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Dressing Up a Patio Table – A Lowe’s Creative Idea

Do you dream of sitting outside at a Parisian café sipping your caffé mocha and reading the paper? The sound of the birds twittering in the background and the screaming and whining sounds of your offspring are non-existent. And that’s when you come back to reality and realize that you aren’t in Paris and panic as you realize that quiet kids means they are up to no good!

I can day dream once in a while about this little café in Paris. But sometimes I need a little help with those fantasies. I decided to create my own little café spot on our back deck using the table and chairs we already had and then add a few items to boost the charm factor.

With a little help from Lowe’s, my patio table went from drab to fab within an afternoon. I created this little retreat for coffee, dining or Mommy’s time out chair. 😉

My Shopping List:

I started by sewing a fun tablecloth out of a shower curtain and laid it over the table. Then I inserted the market umbrella through the hole in the tablecloth and table.

I also built a multi-purpose centerpiece out of PVC pipes and radiator screen that fits around the umbrella.

While shopping for accessories for my Parisian hideaway retreat, I struggled to find inexpensive placemats and/or chargers. I found some attractive ones, but they were $10 a piece. I really didn’t want to spend too much on my fantasy table, so I decided to think outside the box and use octagonal tile squares for placemats. At $2.50 each, they fit my frugal budget. Plus, they look cool, right?!

All I did was clip off the excess tiles from the edges. I used regular scissors to cut the glue.

Then I layered the tile on top of a solid colored napkin and I had a fancy place setting. Not only does it look good, but it also won’t blow away in the wind. And it is easy to wipe clean.


For ambience, I bought a string of solar lanterns. I threaded them over the spokes in the market umbrella and pushed the solar panel out the vent at the top of the umbrella and made sure it was facing the sun.

At night they let off a little glow and some whimsy.

Side Note: The solar lights are not as bright as the traditional plug in style. I’m not sure if that is because we don’t get direct sun on the deck for more than an hour or two, but I felt I should forewarn you if you do buy the solar lights.

To add a little more light, I purchased a LED tap light and placed it inside a lantern.

Once it is tapped on, it provides plenty of light for evening dining. And because it is LED, it uses less battery life than a traditional bulb. Plus, I don’t have to worry about the fire danger of having a lit candle.

I added some inexpensive outdoor pillows to make the seats more plush.

And now my café is open for business. Now serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Pretty Versatile Centerpiece (PVC) looks great on the table.

I love that my little café is open 24/7. From sun up…

…to sun down.

If you had a fantasy space to escape to, where would it be? What would you do to make it a reality? I’d love to hear about your retreat.

Sign up to receive your own copy of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas magazine for FREE! It is filled with creative DIY projects and ideas.

Disclosure: I have partnered with Lowe’s as a Lowe’s Creative Influencer. I was provided with a Lowe’s gift card to complete my project. The tutorial, photos and opinions expressed in this post are my own. I was not told what to write. #LowesCreator

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  1. Sarah
    Sarah says:

    What time is lunch next Saturday?!?

    You have such a great eye for putting it all together and the knack for the ‘technical’ details too (the PVC).

    When you say the solar lights are not very bright, do you mean that you need the LED light to see your food, to see your way to the table, or to read a book at night? (In other words, I’m trying to get an idea of *how* bright they are.)

    Reply
  2. TracEy
    TracEy says:

    I am pretty new to your site. I absolutely LOVE your ideas! I’m a yard sale addict and come across these items from time to time. Next time I see them I’m going to snag them up. 😀 Thank you for the idea. Can’t wait to put it all to good use on my picnic table when I have company over.

    Reply
  3. Monique
    Monique says:

    You continue to amaze me with the things you can create on a budget. I love what you’ve done to your patio table. What a pleasant place to sit and relax. Thanks for all you do.

    Reply
  4. Su@TheIntentionalHome
    Su@TheIntentionalHome says:

    love the pillow!!! Rob and I are spucing up our deck. ..it is our retreat. We love to go out at night and lay in the lounge chairs and talk. .or sometimes watch a movie on the laptop. We just bought lights to string across the pergola. . .and bought hanging baskets. . .so much fun.

    Reply
  5. Christie
    Christie says:

    I just love it!! It’s pretty and pratical and the colors you choose were beautiful. I think I’m heading to my “Lowes” to see what I can make! Thanks for all the wonderful ideas Brittany. Keep e’m coming!!

    Reply
  6. Jen
    Jen says:

    Very neat idea to use the tile for a placement – it adds great dimension with the layering! And love that it won’t fly away with a breeze… I hadn’t seen the tap light before …. adding that to my shopping list LOL

    Reply

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