Rustic decor has a charm of its own
Garden Decor Series
No doubt about it, the rustic look is back in style. Nothing conveys a more relaxed, down to earth ambiance than the presence of old garden tools. They hearken back to a simpler time; a by gone era that for some, evokes a fond memory or two. So, what’s the best way to display vintage tools in the garden to get the right impact?
With Vintage and Farm House decor all the rage, its no wonder gardeners are rediscovering the appeal of rustic tools. Even without the trend, a display of vintage tools is right at home in the garden. They don’t even have to be all that old to get the point across. Let nature lend a helping hand. Just leave ’em outside exposed to the elements for a year or so, and your tools will have that rustic, old weathered look in no time!
I don’t have much of a budget for landscaping or doing anything fancy, but I still want to have a garden with an inviting atmosphere and interesting focal points. The good news is that vintage tools are easy to come by and fairly inexpensive.
Where do you find vintage tools?
- Your own garage
- Yard or Moving Sale
- Craig’s List
- Thrift Store / Flea Market
- Antique or Salvage Dealer
Yard Sales are among the best and cheapest way to acquire old tools. Those rusty shovels and rakes with splintering handles are treasures in your garden. Tools don’t even have to be in one piece to have an impact, as in the photo at the top.
My wheelbarrow full of sunshine
Don’t you just love those rusty old wheelbarrows brimming over with flowers? They are so charming, and one of the best tools to use in a garden display. Well, a few years ago as I began developing my outdoor spaces, I found just the right spot for one. Finding the right wheelbarrow, on the other hand, took a little bit of time. But not too long.
A fellow on Craigs’ list had one for $15 dollars. You can’t hardly buy a plastic planter at the box stores for that. The wheelbarrow had been quite the workhorse and was a little beat up. Though it was still strong and sturdy, it had a thin crack in the middle of the bed. Perfect! That meant I wouldn’t have to drill any holes, it already came with drainage.
My wheelbarrow has become my favorite rustic feature in the yard. I especially love that It displays the flowers at an eye-catching level. I filled it with bright yellows, whites and trailing foliage and named it my wheelbarrow full of sunshine.
How to use vintage tools in attractive displays
The most common mistake people make is to run out and get a bunch of vintage tools and then scatter them around all over the yard. A vintage watering can over by the steps, an old ladder next to the garden shed. One piece here and another over there. In back of the house, there’s a rusty pail with a broken shovel leaning up against a fence. The impact is lost.
There’s a much better way to display vintage tools. Far more effective, is to create little groupings with your tools. There’s power in combining things together (like the 3 shovel heads in the photo above) for one main theme. So, start with a plan that will make your display cohesive. Don’t just grab any old or rusty thing; make sure that each piece harmonizes with another and that they have something in common.
Photo image by Plumbwell Plumbing Services
For example, maybe you’ve got an old hose that has a bunch of leaks, some miscellaneous faucet pieces, a battered sprinkler and a watering can. The common denominator is that each piece relates to watering a garden. So put a little thought into how you pair things and arrange them together. See what interesting ideas you can come up with!
Create a vignette using vintage tools
A vignette is a small grouping of things that have a common denominator, as in the hose and sprinkler example above. Simply put, you’re creating a little scene with your tools. Think of how a centerpiece works on the Christmas dining table, only out in the yard or garden. Vignettes don’t have to be the center of attention. Sometimes, they can be a little off the beaten path, or over in the corner of the yard. Vignettes are terrific decor for that one bare spot where nothing will grow.
The trick is to make vintage or rustic tools appear natural in the setting. That means staging them in a certain place in a certain way so that they look comfortable, as though they’ve always been there. It just makes sense to display tools on the side of a storage shed, or a wheelbarrow and old rake out in the yard giving the impression that someone had been at work. A pair of cheap garden gloves or work boots adds a touch of human interest.
Also, you don’t have to have everything all at once. Start with one or two tool pieces and add to them as you go along.
Conclusion
Top off the arrangement by adding some flowers. Daisies, coneflowers, rudbekia or other casual varieties are a natural alongside rustic tools.
Sure, they won’t last forever, although it seems like they’ve already been around a long time. Vintage tools fill your garden with a sense of nostalgia. When the time comes and they eventually succumb to the elements, you can always get a new one….ur, uh…an old one.
Related topics you may also enjoy:
Make a wheelbarrow full of sunshine
How to Get the Most Out of Your Garden Decor
Kris, I like this article! Great job with keeping things short and sweet!
Thanks. The course teaches that blogging isn’t “short and sweet” anymore, as its not really journaling. Bloggers score higher Search Engine numbers if they write 1,200-3,000 words. That’s called a ‘pillar’ post. The most important thing is that people can find it in a Google search and decide to click on it and read it. Or if I distribute it on Pinterest or Facebook. There’s too much to learn. Overload!