If you have children, there’s a good chance you’ve already got a swing set. Swing sets provide countless hours of entertainment and are a great way to keep children active. However, years of use (and weather) may have put a few chips in your swing set or it has faded. On this page, you’ll find out how to give your wooden swing set a makeover that will encourage your children to play with these giant toys even more.

Swing set makeovers - what are your options?

If you’re considering giving your wooden swing set a makeover, it’s good to know what your options are before you start - and there are plenty of makeover options to choose from. 

To help you decide on what kind of makeover you’re going to give your swing set, first consider answering questions such as: is the color fading? Is it starting to make squeaking noises or rotting? And when was the swing set last used? The answers to these questions will help you determine if you need to make small or large repairs as part of your swing set makeover.

If your wooden swing set’s color is fading but your children are still using it, it’s more likely that you’ll only need to repaint, re-stain or seal your swing set. Simply repainting your wooden swing set helps to enhance its design and make it unique. Repainting can also be a fun family experience and will encourage your children to add their own imagination to its new design. You can also consider decorating your swing set to liven it up and make it more fun and appealing.

If your swing set is rotting, squeaks, or hasn’t been used for a while, you may need to consider a total makeover.  This would include repairing, re-staining and sealing your swing set. Repairing a swing set isn’t as difficult as it sounds, and you’ll only need to focus on the areas that are damaged. The rest will probably look good as new by simply re-staining. 

Re-staining and sealing your swing set at least once a year helps protect it against the elements, general wear and tear, and allows it to last longer. You can avoid damage and make it weatherproof enough to withstand harsh weather conditions and direct sunlight.

How to give your wooden swing set a makeover

Before you start on making over your wooden swing set, it’s helpful to first create a step-by-step plan, as it will help walk you through the makeover process. These tips will assist you to plan your makeover:

1. Clean your swing set

Before getting to work on your swing set, it’s important to power wash it to remove all the dirt, debris, or any unwanted buildup. Thoroughly cleaning your swing set will help you better assess any damage and identify all the areas that may need repaired or replaced.

2. Examine your swing set and gather supplies

Next, carefully examine your swing set and note anything that might need to be replaced or repaired. Look for wood that’s rotting or growing moss and be sure to check any metal components, such as hinges and screws, for rust. Gather all the supplies you’ll need to make any repairs, such as plywood, stainless steel screws, rust remover, and greasing oil.

3. The repair phase

The next step is to repair the parts of your swing set that are damaged. Replace rusty hinges and screws with stainless steel versions to prevent future rust, cut out any rotten plywood and fill the gaps with new plywood and wood filler. 

4. Sand your swing set

After you’ve repaired your swing set, the next step is to sand it down. This may take longer than cleaning and repairing and it can be a hard job, but it’s worth taking the time to do this as it will ultimately make your swing set look great. Your main objective is to remove any marks, dents, and rough edges. Sanding also helps you prepare for the finishing touches to create smoother and stylish designs.

5. Re-stain

Once you’ve sanded your swing set, re-staining and sealing it will protect it for years to come. Re-staining and sealing is a fairly easy job and doesn’t take long. Make sure you start at the top and follow the grain of the wood to apply the stain and sealer effectively.

6. Landscape the area around your swing set

This is, of course, an optional step.  To redesign your backyard you could consider how to make your swing set stand out as well as creating an exciting and safe play area for your children. Simple but effective ways to create an instant ‘re-landscape’ are to trim any trees and flatten the ground around your swing set.

Swing set makeover finishing touches

This is the fun part of your swing set makeover process: applying the finishing touches. Gather your family and redecorate your swing set by painting it in bright colors or even with patterns. You could also add extra features such as a climbing wall or a sandpit next to your swing set. 

Once you’ve given your swing set a complete makeover, don’t forget that it’s easier to care for regularly!