How to Make an Old Patio Set Look New

Repaint your patio set if it's metal. Cover the ground under your furniture with a drop cloth, and remove any cushions. Go over the pieces with fine-grit sandpaper to remove rust and loose paint. Spray the patio set with a rust-preventing paint intended for metallic surfaces. When doing so, hold the paint well back from the set and move in smooth, even strokes, avoiding spraying too much at any one time, as doing so can lead to streaking.

Refinish your set if it's wooden. Cover the ground under the furniture with a drop cloth and remove any cushions. Go over the set lightly with fine-grit sandpaper to even the grain and remove the finish. Brush on a new wood stain in a hue of your choice. If the wood is very discolored, a darker stain is a wise choice, as it will cover more of this discoloration. Finish by placing a protective coating on the pieces to protect them from future wear.

Purchase a new umbrella. Placing a new umbrella atop your set can give it a fresh new look. Seek an umbrella that is canvas and has a sturdy frame to ensure that it stands up to the challenges of being outside.

Make new cushions. Take apart your old cushions, and use the fabric pieces as a pattern. Select a fabric appropriate for outdoor use, such as a sturdy canvas or a water-resistant fabric. Lay these old pieces on new cloth, and clip out pieces to make new cushions. Stitch them together, again referencing the pieces from the old cushions to see how they should fit together. Place the covers over the old filling, or make new filling by cutting foam pieces to the proper sizes and wrapping them in cotton batting.