4 Do-It-Yourself Patio Projects

Originally Published on July 25, 2018. Last Updated on November 21, 2023.

Summer’s here and what better way to get those creative juices flowing than with DIY patio ideas to beautify your patio, porch, or backyard? Here are some of our favorite projects to add a little color and plenty of visual interest to any outdoor space.


Self-Watering Planter

Do you buy pots overflowing with flowers for your patio… and then let them die because you miss a few days of watering? Try a “fix it and (mostly) forget it” solution by creating your own self-watering planter. Put those empty wine bottles to use with this project. You can use any plastic bottle, too, but we think glass wine bottles are more aesthetically pleasing.

Wine Bottle DIY

You’ll Need:

  • A wine bottle with a cork
  • A nail
  • A hammer
  • A planter and plant

Instructions:

Step 1: Make sure the wine bottle is clean (you can leave the label on or soak it off; whichever you prefer).

Wine Bottle DIY

Step 2: Put the cork snugly into the bottle, as far as it will go.

Wine Bottle DIY

Step 3: Carefully take your nail and hammer it through the cork.

Wine Bottle DIY

Step 4: Gently remove the nail, taking care to not damage the cork.

Step 5: Fill the bottle up with water.

Wine Bottle DIY

Step 6: Tuck into the soil like you would a watering globe. It’s that easy.

Wine Bottle DIY

Step 7: Check water after a few days, and refill as needed.

Read a longer tutorial at Julie Blanner’s site.


Plant Stool

Container gardening is all the rage, but instead of simply setting those plants on the ground, why not give them a little more height by building a plant stool? There are hundreds of DIY plant stools floating around the internet (thanks, Pinterest!), so we decided to make our own.

Plant Stool DIY

You’ll Need:

  • (1) Pre-cut wooden circle (at least 10″)
  • (3) 6″ Tapered Round Legs
  • (3) Angled Metal Top Plates
  • Drill
  • Wood Stain of your choice
  • Painters tape

Instructions:

Step 1: Find the three equidistant points in the circle by taking the circumference and dividing it by three.

Step 2: Mark those measured points around the circle and draw a line from each point to the center of the circle. In the middle point of each of the three lines, center a leg plate.

Plant Stool DIY

Step 3: Secure each plate to the wooden circle with the screws, and then secure the legs by screwing each one into its corresponding plate.

Plant Stool DIY

Step 4: Cover the metal hardware with tape and finish your stool by staining it with the wood finish that you picked!

Plant Stool DIY

After your stool has dried, it’s ready to give your plants a little pick-me-up! Check out another cute, marble/copper pipe version that we love over at Foxtail and Moss.

Plant Stool DIY


Painted Cinder Blocks

Don’t underestimate those drab gray building blocks. Take them to new heights when you use them as planters.

Cinder Block Garden 

You’ll Need:

  • Cinder blocks
  • Plants — we love succulents in cinder blocks for an ultra-modern vibe
  • Spray paint
  • Soil
  • Pea gravel or river rocks

Instructions:

Step 1: Paint your cinder blocks however you like. Spray the whole block, or tape off half to create geometric patterns.

Cinder Block Garden

Step 2: Position cinder blocks on your patio where you want them.

Cinder Block Garden

Step 3: Put down a layer of gravel or river rocks at the bottom of the holes.

Step 4: Fill with soil.

Step 5: Add your plants.

Cinder Block Garden

Find additional cinderblock inspiration with Brit + Co.


DIY Plant Stand

Our project above will give your plants a little lift, but here’s another DIY to help your plants reach new heights!

Plant Stand DIY

You’ll Need:

  • (2) 10″ or 12″ wooden pre-cut circles (at least 1/2″ thick)
  • (4) 3/4″ or 1″ square dowels
  • Sandpaper
  • Paint or wood stain of your choice
  • Power drill
  • Tape measure
  • (8) 1/2″ wide L-brackets
  • Corresponding screws

Instructions:

Step 1: Sand down the wooden circles and square dowels to create smooth edges. We cut our circles with a jigsaw, but you may be able to find precut circles at a local craft store — just make sure they don’t have rounded edges.

Step 2: Stain or paint the circles and dowels with the color(s) that you picked.

Step 3: Once dry, measure 7″ from the bottom of all of your dowels and carefully mark those points. After measuring up from the bottom, measure 2″ down from the top of the dowels and mark those points as well. 

Step 4: Place the L-brackets so that the center of the holes match up with the marks you made, drill pilot holes, and then secure the brackets in place with a screw. Double-check that you attach the brackets right side up. 

Step 5: Take the circumference of one of the circles, divide it by 4, and mark the equidistant points around each circle.  

Step 6: Carefully drill pilot holes on those marks around the circles.

Step 7: Last, attach the circular wood pieces to the L-brackets where you placed the pilot holes to create your shelves. 

Plant Stand DIY

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