Summer is the perfect time to get stuck into an outdoor DIY project or two, especially when it involves paint. The warm weather and dry conditions mean paint can cure quickly and you're less likely to get caught in the rain.
If you are keen to get stuck in to a new garden project, take a look at the following for guidance and inspiration.
Renovate a chair
Old indoor wooden chairs needn't be thrown out – instead, consider turning them into bright and cheerful outdoor furniture.
If your chair is quite old and the joints are unstable, disassemble it by removing all screws and nails. Lightly sand down the wood to remove any imperfections, then put the parts back together with new stainless steel screws and galvanised nails.
If there are any chips, holes or gaps in the chair, fill them in with exterior wood filler and let dry. Sand it down and then paint with one coat of Resene Quick Dry.
Once the undercoat is dry, add two coats of your favourite colour of Resene Lustacryl, which is a semi-gloss waterborne enamel. If you're not afraid of colour, why not opt for a bright primary shade to offset the summer blooms in your garden?
Growing box
Those with a green thumb will make good use of a growing box when nurturing new seedlings this summer. Make your own by measuring and sawing down two pieces of wooden moulding to 400mm long, and a further five pieces to 260mm. Smooth down any rough edges on the wood with sandpaper.
Assemble the two long pieces of wood and two of the shorter ones to create a rectangular shape that will form the structure of your box. Use PVA glue and panel pins to set these in place, then fit the remaining three pieces of wood flat across the bottom of the box, forming the base. Leave small gaps between the middle panel and the other two to allow for drainage
Cover the box with one coat of Resene Quick Dry, then top with two coats of the colour of your choice. If you like a uniform look, use the same colour for wooden pieces throughout your garden, or stick within the same palette. Pastel colours, like Resene Renew and Resene Lola, can add a whimsical effect to your outdoor area.
Herb planter shelves
For a herb garden with a twist, why not make your own shelves for storing your pot plants? This works especially well in outdoor areas where space is limited, as the shelves climb vertically and don't take up much room.
Start by cutting three fence palings to a length of 900mm. Drill a drainage hole 75mm down each side of the wood, then sand down any rough edges.
Use Resene Waterborne Woodsman, a penetrating oil stain, to coat the pieces of wood. This product contains fungicides to keep mould at bay, and will keep your wood looking better for longer.
Coat two 190mm half concrete blocks and four 140mm plain end standard blocks with Resene Concrete Primer and leave to dry for two hours. Then coat these in a paint shade close in colour to your wood – something like Resene Quarter Canterbury Clay should work well.
Once all paint is dry, put two of the the plain end blocks in position where you want your shelves to stand, then lay two of the wood palings across to create the bottom shelf. Put the other blocks on top and set the final piece of wood across these to form the second shelf, placing the half blocks at either end to secure them.
The best part about using the blocks in the shelving unit is that they can be used to plant seedlings in. Simply fill them with potting mix and the plant of your choice, then assemble pot plants along the shelves for a practical and aesthetically pleasing effect.
Check out the step-by-step projects on the Resene website for more ideas.
Get inspired ! 
