19 Common Thrift Store Finds You Can Transform Into Beautiful Garden Decor

Your garden is an oasis where you plant your favorite flowers and trees as well as useful shrubs and herbs. However, if your space has started resembling every other yard on your block, it might be time to shake things up a bit with the help of some decorations. If you don't want to spend your hard-earned money on high-end pieces in home and garden stores, visit your local thrift shop and sift through the hoards to find the treasures that would look best in your yard. For instance, captivating statues, one-of-a-kind planters, exquisite lanterns, adorable showpieces (a napping frog, anyone?), old ceramic vases, and vintage furniture can all be made into something spectacular.

Admittedly, you'll have to don your DIY cap to transform a few of your thrifted finds into beautiful garden decor. To illustrate: A forgotten mirror can turn into a whimsical element if it's cleaned and embellished. Similarly, you can use a regular vase and a funky bowl to craft glowing mushroom lights or upcycle thrifted glassware into bespoke DIY garden decor. Better yet, not all items will merely serve as decoration; they can be useful, too. Case in point, you can turn an outdated teacup and saucer set into pretty bird feeders for your feathery friends. Getting excited to liven up your yard? Here are 19 common thrift store finds you can transform into beautiful (yet useful) garden decor.

If you're looking for a simple yet affordable solar light DIY to illuminate your outdoor space, grab a glass vase and a funky bowl — to mimic the natural shape of a mushroom — on your next trip to a thrift store. You'll also need glass marbles in the same (or complementary) shade as the vase, a strong adhesive, and waterproof solar string lights, like the Brightown 9.8-foot 120 LED lights. Put the marbles in the vase and wrap the lights around them before gluing the bowl to the top. For a classic fairytale look, coat your bowl in red spray paint (we'd recommend the Krylon ColorMaster Paint + Primer, because it can adhere to a variety of surfaces, including glass) and apply waterproof white polka dot stickers (like these Meitaat Round Stickers from Amazon) for a mushroom à la Mario Land.

Do you believe that magical mirrors in an enchanted forest (or garden) can serve as a portal to faraway fantastical lands? Then, buy some Floral Garden Reindeer Moss from Dollar Tree to set the stage and get ready to decorate a looking glass. Pick up a framed mirror at a thrift shop, then after grabbing your hot glue gun, determine the aesthetic you're going for to gather the necessary decorations. For instance, if you want your decorative mirror to remind you of magical fairy lands, you can get imitation flowers, butterflies, succulents, and pine cones to ensure it looks the part. Or, go for a Halloween-inspired look for fall by hot-gluing dry twigs or driftwood to the frame, along with mini mushrooms, tiny spiders, you name it! Keep your mirror protected by placing it under a covered garden shed or pergola: Storms and falling debris can damage mirror glass.

Human or animal sculptures and portrait busts are one piece of decor you should never overlook in a thrift store. They'll add character to your garden and make for great conversation starters if you're fond of hosting outdoors. Statues and busts can be placed just about anywhere in a garden, from nestling amongst plants to standing proudly on a terrace. Just ensure you get eye-catching pieces and don't settle for the expected rock cairn or stone bunny. Add interest with funky modern figurines, animals in flight, mythical creatures like mermaids, or other unique finds. You can also experiment with different materials, like glass and stone, to see what type of lawn ornament suits your garden the best. 

If you want to provide your avian friends with a safe and pretty environment to preen their feathers and quench their thirst, DIY a bird bath with a thrifted glass bowl and pedestal. Opt for a wide bowl if you don't want your winged visitors to fight amongst themselves for room. Simply glue the two items together, move your birdbath to the desired location, and fill it with fresh water. Be sure it's not directly underneath a spot where the glass could be broken by fallen branches or debris. You'll also have to remove it during winter since ice will damage the glass surface if the water freezes. Or, employ one of these clever ways to keep your birdbath from freezing.

Want to set out a fancy bird feeder for your feathery friends without spending a lot of money? You just need a beautiful teacup and saucer set to make your dream come true. Place the former at an angle over the latter and glue them together. Experiment with different positions using something like Blu Tack beforehand, to ensure the seed will stay in place and not tumble onto the ground. Use some sturdy jute rope or colorful twine to hang it from a tree branch, bush, or fence in your garden.

