Using what is essentially “indoor” in an outdoor area can make a patio/deck/porch feel more like an extension of your home. When shopping for a coffee table for our newly screened-in deck I knew I wanted something that would provide storage and could also double as a bench for more seating if needed.
I ended up finding a steal at a local consignment store (Another Man’s Treasure) when I stumbled across this campaign trunk.
It may have collected dust in my garage for about 6 months until I finally got around to painting it, but now it’s sitting pretty and working double duty as an outdoor coffee table with lots of extra storage.
It was pretty beat up when I found it (pictured below in the top left), but all it needed was a good cleaning and a fresh paint job.
Since I’d be using it in a space that is covered I knew water exposure wouldn’t be an issue, however it needed to hold up to moisture and a wide range of temperatures. I gave it a good cleaning and thorough sanding. Then I gave it a light coat of Kilz interior/exterior primer. Once the primer was dry, I lightly sanded again, then followed that with two coats of Valspar Ultra (which is an exterior paint) in white. I love the way the white paint lets the gold hardware shine. I liked the satin finish of the paint and decided against using any kind of varnish, but I can always go back and add a quick coat of varnish later if it’s needed. I lightly distressed the edges with a sanding block then called it done! The painting process was pretty painless, but it did take a few days from start to finish.
My favorite part of any project is always the accessorizing!
I showed you the lantern terrarium yesterday. The turquoise planter was my Mother’s Day gift, and it definitely made me one happy momma! I heart the color and pattern in a major way!
I like to use planters as candle holders in my outdoor spaces. I fill the bottom of the pot with sand or stones and then set a candle inside. It makes for easy clean-up as wax just drips down into the planter.
I grabbed a wood slice to use as a tray, love it in this outdoor space! The glass bird vase I bought years ago, and the coasters were a Target find from this past fall.
I love this peek through the sliding glass door from our living room. This screened deck just flows from the interior and has really doubled our overall living space. I think the campaign trunk turned outdoor coffee table made the space feel more polished and inviting, more so than an outdoor piece would have, and it definitely ups the chic factor, at least I think it does. Plus I love that if I get tired of it out here, I can move it inside and it will look right at home at the foot of a bed or as an indoor coffee table. Considering how much I love to play musical furniture, I think that makes this time and money well spent. 😉
Deets on items used found here. The rug is currently on sale and comes in a range of sizes!
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holy wow! it's GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!