Upcycled Delights: Affordable DIY Yard Makeovers That’ll Leave You Speechless

Create A Succulent Holder With Old Lanterns

Cleaning out your garage or basement? These areas often become a catch-all storage for old appliances and other household items that we no longer have any use for, but don’t want to throw away. You can easily turn an old pair of lanterns or similar products into succulent holders! If you want to get fancy, you can even create an antique pulley system like the one in this photo to match the aesthetics of the old lanterns. For the simplest version of this idea, all you need is a couple of old lanterns and some rope. Hang the lanterns at slightly different heights from your porch or garden fence. Then, place your succulents on the lanterns and step back to enjoy this unique garden decor.

Use An Old Ladder In Place Of A Trellis

Climbing plants need plenty of space to grow and weave their vines through the garden. Most people will use a simple trellis, but if you’re trying to save money and find ways to upcycle the everyday items in your home, then this tip is for you! Grab one of your old wooden ladders out of the garage or shed and use it in place of a trellis. Not only will the ladder provide plenty of space for your climbing plants, but it also adds plenty of character to your garden. The best part? It won’t cost you a dime! However, if you want to get really fancy with it, you can also spruce up the ladder before using it. Give it a quick sanding, splash on a fresh coat of stain or paint, and put it to work.

Make Old Wheelbarrows Part Of The Story

Creating a story with your pieces will set your upcycled yard and garden apart from the crowd. Take a look at this old, rusted-out wheelbarrow. It clearly won’t work for its original purpose anymore, but that’s no reason to toss it to the curb! Instead, make it a part of the story of your garden. Tip the wheelbarrow on its side and add plenty of potting soil. Plant an array of gorgeous flowers inside and around the wheelbarrow. When the flowers burst into bloom, you’ll have an eye-catching and attention-grabbing display right in the middle of your garden. And now, your wheelbarrow has a purpose! Of course, you can’t trash it now. It supports the growth of your flowers and gives them a little bit of protection from the elements. This will also make an excellent conversation piece when guests visit.

Use Natural Elements As Inspiration

Are you worried your creativity won’t live up to your expectations? Don’t fret! All you need to do is look around at all the beautiful, natural elements in your yard to find inspiration for your next DIY project. This project will give your yard a unique focal point that looks completely natural and almost magical. Here’s what you’ll need to create a gorgeous leafy waterfall in your backyard: a textured leaf, a large box, sand, a spray bottle, a garbage bag, a bucket, quick-dry cement, a stir stick, cooking spray, and plastic gloves. We recommend looking up a video tutorial on the proper way to cast a large, textured leaf with quick-dry cement. It’s a relatively easy process that won’t take long and will last for years!

Create A Display For Your Potted Plants

It’s wonderful to have potted plants in the garden. Many people keep potted plants on their porches or scattered around their gardens, but we have an epic DIY upcycling idea that will give you a cute, rustic display for your favorite potted plants. Grab an old wooden ladder out of your attic or basement that you’re no longer using. Take it into your garden and lean it against a fence, tree, or the side of your porch. Then, use the shelves to hold your most prized plants. You can even take this a step further by decorating the ladder and giving it a fresh coat of paint or stain. Adding some knickknacks among your plants is another super cute idea that will elevate this upcycled display even further. Put some garden gnomes, dragons, or fairies on the shelves. Hang windchimes from the top edges or hang stain-glassed fireflies or other creatures. This will easily become one of your favorite spots in the garden!

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Rustic DIY Plant Holder

Do you have a few dull, unappealing plant holders lying around that you don’t know what to do with? All you need are a few easy-to-find decorative items to transform those plant holders from boring to rustic and attractive. Grab a super cheap burlap sack and a thick length of twine rope. Wrap the burlap around the plant holder and tie the rope around it. Make sure to finish off the tie with a large, nautical-looking knot like the one in this picture for added aesthetics. The earthy brown and natural texture of the burlap combined with the old-fashioned rope will give your plant holders a brand new persona! You can also use other weather-proof materials like colored tarps to create a unique look that perfectly matches the rest of your yard.

Garden Pinwheels From Aluminum Cans

Who doesn’t love seeing a colorful display of pinwheels in the garden? This adorable craft project will allow you to upcycle things you’d normally toss in the recycling bin while adding a delightful pop of color and whimsy to your garden. Save up all the aluminum cans you use in a few weeks or a month, and then carefully cut them into different-sized strips. Layer the strips and combine them to create flower shapes, as shown in the photo. Then, attach them to a long pole and stick them in your garden. These gorgeous pinwheels will be a vibrant display of your craftiness and the joys of upcycling. Just make sure you wash those cans out very thoroughly before you begin working with them.

DIY Garden Lighting

Finding magical ways to light the path through your garden in the evening is one of the most fulfilling parts of creating your dream garden. There are plenty of traditional walkway lighting options, including lanterns, fairy lights, lights that look like natural objects like stones, and others. However, we’re here to show you awesome DIY upcycling ideas, so take note of this one! Grab yourself some solar lights and a couple of glass housings like the one in this photo. The solar lights won’t rely on batteries or traditional electricity to run, and they’ll create a mystical glow in your garden in the evenings. You don’t even have to buy glass housings to place them in, either. You could use old bird cages, large mason jars, or other objects you have lying around. Place them on tables, chairs, pillars, or just on the edges of your walkway to create a lighted path through your garden.

DIY Upcycled Garden Owls

This has to be one of the cutest ideas on this list! You can easily create a few little owls to watch over your garden with a few simple items from your home. All you’ll need for this project is some washed-out aluminum cans, wire, string or twine, and a handful of large and small bottlecaps. Make the aluminum cans the body of your owl. You can leave them bare like the ones in this photo or apply a coat of paint or stain to give them an extra pop of color and personality. Glue the larger bottlecaps on for eyes and glue the smaller bottlecaps inside the larger ones. Then, use the wire to attach the cans to a tree branch (or atop your fence or where ever else you’d like!) and use the rope to tie it up. You can also use material you have around the home for a nose or paint one on. This will add an adorable aesthetic touch to your yard and make for a fun surprise for visitors!

Make A Mini-Greenhouse With A Window Frame

Tender, young plants need time to grow and strengthen before they can be left to the elements. Many gardeners like to keep sensitive young plants indoors until it’s safe to transition them outside, but we have a unique idea that will give you an excellent spot to care for your young plants while creating a rustic and adorable decor piece for your yard. You can make a mini-greenhouse, also known as a cold frame, out of an old window frame. All you need is an old window and a wooden box like the one in this photo- the wheels are totally optional. Put your younglings in the mini-greenhouse and watch them flourish in its protected environment. As an added bonus, this can also double as a coffee table for your porch!

Avoid Slugs And Appease The Fae

There are a couple of things that every dedicated and superstitious gardener knows. The first is that slugs are pests that will eat all your gorgeous greens. The second is that garden fairies can be helpful creatures and enhance the growth of your garden, but only if you provide them with an offering. While these two concepts don’t seem to be related, they can both be solved with this simple DIY penny ball! All you need is a spherical object and a handful of copper coins. Glue the pennies onto the ball and place it somewhere in your garden near your plants. The copper will ward off those pesky slugs while also acting as an offering to appease the fae! Solve two issues at once with this adorable and simple DIY craft project.

Upcycle Old Utensils Into Windchimes

When old utensils get worn down and unusable, most people chuck them in the bin. But there are ways to bring new life to your old utensils and add some charm to your garden. Gather all the worn, unusable utensils from your drawer and scour some local flea markets to complete the set, if necessary. Then, grab thin wire or string and hang the utensils in groups in your garden. You can hang them from tree branches, the roof of your porch, or a fence. The utensils will make an adorable clinking noise in the wind and also give your garden a unique aesthetic. Assuming you grab old utensils out of your kitchen drawer and string from inside your home, all this project will cost you is a few minutes of your time!

A Delightful Gardener’s Wreath

Hoses are a necessity to have in every gardener’s toolbox, but they don’t last forever. What do you do with old hoses that don’t work? Most people would simply toss them or shove them into their shed, never to be seen again. But we have a way better idea that will allow you to breathe new life into those hoses! Grab all your cold hoses and coil them up. Then, hung them on the side of your porch or shed. Throw in some natural elements like moss and flowers. Any gardening tools you don’t use anymore and were planning on tossing can also be weaved in with the ropes. Add a few decorative touches around the wreath itself, like old watering cans and plant potters. Last, step back and admire your gorgeous new wreath! This is an awesome way to bring some fun into your garden and upcycle a ton of old ropes, tools, and gardening accessories all at once.

