10 Surprising Garden Decorations

Garden décor is subjective, and the quirky elements that make you slow down and take notice as you pass by someone's yard deserve recognition, even if they don't reflect a traditional English country garden. The neatly manicured lawns and clipped hedges of the 1950s have evolved into a fresh, creative take on gardens as personal expression. With many now adding outdoor kitchens and family rooms, garden kitsch is experiencing a resurgence. Twenty years ago, we might have chuckled at a neighbor's plastic flowers, but he was likely ahead of his time. Today, anything is possible in garden design – from the timeless to the eccentric – and it's all embraced with a sense of fun.

In the upcoming pages, we'll explore some modern takes on classic garden elements, uncover unexpected additions to our outdoor spaces, and celebrate the strange and marvelous world of unconventional garden décor. A word of caution though, some of it might seem eerie, bizarre, or downright ugly. But as the saying goes, one man's trash... well, you know the rest.

In the following section, we'll explore why fences, doors, and gates in gardens sometimes lead to nowhere.

1. Fences, Doors and Arbors

A common challenge in garden design is adding height without casting the shade typically created by tall trees. In the past, gardeners have used arbors, pergolas, and trellises to support climbing plants, raising the eye above ground level while still allowing sunlight to filter through. These structures were often large, architectural pieces built specifically for this purpose, but the rules have evolved a bit.

If you have an old door, ideally with glass panes, a piece of old fencing, or even a large wooden beam, you can easily add height and create a focal point in your garden without much effort. Repurposing architectural elements in the garden is a simple, budget-friendly way to add interest and elevation to flowerbeds, neglected patches of land, or sun-drenched spots by the side gate. A section of an old telephone pole with a hurricane lamp hanging from it, wrapped in ivy, is an affordable and charming option. Will it look unusual? Sure, but once you accept that fences in gardens don’t always have a purpose, mirrors can hang from trees, and pathways may not lead anywhere, it all comes together quite nicely.

Next, we’ll dive into the world of pots and planters.

2. Planters

If you have a pot, the plants will follow. Gardeners have been repurposing unconventional items as pots for ages. Take the humble car or truck tire, for instance. Why let such a useful item go to waste when it can be cut in half and turned into a home for garden herbs or morning glories? Hang it from a tree, and you instantly add interest – not as a swing, but as a functional garden feature, a place for a plant that might otherwise have been discarded.

Let your creativity soar. What other objects could serve as planters? Old work boots? Used plastic kitty litter containers, big soup cans, outdated lamp bases, or those worn-out cooking pans you no longer need? Here’s a good rule of thumb: if it’s not made of toxic materials and you can drill a hole in it, it could become a planter. After all, the plant is what truly matters.

Still unsure? Head over to your local art print store and check out decorative photos of inventive plant displays, often found near doors and windows. You’ll notice something interesting: many of these are found objects, recycled items that have been transformed by plants into stunning garden art.

In the following section, we’ll explore how gardeners are blending indoor elements with outdoor spaces.

3. Bringing the Indoors -- Outdoors

It was only a matter of time before people started to make themselves truly comfortable outdoors. It began with discarded sofas and upholstered chairs being placed on covered porches, followed by colorful painted wooden rockers on patios. Now, the trend has blossomed, with creative gardeners using almost any discarded indoor item to enhance their outdoor spaces.

Repurpose that old toilet into a planter, drag that vintage claw-foot tub into the yard and transform it into a goldfish pond. If you’ve got an eye for design and a bit of flair, hang a wooden frame from an oak tree and call it outdoor art. As long as it’s safe, anything can be moved into your garden—turn it upside down, plant it, fill it with water, or throw some plywood on top and use it as a table. Show passersby a glimpse of your personality... or theirs. Place a mirror in your side yard so people can see their reflection as they drive by. Turn an old iron bed into a flowerbed or take a more subtle approach by converting your old milk pail into a fountain.

On the following page, we’ll dive into the timeless influences on garden décor.

4. Classic Influences With a Twist

When we imagine classic garden decor, we often envision stone and bronze saints, mythical beings, cherubs, and angels. These ideas were shaped by traditional European gardens, whose elegance made its way across the ocean to the New World. Thanks to mass production, we've created new, yet still timeless, traditions. More affordable and low-maintenance, modern statuary might lean toward quirky choices, like a plaster goose or garden gnome, or the playful, like a couple of pink plastic flamingos. But these pieces often catch the eye and pair well with the greenery.

Plastic, wood, ceramic, concrete, plaster, and terra cotta are all budget-friendly materials that can be turned into nearly any form of garden sculpture. This versatility covers a wide range of styles, and people have very different ideas about what belongs on their porch, patio, or near their pond. If hundreds of plastic garden animals peeking from bushes is your idea of perfection, go for it—just be mindful of the neighborhood association’s opinion if it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

In the upcoming section, we’ll explore the role of water features in the garden.

5. Water Features

Water, water everywhere...well, not quite. At least not in the garden unless it’s raining or you add a water feature. Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to create a babbling brook, build a small river that runs beneath your mini bridge, or transform an old wooden washboard into a fountain or waterfall. With the help of electricity and an aquarium filter, you can enjoy flowing water in your garden all year long. Besides providing soothing sounds to your landscape, the birds will also appreciate a refreshing drink.

If the idea of having water in your garden sounds appealing, you're not alone. Ancient Greek and Persian gardens were known for incorporating water throughout their designs, while Italian Renaissance gardens featured magnificent fountains that added height, visual interest, and distinctive architectural features to their landscapes.

