With summer soon arriving, it’s hard not to think to the warmer weather and beautiful days spent outdoors. So why not be prepared for summer entertaining with an outdoor bar? Invite all your friends, cut your favourite flowers and transform this DIY Potting Bench Kit with Fusion Mineral Paint!
We got this potting bench kit off of Amazon for an affordable price, but it does require some assembly. A few great things about buying a kit like this is that it already comes paint ready, which means no prep is required. It’s also new wood, not weathered which means that you will have excellent adhesion once your paint is applied.
Another great element to pieces like this, is that they are typically made from fir and cedar woods. Those wood types are known for their strength and dimensional stability. They are also naturally resistant to rot and pests. This will make a great choice for our outdoor bar!
So one question you might be asking yourself is, can Fusion Mineral Paint hold up to outdoor conditions? The answer to that is YES! One of Fusion’s best qualities is that is 100% waterproof! The pigments in Fusion are also the highest quality which means no fading over time.
Here is the list of supplies used for this project:
- Fusion Mineral Paint Brook
- Staalmeester 2010-15 Flat Brush
- Fusion Hemp Oil Wood Finish
The colour we chose for this project is called “Brook.” This colour is a beautiful watery blue-green colour that looks both refreshing and coastal.
Brook also has amazing coverage and for this piece our entire project required only two coats. All in all that was less than ¼ of a pint. See more about the coverage of Fusion here. The Staalmeester 1.5inch flat brush is perfect for long flat edges. This brush also contours to grooves in between slats and corners which makes it perfect for wood projects like shiplap. It worked well on our entire potting bench. We also lightly distressed the edges to let the wood peek through.
THE BEST TOPCOAT FOR OUTDOORS
Next, you’ll want to wait at least 24 hours for your last coat of Fusion to dry. There are a couple of options for outdoor furniture pieces. Using strong timber oils like Tung or Hemp Oil are ideal. Fusion is already waterproof and completely durable once cured. So we opted to use hemp oil rather than a thicker oil like Tung.
Hemp oil is a great environmentally friendly product. It is perfect for those that suffer from chemical sensitivities and cannot use solvent-based products. Hemp oils is also food-safe which is important for surfaces that will come into contact with food and beverages. In this case, since we are using our potting bench as a server/bar, it makes the perfect finish.
Hemp oil is also super easy to use. Just apply a generous amount, let sit for 10-15 minutes. Wipe away all the excess with a clean, lint-free cloth.
FROM POTTING BENCH TO OUTDOOR BAR
The result is a inexpensive DIY potting bench kit turned stunning drink server! Your very own outdoor bar on a budget. Now you can serve up your beverages and delicious goodies with style!
You can see just how light and airy Brook makes this outdoor bar look. It’s the perfect summer colour and it pairs wonderfully with the galvanised top and accessories we brought in to match.
OUTDOOR BAR
We also love that this potting bench is lightweight, but comes with plenty of storage in all the compartments. It even comes with hooks to hang towels and boards. We can think of so many uses for this piece both indoors and out. The great thing is, we can always repaint it when we want a fresh colour!
One tip we have is to make sure you paint the very bottom of the legs so that the entire piece is sealed from water. Now you can enjoy some fresh lemonades, teas, or maybe a Champagne cocktail during a gorgeous sunset with this beautiful outdoor bar! You can keep summer around a bit longer just by painting with Brook!