Make your own garden decorations: ten creative ideas

An old bicycle that is painted red is standing in a garden. Flowers are blossoming in baskets on the handlebars and on the bike rack. — You can easily and cheaply make your own garden decorations – made partly from old objects.

Would you like to give your garden a new look? Whether big or small, modern or more natural looking, garden decorations are always a good idea. And you don’t necessarily need to buy them because you can just as well make your own from old, used objects and natural materials, for example.

As a rule: less is more! Too many garden accessories could overcrowd your garden and before you know it, it has lost its charm. That’s why you should take into account larger garden objects when planning out your garden.

We’ll show you ten ideas for how you can easily and cheaply make your very own personalised garden decorations from different materials.

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Upcycling ideas

Colourful flowers and other green plants are growing in an old suitcase.

A wooden pallet is hanging securely on the wall of a house. Colourful wellies with flowers growing inside of them are sitting on top of it.

On the left, you can see a DIY shelf made out of an old wooden door under a pergola. On the right, flowerpots with flowers are resting on a white shelf made out of an old window.

The upcycling trend also applies to garden decorations because nowadays sustainability is a true way of life. Old, broken and used objects are just waiting to be turned into something new in your garden. You can create unique decorations that will turn heads with a couple of simple tricks and tools from our wide range of 18-volt POWER FOR ALL cordless systems as well as from our POWER FOR ALL ALLIANCE partners. And most of the time, this can be done with very little effort.

Whether it’s for your balcony, the front hall or the flower bed, a DIY plant pot made out of an old suitcase or a watering can is definitely something special. If you don’t particularly like how your watering can looks, you can easily spruce it up with masking tape and acrylic paint. All you have to do is cover the watering can with masking tape to create triangle shapes or stripes. Then, simply paint it with acrylic paint and let it dry. As soon as you rip of the tape, you’ll get to see your particular pattern. All you need to do is place a few plants or flowers in the watering can and your self-designed flowerpot is ready!

Is upcycling no longer an alien concept to you? Then maybe you’ll dare to take on a project that requires a bit more preparation and work. Our old wooden door is a real decorative highlight. Under a tree in the garden or on the terrace: The shelf made out of an old, panelled door is an original idea and a stylish upgrade for your outdoor area. At the same time, you create space for flowerpots, lanterns and more. Would you like to know more about upcycling pieces of furniture? Then come take a look at our sustainable projects for upcycling experts.

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Wooden garden decorations

A wooden bird house is hanging in a tree.

Plants are growing in flowerpots made out of tree trunks.

Why consign an old piece of wood to the fire when it can be used to make a pretty decoration for the living room, front hall or the garden? Flowerpots made out of felled tree trunks are sustainable, chic and cost-effective. Here, we’ll show you how to do it, one step at a time. And there’s more: Our UniversalChain 18 will help you fell any tree in your garden.

As another option for a nice wooden decoration, you could make your own birdhouse. There are lots of different options for building a safe shelter for the little birdies during mating season. One version is our birdhouse. We’ll show you how to build it in a few simple steps. Once it’s ready for the birds to move in, there will be no end to the chirping and singing in your garden.

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Concrete garden decorations

A stone water bowl for birds is standing in a flower bed.

Three concrete stools are standing in a garden. Their seats are made of old fish nets.

Round, decorated concrete slabs have been laid in the lawn of a rock garden to serve as a path.

Are you still not tired of the bird symphony in your garden? Then be inspired by our DIY concrete bird bath. With two different sized containers and concrete, you can easily make the water bowl yourself. A sanding sponge will be useful for removing the uneven edges and surfaces of the concrete bowl for the finishing touches. This step is when you give your custom bird bath a unique look. You also prevent animals from injuring themselves on the sharp edges. Alright animal lovers, let’s get started!

