With our checklist of tools and materials, some PVC pipe, and a little elbow grease, you can transform your outdoor space into an instant retreat―all for about $300. This backyard lounge serves as both a casual spot for year-round entertaining and a private refuge with resort style. Cabana checklist: What you’ll need Frame
- Eight 10-foot 1½-inch schedule-40 PVC pipes
- 10 feet of 2-inch-diameter ABS pipe
- Four 1½-inch schedule-40 L-shaped pipe fittings
- Four 1½-inch T-shaped pipe fittings
- Masking tape
- Matte-silver spray paint
- Twenty ¾-inch self-tapping metal screws
Curtains - 10 yards of 54-inch-wide outdoor fabric
- 36 feet of #2 double-loop chain (to weigh down fabric on windy days)
- 2 rolls of heavy-duty fusible sewing tape (we like Stitch Witchery; $2.99; joann.com)
Tools
- Post-hole digger
- Shovel
- Hacksaw
- Tape measure
- Pencil (for marking measurements)
- 2-foot level
- Iron (for heating/pressing sewing tape)
- Sewing machine (optional)
- Scissors
- Electric drill with bits
- Heavy-duty wire cutters
- 2 ladders (one for each builder)
Time: Approximately 2 days, including drying time for paint. (Note: Assembling the frame requires two people, so enlist a partner on the second day of the project.)
Price Tag: About $300 (about $100 for frame, plus $20/yard for fabric)
Step-by-step: How to build this outdoor lounge