UHeart Organizing: Serving Up Creative Outdoor Storage

The reason I initially fell in love with blogs is because they offered me ideas and inspiration and motivated me to think outside of the box.  My favorite posts are always those "Why didn't I think of that?" kind.  The type that offer up a completely smart solution, with just a bit of creative thinking and a few simple steps.  Of course, reading blogs with pretty pictures, relatable moments and stories, life hacks and product recommendations are also big winners for me, but there is just something so wonderful about inexpensive and smart little tweaks that anyone can do around their home.

Courtney has been a regular around here for years, and she always receives a thumbs up from me in all areas of her blogging talents, but I especially adore her ability to turn something ordinary into something that is both darling and extraordinary.  She is one smart cookie, and she is here to share her most recent patio update which may spark your own light bulb moment.

Summertime and the living is easy! Well, actually nothing could be further from the truth. We are mid-move and relocating after nearly ten years in a home is a bit bananas. The project I am sharing today was born of necessity. The only space we have put together is the outdoor patio of our new home. That has allowed us to relax and enjoy while we work on indoor projects. But the only time we have a second to breathe is in the evening when it cools off and we need a blanket. I really wanted to find something that would store my blankets and also provide us with some other function. So with very little, I created some outdoor storage that now acts as a side table and a serving tray when we entertain. And it's all thanks to a laundry hamper!

I am thrilled to not only have the storage for my blankets, but now I have an end table to set down a drink or style just for fun. This entire area is covered so that makes this project possible. It would be great for any covered area, a front porch or indoors. I am not sure it would hold up well under direct heat from the sun. So let's get started! It's super simple.

Step #1: Look for any laundry hamper that provides the look you want. The reason I went with the laundry basket is that it has the height I was looking for. And it just so happened to be this pretty color which goes with our color scheme out here.

Step #2: Pick up a round wooden disk from Home Depot ($6) and two handles ($3.50 each). And that's it!!! You will also need some white paint (or any color you choose). I used paint I already had at home.

Step #3: Place the handles in the desired location and make a dot in the center of each hole. This will tell you where to pre-drill your holes.

Step #4: Use a drill to attach each handle. I chose to pre-drill the holes and then unscrew them. I just like to know that it all works before I go to the trouble of painting. You could skip this step and drill after the disk is painted. Totally up to you.

Step #5: Apply two coats of paint. You will also want to add a coat or two of poly-urethane to protect the paint

Step #6: Once the paint is completely dry, add the handles. Allow the tray to set overnight before placing anything on top just so the paint doesn't stick.

And there you have it! A side table as well as storage for blankets or anything else you can dream up. You could even store toys in here if you have little ones.

And now when the sun sets I can now cuddle up with the blanket. So nice to have it right there.

You can also remove the tray and use it for entertaining which I love to do. I love the way the gold handles play off of the white tray.

So while we may be knee-deep in boxes and packing, we do have one place to hang out and relax. I honestly can't function unless we have one area pulled together. Are you that way? Hope you can find a spot indoors or out to create a little extra storage the next time you spot a laundry hamper. And as always, thank you to Jen and her sweet readers for allowing me to hang out here today.

Hi! I'm Courtney, the author of A Thoughtful Place. I am a mom to two and passionate about home decor, DIY, fashion, gatherings, and the occasional life lesson. I love finding simple and accessible ideas for infusing style into all aspects of life. While an average day can often be hectic, A Thoughtful Place hopes to inspire you to find beauty and style in each and every one.