Turn Cracked Pavers Into A Gorgeous Decor Piece For Your Outdoor Space

A cracked paver in your walkway doesn't look the best, but when you pull it up and replace it, you can use it to DIY a garden ornament to enhance your outdoor space. Rather than simply throwing it away, you can decorate this piece of concrete to create a gorgeous mosaic artwork. This colorful, unique decor can be propped up in your yard or patio. For this project, you'll also need some mortar or cement, grout, and broken pieces of ceramic or tile. Alternatively, you could break your cracked stepping stone and use it to create a mosaic design on another paver or object.

If you'd like to create a design on your already cracked stone, you can find ceramic or stoneware dishes for $1.25 each at Dollar Tree, such as the turquoise swirl dinner plate, to break for your mosaic. This is an inexpensive way to find colorful pieces to add to your decor, and you might also use some glass accent gems ($1.25 at Dollar Tree) to make your decoration pop. For those with a paver that's too damaged to use as a base, smash it into small pieces, choose colors that match your garden, and paint each piece for your mosaic tiles. With a little creativity, this beautiful DIY paver project will instantly elevate your yard.

Start by wrapping your ceramic, tiles, or broken paver in some fabric, and smash with a hammer. Though the cloth will help keep the pieces contained, wear safety glasses as a precaution. For those with pavers that just have a small crack running through them, this will work as a great base for your mosaic design. Simply spread mortar over the paver after soaking it in water, covering the crack and the entire top surface, and begin laying out your mosaic pieces. Alternatively, you could pour a bit of concrete onto the paver to fill in larger cracks. Lightly push the tiles into the mortar (or concrete). If some pieces are wobbly, add a little mortar underneath to create a flat surface with your mosaic. 

Wipe away any excess and leave your project to dry for several hours. Now, cover the top and sides of your project with grout to close any gaps and seal your pieces together. Use a damp rag to wipe extra grout off your mosaic tiles, let your piece dry, and display it. To use your paver to make your mosaic tiles, simply select paint colors that match your outdoor space well and begin decorating the shattered pieces. Once prepped, you can use the mortar method to fix them onto another stone, or perhaps a sturdy stone flower pot. This unique way to repurpose old pavers will create beautiful outdoor decor out of something broken.