Charming and Stylish Garden Decor Ideas for Every Season
Having a garden is just the first step in creating a beautiful backyard. Once you’ve chosen the layout and the plants you want to grow, you need to add the final decorative elements. Consider these touches as the backyard equivalent of hanging pictures on the wall or placing decorative pieces and candles on a table.
Decorating your backyard is about giving your backyard character and individuality. Some garden decor ideas are cutesy, some artistic, and others sleek and modern. What you choose for your garden will depend on your personality and what you want your garden to say about you and your home.
1. Purposeful Garden Decor Ideas
Your garden decoration doesn’t have to be just pretty. It can also serve a functional purpose. If you have a fire pit in your backyard, why not turn your log storage into something decorative? Choose a metal rack that allows you to store multiple log sizes. That way, you always have wood on hand for an impromptu campfire.
One common outdoor decor idea is to have a birdbath. It can be more than just a shallow bowl that holds water. It can be on a decorative pedestal or have cute bird figurines on the side. If you’re growing herbs, you can even have decorative signs labeling each plant. These are more than just simple signs though, as they can be handmade or pottery signs with a unique character.
2. Stylish Planters and Pots
You don’t have to stick all of your plants in the ground. You can create visual interest in your garden by placing some of the plants in decorative pots. Using terracotta pots will give your garden a traditional look. The rich color of the terracotta is beautiful, rustic, and warm.
If you don’t have a lot of room, you can create a small garden using mason jars for your pots. Or you can have a ceramic or clay bowl with several succulents growing in it.
Don’t be afraid to get creative with your plant stands. You can use cut-in-half wine, bourbon, or whiskey barrels. Or how about an old claw foot bathtub that you’ve filled with soil? You can even find metal stands that look like everyday objects with holders for your pots built in. Whatever planter or pot you choose, look for ones that help you add height to your garden to create different levels.
3. Fence and Wall Solutions
If you have a fence surrounding your garden, then this is the perfect chance to add a bit more decor. You can have decorative wrought iron panels mounted on the wood or alternate metal and wood panels for an elegant and modern-looking garden fence.
Consider DIY garden decor ideas for a personalized touch. Try painting a colorful mural on the wall or install decorative lighting to create a unique effect when the sun sets. There’s also the option of turning your fence into a living wall. You can grow mosses and succulents on a panel. Just be careful with this idea–succulents can be surprisingly heavy, and you’ll need to reinforce the wall to support the extra weight.
4. Create an Inviting Atmosphere
Adding a fire pit to your garden gives you a focal point and the perfect gathering spot. Choose a modern design that creates ambiance. You won’t feel a lot of heat from them, but they’ll produce an interesting visual effect.
Another option is to use your fire pit to create an outdoor living space. Buy a portable pre-made metal pit or custom-build your fire pit from stone or pavers. You’ll be able to build the exact size fire pit to fit in your garden. Place benches or outdoor sofas around it for a place to lounge outside and enjoy the weather.
5. Enchanting Garden Structures
If you have a covered outdoor space, you have the perfect frame for growing vining plants. If you don’t have a covered area, then consider building some form of shelter. You can have a gazebo, pergola, or arch. The one you choose will depend on the amount of coverage you’re looking for and the square footage you have available.
Once you have your structure, check out garden design ideas to pick a flowering plant or two that will vine its way up. Colorful flowers and blooms will surround you. If you live in the right climate, you can even grow grapes or lemons. However, keep in mind that both of these have heavier vines that require a more solid structure for support.
6. Adding Artistic Touches
Look for ways you can create a unique appearance for your garden. There are local artists everywhere that use a variety of materials to create custom garden art. You can add to your garden design by placing a few art pieces that look like animals. Many garden ideas suggest placing this art hidden among your plants. They’ll be a beautiful surprise as you wander through your garden.
If you have an empty garden area, then consider placing one enormous art piece. It will serve as a crowning statement piece and focal point in your backyard. Look for art that will be durable when left outside long term. Metal, glass, cork, and hardwood are all beautiful and durable materials.
