Having an outdoor living space during the warm spring and summer months is a family favorite. A cozy outdoor spot to relax with family and friends can host many fond memories. The only catch is making a space that people actually want to hang out in. Plants are a great budget friendly way to decorate your patio or deck space. Today I’m going to share some easy DIY patio decor ideas featuring plants that you can use to bring your patio to life.
Up-Cycled Flower Pots
I was recently gifted a bunch of old plastic planter pots. Using these pots as they were would have been fine, but I wanted to give them a little DIY pizzazz. Because I was going to be painting almost all of my pots, I went ahead and sprayed them all with a primer.
Faux Cement
For my first project I grabbed a few pots that I thought would look good with a faux cement look. This project will require black and white paint, a paintbrush, a rag, a mixing dish and a matte spray on sealer.
Start by mixing your white and black paint to create a gray. The key is to not completely mix the paints together. Throughout the process of applying the paint to the planter pots, you can add more black to your paint for depth if you wish.
I used a dry brush technique to swipe and dab my paint onto the pots. Make sure not to completely blend the paint or you will just end up with a gray pot with no texture. Dabbing with the paintbrush can also add extra texture.
Using a wet rag can also be a great way to get a cement like texture. Slightly wet your rag before dipping it in the paint. Dab the paint onto your pot. continue blending the paint until you achieve the look that you like. Remember to never completely blend the paint together.
Once you are satisfied with your paint, let it dry and seal it with a matte spray sealer.
Re-Purposed Basket Planter
The thrift store is a great place to find inexpensive planter pots and baskets for DIY projects. When I saw this basket tower for $3.99 at a thrift store, I knew I wanted to turn it into an herb planter. All you will need for this project is a basket, some plastic and some plants that suite your fancy. I scavenged my plastic off of a drop cloth we already had.
Start by cutting pieces of plastic that fits into your basket covering the bottom and sides. Poke holes at the bottom of the plastic to allow for drainage.
Fill your plastic lined basket with soil and plant your flower/herbs according to the directions. Go back and cut off any excess plastic that is sticking out above the soil level.
Gold Leaf Flower Pot
The fun thing about making your own DIY patio decor, is that you can tailor it to your style. I wanted to add a fun pop of gold into my patio decor. I also happen to have a bunch of gold leaf laying around in my craft supplies. This project uses gold leaf, a colorful spray paint, Modge Podge or high quality glue and a glossy spray on sealer.Â
With a white paint base already on my flower pots, I added some dark blue spray paint. I kept my blue paint to only half the pot. In hindsight, I think it would have looked better with more color.
The gold leaf is used to cover the line between the two paints. Apply your modge podge or glue to the area you want the gold leaf to be.
Working in small sections will make it easier to apply the gold leaf. I like to apply my leaf using the wax paper it comes with.
Allow the gold leaf time to dry completely, and then rub off any excess gold flakys with a dry rag or paintbrush. Seal the flower pot with a glossy spray on finish. This will give it the appearance of a real ceramic flower pot.
DIY Macrame Hanging Flower Pot Holder
Having hanging planters can add height and interest to your patio area. One of the easiest DIY patio decor items you can make is a macrame flower pot holder. All you will need for this project is some white rope or twine that can withstand the weather.
Cut six even strands from your rope. It’s always better to cut more than you think you will need and trim later. Tie all six of you’re strands together with a knot at the end.Â
Separate your ropes into three pairs of two. Tie each pair into a simple knot about 6 in up from your base knot.
Next, pull your two outside ropes out of the way. We will be using these soon. Out of the four ropes left in the middle, create two new pairs. Tie another basic knot in each of these pairs.
Now bring your two outside ropes together. Tie these ropes together with another basic knot even with the middle knots you tied. This will create the basket for your planter pot to sit in.
I finished my macrame hanging pot holder off with a braid so that I could adjust the hanging height. You can easily finish it off with a simple knot if you would like.
Before hanging, check the fit for your planter pot and loosen and adjust the knots as needed.
Reclaimed Wood Planters
For my last DIY patio decor project, I made some reclaimed wood planters. To do this I used some scrap ship lap, pallet wood is fine too, and nails. You will also need some flower pots.
Measure the length and width of your flower pot that you would like to set in the reclaimed wood pot holder. Be sure to accommodate for the width of the boards you are using on two sides of your rectangle. In other words, cut the length pieces to the length of your pot, but the width pieces are cut to the width of your pot plus two board widths. Clear as mud? Good.
Nail or screw all of your pieces together creating a wooden cube.This should be big enough for your flower pot to sit inside of.
You may choose to stain or seal the wood however you like. I just left mine raw for now because I like it’s rustic vibe.
Get Cozy
Once you finished all of your DIY patio decor projects, you can decorate your outdoor space. Plants add so much instant life and coziness. I tried to use plants that were both beautiful and usable.
Our favorite herbs, rosemary and basil, we’re an easy choice. I only picked up a couple annuals, as they will be an investment that will need to be replaced each summer. Plants such as lavender and lemongrass are known to repel wasps and mosquitoes. I kept these repelling plants around our seating areas.
Hopefully, these DIY patio decor ideas will spark your creativity and help you achieve a cozy outdoor living space.
Enjoy!
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