The appeal of the best rustic garden has been around for as long as we can remember and is one of the most charming and pretty design styles out there. From simple cottage garden-inspired planting and weathered benches to rusty decorative ornaments, with the best garden accessories, you can easily create a rustic retreat in your garden. Plus, it requires little to no upkeep, as weathered and rusty are very much the desired look.
Incorporating natural elements like stone, wood, and water features can also enhance the rustic feel of your garden. Consider including vintage or repurposed items, such as an old watering can or a vintage bicycle, to add character and a sense of history to your garden. Don't be afraid to mix and match different styles and materials to create a unique and personalised rustic garden that reflects your personality and style.
Best rustic garden decor at a glance:
• Best rustic mirror: Annibells Large Arched Window Metal Distressed Rustic Wall Mirror - Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best rustic wall lighting: Nordlux Luxembourg Outdoor Wall Light, Weathered Finish - Buy now at John Lewis
• Best rustic string lighting: Habitat Warm White Filament Bulb Festoon Lights - Buy now at Habitat
• Best rustic wheelbarrow: Vintage Cart Flower Pot Garden Planter Outdoor - Buy now at B&Q
• Best rustic planter: Rustic Oval Garden Planter - Buy now on Forge & Foundry
Keep your garden retreat on trend with a mix of textured wood, rustic textures, and soft lighting. We've got all the rustic garden decor inspiration you need to create your own haven, whatever size or shape your space is.
Rustic garden decor ideas
Best rustic mirror
Adding a rustic garden mirror to your garden is a great way to add depth, whether it is attached to a fence or propped up against a wall. Plus, the light reflections will look amazing during dusk hours.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Great value
Cons
- Smaller than some people expected
Best rustic wall lighting
www.johnlewis.com
We love the weathered finish on this wall light made from solid copper. The dome can be unscrewed to change the bulb easily.
Customer review: "Bought a pair of these for the outside of a newly built garden room. The electrician who installed them said they were fine and not too difficult to fit. Nothing massively special about them, but they look nice and do the job they are required to do. Seem reasonably robust, and the price was acceptable."
Pros
- Robust, heavy glass
- Weathered finish
Cons
- Instructions tricky to understand
Best rustic string lighting
www.argos.co.uk
Festoon lighting brings a modern, rustic, and industrial feel, and the warm white glow of the lights gives your garden a special ambience.
Customer review: "Good quality, great effect."
Pros
- Sturdy in bad weather
- Not too bright
Cons
- None
Best rustic decorative jug
The more vintage things look, the more we love them. This metal milk can makes a great garden accessory, you could even pop some freshly cut flowers in it.
Pros
- Creative idea for floral display
- Sturdy
Cons
- Some reviews say to be careful with holes
Best rustic wheelbarrow
www.diy.com
Transforming an old wheelbarrow into a beautiful floral display will add a focal point in any garden, no matter the size.
Pros
- Great size
- Double planter gives you the option to play with different themes and colours
Cons
- No reviews
Best rustic ornaments
www.etsy.com
Add structure and contrast to your borders, or use it as a standalone feature for a beautiful focal point. These rusty metal poppy seed sculptures come in an array of different sizes, and each one is handcrafted and unique.
Customer review: "We bought these as a gift for friends and they liked them so much they ordered two more sets for their garden! They look fabulous - I wish we'd kept them for ourselves! They arrived on time and well packaged - I would thoroughly recommend FerricGarden."
Pros
- Natural bend to the stalks
- Delicate looking
Cons
- None
Best rustic planter
forge-foundry.com
Help bring a touch of rustic charm to your outside space with this beautiful rustic oval garden planter that is upcycled from thick galvanised steel.
Pros
- Sturdy and made of strong steel
Cons
- No reviews
Best rustic plant pot
www.dunelm.com
This blue galvanised planter gives a modern twist on a rustic look.
Pros
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Needs holes drilled in the base for drainage
Best rustic garden furniture table
www.johnlewis.com
Simple and stylish, this three-seater Acacia Wood dining table is suitable for indoors and outdoors; just make sure you cover it or bring it indoors in bad weather.
Pros
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
Cons
- Fiddly bolts
What is rustic decor?
Simply put, rustic decor showcases the beauty of natural materials and subdued hues (think natural wood, metal that is allowed to rust with weather and time, and soft clay textures). The theme is hugely popular when it comes to gardening, as it needs minimal upkeep and blends in with nature.
Quick and easy ways to give your garden a makeover
As well as buying the best accessories to bring some fun and colour to your garden, there are some other things you can do to help refresh any tired items you already own and make them look good as new.
• A lick of paint can make all the difference! If you've got some old terracotta plant pots, you can paint them with bright colours and repaint your existing furniture to make it feel brand new.
• Upcycle some old pieces into something new. We love these rustic rope shelves that you can make from an old pallet, or try making your own garden wall bar using old wood from past DIY projects.
• Get to work on your garden borders or patio, removing any weeds or unwanted moss. If you have a pressure washer too, a quick blitz of this will be so rewarding.
• If you want to invite wildlife into your garden and hear those bird songs loud and clear, we'd recommend getting a bird feeder to feel that bit closer to nature.
• Got a full house and plenty of kids' toys lying around in the garden to prove it? You can easily make your garden more appealing to lounge in by simply buying or building a storage unit to store it neatly away. If it's built sturdy enough, you could even paint it and put some cushion on top to make for a cute garden ottoman and extra seating.
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