Turn Patio Bricks Into Adorable Backyard Decor That Looks Good Enough To Eat

When decorating your outdoor space, it can be hard to put a unique spin on things. Most outdoor furniture is pretty basic and built for durability rather than style — unless, of course, you have thousands of dollars to spend on a gorgeous outdoor retreat. One way to make your home stand out without breaking the bank is to put a maximalist spin on your garden! If you have some leftover bricks from outlining your garden beds or building a structure, don't throw them out or stack them in a corner of your yard. Instead, repurpose them into yard art and add a funky touch to your garden with a few items you probably have on hand. 

A viral series by artist and TikTok creator Kate Harnett (@harnettstudio) shows how they transformed boring old bricks into fantastical, food-inspired yard decor. All you need is some spare bricks or stones, some good acrylic paint, and a whimsical attitude. 

Whether you style your bricks into outlandish artworks or paint them with dainty patterns and colors, scattering a few mini-artworks throughout your yard is sure to put a smile on your face. Harnett's TikTok page has no shortage of maximalist DIY ideas to get inspired by, from pickle-slice stepping stones to faux fish heads, cherry pies, and strawberry candies. Check out Harnett's fun designs for inspiration, and learn how to make your own funky foodie garden bricks, fantastical painted stepping stones, and more. 

Kate Harnett's backyard artworks might seem elaborate, but they don't require many resources at all; these pieces are all about bringing new life to items you already have. "My house came with these concrete slabs that are made to look like slices of a tree," explained Harnett in a TikTok video. "... I cleaned them up real good, I painted them, and now they are pickles!" Gaining inspiration from the stones' existing shapes, Harnett has also turned bricks into butter sticks, Cosmic Brownies, macaroni and cheese boxes, and more. "Filling my yard with fake food is my goal for the summer," they said in another TikTok video. 

Harnett isn't afraid to create their own unusual shapes either. For more personalized accent pieces, they sometimes shape their own stones using concrete poured into molds or aluminum foil covered in Sculpey polymer clay. The spirit of this DIY project is to repurpose materials you already have; however, Harnett does recommend using a high-quality acrylic paint and finishing with polyurethane, so it's worth picking up these affordable items if you don't already have them. 

Adorning your yard with artful bricks is a brilliant way to inject a little whimsy into your outdoor space. Gather up any spare bricks, stepping stones, concrete pavers, or smooth rocks, and give them a thorough brush and rinse to remove any dust or dirt. Before starting your projects, you might want to decide on a theme. Kate Harnett tends to use a lot of food-inspired designs in their artworks, but you could create little animals, desserts, VCR tapes, office supplies, fantasy creatures, or anything else that suits your style. For better realism, consider the size and shape of each stone as Harnett does, and replicate an object that is already a similar shape.

Starting your projects with a coat of primer can help the paint stick and make the bright colors pop, but it isn't always necessary. For painting, it's best to use a heavy body acrylic paint, such as Liquitex, available in a pack of 12 tubes for under $55 from Michaels. You may find it helpful to start with a base color — like soft yellow for a stick of butter — and then follow up with shading and details. Use a variety of photos for reference. When you're happy with your painted projects, allow them to dry completely before finishing them with a clear coat of polyurethane, and then place them in a spot where they will give garden guests a giggle.