Unusual DIY Garden Decorations: Original Design Ideas

You can decorate your garden at the start of the new season with minimal financial investment. All you need is some materials you have on hand. Anything handmade always subtly highlights the owner's taste and character. This selection of ideas with photos will help you see ordinary things in a new light.

Options for fences and hedges for a summer house

Fencing your property is the first thing neighbors and passersby notice. You can install a simple concrete fence or chain-link fencing. However, this requires a considerable investment. Using empty plastic bottles is a budget-friendly option. Simply place metal rods around the perimeter or stretch a few strands of clothesline.

Next, string plastic bottles onto them, preferably in different colors. This will create an interesting pattern. If you have old, unwanted boards, you can also refinish them and use them as a fence. Sanded picket fences are a favorite among small children, who can decorate them as much as their imagination allows.

Gardeners often plant so-called living fences. Fruitful and ornamental shrubs are excellent for this purpose. An evergreen hedge looks attractive in both warm and cold weather, and also enriches the air with oxygen.

DIY White Swan

If your garden has a real or artificial pond, it deserves attention. First, determine the placement of decorative stones. Then, plant ferns, hybrid water lilies, sweet flag or calamus, and calla lilies.

Don't forget about fauna. Beautiful white swans have always been a favorite of ponds. You can make one from household items at your dacha. To make one, you'll need:

• scotch;
• aluminum wire;
• underlay for laminate;
• plastic bottle (5-6 l);
• polyethylene 150 microns – 6-7 m.

First, the size of the future swan is determined. Then, a frame is made from wire and a bottle. The laminate underlayment is cut into lengthwise strips and then wrapped around the structure, securing it with tape. The polyethylene is cut into long strips, with fringes added along the edges. These are then carefully wound around the frame, with the fringes facing outward.

Without breaking the sequence, all the materials are distributed over the body and wings of the future swan. At the final stage, you can add lighting. You can take a round lantern and place it inside a plastic container, or apply LED strips, neon tubes, or fluorescent paint to the bird's frame.

If the pond is located near a fence, you can buy a Brabant thuja and plant it first. Then, in the shade of tall trees, you can romantically place a pair of glowing white swans. A wooden bench made from old tree stumps would complement this composition nicely.

Homemade garden figures and sculptures

At first glance, this might seem like a project beyond everyone's capabilities. But that's not the case. Creating garden sculptures is especially relevant for families with children of different ages. After all, what could be better than spending a whole day together outdoors, united by a common goal?

Plywood crafts

You can easily create any shape from this material. If you don't have drawing skills, it's better to use a pre-made template.

To create the figurine you will need the following tools:

• sample;
• jigsaw;
• moisture-resistant plywood;
• wood primer;
• self-tapping screws;
• screwdriver or power drill;
• paints.

Depending on the template chosen, the figure will be flat or three-dimensional. The former option is suitable for beginners. Place the sketch on a sheet of plywood, trace it, and trim the remaining pieces with a jigsaw. To avoid sharp edges, sand them with fine-grit sandpaper.

Once the template is completely dry, it's painted according to the pattern. For younger children, you can mark it and use a pencil to write the numbers corresponding to each paint color.

Plaster sculptures

If you have the time and inclination, you can make a sculpture from a plaster or cement mixture. For a small sculpture, use plastic containers as molds, while for larger ones, use a metal frame. Fresh flowers, complemented by plaster mushrooms, gnomes, turtles, or hats, always look great in a garden.

The creation algorithm is as follows:

• choose a plastic bottle of the right size, cut off the top and use it as a mold for the mushroom;
• cover the inside of the container with a solution of laundry soap, sunflower oil and water in a ratio of 2:1:7;
• the gypsum mixture is prepared according to the recommendations on the packaging;
• liquid gypsum (the consistency of thick sour cream) is poured into a cut bottle and allowed to harden;
• To make the cap, take a medium-sized bowl and cover it with plastic;
• then pour the plaster mixture into the container and insert the already hardened mushroom stem, leaving it until completely dry.

To ensure the sculpture is stable, it will need to be buried in the ground or a plaster base will be created. In the latter case, pour a thin layer of the mixture into a basin and place the mushroom in it. Allow it to cool completely, then remove it. Finally, all that remains is to coat the plaster sculpture with waterproof acrylic paints.

The best way to decorate your dacha yourself is to enlist helpers. Each person should be assigned a specific task. Adults can cut materials, while children can paint the finished pieces. This way, each family member can contribute a little bit of their own touch to the dacha's design.