Personalizing your garden is a way to connect with nature, repurpose household items, and create something unique.
DIY garden decor is cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and, unlike your Uncle Bill’s resin garden gnomes, a true expression of your imagination. Plus, to make it a fun project for family time!
From functional planters to whimsical garden lights, these ideas are meant to jump-start your next crafting session.
Ditch the garden gnomes and start decorating DIY.
Materials You Might Need
Stop discarding and start collecting:
- Old jars, containers, and household items
- Paint, brushes, and weatherproof spray
- Wood, pallets, or scrap materials
- Twine, rope, or wire
- Glue guns and basic crafting tools
- Soil and plants
- Etc.
DIY Garden Decor Ideas
1. Painted Clay Pot Planters
Transform simple clay or plastic pots into lively decorative pieces.
- Clean and prep the pot with a damp cloth.
- Use acrylic paint to create intricate designs and patterns, or simply paint it in your favorite color.
- Add stenciling, decoupage, or mosaic work for “flair” (as in Office Space).
- Seal the pot with a weatherproof spray sealer.
- These planters are perfect for herbs, succulents, and small flowers.
A little outdoor paint brings ordinary pots to life.
2. DIY Hanging Planters
Hang planters from upcycled materials like old baskets, tea cups, or tin cans to introduce greenery to your porch or balcony.
- Drill holes in the bottom of the containers for drainage.
- Paint or decorate as desired.
- Add a sturdy rope or chain for hanging.
- Grow your favorite flowers, herbs, or trailing vines in the planters.
A painted DIY planter made from a coffee can.
3. Garden Stepping Stones
Personalize durable stepping stones for your garden path.
- Mix concrete according to package instructions and add the desired color pigments.
- Pour concrete into molds like cake pans, pie tins, shallow bins, or plastic containers.
- Customize with imprinted designs, handprints, or stencils.
- Let the concrete set and remove it from the mold when cured.
Tip: Use stencils to ensure clean designs, especially for lettering or intricate patterns.
Stenciled concrete blocks create a one-of-a-kind garden pathway.
4. Upcycled Tire Planters
Repurpose old tires by fashioning them into cheerful planters. Paint them in bright shades and stack them for layered flower displays.
- Cut the tires in half using a sharp knife or saw (optional).
- Paint the outside with weatherproof paint.
- Fill with soil and plants, stacking tires for a tiered effect.
Tip: Use larger tires for bigger plants like tomatoes or small trees.
Old tires repurposed into planters.
5. Fairy Light Jars
Create a magical garden atmosphere by turning old jars into fairy light holders.
- Clean and decorate the jar as desired.
- Drill a hole in the lid to feed through fairy lights.
- Place battery-powered lights inside for an enchanting evening glow.
Old mason jars holding fairy lights.
6. DIY Bird Bath
Beckon birds to your garden with a birdbath made from an old bowl or container. Place it atop an upside-down flowerpot or wooden block for height.
- Decorate the bowl or container with paint, mosaic tiles, or stenciled designs.
- Fill with water to create a shallow pool for birds to drink and bathe in.
An old serving bowl repurposed as a bird bath.
8. Vertical Pallet Garden
A wooden pallet can hold planters, herbs, and tiny flowering plants. Simply stand the pallet on end and attach pots.
- Sand and paint the pallet if desired.
- Attach pots or containers with screws, wire, or hooks.
- Hang it on a wall or fence in your garden, or stake it upright.
A vertical flower garden made from wooden pallets.
9. Tree Stump Planters
Hollowed-out tree stumps can transform into rustic planters.
- Drill holes in the bottom for drainage.
- Add soil and plants, or place potted plants inside.
- Use stumps of different sizes for a variety of planters.
A tree stump fashioned into a planter.
10. Bottle Cap Flowers
Save those bottle caps! Paint them in vibrant colors and arrange them into flowers on wooden stakes.
- Nail or glue caps onto wooden stakes.
- Arrange different colored caps to resemble flower petals.
- Place them throughout your garden as whimsical flowers that never fade.
