiest and most affordable ways to do this would be to use wooden pallets. They’re easy to get hold of and if you ask around at local building sites, there should be plenty of spare ones for you to take for nothing. However, do check before taking any old pallets you find, as some companies are expected to return them. The best thing about pallets is that they can be stacked and rearranged.
For a seat, try two pallets on top of each other and one as a backrest, although if you have a wall to lean against, the backrest is optional. For a low-style coffee table that can double as a foot rest, one pallet may be enough, or opt for two if you want a functional table at seat height.
The first thing you’ll need to do is thoroughly sand the pallets as they can be very rough. Use an electric sander to ensure a good smooth finish, not forgetting the sides and the edges. For a seat or table, stack two pallets on top of each other and screw them together.
If you need a back rest, stand another pallet up against the back of your seat and screw it in place so that it’s secure. Your seating will be more flexible if you don’t have a backrest, so bear this in mind before you go down this route. Painting the pallets or varnishing them will ensure they’re weather resistant – just remember that pallets have lots of surfaces, so if you paint them, you’ll need to do the undersides and inside faces too. Plus, ensure you use a suitable outdoor wood paint and varnish to withstand rain and cold weather.
To finish off, and to make the seating really flexible and easy to move around, fix casters to the bottom of each pallet or seating ‘section’. Invest in ones that have a lock so that the feet can be fixed into place. Once built, add padded seat cushions to make them comfortable to sit on.