14 Easy & Cheap Ideas That'll TRANSFORM Your Garden

14 Easy & Cheap Ideas That'll TRANSFORM Your Garden

Is your outdoor space looking a bit drab? Then you need some decor ideas that will transform your garden.

With Summer just around the corner, now's the time to invest a little TLC into our gardens. Your outdoor space should be as well-looked after and accessorised as the inside - it should be a place you really enjoy spending time in.

That's why we've gathered 14 diy garden decor ideas that are both cheap and easy. Try some of these sensational outdoor accessories, and you won't want to spend a Summer-second inside!

Sign up to the Expert Home Tips newsletter today to get all the best home hacks, living tips, competitions and more emailed exclusively to you.

1. DIY a seashell plant pot for your Summer garden update

DIY Seashell planter
Like being at the seaside! ©Sand & Sisal

Ahhh, who doesn't love a day at the beach? Sadly for most of us, the beach - especially a sunny one - is somewhere we only get to visit on holiday.

Well, why not bring the charm of the seaside to you? Sand & Sisal's gorgeously simple tutorial will guide you through the process of transforming your plant pot into the ultimate garden accessory.

2. Wellington boot plant pots

wellington boot plant pots
How adorable! ©Mirror

These diy wellington boot planters make the most perfect garden decor.

If you've got kids that are constantly growing out of shoes, The Mirror's easy-to-follow tutorial will show you how to transform them into adorable garden planters.

3. A DIY Garden hammock is the perfect Summer garden accessory

diy garden hammock
Doesn't that look like heaven? ©Brit + Co

Who doesn't dream of swinging in a hammock and watching the world go by?

Learn how to make that dream a reality with Brit + Co's DIY hammock tutorial. It's the perfect addition to your outdoor space. Not only are hammock comfortable, but they make truly stunning garden decor.

Hurry up Summer!

4. This moss graffiti recipe will decorate any garden wall

diy moss graffiti recipe
I love it! ©Anna Garforth

I'm absolutely in love with this DIY garden decor idea. If your garden is walled rather than fenced, you may just be able to recreate your own moss graffiti!

Bored Panda has a surprisingly simple tutorial to show you how it's done. It may take a bit of work, but it's so cheap to recreate. Plus, the results are definitely worth it, right?

5. Hang colanders in your garden

Colander garden decor basket
Another brilliant idea! ©Tesco Living

Now, these brightly coloured colanders certainly make some unique flower baskets!

They're extremely sturdy and practical - just look at those drainage holes! Why not swap your standard baskets for colanders too and give your garden a Summer update?

6. Chicken wire flowers

diy chicken wire flowers garden decor
What a wonderful idea!

This is just a brilliant idea. Thrift some old chicken wire and you can diy yourself some amazing garden decor in the form of metal flowers!

For even prettier results, spray paint it first in one of your favourite colours. The flower heads can be stuck onto wire sticks and pierced through the soil. They'll add another level of interest and make your garden look truly magical.

7. Paint breeze blocks for the ultimate DIY garden decoration

diy stencilled concrete block planters
Great upcycling project. ©Deco Art blog

Who knew breeze blocks could look so pretty? Deco Art Blog sure did, and luckily for us she's shared her stencilled concrete block tutorial with us.

Not only do these look industrially-edgy but they're super cheap and practical too - the wind certainly won't be knocking your plants over!

8. Painted rocks will spruce up any outdoor space

diy garden decor painted rocks
Perfect kid's project! ©Crafts by Amanda

Is your garden full of pebbles? If so, pull out your paints and get crafting!

Painted pebbles make the cutest garden decoration. Ladybugs, toadstools, even fruits - whatever you choose, they'll bring joy to your backyard.

Not only that, but they also scare away birds from any crops you may be growing.

For more garden activities for kids, check out our article. 

9. Upcycle your old wheelbarrow

wheelbarrow planter garden decor
Farmer-chic.

That holey wheelbarrow may not longer be fit for purpose, but as a diy garden planter, it'll look just great.

It's big enough to fill with a range of colourful flowers resulting in a quirky and unique garden feature.

10. Decorate your garden cheaply with recycled tins

upcycled coffee tin planter
How unique! ©The Urban Hippie

Some food and coffee tins are so pretty, it seems a shame to throw them away...so don't. Instead, you can upcycle old tins into gorgeous garden decor.

Empty and clean them, then plant as you would traditional plant pots.

11. Give your old bike a new lease of life

bicycle planter
Countryside-chic!

Have you got an old bike covered in cobwebs in your garage? Now's the time to pull it out.

An old bike makes a gorgeous diy planter for your garden, no matter its condition. For best results, spray paint in a jolly colour that will complement your outdoor space. Then hang and balance flower basket, full off glorious flowers.

12. Cactus rocks make perfect DIY garden decor

diy cactus rocks garden decor
What amazing results! ©Mother Nature Network

Cacti have really taken off recently, however they're not always easy to maintain. A much more practical choice are to paint your own onto pebbles!

