Wooden Garden Decor Ideas

Types

• There is a myriad of wooden decorations for the garden. Large pieces include tables, benches and chairs. Architectural elements such as trellises and gazebos are often made of wood or have wooden parts. Wooden garden décor also includes smaller accessories such as birdhouses, Tiki torches and planter boxes.

Considerations

• As wooden garden pieces age and become weathered, their distressed surfaces and finishes can add a rustic look. However, if your wooden garden décor includes functional as opposed to merely decorative pieces, it will require maintenance or special sealants to remain sturdy. Some people bring in chairs and tables for the winter. Others may sand and repaint surfaces. You can also paint or glaze wooden pieces with finishes made for outdoor use.

Function

• Wooden garden décor can be merely decorative, such as a lawn ornament or a hanging for the fence. But most wooden garden décor marries style with function. A windowsill garden box can contain herbs for cooking. A wooden garden gate adds beauty while providing access. In the garden, wooden stakes, small benches, planters and poles organize spaces, provide support for sun shades, label plantings and allow plants to climb as they grow.

Effects

• You can use wooden furniture and accessories to add a homespun look to the garden. But there are also sleek designs in hardwoods that can give the garden, deck or patio a contemporary edge. Japanese garden furniture is trendy, with bamboo and rattan elements on low, modular furnishings.

Warning

• Distressed or antique finishes may look beautiful, but they can pose a hazard. Peeling paint may contain lead. It is better to paint and finish outdoor pieces to look vintage rather than maintain pieces that are hazardous. Be mindful of other dangers such as rusty nails and loose hardware, particularly if you have or host young children.