Water itself serves as a perfect environment for plants like water lilies. Many plants thrive in water, and if they don’t, you can always add fish to your pond. Koi and goldfish, for example, are bred to look vibrant from above—making them perfect for a pond display.

Next, we'll delve into the world of folk art in the garden.

6. Folk Art

We've all encountered them: scarecrows, garden chairs crafted from willow, and birdhouses made from wooden shingles and twigs. If you've ever picked up an intriguing piece of wood, a unique shell, or a smooth piece of sea glass, you know the appeal of natural materials. Folk art celebrates these materials and the simplicity and individuality they represent. While mass-produced items bring affordable whimsy to the garden, folk art reminds us that nature can stand beautifully on its own, without refinement, assembly lines, or kitsch.

Transforming simple objects into art for the garden is as old as gardening itself, but new interpretations of traditional folk symbols can make them surprisingly fresh and visually striking. How about a birdhouse crafted from corncobs, or a scarecrow resting among the rose bushes rather than the cornfield? If you're into stone carving, you might appreciate a family headstone in your tree lawn. Folk art garden décor allows you to express your humor and style, using subtle earth tones and natural materials to create something unique—but not outlandish.

Next, we'll explore the impact of Oriental influences on garden design.

7. Oriental Garden Influences

In the typical suburban garden, incorporating Oriental-inspired elements such as bamboo water features, raked gravel, miniature serenity gardens, teahouses, and small pagodas can draw significant attention. These designs look foreign and offer a fresh perspective on familiar garden features. For instance, when paired with bamboo wind chimes, the trunk of your resilient jade plant may resemble that of a bonsai tree.

Oriental gardens are often focused on achieving a sense of balance, tranquility, and harmony within the landscape—qualities that are increasingly valuable. The growing interest in feng shui, both within gardens and beyond, has shifted our view of gardens from simple collections of plants to holistic spaces. The forces of nature are central to feng shui, promising that carefully designed gardens will generate positive energy, potentially resulting in better health, wealth, and fortune. No matter how you interpret the spiritual world in your garden, the influence of Oriental design can create landscapes that stand out and make an impression.

In the next section, we'll explore how to incorporate holiday décor into your garden style.

8. Holiday Glitz

From Christmas lights to hay bales on Halloween and Easter decorations hanging from the trees, what do all these things signify? The holiday spirit is slowly taking over the garden. Gone are the days when the Christmas tree was placed in the living room window and flags were only put out for national celebrations. Now, people are embracing the holiday cheer in their front and backyards, on porches, tree lawns, side yards, and even on their roofs. (After all, Santa does come down the chimney.)

From elaborately decorated haunted houses to towering inflatable yard ornaments, garden art for holidays is becoming a new tradition. While wreaths were once only a staple for Christmas doors, now we see them for every occasion—spring, fall, patriotic holidays, and even for the times in the year that don’t fall under a specific holiday. The business of holiday décor is booming, and it’s not just limited to Christmas.

Since 2003, consumer spending on Halloween has doubled, and it’s not just because of candy. The next time you pass by a neighbor's house filled with Halloween decorations, remember this: Halloween ranks second only to Christmas in retail spending, and outdoor decorating has become a major tradition in many regions of the country [source: The Kitchen Sink].

Next, we will take a closer look at signs and banners, and how they can make an impact on your garden's style.

9. Signs and Banners

As you stroll along your garden path, a simple sign identifying the variety of roses in your flower bed adds a charming touch to your solitary walk. This is a small yet meaningful example of how words in the garden can set a mood or share a message. From political statements to the humble paper banner at your child's lemonade stand, signs provide both information and atmosphere to the outdoor landscape.

Signs are simple to create, whether you choose to mold them in plastic, carve them into wood, or print them on paper. You could embellish the area around your arbor with a gardening poem or stencil the lyrics of your favorite song across the back of your garage. It's a way to express your personal taste, and you can place it wherever you like.

Signs aren't limited to words. Take the "Clothesline of Quilts" project, for example. It involves painting traditional quilt patterns on old barns and has become an enormous success, even leading to a book and multiple websites. Whether in words or images, you can summarize your beliefs or share your passions. Picture it as a stationary bumper sticker, and that's the concept.

Next, we’ll explore the more eccentric side of garden decorations.

10. Weird and Wacky Garden Sculpture

Embrace your garden joys however you see fit. If you're drawn to the quirky and unconventional, go big with something unusual. Rusted-out cars don't only belong in junkyards. Some people choose to place their old car on blocks in the garden, while others transform the car itself into a garden. Fill the interior with dirt, plant some geraniums, and voilà – an instant flowerbed. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it's undeniably one-of-a-kind. From flipped cars to landlocked boats and old cannons, someone, somewhere, will figure out a way to use them in their garden.

The garden serves as a perfect place for showcasing those quirky collections of yours. Maybe you’ve accumulated a bunch of bright-colored bowling balls, or you’ve inherited a collection of garden spades from your grandfather. And don't forget about that spittoon collection your wife refuses to let you display inside. The garden isn't just a junkyard; there's more to it. Our homes have limited space for self-expression. We're restricted by the need to move around and the expectations of others. The garden, however, provides an opportunity to release a bit of tension, share our personality, or push against the norm. Many people find it liberating.

Naturally, if your garden displays will be visible to your neighbors, it’s wise to check any neighborhood association rules. They might not be thrilled about a Chevy parked in the front yard. On the next page, we’ll delve into more garden-related topics.