In case you've been following the not-so-strict rules of garden center math and have more seeds, bulbs, and perennials than planters, see if you can score a trunk from a thrift store. This vintage item will turn into a stylish DIY planter and can accommodate more plants than a traditional garden pot. However, purchase a suitcase that's sturdy and won't sustain damage after a few days in your garden. Plastic will last, while fabric can get mildewy. Once you find one you like, lay down a plastic (or vinyl) sheet to protect the trunk's bottom and drill a few holes for drainage prior to adding the soil and plants. If you've found a trunk or suitcase that's just too pretty to put out in the rain and fill with dirt, you can also use it as a decorative plant holder on your patio. Simply pop open the lid, and place some potted plants inside, preferably ones that will spill over the edges a little. 

This idea is perfect for individuals who love "The Lord of the Rings" series and want to pay homage to the Hobbits' style of life. You just need a few cheap plant pots, and bonus points if you can pick up some miniature decorations from the garden aisle at your local thrift store. Break the pots to form the exterior of the houses in the small town and decorate it with mini flower bushes, plant pots, mushrooms, and other greenery. As for the doors to the tiny homes in your township, Amazon stocks a range of miniature round doors (ideal for hobbit houses), such as these stone and wood Hunato Fairy Garden Doors, or this Jinshining Red Fairy Garden Door.

If you don't have grand plans for the discounted plates you find at a thrift store, why not break a few? This way, you can let go of some of your frustrations and then use the pieces to DIY pretty stepping stones for your garden. You can use plates sporting varied designs and colors to create visually arresting stones, or go for a color theme. As for the tools for this project, you'll need some concrete mix, a trowel, and a mold in your preferred shape. No mold? No problem. You can also reuse pie pans for this easy but beautiful garden project. Simply spray them with cooking spray before pouring in the cement and making your DIY stepping stones. If the ceramic edges protrude from the surface of the cement, you might want to avoid walking on them barefoot, or allowing pets to trot upon them, as the sharp edges could cause injury.

Used furniture isn't for everyone, and things like sofas are often one of the home items you should think twice about before buying at thrift stores. But metal garden furniture is a different story. Keep an eye on your thrift store's outdoor furniture collection. Who knows? One day you might score a set (or individual pieces) that's in good condition or even land a sought-after antique, vintage, or collectible design if you're lucky. That being said, don't invest in too large or bulky pieces that won't fit in your or your friends' car, or you might have to spend more on transportation than the set. If you spy a piece that's not in perfect condition, you can use a DIY vinegar solution to get rusty outdoor furniture shining again, and follow up with something like the Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Multi-Color Textured Spray Paint.

A couple of cute, thrifted lanterns are a cheap and easy way to add ambiance and charm to outdoor areas. To start, you might have to spend some time cleaning off any accumulated dust if they've been on the shelf for a few months. Once they're spick and span, pop in battery-operated tea lights or pillar candles, such as Biyanuo's Outdoor Plastic Flameless Candles. Since you won't be able to keep an eye on live candles while they're burning and there's always a chance they get knocked over, steer clear of them. Hang the lit lanterns from some shepherd hooks or place them on nearby tables. If you can't find a lantern, a glass jar suspended in a macramé holder is a suitable boho-chic substitute.

Decorative ceramic vases or pots from a thrift store are another great way to add style and character to your garden. Their unique design and shape will make them stand out and draw eyes. Wondering how to use them outdoors? Simply turn them into pretty planters by drilling a hole in the bottom for drainage. Be gentle and use a drill bit for ceramics (Amazon sells this Bosch 4-Piece Carbide Tipped Drill Bit Set for under $10) to avoid cracking the fragile containers. Moreover, don't get ones that are too tall and narrow, look for shapes that are similar to plant pots.

Looking for a way to shake up the monotonous landscape of your garden? Thrifted bowling balls seem to be perfect for the job. Use the colorful balls as gazing balls. Decorate them using a strong, waterproof adhesive and pennies, marbles, sea glass, or buttons for a quirky look. Or, simply color them with a paint that's designed to adhere to plastic (such as the Krylon COLORmaxx Paint + Primer). For a swirling or two-tone pattern, you can try combining two different colors in a painter's tray and then dipping or rolling the balls through it. Alternatively, create a reflective finish with something like Krylon's Looking Glass Silver-Like Aerosol Spray plus a buildable primer spray, or the Jenolite Chrome Spray Paint Smooth Chrome Finish which is designed for plastic. Some people also use metallic transfer foil to create that signature, shiny gazing ball look.