See more about - 73 Shade Garden Ideas
7. Elevate Your Outdoor Space
Furniture is a common element of outdoor garden decor ideas. You need a place where you can sit down and relax in your backyard. Even if you only have a small balcony, you should have somewhere where you can sit and enjoy a cup of coffee or an evening drink.
If you have enough space, you can create an outdoor living room setup. Place a loveseat or sofa with an accent chair or two. You don’t need a lot of space, though. A small cafe table and a pair of chairs are all you need.
8. Incorporating Garden Statues
Statues are an easy way to add decorative elements to your garden. They’re durable and beautiful. Look for sculptures that complement the style of garden you want to create. A garden gnome is a popular choice, but some people find them creepy. Modern gardens look good with abstract ornaments.
Garden statues come in several materials. Try adding several types to your garden for visual interest and variety. You can have glass figurines, metal sculptures, or stone creations of all kinds.
If you have lots of flowers and other plants that need pollinating, consider adding a birdbath and bird feeder. This will encourage birds to make your backyard their home and foster stronger growth.
9. Illuminating Your Garden
Adding lighting to your garden gives you the ability to enjoy the beauty of the space after the sun goes down. You can do this with string lights that you hang across the entire garden. They’ll create a warm, soft glow over the entire space and illuminate your outdoor area.
For a more decorative approach, try adding fairy lights to your garden. These are small LEDs that will twinkle and glow. They typically aren’t bright enough to create bright light but are more of a decorative element to highlight specific areas of your garden. If you have a pergola or gazebo, you can string the lights on it for a fairy garden effect. Choose ones that twinkle for a starry night look.
10. Embrace Contemporary Charm
Potted plants are a great way to create a modern garden design. Try using large pavers or flat stones to create a smooth and trim lawn. Then create a green space by arranging large pots with several plants in each. Choose pots in modern colors, like black or white. They should have long straight lines and smooth curves with minimal ornamentation.
Modern gardens use a combination of materials. You can have large stepping stones through your pond or a wood deck overlooking your water feature. Create borders and trim with a moat of river rocks. Skip the messy-looking flowering plants and stick with simple greenery that you can keep trim and neat.
11. Guiding the Way
You need to have pathways throughout your garden. This makes it easier to enjoy your work and maintain your plants. A modern garden will use pavers, concrete, or wood. For a rustic garden look, you can use pea gravel for a natural-looking path. If you want to create a vintage garden, use salvaged bricks or flat stones.
If you have a large yard, your flower bed may not take up the entire backyard. Then your pathway will connect your flower bed to the other areas of the yard. Perhaps it leads from the patio to the garden and then around to the fire pit.
12. Tranquility and Beauty
Water features can be a lot of work, depending on the type and size you decide to add. Even a small fountain will add natural noise and calming sound effects to your garden. The only other way you can add sound to your garden is with a wind chime, and they can be more annoying than the gentle sound of running water.
If you’re ready to commit to a serious water feature, consider adding a fish pond with a fountain. You’ll need to care for the fish and maintain the fountain hardware. However, it’s well worth it for the calming effect it’ll have on you and the entire space. For fish, consider koi, but be warned; they are expensive. Goldfish are a much more affordable alternative.
FAQs
How can I decorate my garden for cheap?
Buy plain terra cotta pots and paint them with a decorative design. Take two old wood ladders and arrange them into an A-frame. Rest wood planks across the rungs to create a shelving system. Add some battery-powered fairy light strings to some of your plants. Create decorative wall designs by using painted picture frames that have moss and succulents growing in them.
How do you make a boring garden interesting?
Arrange your plants so that they create a decorative border design, and then add tall plants that will sway and move. This creates action and visual interest. Add decorative statues and objects around the garden. If your garden is all green, plant some colorful flowering plants to inject some color.
What can I put in my garden corner?
Whether it’s your garden or home, there’s always a dead corner that sits empty, and you can never figure out what to do with it. If the corner is large enough, you could build a small outbuilding or shed for your garden supplies. A small bench in the corner gives you somewhere to sit. A statue will give your garden a sense of elegance.
