12 Stunning Outdoor Wall Decor Ideas That Aren't Plants

Outdoor spaces can be some of the most enjoyable places to spend time in — if they are given the right care. However, decorations and furnishings are often overlooked when it comes to patios, backyard hangout spots, and porches. Typically, these areas aren't provided with the same personal charm that makes the inside of the home feel so unique and welcoming. Of course, that doesn't have to be the case, as there are countless ways to make your outdoor space feel more cozy and inviting. 

While flowers and greenery are the obvious choice for making your outdoor space more beautiful, there are also tons of other non-plant ways to decorate exterior walls, outdoor surfaces, and fences. By implementing these items and accents into your outdoor area, you can add a lot of style even when flowers and plants aren't in full bloom. These ideas can also be a great solution for those who just don't have a green thumb.

Many of these ideas will add a stylish rustic and vintage charm and can be found at antique dealers, thrift stores, flea markets, and salvage shops. Others are fun DIY projects that you can make for very little expense. Some suggestions work not only as decorations but also double as useful lighting or storage items in addition to adding architectural interest and style. 

Use some vintage mirrors to add both interest and light reflection to your outdoor space. You can find old mirrors in abundance at thrift stores, often with beautiful ornate frames in a number of shapes and sizes. If you're concerned about damage, you may want to choose one specifically made for the outdoors. Mirrors can be particularly useful at night when they reflect nearby lighting, making your space feel brighter. Hang them in a gallery wall formation or use one or two large mirrors to make an outdoor space like a patio or balcony feel much larger than it is.

Creating a vintage glass bottle wall for outdoor décor may be easier than you think. All you need are some upcycled glass bottles in an array of beautiful colors, a drill with a diamond bit designed for cutting through glass, and some metal rebar segments cut to size. Build a simple wooden frame, using a router to create notches to hold the pieces of rebar. Add the bottles along the length of the rods stacked together for a distinctive eclectic piece of art for your wall. You can also use these grids as a unique and charming garden fence or a gate.

Salvage yards, antique stores, and flea markets often have an array of charming old doors, windows, or shutters harvested from older homes, many with style and construction details not found in modern windows and doors. Hang these beautiful relics on your outdoor wall for a dose of architectural interest and vintage style. Leave them in their original weathered state or paint them to match your outdoor décor. You can also use them to add some additional interest behind other outdoor elements like baskets and lanterns to create a focal point. String them with twinkle lights to add additional light to your patio.

A water feature is the perfect thing to add to an outdoor space, whether it's an expansive yard or the tiniest balcony. The sound of bubbling water can be very relaxing to accompany your time spent enjoying your space. You can do this with a fun bird bath or a pretty fountain that mounts directly on the wall, perfect if you only have a small balcony or porch. Beautiful stone hanging fountains in a number of styles can be bought at retailers that have self recycling pumps and plug into nearby outlets. You can also DIY one with a customized design. 

Word art can be a great way to fill a blank space and literally make a huge statement. Options include rustic wooden plaques and tin signs you can purchase or make. Neon signs can also provide very stylish additional outdoor lighting, as can letters made out of wire with string lights wrapped around them. Similarly, old salvaged signs, large or small, can add a lot of vintage character to outdoor spaces. Full or even partial signs, some just letters, are perfect for occupying a blank wall. They can be found in antique venues, architectural salvage shops, and flea markets harvested from everything from old stores to gas stations.

A wall of beautiful jar lanterns can be a great way to create visual interest and add some additional lighting to your yard. You can build this fun DIY lighting feature with small wood planks, metal pipe clamps or rope, and old jars. Just add a real or faux votive candle inside to provide some light. Alternatively, hang some jars with twine wrapped around the mouth of the jar. They also make inexpensive and easy party lighting for outdoor events in your backyard.

While not all macramé will work outside if it is exposed to the elements, you can make an easy macramé wall hanging out of synthetic polyester rope instead of cotton that will fare better when kept outdoors. Or, you can hang a vintage macramé piece on a wall under an overhang in a protected area. These decorations are a great way to add texture and warmth on a blank wall and give an immediate casual and boho feel wherever you hang them. 

Old architectural elements like ceiling medallions and ventilation grates can be beautiful wall accents used outdoors since they are very durable and have often lasted many decades. Some pieces can not only add visual charm but also beneficial storage. For instance, turn old cabinet hardware or vintage door knobs into adorable hooks to hold garden essentials like trowels. Or, use a pair of old corbels to create an easy outdoor shelf with a slab of wood or marble on top. Items like these will add a rustic, farmhouse vibe and ornate look to your backyard.

Old wooden ladders, whether they are vintage ones or simple decorative types, can be a great addition to any outdoor wall. Combine them with hooks to hold the things mentioned above or use the side rails of the ladder as a slender shelf for décor. Even if they cannot be used for their intended use anymore, old garden or agricultural tools often show the age and patina of the past, making them interesting decorative elements that add a rustic or country charm. Hang antique hoes, rakes, or shovels on your outdoor wall. You can even turn an old garden rake into a wall organizer.

Creating simple mosaic pieces is a great way to add interest to any outdoor wall. To make a large statement, turn a low concrete retaining wall into a gorgeous mosaic piece that extends the length of your garden, using tile grout to seal the colorful, mosaic pieces in place. For a smaller decorative element that you can remove as a renter, use a metal tray and grout to create a mosaic using glass pieces, marbles, stones, seashells, and other items that will shimmer and glint in the sunlight.

While colorful murals can often be spotted along the side of businesses and brick buildings, there is no reason why you can't get creative with the walls and fences that flank your own outdoor spaces. For a savvy way to incorporate art in your yard, use a freehand or stencil method to paint exterior walls or fences with a paint designed for outdoor murals, like Chroma Acrylic Mural Paint found on Amazon. Then, seal the mural with a protective coat to protect it from the elements. If you're not very artistic or DIY-savvy, you could also hire a professional to complete this project for you.

An outdoor wall is a beautiful place to display some of your favorite pottery or vintage dishware by hanging it on the surface. Add wire hook racks for hanging or use a metal or wooden trellis to suspend the pieces in an attractive arrangement. You can also use a drill bit designed for ceramics to attach them with screws to the wall. This is also a great chance to use pretty vintage dishes you have picked up in thrift stores and flea markets but don't want to use for dining. Depending on the look of your plates, it could create a cottagecore look or an eclectic, maximalist vibe.