Not only do they look really funky, but they require zero maintenance - bonus! Head over to Mother Nature Network to get crafting some of your own.

13. This DIY project is the epitome of quirky garden decor

garden decor vintage suitcase
I bet your Nan has one of these hiding somwhere... ©Tracey Tilley

I love all things vintage, so it's no wonder this upcycled retro suitcase is one of my favourite diy garden decor ideas.

If you don't have one, try asking older relatives or friends. If not, you can usually pick them up on car boot stalls for a quid or two.

Once you've found a cute case, Tracey Tilley's tutorial will guide you through the easy planting process.

14. DIY garden seating that will truly impress

upcycled tire outdoor garden seating
Can you believe what's inside? ©Buzzfeed

I still can't believe that this seat is made from a tyre! It's absolutely incredible and I can't wait to make some for Summer.

If you head over to Buzzfeed's site, you can learn how to make your own. They're so practical and look really great too.

All of those amazing garden decor ideas have got me so excited for Summer! Which is your favourite?

Stephanie C

Editor

Lover of all things fashion & foodie...I look to satisfy my tastes without obliterating my budget. Wannabe interior designer, I'm an avid cushion cover maker and charity shop hunter.

Follow me on X
  1. Author Louis on June 6, 2017 at 9:57 am

    Very cheap and nice idea to transform our gardens thank you

    1. Author Stephanie C on June 7, 2017 at 9:30 am

      Hi Louis. Thanks for your kind comment. I'm glad you enjoyed my article :)

    Reply
  2. Author Michaela on June 7, 2017 at 12:47 pm

    I love the idea of the cactus rocks! Definitely going to try that. Thanks for the tip!

    1. Author Stephanie C on June 8, 2017 at 9:30 am

      Hi Michaela. The cactus rocks are one of my favourites too! They'd also be great for indoors :)

    Reply
  3. Author Eileen Jeffery on June 7, 2017 at 3:14 pm

    I really love these garden tips,i will be busy trying some very soon,thank you.

    1. Author Stephanie C on June 8, 2017 at 9:29 am

      Hi Eileen. I'm so glad you enjoyed them! Stop by again soon :)

    Reply
  4. Author Lesley Reeves on June 8, 2017 at 6:41 am

    Love the hanging basket colander idea - will be doing that asap, thanks for the inspiration.

    1. Author Stephanie C on June 8, 2017 at 9:29 am

      Hi Lesley. Thanks for your kind comments. I love the hanging basket too! SO country-chic :)

    Reply
  5. Author V on June 8, 2017 at 8:36 am

    Good article although spell checker should have been used. Tyre not tire!

    1. Author Stephanie C on June 8, 2017 at 9:28 am

      Oops - thanks Vera! I must have been getting excited about all those great ideas :)

    Reply
  6. Author joe on June 23, 2017 at 4:15 pm

    the hammock link is linking to the painted blocks

    1. Author Stephanie C on June 26, 2017 at 9:20 am

      Thanks Joe! I'll change this right away :)

    Reply
  7. Author Elsa Anderson on November 22, 2017 at 5:11 am

    I like what you did with the bicycle since it seems like you didn't only repurposed it but also repainted the whole thing to suit its purpose. It looks very pleasing and lovely with its carnation pink themed color. Hopefully, I am as creative as you are but hence I am not. I'll be sure to look for garden accessories that can match the quality of your work. Thanks for the entertaining and helpful article about easy and cheap ideas to transform one's garden!

    1. Author Stephanie C on November 22, 2017 at 10:24 am

      Hi there Elsa. We're really glad you liked our ideas! I'm sure you can create something just as nice :)

    Reply
  8. Author Kyle Wayne on December 13, 2017 at 9:43 pm

    I love that you talked about getting colorful things as simple as chicken wire to add some attitude to your yard! My sister wants to buy garden decor for sale so she can change up her yard as the season changes too. I'll be sure to talk to her about picking the right colors for her yard as well. http://www.knagifts.com/outdoor/patio-lawn-garden/garden-decor.html

    1. Author Stephanie C on December 19, 2017 at 10:02 am

      Hi Kyle. Thanks a lot for your kind comments. We can't wait to see what your sister does!

    Reply
  9. Author Simon on March 2, 2018 at 8:53 pm

    Love it. Great ideas there!!

    Reply
  10. Author Sophie on October 1, 2018 at 9:10 am

    Hi, Nice site! Would you be interested in receiving an informative article angled towards your readership? We’re a professional skip hire company who pride ourselves providing skips where zero waste goes to landfill. As you have some great ideas on your site related to gardening we thought we’d be able to contribute and show your readers how they can get rid of their garden waste in an environmentally friendly manor. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, please let us know. Many Thanks, Sophie

    1. Author Joanne A on October 3, 2018 at 10:21 am

      Hi Sophie! Please contact us via email for more information.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *