15 DIY Outdoor Decorating Projects That You Should Try

1. Hanging Planter Platform

Display small potted plants on a hanging platform. Drill six equally spaced holes through a live-edge circle round, using a bit large enough to make a hole you can thread twine through. Determine the hanging height, then double it and add about a foot. Cut three pieces of twine to this length. Thread twine through three drilled holes, leaving about 4 inches below the round, then thread a wood bead onto the short end and knot. Thread the other end of the twine through the opposite hole, add a bead, and knot. Repeat with the two remaining strands and use an S hook to hang the platform, adjusting for height.

 

2. DIY Outdoor Candle

Upcycle an old terra-cotta pot into a DIY outdoor candle. Brush a coat of paint on the pot, and once it’s dry, sand it to create a rustic look. Cover the pot’s hole with a penny or pebble, then mix citronella oil into melted wax and pour enough in make a candle. Citronella oil helps repel mosquitoes.

 

3. DIY Outdoor Candleholders

Light up your porch or patio with stylish outdoor candleholders. Screw or glue together two square wood bases, one slightly smaller than the other. Cut wood garden stakes to size—these lanterns are 12 inches and 14 inches high—removing the pointed ends. Measure and cut pieces to fit between the taller stakes, then glue them together. Once dry, drill or glue the vertical uprights to the base. Finish by adding a glass votive and candle to each.

 

4. Outdoor Planter Boxes

Fashion 6-foot cedar fence boards into plant pot slipcovers. After trimming off dog-eared ends from the boards, cut into 1-foot-long pieces. You will need 12 for the tall pot and eight for the shorter pot. Use waterproof glue to adhere three boards into a slab (two for the shorter slipcover), then repeat three more times. Weigh the slabs down to keep them flat while they’re drying. For the vertical corner boards, cut eight 12-inch pieces from 1×2 cedar boards. Arrange the slabs into a cube and use a drill or pin nailer to attach two uprights at each corner.

 

5. DIY Garden Obelisk

Create vertical interest in the garden with an obelisk over vines or other climbing plants. Gather bamboo stakes and twine from a garden or home center, and stick seven stakes in the ground around your plant. Wrap twine near the top of the bamboo to stabilize the arrangement. Weave more twine around the middle and bottom of the structure to further secure the stakes. As you wrap the twine, wind it once fully around each bamboo stake so that it stays in place.

 

6. Color-Block Concrete Planter

Give basic concrete containers a colorful update. Create a color-block effect by portioning off a section of the planter with masking tape, then add color with spray paint. Let it dry, then fill with your favorite flowers or plants.

 

7. Colorful Rope-Wrapped Pots

Add texture and color to a plain terra-cotta pot. Wrap a long strand of twine or rope around a pot (the exact length depends on the size of the container) and secure the ends with hot glue. Paint designs on the rope with colorful latex paint.

 

8. Fabric-Covered Stepping-Stones

Bring your favorite fabric outdoors to enhance your stepping stones. Not counting the drying time, this outdoor craft takes only 30 minutes to put together. Simply attach a fabric cutout to pavers with polyurethane seal and let everything dry.

 

9. Flowerpot Birdhouse

A simple terra-cotta flowerpot easily becomes a cute birdhouse with the help of a few basic crafts supplies. Secure the pot to a sturdy surface, such as a fence, and add a wooden plaque with a drilled hole. Then sit back, relax, and get ready to watch your feathered friends.

 

10. No-Sew Burlap Wrap

Use no-sew burlap wraps to cover basic plastic pots housing large shrubs and plants. Start with a few yards of burlap, then fold them over the planter as if you were wrapping a present. Secure the fabric with hot glue, then embellish it with painted patterns.

 

11. DIY House Numbers

House numbers serve an important purpose when guests come to visit, so make sure they stand out. If your front door is far from the street, mount a set near your walkway. Add more emphasis to metal numbers by mounting them on a piece of wood, or add a colorful background with spray paint.

 

12. Mini Succulent Garden

This miniature succulent container garden takes only a few minutes to assemble. Start by pouring soil into an 18-inch pot, then add rocks, a taller plant, and succulent cuttings. Finish with colorful tumbled glass, lava rock, and white pumice to incorporate a variety of textures.

 

13. Wine Bottle Chimes

Save a few empty wine bottles to repurpose as DIY outdoor decor. Make this wind chime by wrapping the necks of empty wine bottles in aluminum wire, then hang them from a pergola, overhang, or tree.

 

14. Outdoor String Lights

Hang string lights in any space that could benefit from a soft glow, such as near a deck, she-shed, or patio. If you have no outdoor outlets, opt for battery-operated string lights. Add personality to your outdoor lighting with simple DIY updates, like colorful paper shades.

15. Wildflower Outdoor Centerpiece

You can make a sweet centerpiece for your outdoor patio table in five minutes. Simply arrange Mason jars of varying sizes on the tabletop and fill them halfway with water. Gather freshly cut wildflowers to arrange inside.