Upcycle Common Household Items Into Garden Decor
Upcycling common items you already have is an easy way to decorate your garden without spending a lot of money.
Look around for containers like buckets, baskets, crates, and pots you’re no longer using. Clean them up and they make perfect planters. An old wheelbarrow, wagon, or cart can hold flowers or vegetables. Mismatched containers in different sizes, shapes, and materials add visual interest when grouped.
Old furniture like tables, chairs, dressers, and bookshelves are ideal for displaying potted plants or used as trellises. Give them a fresh coat of paint or sealant to protect them from the elements.
Get creative with the little touches
Use pieces of wood, stone, bricks, or concrete blocks to make stepping stones or paths in your garden. Arrange them in a winding trail or geometric pattern.
Scour garage sales and thrift stores for decorative items to repurpose like wrought iron furniture, gates, or garden stakes; colorful glass bottles, jugs, and vases; mirrors; and sculptures or statues.
Don’t forget about fabrics, burlap, mesh, or netting. Use them to make plant hammocks, privacy screens, shade structures, or row covers.
With some imagination, you can find new life for many common items and turn your garden into an eclectic oasis without spending a bundle. The upcycled, DIY touches will make it uniquely yours. Your friends will be asking how you did it all on a budget!
Create an Herb Garden With Repurposed Containers
One of the easiest ways to add charm to your garden is with an herb garden made from repurposed containers. All you need are a few pots or planters in various shapes and sizes, soil, herbs, and a little creativity.
Look for containers with drainage holes or drill some yourself.
Things like wooden crates, buckets, baskets, and tin cans all make perfect planters. Give the containers a good cleaning before using them. For wood, you may want to line them with landscape fabric to prevent rot.
Once you have your containers, fill them about 3/4 full with potting soil and compost or fertilizer. Popular herb choices for small spaces include:
- Mint: Refreshing and great for tea and cocktails. Plant one mint per pot as it spreads aggressively.
- Basil: essential for Caprese salad and pesto. Choose from sweet, lemon, or Thai basil.
- Chives: Adds flavor to eggs, potatoes, and salads. Chives come back year after year.
- Rosemary: fragrant and perfect for roasts and marinades. Upright rosemary bushes also work well as topiaries.
- Thyme: aromatic and works in sauces, soups, and meat dishes. Thyme does well in hot, sunny spots.
Arrange your herb containers on your patio, steps, or path for easy access and care. Water when the top inch of soil is dry and fertilize during the growing season. Prune and harvest regularly to encourage new growth.
With some recycled containers and a few herbs, you’ve created a charming garden accent that’s as useful as it is decorative. Your herb garden will be a great conversation piece and source of flavor for many summers to come.
Incorporate Found Objects Like Rocks and Driftwood
Incorporating found objects from nature is an easy way to decorate your garden space on a budget. Look for rocks, driftwood, pine cones, and other natural items around your yard or in your local area.
Rocks
Rocks are versatile and can be used in many areas of your garden. Create pathways by lining walkways with various-sized rocks. Use flat rocks as stepping stones, arranging them in a winding path through your garden. Stack rocks of different shapes and sizes to make a decorative wall or border along flower beds. Or, group several large rocks together to make a focal point in an open area of your yard.
Driftwood
Driftwood adds visual interest with its twisted, worn shape. Upright pieces of driftwood can be used as garden stakes to support plants or trellises. Bury about one-third of a long, thick piece of driftwood to create a natural-looking divider between garden spaces. Or, arrange several pieces of driftwood together to make an arbor entranceway into a garden area. Driftwood also makes great stands for planters and birdhouses.
Pine cones
Pine cones are perfect for adding seasonal fall decor to your garden. Create arrangements with pine cones of different sizes, adding berries, leaves, and twigs for extra color. Use pine cones as mulch by scattering them around the base of shrubs and trees. Or, string together pine cones with twine or raffia to make garlands to drape along fences, arbors, and railings.
Natural found objects help create an organic, woodsy feel in the garden. Best of all, they are free materials, sustainably sourced from nature. Look around your yard or community for natural items to upcycle into inexpensive garden decor. Your creative arrangements will make your outdoor space feel cozy and inviting without spending a lot of money.
Display Vintage Finds for Vintage-Inspired Decor
Vintage decor is a timeless way to add charm and character to your garden space. Hunt for bargains at yard sales, thrift stores, and flea markets to find hidden gems that evoke nostalgia.
Display Vintage Containers
Old galvanized buckets, wooden crates, and enamelware pots make perfect planters for small plants or herbs. Cluster a few together for an eclectic look or use them as table centerpieces. Fill them with potting soil and your favorite blooms for an easy, budget-friendly way to bring vintage style to your garden.
Use Architectural Salvage
Add a touch of history with salvaged doors, shutters, gates, or porch posts. An old wooden gate makes a striking garden entryway or privacy screen. You can mount vintage shutters on walls or fences to create backdrops for climbing vines and flowers. Porch posts placed throughout the garden create visual interest and are ideal for training climbing roses or clematis.
String Up Vintage Signs
Metal signs with words like “grow”, “gather” or “bloom” make ideal wall art for garden sheds and fences. You can often find these at antique stores or reproductions from home decor retailers. String them up with twine or wire for a rustic look. They add nostalgic appeal without breaking the bank.
Include Weathered Statuary
A weather-worn statue placed among the flowers creates a sense of timeworn charm. Look for statues of birds, angels, or animals at yard sales and flea markets. Chippy, distressed paint adds to the vintage vibe. Place the statue on a stone pedestal or plinth and surround it with blooms for a stunning centerpiece in your garden. The patina of age gives it a beauty all its own.
With a little hunting, you can create a vintage-inspired garden decor that looks like it’s been gathered over time. Add your finds piece by piece for an eclectic, uncontrived look that gives your outdoor space loads of nostalgic character. Keep your eyes open for bargains and you’ll be creating a charming vintage garden in no time.
