Apartment Redress: On the Patio

Last week I mentioned the chairs I wanted to protect against the rain. They are in reality dining room chairs, but both being pretty water damaged, I felt okay using them outside. They match the little table my dad and I made together (it folds up, pretty sweet right?), so I’m not sure how to go with it. Maybe I should seal the table too? I like the rustic look of the wood, but also want to keep it from rotting. Not to mention the beige siding + light wood chairs is pretty dull, how can I:

1. protect the chairs and table from the elements 

2. add a little color to the patio area

Then there is also the factor I really want to keep the cost to a minimum, using just the paint in the garage I’ve used on other projects, or under $20 on some kind of sealant. 

Now, completely neglecting cost and whatnot. I would really like to paint them a deep blue gray and make some seat cushions (which is another project I hope to take on soon) that are neuroticly bright.

Another way it could go is to paint the chairs a ridiculous color, then have muted chair cushions and table runner. Or, and I like this best, go with a neurotically (thanks carolyn) bright color for the chairs and table – like yellow, yeah – and then some funky cream and gray or cream and blue patterned fabric. 

Maybe like this:                     Or this:

I’m undecided, I need your help deciding, what do you think, what do you vote for:

1. Bright colored chairs with dull seat cushions.
2. Bright colored chairs with patterned seat cushions.
3. Gray chairs with brightly patterned seat cushions.