How to Makeover a Patio Space With Afro Boho Style

Do you love the Afro-boho style? You can have it outdoors, too. I show you step-by-step how to build an outdoor patio counter in Afro-boho design.

It’s a budget-friendly project and it was a great way to add Afro bohemian beauty to my garden. It’s one of the areas of your home where you can maximize your home’s potential.

Before

I call this my hodgepodge corner. Honestly, I got sick of looking at it. I knew what I wanted.

Rendering

Here is the rendering of my vision. This way, I knew exactly how much I needed in supplies.

Supplies

I use pressure-treated pine for outdoor projects like this. Pressure-treated wood withstands the weather far better. I used a bold, gorgeous black stain and clear exterior polyurethane for extra protection from the elements. I used a variety of tools for the project, too, but my main tool was a handsaw.

Here are the 5 key areas to maximize the potential of this outdoor room.

Key area 1: Creating zones

Creating zones is a lifesaver. In this rough drawing, I mapped out where I wanted each zone. The upper left corner is the grilling zone and that’s where I built my outdoor Afro-boho counter. You’ll make far better use of your space when you designate what you want to do in each area of the room.

Key area 2: Wall treatments

In this case, I’m going bold with this lush, rich, gorgeous black satin stain.

Key area 3: Lighting

I use a variety of lighting sources in my backyard, including solar-powered string lights, solar-lit umbrellas, and my all-time favorite–the tiki torch.

Key area 4: Flooring

The cement floor in this outdoor room has seen a couple of different treatments, like the DIY stencil. I used granite outdoor paint which means that will last a long time.

Key area 5: Decor and art

Decor and art are not just for the indoors. When selecting pieces for outdoors, be mindful of their durability.

Design-build steps

Step 1 Stain the boards

I stained them and let them dry overnight

Step 2 Measure and cut ledger boards

I mounted the ledger board on the middle rail of the existing fence. Here is where the top of the counter will rest. I made the countertop a little high to fit me because I’m a tall person.

Step 3 Made my cuts

I made sure to lay out the boards to maximize my wood so I wouldn’t waste much. I still made mistakes, but not that many and I was able to correct them. One of the most difficult cuts was the first board that would lay on the ledger board and wrap around that post.

Step 4 Bracing

I cut the boards for the countertop and secured the backing. For the bracing, I repurposed some wood I already had and pre-drilled holes, and used outdoor screws to secure everything.

Step 5 Shelf

This wasn’t in the original plan but I bought two extra boards and cut them, stained them, so I could actually have a shelf underneath the counter.

Tip: Everything has to be level

Why is it important that everything is level? Keeping things level is really a safety measure. It also affects the sight lines and how someone feels when they’re looking at your furniture or art. You know how you feel when a picture is crooked, right? That’s what I mean.

Step 6 Front-facing finish boards

I gave everything a quick sanding, and I cut and attached my front-facing finish boards. It took me about four hours to build the countertop.

Quick note here on safety: I always wear safety glasses and gloves. Also, I take the time to clean up as I’m moving through the project.

Step 7 Second coat of stain

Now, on to the second coat of stain. So, here is the counter before I stenciled it.

Step 8 Stencil

I’ve done a ton of stenciling. You can stencil anything. I’m using an Adinkra symbol which I love because it’s going to go perfectly with my Afro-boho dream backyard theme. Here’s the stencil on the outdoor countertop. It’s so pretty!

Step 9 Adding Afro-boho decor

This is my favorite part of a project. These decor pieces are a combination of thrift finds and some new purchases.

The reveal! My finished outdoor counter!

I’m super proud of how this finished outdoor counter turned out! It enhances the beauty of this part of my back garden. I made a hodgepodge and messy space into this wonderful, functional area. And adding that Adinkra stencil elevated the Afro-boho vibe in my backyard.

Let me know what you think in the comments about this Afro-boho outdoor project!