DIY Outdoor Playset Facelift
I’ve said it before, but I’ve felt so grateful to live in sunny LA during this pandemic. I truly can’t imagine how it would feel stuck inside with two little ones, not being able to enjoy some sunshine every day. That being said since the parks have been closed off and on, I’ve really wanted to get the kids a playset for the backyard. But every time I went and looked online they were just so bright! In classic Brandy Joy style, I took it into my own hands and gave one a facelift. So, here are my simple steps for upgrading the KidKraft Appleton Playset.
First things first, if you plan on painting it I would recommend that you go with the white version as it comes primed. I wanted mine to match the color of my house so I went with Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee. After ordering the playset I knew I wanted to replace the yellow tarp on top. With a little research, I found this one on Covers & All. You can completely customize the size and color, plus they had the most incredible customer service!
My next venture was replacing the back wall. Originally this piece was another tarp, but I wanted something sturdier. This meant I had to have a piece of woodcut, which I then painted with black chalk paint so the babes could decorate it! For the slide, ladder grips, and metal corners I used matte black spray paint and sealed it with a clear sealer.
Once the playset was really starting to come together, I knew I had to upgrade the swings. Obviously, they would have to be baby appropriate, so I started my search. It was pretty painless, and I and found these classic full and half bucket swings.
For the finishing touches, I added a little planter with succulents and ground cover to give it a Dr. Seuss feel. Plus this added a more natural vibe to the structure! Then I grabbed a basket from the house to put the toys in after the kids are done playing. Outside of the actual building of the playset itself, the upgrades took about 4-6 hours. Not bad to take something from unsightly to modern!