Repurpose Old Mirrors

Finding adorable decor for your patio doesn’t have to be limited to what you can find online and in thrift stores. There are a ton of great ideas using items you already have in your home. Old mirrors that no longer match your decor or work in your home can easily be repurposed outside. Put one up on the wall of your home or porch to add a glittering, reflective decoration that will enhance your space. Look at how beautifully the leaves of the trees are reflected in the mirror in this picture! You could set mirrors up in front of bird feeders for awe-inspiring photo ops or place a few strategically around your porch for maximum nature reflections.

Turn a Bowl Into A Bird Feeder

All you need to do is a quick internet search to see the wide variety of DIY bird feeders that exist in the world. Many people transform empty milk or other drink cartons into bird feeders, but these will get unusable after a single instance of rain, so we’re bringing you another option. All you need for this to work is an old bowl with no cracks, a rubber band, string, glue, and bird food. Glue a rubber band around the bowl, as seen in the picture. Use the string to tie the bowl off to a tree branch or another high structure where birds are likely to see it. Then, add bird food to your feeder. The size of your bowl will determine which birds get into the feeder, and you could use multiple bowls of different sizes to provide access to different bird species in your yard.

Transforming Trash Into Treasure

One of the most fulfilling parts of upcycling is knowing you’re transforming trash into treasure. Things that would normally get thrown away, like old hoses or mirrors, can be reimagined and given new purpose. The trash we’re suggesting transforming in this trick is old tires! You can easily turn an old car tire into a plant holder with a few simple tools and some creativity. Give the tire a thorough wash first- you don’t want any oil or brake dust left on the tire. Then, give the tire a new personality with a fresh coat of paint. The white-washed look of the tire in this photo is gorgeous, but let your creativity run wild! Paint it a bright pink to match your carnations or a vibrant shade of orange to match your marigolds. Feel free to decorate the tire any way you’d like! This is a great project for the entire family to work on!

DIY Potting Shed

Do you want a cute little potting shed for your yard but don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars buying one from your local gardening center? We have the perfect solution for you! This DIY project requires a little more elbow grease than some of the others on this list, but we guarantee it’ll be worth it. This project is perfect for someone handy who enjoys doing their own projects around the home. All you need are a few old doors, some wood, metal roofing, and a few tools like a drill and screws. Grab a few old doors that are roughly the same size and shape. If you don’t have any lying around, check out your local buy-nothing groups and flea markets! Then, attach the doors with your screws. Place a wooden slate on the top and a piece of metal roofing over that and secure it in place. The result? An adorable, rustic potting shed that will be the envy of all your friends and neighbors!

Create A Little Bee Bath

Most gardeners love creating little spots for animals and helpful insects to gather in their yards. Bees are the best pollinators in the world, and they’d greatly appreciate a little bee bath and drinking spot in your yard. After all, you want the bees to feel welcome, so they’ll continue taking care of your plants! This is a super simple project that will only take a couple of minutes but will add a gorgeous touch to your yard. All you need is an old bowl or plate that’s capable of holding water. Place it somewhere in your garden where the bees are likely to come across it. Fill it with water, and then add a handful of stones. The bees will land on the stones and be able to drink without getting their wings wet. Place a few of these throughout your garden for maximum results.

Turn An Old Grill Into A Flower Pot

We’ve talked a lot about the different items you can transform into plant pots, like old tires! However, using an old appliance like a grill is taking it to another level of upcycling! There isn’t much you can do with an old grill that doesn’t work or is no longer safe to use. Most of the time, this will get tossed or pushed to a corner of the porch where spiders and other creatures take it over. However, you can easily transform an old grill into a flower/plant pot. Just fill it with potting soil and transfer your favorite colorful plants or flowers into it. Not only is this cute and functional, but it can also last for years! The metal structure of the grill is likely to outlast most traditional flower pots, so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth out of it with this trick.