“Flowers” made from painted bottle caps.
11. Junk Wind Chimes
Use old keys, unwanted silverware, tin cans, scrap metal, and other scrap to make unique wind chimes that ring in the evening breeze.
- Drill holes in the objects and string them onto twine, jewelry chains, or wires.
- Hang them from heavy wire, driftwood, or other support.
Tip: Vary the lengths of the objects for different tones.
DIY wind chimes made from discarded silverware and keys.
12. DIY Spiral Garden
Build a spiral garden with bricks, stones, or pavers stacked in a spiral shape. This design allows you to grow many plants efficiently in a small space.
- Fill the spiral with soil, planting herbs or flowers that require similar growing conditions and sun exposure.
- Label each plant for easy identification.
Tip: Start your spiral at least 5 feet wide at the base to allow room for different plants.
A spiral garden for herbs and flowers.
13. Mosaic Garden Pots
Turn ordinary pots into works of art by decorating them with broken tiles, pieces of mirror, or ceramic shards.
- Use a strong adhesive like outdoor tile glue to attach pieces onto the pot.
- Create patterns or abstract designs as you go along.
- Fill with soil and plant your favorite flowers or succulents.
Clay pots decorated with tile mosaic.
14. Macramé Plant Hangers
Remember when everyone did macramé? Only if you survived the 70s. It’s time to resurrect this unappreciated art.
- Search YouTube and crafts sites for inspiration and techniques.
- Choose your cord: Hemp, jute, sisal, cotton twine, or something else.
- Tie intricate knots and create different lengths to hold various-sized pots.
- Plant trailing plants like ivy, ferns, or spider plants for a dramatic effect.
A simple macramé plant holder made from hemp fiber.
15. A Pebble Pathway
Craft intricate patterns with colored rocks to transform a garden path into a work of art.
- Create border outlines with large stones or bricks.
- Fill the space in between with smaller pebbles, creating a mosaic-like design.
- Spray with water to clean and seal the pathway.
Tip: Use a mix of colors for a more striking appearance.
A gorgeous pebble pathway with stepping stones.
16. Driftwood Lighting
Combine fairy lights with driftwood (or weathered desert wood) and place them in your garden for a bohemian glow.
- Clean the wood and seal it with a clear coat if desired.
- Drill holes for lights to poke through or wrap the lights around the wood.
- Stand driftwood lights on end or hang them from trees.
Driftwood wrapped with fairy lights.
17. Garden Art
Transform plain fences into works of art by attaching scrap metal, planters, old tools, bicycle wheels, bird cages — just about anything. Please, just no garden gnomes or the HOA might complain.
- Secure objects onto fence panels using screws or wire.
- Paint or decorate objects as desired.
Tip: Use rusted metal objects for a vintage look.
A fence decorated with painted, organic-looking metal scraps.
FAQs: DIY Garden Decor
Q: What are the best materials for outdoor crafts?
To ensure your projects last through the seasons, opt for weather-resistant materials like treated wood, painted metal, and sealed clay.
Q: Can I use recycled items for DIY garden decor?
Repurposed materials like old jars, wine bottles, and tires are excellent for eco-friendly and creative projects.
Q: How do I weatherproof my garden decor?
Use outdoor paint, weatherproof sprays, or sealants to protect your crafts from rain, sun, and temperature changes.
Q: Do I need special tools for these projects?
Most projects only require basic tools like glue guns, hammers, and paintbrushes. For larger projects, you can rent or borrow more specialized tools.
Q: How can I involve kids in DIY garden projects?
Choose simple tasks like painting pots or arranging stones. It’s a fun activity that can inspire a love for gardening.
Q: What plants work best for DIY planters?
Herbs, succulents, and flowering plants like marigolds and petunias are ideal for small DIY planters.
Q: Where can I get inspiration for more garden decor ideas?
Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, and gardening blogs are rich with creative ideas and step-by-step tutorials.
Q: How often should I maintain my DIY garden projects?
Clean or repaint items as needed, especially after heavy rains or extreme weather. Regular maintenance ensures your garden stays fresh!