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Every yard needs a fun and functional picnic table. Your outdoor table may be used to hold food, plants, craft projects, beverages and more. But, regardless of its function, it needs to look nice, and it needs to fit into your outdoor decorating theme. We have tons of ideas on turning your plain-Jane picnic table into a functional focal point.
Add a Drink Holder
One of the most popular projects on Pinterest, adding a trough to hold drinks and ice to your wooden picnic table is an easy weekend project you can do yourself. You may have to cut and move braces beneath the table, but basically, it's just a matter of taking out the center board of your tabletop and replacing it with a length of capped and sealed rain gutter. Once attached, you can use the trough to hold drinks and ice, or it can become a pretty planter down the length of your picnic table.
Use Glow-in-the-Dark Paint
Every picnic table needs a little something to protect it from the elements, especially if yours is made of wood. Applying a few coats of paint is recommended, and if you use outdoor paint that glows in the dark, you'll add a fun functionality to an otherwise blah piece of outdoor furniture. When your table glows in the dark, it's the perfect centerpiece for your nighttime parties.
Apply Art Resin
Art resin is a newly popular technique for turning surfaces, such as bar and picnic table tops, into slick and shiny surfaces. You'll need to brush up on this technique by watching an online tutorial, and you'll need supplies such as art resin, gloves, spreaders, and cardboard. You can even embed objects like coins into the crevices and knotholes of your picnic table beneath the shiny resin.
Create a Mosaic
Did you know you could turn your existing picnic table into an exotic work of art simply by covering the top with a colorful mosaic? Plane the top of your wooden table first, to make it nice and smooth, then attach a sub-surface, such as plywood, to act as the base for your mosaic. Turn chipped and broken teacups, pottery and dinnerware into colorful tiles by breaking them carefully with a hammer inside a plastic bag (wear googles!). Use tile adhesive to adhere them to your tabletop in a pretty design, and grout and seal them afterward just like you would tile. The result is a colorful, eclectic tabletop that's fit for the home of an artist.
Picnic tables don't have to be bland to serve their purpose. Use these tips and others like them to make every cookout much more enjoyable.
About the Author
Ryan Mandigo
Ryan Mandigo is an award-winning professional broker associate with Omni Real Estate. Originally a native of New Hampshire, his love of real estate began 30+ years ago while swinging a hammer on a framing crew. He has always had a strong passion for helping people, whether it be assisting a couple in purchasing their first home, finding a home that fits a growing family's needs, or downsizing for those with an empty nest. He strives to build strong personal and professional relationships with being a true believer in the power of positive thinking and always willing to lend a helping hand.
He is also a co-founder and board member of the Swing Fore the Kids organization. A local charity that is 100% nonprofit and their sole purpose is to help needy children and young adults within Horry County communities. He finds great satisfaction and pleasure in seeing how working hard for a great cause and raising funds can help others in need. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Waccamaw Youth Center in Conway, where their mission is to provide at-risk youth "A Place To Call Home"
When he is not working, he enjoys music, working around the home, spending time with family and friends, turning wrenches on vintage vehicles, getting some wind therapy on the Harley or chilling with their dogs.
Some quotes he lives by - "Do what you like and like what you do" - "You have to be odd to be number one" - "Dreams don't work unless you do" And one of his favorites. "Positive and enthusiastic thinking in all you do"
