6 Ideas to Add Vintage Flair to Outdoor Spaces

18 May

I love to incorporate vintage items into my outdoor décor.

I like a cottage feel in my outdoor spaces and adding some vintage items helps to create that feel by adding interest and little surprises to your outdoor spaces.

6 Ideas to Add Vintage Flair to Outdoor Spaces

Ideas for Incorporating Vintage Into Outdoor Spaces

Here are six ideas I have for adding vintage to your outdoor decor.

1. Use vintage vessels for planters

These are cascading down the steps of my back deck... I have added a vintage toy truck with a coffee can planter on the back, and a vintage chicken feeder with some newer planters.

When you incorporate vintage items with newer, modern items it adds interest. It's almost like a treasure hunt so see what vintage items have been added.

I found the chicken feeder for free on Craigslist and planted it with hens and chicks in the bottom portion of the feeder and a potato vine along with some pretty pink flowers. The potato vine will grow quickly and cascade down the side and along the stairs.

Here is a vintage washtub that I'm using as a planter on the front porch.

Out by my shed, I have my grandma's old wheelbarrow that I planted with some tall, spikey grass, Lobelia, and Petunias.

TIP: Drill holes in the bottom of items you plan to use for planters to ensure adequate drainage.

Here I used some rusty paint cans and hung them from shepherd's hooks along the edge of the patio. You can see where I found the cans and the transformation here: Rusty Paint Can Planters.

2. Use ladders as trellises and plant stands

I incorporated a section of an old ladder to act as a trellis for a cucumber vine in my vegetable garden.

And here is one used as a plant stand.

3. Use vintage yard tools for decor

I have displayed my collection of vintage yard tools in different ways over the years.

Displayed on an old set of springs is one way. It would be pretty to have some trailing plants added in too.

And in a vintage toy wheelbarrow is another.

Here is a repurposed shovel head made into a garden sign.

4. Use vintage items to disguise eyesores

You can also use vintage pieces to help disguise an eyesore in your yard. In this case, this is an old door from something that I'm using to hide a bunch of ugly wires and meters on the side of my house.

I added the flower bucket, an old lawn edger, potted plants, a birdhouse, and a small fountain for an interesting grouping.

5. Use retro outdoor seating

I love using vintage lawn furniture in my outdoor spaces.

I repainted this vintage rocking chair for the back porch, see that post here: Vintage Outdoor Rocking Chair Makeover.

Vintage aluminum chairs with webbing are simple to makeover! Vintage Lawn Chair Makeovers.

Learn how to reweb one of these chairs here: Vintage Children's Lawn Chair Makeover.

I paired some colorful vintage folding chairs with an upcycled yellow table for a fun outdoor dining area: Craigslist Patio Table Makeover.

6. Add something unexpected

Add something unexpected like this DIY Garden Totem From Vintage Repurposed Lamps or A Simple Garden Window!

This antique iron headboard makes a great backdrop.

An old shed door that I found at the dump and a vintage push mower are a nice accent in a corner.

6 Ideas to Add Vintage Flair to Outdoor Spaces

Here is a vintage garden windmill. I found this one on a vintage picking trip but you can even buy them new on Amazon for a good price.

Treating your outdoor spaces much like you would indoor spaces by creating vignettes and groupings is a great way that you can incorporate vintage and create interesting, relaxing outdoor areas!

I hope that you got some ideas from this post, I'd love to hear how you incorporate vintage into your yard.

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Comments by Blogger

LindaMay 18, 2014
Everything is looking lovely!!! I like the way you use all sorts of interesting things to put your flowers in!! Everytime I visit you I come away with new ideas!! Hope you have a wonderful week!
Vicky HuntMay 18, 2014
Lookin' good! I enjoy your yard and garden posts! Looking forward to seeing the raised bed by the fire pit! Have a great week...:)

Blessings, Vicky
Christine at Little BragsMay 19, 2014
Hi Tania, super cute...lovin all the pretty flowers!
ReviMay 20, 2014
Your plantings look lovely! I just stopped by to say thanks for the visit and the kind comment you left. Blessings, Tania!
SheilaApril 14, 2019
I love your outdoor style! You have the perfect balance between vintage, whimsy and planters, and I really like the way you mix things up. I had no idea hens and chicks could grow in so little soil - I think this idea is one of my favourite discoveries - thank you for that!!