Concrete can be used to make a whole variety of different garden decorations. If you’re still in need of a garden path or a paved path, you can simply make round pieces and draw shapes into the concrete using a metal rod. By placing your art pieces one after the other, you will create a very special garden path. This will lend a lovely atmosphere to the path to your gazebo or cosy country house. Concrete can also be made into pretty stools. Would you like to see what they look like? Then take a look at our guide.

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Rusty garden decorations

On the left, you can see a rusted metal bird on the bark of a tree. On the right, herbs are standing in a rusted watering can on a wooden table.

Plant pots made out of old rain gutters are hanging on a stone wall. Plants are growing in the rain gutters.

Letting things rust on purpose? Why would anyone want to do that? Because it’s trendy, that’s why! That’s the reason many antique and vintage lovers nowadays are opting for patina – and it’s easy to do yourself. This saves money and gives you the desired look.

But how does rust form anyway? It’s easy: A chemical reaction occurs when ferrous metals, such as iron and steel, come into contact with water and oxygen, a process referred to as oxidation. The result of oxidation is the reddish-brown rust that we’re all familiar with.

There are different options for conjuring up a nice decorative piece in the look you want. Since ferrous metals take quite some time to rust, this is not an option for those in a hurry. If you’re looking to speed up the oxidation process, you’re going to need a decoration item made of bare or galvanised steel, sandpaper and pool cleaner, hydrochloric acid or acetic acid.

Let the object that you would like to have rust sit for approximately 12 hours in the solution made of pool cleaner, hydrochloric acid or acetic acid. For the pool cleaner solution, we recommend a mixture of ¼ cleaner and ¾ water. For hydrochloric and acetic acids, use a mixture of 5-–10 per cent acid and 90–95 per cent water. After 12 hours have passed, carefully remove the item from the solution and rinse thoroughly with water. Now, roughen the metal with some sandpaper. This makes it easier for water and acid to penetrate the material, accelerating the oxidation process. At this point, you’re going to have to be a little patient. Place the item in your garden and leave it to the mercy of the elements. You’ll start to see the first results after it has had its first shower of rain.

But you can also turn objects from your garden that rust on their own can into pretty decoration highlights. This is a great way to recycle things, such as an old rain gutter. Don’t throw out your old rain gutter when replacing it with a new one; instead, you can turn it into a vertical garden on the wall. Roof gutters that are filled with plants look great on outdoor walls. Adding plants to a wall is an easy way to provide a unique space for various herbs, wildflowers or even a head of lettuce. We’ll show you how to build your very own vertical garden. You can find even more ideas for adding plants to your wall here.

Be careful when handling acids!

Before you get started with speeding up the oxidation process, make sure to put on protective clothing because hydrochloric and acetic acids can cause serious injuries and damage your health. Be sure to protect yourself.

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Garden decorations with light and fire

A wooden table with a built-in fire pit is standing on a terrace. Logs are burning inside of it and a hand is adding another log.

Vegetables are being grilled on a DIY barbecue made out of an old washing drum.

Ceiling lights made out of kitchen sieves are secured on a wooden mount.

Paper lanterns, torches inspired by campfires on the beach, or even a good old-fashioned candle in a box are perfect ways to light your garden and give it a cosy atmosphere without requiring any electricity. Especially during those summer nights when you can sit outside with friends or family even longer on the terrace or in the garden. This is the perfect time for a fire pit, which creates a romantic and cosy atmosphere and also makes for a real showpiece. To make sure the fire is always under control, you can stack your wood in a dished head made of stainless steel or for something a little more unusual, in an old washing machine drum. You can find a guide for your barbecue made out of an old washing drum here. This design is also perfect for a simple fire on a beautiful summer’s eve.

However, small lights, such as solar-powered lamps of different sizes, colours and shapes, can also create a cosy atmosphere. Or maybe you’d prefer something like a chic lamp made out of a kitchen sieve with a retro feel to it? You must have an old sieve lying around somewhere that you don’t need anymore. You can use it to build your very own unique lamp that makes use of its holes to create cool lighting effects on your terrace. Are you interested in more upcycling ideas like these ones? We’ll show you seven brilliant projects.