I am all about ease these days. The sun is shining, flowers are blossoming, birds are chirping. It all calls for sitting on your front stoop or back porch with a cold beer and a good book. Here, I'll show you three simple painting projects for making the most of your outdoor relaxation spot. They rate a one on the difficulty scale and don't cost much. All the better to enjoy your springtime with.

1. Painting an outdoor rug. If you''re into flowers and swirlies and spending big bucks, World Market has tons of super cute outdoor rugs for your space. If not, click over to Curbly for a cost-conscious how-to. Author DIY Maven got hers done for less than twenty bucks.

2. Liven up terra cotta pots. If you're looking to add color to your outdoor space, consider spray-painting standard terra cotta pots. They can be found in abundance at many thrift stores or at your local nursery and when compared to the cost of colorful glass planters, painting is well worth the minimal time and effort.

3. Spray paint your old patio furniture. This is such a no-brainer and yes, I am kind of tooting my own horn. I finally got around to spray painting a plain patio set and it made a big impact on my little back porch. Sand your wrought iron chairs or table, wipe clear of debris and get to spraying. If dealing with untreated metal, I would recommend using a primer. Shake your can well before use and paint in even, thin coats. Always make sure that your can is in motion and don't dawdle on any one area for too long as excessive application can cause the paint to run. Hold the can about ten inches away from the surface at all times. Two coats is generally enough for wrought iron. For information on spray painting all manner of surfaces, check out this round-up by Real Simple. What are you doing with your great outdoors this spring? Send projects this way. We'd love to hear! [Images, top to bottom: Curbly, Sunset, M. Jeyifo]

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