Sweetheart of a garden!
Do you want to convey a sense of sweetness in the garden…with just a touch of romance? Then, sprinkle some heart garden decor around the place. Personally, I love hearts for this very reason. That’s my heart-shaped trivet on the garden shed in the photo above. I spray-painted it pink to match the accent color on the window trim.
Heart shapes, and the colors we associate with Valentine’s Day, go nicely with several garden decor themes. Styles like shabby chic, vintage, and even country cottage.
Here’s a few tips and ideas on where to find inexpensive, heart-shaped decor and repurpose them for the yard or garden. With carefully selected decor, you can enhance your garden space and make it a special place for spending time.
What to look for
For garden art and heart shapes, plan a trip to your local thrift store. SEE “How to find Garden Decor the Thrift Store”. You want to look for small, decorative accent pieces. Things that you could use together in a grouping or “vignette”. Or something to hang on a wall or a wooden fence.
Naturally, Valentine’s Day is the best time of year to find a great variety of pretty things that add a touch of romance. Things like heart-shaped dishes, bowls, and wood crafts. Anything in pink and red colors, and those darling little ceramic cherubs. They’re all fairly abundant come February.
I found this simple, plastic heart-shaped cookie tray for 50 cents. I hang it up on a stump in my flower bed right underneath my address marker. It’s the perfect piece among dainty, pink ‘catch-fly’ flowers and tiny blue forget-me-nots. Use a plate like this (or two or three) and screw it to a wood stake to make your own garden ornament!
This lovely heart shape baking dish is a particularly cherished find. I turned it into a bird bath for my garden. I glued a clear glass ice cream cup underneath for the stem, and the red plate for the stand.
Other heart garden decor
February is a good month to find a coffee mug with a heart on it. Or maybe just an all pink or all red one. Take it home and fill it with a small house plant or succulent. That would make a cute gift, wouldn’t it?
This article wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention those vintage plastic swan planters. Nothing sends out the “love” vibe better than swans do. And they actually do look nice, albeit in the right setting. You don’t even have to plant anything in them. Pair them with a collection of old galvanized tubs, flower pots and baskets. They’ll look fine all on their own.
Pretty much anything made for indoor decor can be used outdoors, too! On the front porch or patio or out in the garden. Especially items made of plastic or resin, glass, ceramic or wood. Look for things at garage sales or thrift stores that have a frilly, soft romantic look about them. Anything you can hang up on a garden shed, porch post or wood fence. There’s lots of possibilities, just don’t go overboard!
Remember, too, that you can always paint over something. Let’s face it, some of the things I’ve found at a thrift store don’t look too appealing. But the good thing is, it can always be spray-painted. Put your personal touch on it and, voila!
A few more ideas for a touch of romance
- Paint a heart-shaped stone and lay it in the flower bed
- Paint your garden shed a soft, pastel color and give it a crisp white trim
- Accent with lace
- Place pink or red patterned dinner plates in the ground among your flower beds
- Or use those same plates to make a dish flower. Use silicone to glue them together, just like the one I made, below.
Have you thought about turning a wheelbarrow into a planter? This is one of my favorite types of container gardens. Fill it with red, pink and white flowers and turn up the charm!
Final thoughts
Love is in the air. There are many ways to boost the sense of sweet romance around the yard or garden this summer. And February is a particularly good time to shop your local thrift store for those special, one-of a kind treasures.
Here’s one final tip. To use decor effectively, the key is to stick with a theme. Display things in a way that looks the most natural. Combine like-items together to make a vignette or little grouping. It will attract the most attention that way.
I hope this is helpful. It’s some of the stuff I keep in mind as I work on developing the outdoor spaces around my home. If you enjoy topics like this, you’ll love being a part of our garden and art community. Scroll down just a bit to sign-up. Next, share this post with a friend. Thanks for stopping by.
More garden decor topics for you
The Art of the Flea Market Garden
The Charm of a Bicycle in Garden Decor
How to Get the Most out of Your Garden Decor
Sweet! Love the Valentine’s art! I finally picked up a couple of items to make a bird feeder with. I found a plate I liked first and then spent the next half hour at the Good Will store trying to find a base that I liked that would actually fit snugly to the bottom of the plate! It’s not easy getting some pieces that work together. I can see how it takes persistence and patience to get enough items together to create a beautiful work of art. I applaud your stick-to-it-ness!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the article. Your’re so right about doing art with dishware. Each dish is made a little differently, so it doesn’t always fit well together as you might have thought. I’m glad you recognized the importance of that. Have fun and good luck!