Thrifted candleholders aren't just great for decorating your indoors. They can also help you make your outdoor seating areas more warm and inviting. So, clean them up and bring them out. Use tiered candleholders to display battery-powered flameless tea lights when you're hosting guests for a table-set meal and ornate individual holders to create a cozy, romantic atmosphere. Worried flameless candles won't look as good as the real deal? Get ones with flickering flames, like Homemory's pack of 24 Battery Operated Candles.

If your potting shed is little more than a collection of your gardening tools, add pizzazz to the room with colorful watering cans. You don't just have to use them as decor pieces to make your boring workspace pop. You can put them to use watering your plants as well, provided they're in good shape and don't have any unwanted holes. In case you find the cans a bit bland, give them a fresh coat of paint or draw designs on them with waterproof glass markers like these Overseas Paint Pens to turn them into bespoke pieces. If you do find a few water cans with holes, consider upcycling them into cute planters by filling the can with soil and adding a few trailing annuals. 

Add a little light and color to your garden with a glass bottle tree. You just need a few bottles for this concept. Feel free to use ones in varying shades, sizes, and shapes for an interesting display and to mimic the spontaneity of real trees. You can even throw in a few slender vases to the mix. Once you have everything, put in a few rebar stakes (you can pick these up at your local home improvement store or order some of Amazon's Garmeinea Garden Stakes) into the soil at different depths, and slip the bottles over each rod to complete your bottle tree. Ensure they fit the rods snugly, or they might slip and break during inclement weather conditions.

Don't have enough room for a dedicated workshed in your garden? Stop littering your furniture with dirty tools or leaving your precious gloves caked in mud. Instead, grab an old metal coat rack or set of hooks from a thrift shop and give it a new lease on life by cleaning and painting it. Use it as a statement piece in your garden to hang your gardening tools in style. Mount on a garden wall or nail it to your fence prior to hanging your tools and gloves. However, you might want to avoid hanging items that are heavy or may be damaged by rust if left in the rain. Alternatively, screw it onto a wall under the overhang of a roof or veranda to protect your tools from the elements.

While you might update your interiors per seasonal changes to give your home a fresh look every couple of months, what about your garden? Granted, the seasons do a good job of this on their own, but what about dedicated decor? Or, adding flowers and foliage you don't have? You'll need a sturdy, yet small, shelving unit for this. Clean it, paint it in a color of your choice, and hang it in a spot that's instantly visible when you step in your yard. Decorate it with seasonal decor as well as imitation (or real if you don't mind maintaining them) flowers. Succulents, especially trailing varieties like Senecio rowleyanus (aka string of pearls), could also work well in a small shelf like this. 

What do you do when you fall for the discounts offered by a thrift shop and buy more shovels than you need? Rather than thrusting them in a bleak spot or letting them develop rust, transform them into fun garden signs. You just need to clean the spade with soap and water first, and let it dry. Then, let your inner Picasso out (or take help from your children) and draw designs, jot down fun phrases, or paint the shovels in a shade of your choosing with waterproof sign paint, like the FolkArt Outdoor Gloss Acrylic Craft Paint. After you're done, let them dry prior to displaying them around your garden. You may want to coat the metal shovels in a waterproofing spray to help them last (Rust-Oleum's Universal All Surface Clear Topcoat is a good option).

If you've bought an antique birdcage but lack a parakeet or canary, convert it into gorgeous table decor. Start by wearing protective gloves and a face mask to clean it since you don't want to touch the stuck goop left behind by its previous inhabitant(s). Then, spray-paint it in a shade that will go well with your garden decor. Depending on the season or your mood, you can fill it with imitation moss, butterflies, and flowers — or use it as a home for air plants like tillandsia. You could even place battery-operated LED tea lights or candles inside to elevate its look. Finally, you can also create a hanging planter by lining the bottom with some coconut coir, filling it partially with soil, and planting some succulents or a trailing flowering ornamental like calibrachoa.