If you’re wanting to DIY a swing set makeover on a budget look no further. I updated our FREE wooden playset from an old eyesore into a beautiful addition to our outdoor playspace. If you’re considering buying an expensive playset, or just want to update your existing one, I’m sharing all the details below.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure HERE.
We have a small yard. Tiny. We’re nestled in between a crop field and the woods. The majority of our yard is to the side of our house and visible from all of the public spaces in our home. I wanted to get our kids outside as much as possible, but struggled to imagine a big ugly swingset in our yard. Then the pandemic hit. I was working from our small home with two kids and a dog. While my husband was busy with planting season.
I about lost my sanity and I know I’m not the only one. I needed those kids out of the house! And so began the search for a wooden swing set. I quickly decided I wasn’t going to spend the money for a new one. Those things are outrageous! So I turned to my go to for large purchases, marketplace. It took a couple of weeks, but I finally found a perfectly sized used playset… and it was FREE!
BUT… it was ultra ugly. Worn wood and bright primary colored accessories. I didn’t take any images from the before, but do a quick search for used playset and you’ll see what I mean. I quickly started brainstorming how to update the swing set and make it more attractive.
How to update and restore a playset
The first step to update an old swing set or playset it so remove and replace any rotting boards. As we were picking it up I noticed that a couple of boards on the bottom sandbox and at least one in the upper clubhouse floor, were pretty rotted.
My dad helped me replace the rotted floor boards with scraps from his barn. We decided to take the two boards on the sandbox in the worst condition off. This left the area under the playhouse portion open for a new play area.
Is it better to paint or stain your swing set?
Once we had replaced the rotted boards I began thinking about how to make this swing set last another 10 years. The wood was pretty worn and very dry. I knew it would be susceptible to rain and rot so I needed to treat it for maximum protection.
Staining an old wooden playset can protect it from the elements, but needs to be repeated about every other year. Plus you really need to sand and condition before you stain to get the best results. I don’t love the look of a stained playset and I certainly didn’t want to invest that much time into this project. So I quickly rejected that option.
As I began researching paint for our wooden swing set I learned that it would last 3-5 years, and even longer if you do occasional touch-ups along the way. Plus the application is not complicated if you pick the right product.
What kind of paint or stain do you use for a swing set makeover?
To find the right product I took a quick trip to Home Depot and looked around in the paint aisle. I knew I wanted an outdoor specific paint an asked at the paint counter for the recommendation. The woman there was super helpful and took me straight to this product. Behr Solid Color Waterproofing Stain and Sealer.
This is an all in one stain and primer intended to protect from the elements for up to 25 years. It is a 100% acrylic formula so it has a super durable finish and dries down super quickly. Not only does it save multiple prep steps, it also cuts drying time between coats. Plus you can color match it to any color in Home Depot’s system. Talk about an all in one!
How to choose a paint color for a swing set
I deliberated over a color for the longest time. It had to coordinate with our home but still feel youthful and fun for our kids. Something about a grey or beige playset seemed sad to me. I thought about white, but knew it would be gross and stained in no time. So I chose a dark blue color to coordinate with our light grey siding and dark grey shutters.
If you’re not sure which color would look best for your swing set makeover, choose an accent color from the exterior of your home like your front door or shutters. These colors are usually more saturated and colorful which fits a playset well, but they are also used sparingly on the home. This keeps your playset from looking too matchy-matchy.
How to Paint a Wood Play Set or Swing Set
Once I had chosen the product and color I wanted, it was time to get started. My dad suggested painting it while it was still on its side on the trailer. That turned out to be a great idea as it is really big. I finished the final side, once we put the swing set in place. We grabbed a couple 3 and 4 inch paint brushes and got to work.
We focused on the horizontal pieces like the roof, playhouse deck and swing set bar. This is where water is most likely to linger so we wanted these spots to be extra protected. The first coat absorbed quickly and it was immediately apparent it would require two gallons of paint for two coats. I still had about a fifth of the can leftover which is perfect for touch-ups later as needed. The painting was complete and the whole darn thing looked brand new!
How to add lights and flower boxes for a swing set
A couple of weeks went by and I loved seeing it from my kitchen window, but knew I could add even more personality to it. So I began brainstorming. For late summer nights I wanted to add some lights and I thought flower boxes would be a fun addition. I picked up simple black planters and these cute lantern style solar lights from the Better Homes and Gardens line at Walmart.
I put the lights above the swings, around the slide and either side of the ladder. Be sure to choose places that are actually exposed to the sun to charge the solar lights. I tucked in a wooden play kitchen down below and a table and chairs in the playhouse. My girls love the help pick colorful annuals for the planters in the spring an mums in the fall.
Products we used for our DIY swing set makeover
- 2 Gallons of Behr Solid Color Waterproofing Exterior Wood Stain and Sealer
- 5 Better Homes and Gardens Solar Step Lights
- 3 Better Homes and Gardens Solar Deck Lights
- 3 small planters (similar)
- New swing seat (optional)
- Saucer swing seat (optional)
- Baby and toddler swing seat (optional)
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure HERE.
Total Cost of a Swing Set or playset makeover
This simple DIY swing set makeover was not free, but it was super budget friendly. Our biggest cost was time, but for those of you who want to know how much it cost in real dollars here goes. The playset was totally free. We used scrap wood for the replacements so that was also free. Paint was roughly $45 per gallon. So that was $90. We already had paint brushes. The lights were $7 and $9 a peice so there was another $56. Swing replacements were Christmas presents from grandparents, but are about $25 each. The saucer came with the playset and I highly recommend it. Lastly the planters were a steal for $7 for a set of three.
That amounts to a total of $153 for our project. If you had to purchase all of it you could expect to spend between $200 and $250 dollars. That is a total bargain compared to a brand new swing set. I hope this project inspired you and gave you the resources to take on your own DIY swing set makeover. Leave a comment if you do or if you have other ideas for playset updates, I’d love to hear your ideas!