10 Vintage Garden Décor Ideas

Ditch normal pots and planters this spring, and opt for something more creative with upcycled vintage finds. Look for unique pieces on your next flea-market adventure, or breathe new life into everyday items by taking them outdoors. We’ve rounded up our 10 favorite ideas to upcycle vintage garden décor into practical yet pretty solutions for your garden.

Have a Seat

Every garden needs a comfortable spot to sit for those warm, leisurely afternoons when you can enjoy a good book under a tree. Wrought-iron garden benches have a whimsical look that pairs well with pastel floral linens, as seen here. Cover some cushions in the vintage fabric of your choice, which you can use indoors or out.

Photo by Mark Mendez

vintage scrolled garden bench — Have a Seat. Every garden needs a comfortable spot to sit for those warm, leisurely afternoons when you can enjoy a good book under a tree. Wrought-iron garden benches have a whimsical look that pairs well with pastel floral linens, as seen here. Cover some cushions in the vintage fabric of your choice, which you can use indoors or out.

Do the Dishes

Do you have vintage dishes with chips or cracks that are too pretty to throw out? Use them to line the edge of a walkway by tucking them into the soil! These dishes have beautiful, vibrant patterns that pop. You could even use dishes with the same pattern for a more uniform look.

Photo by Bret Gum

vintage dishes as a planter border — Do the Dishes. Do you have vintage dishes with chips or cracks that are too pretty to throw out? Use them to line the edge of a walkway by tucking them into the soil! These dishes have beautiful, vibrant patterns that pop. You could even use dishes with the same pattern for a more uniform look.

Pretty in Patina

In flea-market gardens, when it comes to rust and patina, the more the merrier. Melaine Thompson of My Sweet Savannah uses her potting bench as a display space that gives her vintage garden décor a cottage chic touch. Whether you love a French country look or sway more towards farmhouse style, galvanized harvest buckets and cast-iron urns can be used as planters for topiaries or other large plants.

Photo by Bret Gum

potting bench with topiaries and vintage olive buckets — Pretty in Patina In flea-market gardens, when it comes to rust and patina, the more the merrier. Whether you love a French country look or sway more towards farmhouse style, galvanized harvest buckets and cast-iron urns can be used as planters for topiaries or other large plants.

All Spruced Up

Artist Amy Duncan made this garden art piece was made from rusty, salvaged metal pieces like a mattress bedspring, grates and wheels. Try making your own vintage-inspired sculptures for the outdoors using rusted metals that contrast with the soft colors of your plants.

Photo by Bret Gum

bicycle wheel and bed springs upcycled in the garden — All Spruced Up. This garden art piece was made from rusty, salvaged metal pieces like a mattress bedspring, grates and wheels. Try making your own vintage-inspired sculptures for the outdoors using rusted metals that contrast with the soft colors of your plants.

Wood You Look at That?

This white-painted wooden shutter is beautiful on its own but, when adorned with air plants in its slats, transforms into a sculptural work of art. Low-maintenance succulents and air plants are perfect for anyone who doesn’t have a green thumb. Air plants don’t need soil; they’ll thrive with airflow and misting alone.

Photo by Olivier Koning

Wood You Look at That? This white-painted wooden shutter is beautiful on its own but, when adorned with air plants in its slats, transforms into a sculptural work of art. Low-maintenance succulents and air plants are perfect for anyone who doesn’t have a green thumb. Air plants don’t need soil; they’ll thrive with airflow and misting alone.

Industrial Strength

Industrial-style metal rolling carts are built to last—inside or outdoors. Use them in your garden to corral watering cans and plants. They even make great companions when you’re entertaining to store plates and silverware on. Grab a few metal toolboxes to hold smaller bits and bobs, and you’re ready to party.

Photo by Kay Ellen Hammar

Industrial Strength Industrial-style metal rolling carts are built to last—inside or outdoors. Use them in your garden to corral watering cans and plants. They even make great companions when you’re entertaining to store plates and silverware on. Grab a few metal toolboxes to hold smaller bits and bobs, and you’re ready to party.

The Art of Upcycling

Make a statement in your garden by housing large plants in a galvanized metal washtub. You could even go bigger by using an actual vintage claw-foot bathtub as a planter with holes drilled on the bottom (for water to drain out). A washtub like this one will bring industrial style to your outdoor space for a quick weekend makeover.

vintage tub turned flower planter — The Art of Upcycling Make a statement in your garden by housing large plants
in a galvanized metal washtub. You could even go bigger by using an actual vintage claw-foot bathtub as a planter with holes drilled on the bottom (for water to drain out). A washtub like this one will bring industrial style to your outdoor space for a quick weekend makeover.

The Bee’s Knees

Antique primitive French bee skeps are a beautiful way to bring a hint of handmade style to your vintage garden décor. Their rustic, woven look and neutral color palette make them versatile pieces that go with a variety of styles. Add them to a garden table as an unexpected centerpiece or as an accent on a bench.

Photo by Bret Gum

antique bee keep on a chippy painted bench — The Bee’s Knees. Antique primitive French bee skeps are a beautiful way to bring a hint of handmade vintage style to your garden. Their rustic, woven look and neutral color palette make them versatile pieces that go with a variety of styles. Add them to a garden table as an unexpected centerpiece or as an accent on a bench.

Basket Case

If you have a vintage flower basket that you use outside to gather your gorgeous blooms, consider using it for another purpose: as a planter. This one, hanging from the top of a wooden stick, puts these special buds on display. Vary the heights, shapes and sizes of your planters for a more compelling look.

Photo by Bret Gum

handled basket used as a hanging basket in the garden — Basket Case. If you have a vintage flower basket that you use outside to gather your gorgeous blooms, consider using it for another purpose: as a planter. This one, hanging from the top of a wooden stick, puts these special buds on display. Vary the heights, shapes and sizes of your planters for a more compelling look.

Junk Mail

This potting bench stays neat and pristine thanks to a vintage mailbox filled with handheld garden shovels. Below it, a vintage Thermos cooler from the 1960s stores less attractive tools out of sight. Use other pieces like spice racks, floating shelves or pots to organize your tools to create a functional workspace.

Photo by Kay Ellen Hammar