5 min readDecorating outdoors often brings to mind matching furniture sets and tacky plastic figurines. However, there are ways to infuse originality into your patio or yard—namely, through a trip to the thrift store. From enchanting lanterns to vintage seating, second-hand items bring charm to summer pool parties and star-lit soireés alike.
Along with the energy of decades past, thrifted items carry the wear and tear of age, which can typically add to the appeal of your garden, rather than detracting from it. “Gardens are uniquely forgiving of age,” says Christian Douglas, landscape designer and founding principal of Christian Douglas Design. “Moss, patina, and erosion aren't flaws outside—they become credentials.”
Still, you’ll want to consider if the item can withstand the elements, checking for rust, structural stability, and water damage. As Alvin Wayne, founder and principal designer of Alvin Wayne Interiors, puts it, “Patina is great; deterioration is not.”
From there, start to look at thrifted items through a creative lens, thinking beyond how a piece is traditionally used. “A vintage stool can become a plant stand, an old ceramic vessel can be repurposed as a planter, and a weathered bench can add sculptural interest to a garden,” Wayne says.
Ready to transform your outdoor space into an oasis, but not sure where to start? Here, designers share their favorite thrifted items to dress up balconies, patios, and yards so you can enjoy al fresco activities all summer long.
Vintage Ceramics
All living things need a home, and that includes your potted plants. “I can never pass up a great ceramic vessel,” Wayne says. “Whether it's a large planter, an oversized urn, or a handmade pottery piece, they instantly add texture, color, and a sense of history to an outdoor space.” Wayne even likes ceramics when they’re not filled with plants, as they can “act as sculptural elements,” he says.
Stephanie Perez O’Boyle, founder and principal designer of Stephanie Perez Studio, gravitates to terracotta planters in particular, since they naturally develop character over time. “When designing my porch, I intentionally created a space that could house my growing collection, layering pots of varying sizes throughout the seating area,” she says. “They help the porch feel more like a small garden oasis.”
Wrought Iron Seating
Evocative of Victorian design and Bridgerton-style gardens, wrought iron seating is a fan favorite among designers. “I found a set of vintage Brown Jordan metal chairs a couple of years ago that lacked seat cushions, but I had a set made for them, and they are my favorite pieces in my backyard,” says Kate Pearce, interior designer and founder of Kate Pearce Vintage. She notes that the metal finish is “both on-trend and timeless.”
Wayne likes to style wrought iron benches and chairs alongside more contemporary pieces. “The contrast keeps a space from feeling too expected,” he says. “Adding fresh cushions and surrounding the seating with greenery makes it feel inviting and relaxed.”
Stone and Concrete Decor
Stone and concrete feel right at home in outdoor spaces, thanks to the materials’ organic, earthy texture. “They ground a space and add permanence, almost like they're part of the landscape itself,” Wayne says. “I've used vintage stone planters flanking entryways, concrete garden stools as side tables, and sculptural stone objects to create focal points throughout a landscape.”
For their old-world nostalgia, Douglas often reaches for limestone pieces. “Limestone is porous, which means it colonizes quickly with moss and lichen, adding a patina which is unique only to that piece—timeless and magical,” he says. “I prefer them gently nested into foliage as if they have been somewhat forgotten, but then appear as you glance across or walk past.”
Granite Fountains
On a similarly stony note, antique granite fountains are perfect for those craving a water feature. “I've sourced several pieces over the years, worn smooth by weather and chisels,” Douglas says. “I place them as focal points with water bubbling so the birds and insects can share in the enjoyment.”
While granite is highly durable and even improves with age, Douglas warns that cheaper imitations have entered the market, so you’ll want to make sure the piece is truly antique or repurposed.
Harvest Baskets
Baskets are highly versatile indoors or outdoors, whether you hang them on the ceiling of a breezeway or use them as picnic-esque decor on your patio. “I'll admit, I have been known to smuggle these back in my luggage,” Douglas says. “Hand-woven, well-used, sized for actual harvesting—they bring a particular character to a kitchen garden. They also don't weigh anything, so no frowns at the airport luggage scale.”
Douglas enjoys thrifting baskets abroad, since the weaves vary so much from region to region. “They photograph beautifully, age gracefully, and are 100 percent utilitarian daily,” he adds.
Reclaimed Tiles
Monique Miller, designer and co-founder of Calimia Home, often gives reclaimed tiles a new lease on life, dotting them around her Florida projects. “There's a warmth to reclaimed tiles that instantly makes a space feel lived-in,” she says.
The pattern and texture of reclaimed tiles can also be more architectural and eye-catching than new ones. “At our Villa Belmonte project, hand-painted Spanish tiles were used on the stairs,” Miller notes. “The house is historic, and the antique tiles add another layer of character.”
Charming Tableware
Outdoor spaces are enjoyed all the more with the company of loved ones, and thrifted tableware cements how special those moments are. “I go extra wild with colors and patterns when I create outdoor tablescapes,” Pearce says. “And you can never have enough candlestick holders! Nothing makes an outdoor tablescape more magical than way too many candles glowing under the moonlight.”
You can even use tableware as decor, rather than just to serve up hors d’oeuvres. “On my porch, I hung a collection of decorative plates on a lattice wall behind the sofa,” Perez O’Boyle says. “The lattice actually started as a solution for concealing siding and a gutter, but it became an opportunity to create an architectural feature and display pieces I love.”
Rattan Furniture
Rattan shines in outdoor spaces, with a natural honey-hued warmth and breezy weave. “One of my favorite vintage finds on my own porch is a pair of rattan side chairs,” says Perez O’Boyle. “They're unique in shape, incredibly airy and lightweight, and their scale allowed me to add additional seating to a relatively compact space without making it feel crowded.”
Pierced Metal Lanterns
When day turns to night, the right lighting can set your outdoor space aglow—especially when you want to linger for warm summer evenings. Holly Kopman, principal designer of HAK Interior Design, opted for pierced metal lanterns in some of her recent projects as an homage to their ancient origins and ornate carvings. “I love hanging them as overhead lighting outdoors because the pierced metalwork casts the most extraordinary dappled light at dusk,” she says.
“They read as architectural, not just decorative.”
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