Transform A Wooden Pallet Into A Coffee Table

A lot of people have moved away from simple, rustic-looking porches. Instead, they work to create an outdoor space that mimics the feel of the inside. That usually entails comfortable sitting spaces, outdoor throw pillows, and a coffee table. If you’d rather not purchase a new coffee table for your porch and want to include a touch of natural elements, this trick is for you! Take an old wooden pallet and transform it into a coffee table with a few simple steps. Check the pallet for any large splinters or cracks and sand down any rough areas. Give the pallet a fresh coat of weather-resistant paint or stain. We recommend using a bright, vibrant color to help it pop. Optionally, you can also attach wheels to the bottom to make it easy to move around. And there you have it! A fully functional, upcycled coffee table for your porch.

DIY Firepit Ideas

One of the most important focal points of a person’s yard or garden is their firepit! This is often the place where everyone gathers in the evening, tells stories, sips hot chocolate, and roasts marshmallows. You want to have a gorgeous space with plenty of ambiance that invites relaxation and conversation. There are a ton of excellent ideas for creating a firepit that transcends the traditional brick pit. Of course, if you have spare bricks or large stones lying around, these make for excellent firepit material. But there are also plenty of other things you can use. You can use leftover pieces of metal, concrete, steel, and more! If you’re a handy person who loves to do DIY projects, then you likely have some of these materials lying around. Feel free to combine different materials to create a unique firepit that will make your yard stand out. Just make sure to watch a few tutorial videos to ensure your firepit is safe!

Create A Garden Arbor Out Of Scraps

Everyone loves a nice garden arbor! They’re adorable and create a magical atmosphere that gives your yard a whimsical quality. Most people probably think you need to be a trained carpenter to build your own garden arbor, but it’s actually way easier than you’d imagine! All you need are some scraps of wood that are about the same size, screws, and a drill. You can make it even easier on yourself by using old screen doors for the sides. You can remove the screens for aesthetics or keep them in place for a little bit of bug-proofing. Follow a super easy online tutorial and you can have this project completed in an afternoon! Plus, if you don’t have any wood scraps lying around your yard, it’s super easy to find them for free in local groups or at flea markets.

Transform Old Furniture Into Flower Pots

We absolutely love this idea! Taking an old dresser that is no longer needed or works in your home and transforming it into an eccentric, layered flower pot is an original idea that we guarantee your friends have never seen before! All you need is an old dresser and things you already have in your garden! Take the dresser and make sure to clean it out well. This is also a good time to give your dresser a new coat of weather-resistant paint or stain if you’d like. Or, you can leave the previous paint behind if you don’t mind a weathered, rustic look. Then, pull out the drawers to slightly different lengths and fill them with potting soil. Next, transfer your favorite plants into the drawers. Make sure your tie the back of the dresser to something or weigh it down to keep it from tilting over. Use the top of the dresser to hold more potted plants or gardening tools! It’s gorgeous, unique, and makes a perfect addition to any garden.

Create Modern Art Sculptures Using Literally Anything

One of the best parts of modern art is the incorporation of everyday objects. People create sculptures all the time out of old, unused items, and it’s one of the sparks that flamed the upcycling movement in recent years. Here’s a cute idea that will give your yard a little extra personality and create an interesting conversation piece. Take pieces of galvanized piping and arrange them into a cactus shape. You can also create yard art sculptures using metal sheets, aluminum cans, old pots & pans, old utensils, and so much more! Seriously, if you’re unsure about how you can upcycle something, just get creative with it and turn it into a piece of modern art.

Corner Sofa Made With Repurposed Wood

Let’s be honest- garden furniture is expensive! While it’s necessary to have somewhere comfortable and relaxing to sit so you can enjoy your upcycled yard, not everyone wants to drop hundreds or even thousands of dollars on an outdoor corner sofa for their yard. Instead, get crafty and create your own! This project will require more time and effort than most on this list, but the result is stunning. Gather some old wooden boards from around your home, flea markets, and local groups. You’ll need proper measurements to make sure this comes out well and the ability to screw the boards together securely. But when you’re done, you’ll have a rustic, natural-looking corner sofa that’s comfortable and fully upcycled.

