Resort Inspired Backyard Makeover with Dulux
There is something so satisfying about taking a forgotten outdoor corner and turning it into a space you genuinely want to use. Our patio started as a fairly plain, practical area, but I could see the potential for it to become a colourful little resort-inspired retreat - somewhere to sit in the sun, drink a coffee and feel like I had escaped without leaving home.
The best part? I didn’t need a huge budget or any permanent renovations. By refreshing and customising pieces with the Dulux Spray range, I was able to completely change the feeling of the space while keeping the entire makeover rental-friendly.
I wanted the finished patio to feel playful, summery and relaxed, while still working with the existing space. The idea was to build the whole corner around a painted sun lounger, then add height and personality with breeze blocks, potted cacti, and colourful accessories.
Because this is a rental, everything needed to be movable and easy to take with me. Paint was the perfect way to create a big visual transformation without altering the structure of the property.
My plan included:
- turning a raw pine sun lounger into a bold resort-style statement
- giving a second-hand outdoor table a fresh new finish
- turning leftover breeze blocks from a friend’s renovation into a sculptural plant stand
- customising plain terracotta pots with simple stripes and designs
- adding a light bamboo screen to brighten the boundary
- finishing the space with cute retro cushions
I chose a warm, nostalgic palette that feels playful and summery while still working cohesively across the entire courtyard.
In Dulux Spray Flat, I used:
- Dulux Terracotta Chip
- Dulux Bunny Soft Half
In Dulux Spray Satin, I used:
- Dulux Ginger Crunch
- Dulux Prom
- Dulux Italian Clay
- Dulux White
- Dulux Clear
Mixing the Flat and Satin finishes added subtle variation to the space, while repeating the colours across the furniture, breeze blocks and pots tied each individual project together.
The raw pine sun lounger became the hero piece of the makeover. Its shape was already perfect for the relaxed poolside feeling I wanted, and adding colour turned the unfinished timber into a bold resort-style statement.
The blocks were extremely porous, so the spray paint soaked straight into the raw surface at first. To get a more even result, I applied an exterior paint base to seal and cover the blocks, then used the spray paint to create the final finish. This gave the colour a much better surface to sit on and helped me achieve the clean, solid look I wanted.
Rather than buying decorative pots, I customised plain terracotta ones with simple stripes and colour-blocked designs. I used a mix of white and warm, soft colours so the collection felt cohesive without looking too perfect.
Cacti and succulents were an easy choice for this sunny corner. Their shapes look beautiful against the geometric breeze blocks, and they add that warm, relaxed feeling without needing lots of extra decoration.
The bamboo screening helped create a lighter backdrop and made the little zone feel more separate from the rest of the patio. A small side surface for a drink or book made it practical, not just pretty.
What I love most is that none of the individual projects was especially complicated. The transformation came from repeating the colour palette across several ordinary pieces and styling them together as one complete space.
Why I used the Dulux Spray range:
Dulux Spray made it easy to create a cohesive look across several completely different pieces. With a range of on-trend colours and finishes, I could carry the same palette from the furniture to the breeze blocks and small decorative details.
It is a brilliant option for upcycling and customising outdoor furniture and décor, especially when a brush would make detailed shapes and awkward angles more time-consuming. Dulux Spray also dries 10 times faster than most paints, with projects ready to use in one hour, so a collection of small DIY ideas can create a big transformation without taking over the entire weekend.
For a rental-friendly project, that is the perfect kind of transformation.
