I work at Gumtree – here's the five tatty items from around your home that can give gardens an epic budget makeover
Kim Faura, the online marketplace's consumer expert, said you can upcycle your garden without spending a fortune if you know what to buy or recycle.
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He said: "Tastes come and go, and it's only natural to sometimes want to shake things up.
"This can apply to both the inside and outside of your home, and why not take elements from one to help the other?
"If you're looking for project pieces but don't have anything suitable at home, why not look on Gumtree?
"You can either find a range of secondhand pieces to upcycle as you wish, or you can sell your old items to make some money to fund your project."
Here, Kim reveals the five clever ways to repurpose your indoor furniture for use in the garden.
Creating a herby bookshelf
First up, the Gumtree pro says an old bookshelf you want to get rid of could be moved outside instead and transformed into a herb garden.
He adds: "All it needs is sanding down, a coat of exterior paint and a little personalising and you're good to go."
Displaying plants on a ladder
A wooden step ladder can make a stylish plant stand by placing planks between the rungs, according to Kim.
He says: "You could paint it in a bright colour or seal it with a waterproof varnish for a more rustic finish.
"Dot plants along the makeshift shelves to create a unique focal point in your garden."
My garden was looking so old and the patio was broken - now it's a lush oasis and people can't believe how little I spent
Get creative with containers
Another sustainable, cost-effective way of giving your garden a quick makeover is to turn unused objects into plant pots.
Kim advises: "It's worth having a look to see what you can find lying around, from wellies, wheelbarrows, and teapots to tin cans, old pots and pans, and plastic bottles.
"Sourcing unconventional containers can be a fun activity to do with the kids.
"Once you've gathered your objects, you can make holes in the bottom of them, add gravel for drainage, then fill with soil and pot your plants.
"They can be dotted around your garden or suspended from hooks – recycled colanders make great hanging baskets."
Use mirrors to brighten dark areas
Kim revealed that it's possible to give your gaden a homely feel by taking some interior decorations outside.
"Accessories like framed mirrors can be put up in dark corners to bounce light around your garden and even make it look bigger than it is", he adds.
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Hanging tyre wall garden
Finally, if you've got an old tyre lying around then you could transform it into a planter.
Kim says: "You could even add a rope or chain and make a hanging basket that looks equally fab suspended from a tree or up against a wall.
"If you like, upcycle several tyres and paint them in a rainbow of jazzy colours."
Parts of Scotland are set to be hotter than Tenerife this week too, so it's the perfect chance to do some essential garden maintenance.
Glasgow will be basking in the glorious sunshine with the mercury to hit highs of 28C in the city, while Edinburgh is also set to see highs of 28C on Saturday, with temperatures of 23C in Aberdeen.
The Met Office long range forecast from July 11 to July 20 states: "Many parts of the UK are expected to be part way through a period of high temperatures and humidity at the start of this period.
"The duration, geographical extent and intensity of the heat are all rather uncertain at present, but there is the potential for some very hot weather to be realised, especially across some inland southern and eastern areas."
And it's not just items inside your home that you could use to give your garden a much needed refresh to enjoy the sunshine.
Kim revealed that old garden chairs can be repurposed in lots of different ways to give them a new lease of life instead of sending them off to the skip.
So if you've got one destined for the dump, you may want to consider these tips instead.
Kim recommends converting the chair into a swing by removing the legs and attaching thick rope to the sides of the seat.
Alternatively, you could attach the chairs to walls either outside or in your shed to create shelves for plant pots or garden ornaments.
And the legs don't have to go to waste, either.
"You can turn chair legs or spindles into wind chimes", Kim adds.
"Simply hang them by string threaded through screw eyes attached to the tops."
Upcycling old garden furniture
Here are a few tips from Gumtree's Kim Faura to get you started on upcycling old garden furniture to add some colour to your outdoor space.
Upcycling teak garden furniture
If you're looking to upcycle teak garden furniture, as a starting point I'd recommend sanding it down well, as this will remove any old varnishes or stains, and creates a smooth surface. You can then use a weatherproof stain or paint to change the colour of your item.
The reason teak makes such great upcycled garden furniture is that it has a high natural oil content and tight grain. This makes it strong and weatherproof in all conditions. However, teak can become grey in colour and feel rough when it's exposed to the elements for years without maintenance. Because of its oil content, the wood doesn't need protection with oil or varnish after sanding, unless you want to give it a shiny surface. To change the colour from mid-brown, you could stain it darker. Alternatively give it a coat of primer and paint for a brand new look.
Because teak is such a durable wood, if you choose to transform your teak garden furniture into garden accessories or planters, it'll still stand up to the British weather in the same way that it did before.
Painting old furniture to revive it
Painting is one of the easiest ways to revive tables, chairs, stools and benches in your garden. It's important to use paint that's made for the type of surface you're working on and is suitable for outdoors. You can make the process easier by using a primer created for wood, metal or plastic that'll give a smooth, durable surface for your paint to stick to.
Before you begin, give your garden furniture a good clean with a stiff-bristled brush and soapy water or a pressure washer. This helps to ensure that any old flaky paint, varnish or rust has been removed. Secondly, you can give the surface a rub down with some sandpaper to make sure it's smooth and create a 'key' for your primer to stick to. Once your primer has dried, it's time to go in with your paint. You could choose a paint that needs to be applied with a brush. Alternatively, you might want to go for weatherproof spray paint. Spray paints are especially useful for metal furniture that can be a bit fiddly to paint with a brush.
The most exciting part of painting garden furniture is choosing the final colour. Will you choose a bright colour that adds personality to your furniture piece? Or will you go for timeless black, white, grey or green for a more low-key look?
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