DIY Lanterns

Are you looking for an adorable, casual lighting option for your patio table during the evenings? Lanterns are always a solid choice, but they can get expensive, and they don’t fulfill your desire to upcycle! Instead, try this trick on for size. Grab old aluminum tins and cans out of your recycling and make sure they’re fully washed and dried. Then, decide on the designs you want for your lanterns. The ones in this photo follow a bit of a Halloween and spooky theme with the word “Boo” and a classic jack-o-lantern face, but you can do any design you want! Use a permanent marker to outline your design, then punch out the holes. Then, place a candle inside the lanterns and light them. You’ll have beautiful, creative, upcycled lanterns that can be used for years!

DIY Mosaic Garden Stepping Stone

Garden stepping stones add a beautiful, whimsical touch to your yard. Stepping stones come in all shapes and sizes, but they’re also one of the easiest things to make yourself! This gives you an amazing opportunity to upcycle things you’d ordinarily have to throw away, so you’ll want to make sure to take note of this idea. Get a large, flat stone or piece of cement to use as a base. Then, decide what you want to use on top. Old, broken pieces of china and other dishware work wonderfully for this purpose. Glue the pieces down and let them dry fully before you put it in your yard. This is a great project to let your creativity run wild!

Repurpose Unused Pieces Of Other Projects

Sometimes we overestimate the number of supplies we need for our DIY projects. However, the left-behind scraps can still serve a purpose! Use scraps from other projects to create a gorgeous garden path. This photo shows this idea with leftover porch slates, but there are a ton of options you can use. Did you redo your kitchen floor recently? Use the old tile or any excess new tiles to create an adorable path through your garden. Perhaps you just redid the siding on your home or replaced the backsplash in your kitchen. Unused pieces from those projects would also work well for this purpose. Don’t have enough scraps from a single project to create a garden path? Don’t worry! Mix and match leftover pieces from multiple projects for an eccentric and unique garden path to imbue your garden with creativity.

Turn Soup Cans Into Individual Fence Planters

We love the look of these individual fence planters, and they’ll easily become the star of your garden! All you need are some empty soup cans and your usual gardening supplies. Make sure the cans are thoroughly washed and dried before you start doing anything more with them. Give the cans a nice coat of paint to add a pop of color to your yard. Poke out holes in the back of the chains and screw them into your fence. Then, fill the cans with potting soil and add your favorite colorful plants. Set the cans at different levels and uneven distances from each other for a bit of whimsy.

Turn An Old Cupboard Into A Garden Supply Center

Think about how convenient having a set-up like this would be! Having a center for all your gardening supplies right on your porch or in your yard will make all your gardening activities much easier. All you need is an old, unused cupboard. If you don’t have one in your garage, then you can easily find one for free online or for very cheap at a flea market or thrift store. Sand any rough spots and add a fresh coat of paint or stain to give it new life. Then, fill the drawers and cabinets will all your gardening supplies. You can put more gardening tools on the top or use that space for potted plants. Add hooks on the side of the cupboard for extra storage space.

Horseshoe Flower Garden Decor

This is a cute idea that allows you to reuse some common items you might have lying around. Assuming you don’t have any horseshoes in your garage, check out local flea markets and thrift stores. You can likely find a handful for less than a dollar! Grab some poles and attach little leaf-looking pieces, then attach the horseshoes to the top. Paint the whole thing with vibrant, earthy colors like yellow, green, and blue. They’ll make an adorable addition to the rest of your garden decor, and you can easily move them around your garden to accomodate your space.

Turn Broken Pots Into A Rock Garden

Do you have a bunch of broken plant pots? Don’t throw them away because you can still get some use out of their pieces! Take the broken pieces and lay them in a graveled area in your garden. Then, place a few intact pots on top and fill them with low-maintenance succulents. This will create a unique rock garden using items that you’d normally be forced to toss. Plus, this is something you can keep in your garden for years! The potting plants are designed to survive in rough weather conditions, so the pieces will continue to function for this purpose for as long as you’d like.

Adorable Shovel Art

The last idea we have to offer you is adorable shovel art! Weathered, dull, and rusted shovels often get thrown in the back of a shed or garage, never to see the light of day again. But that doesn’t have to be the case. You can easily transform these shovels into garden decor with a bit of creativity and paint. Get your kids or friends involved and let your imaginations run wild! Paint cute animals or sweet messages onto the shovels and place them around your garden. It’ll give your garden a little extra personality and work as an excellent outlet for your creativity.