Decorating Your Outdoor Space with Found Objectsby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 04 Feb 2007 07:18 PM Want to create a great outdoor space for free? Why not use found objects to create a backyard or garden that is truly unique. One of our Families.com members, misskitty is an expert at using found objects to their full advantage. I have see her creativity in action first hand. In this blog, I've asked her to share her experience and advice. Get ready for some creative and practical ideas for using found objects to create a backyard oasis for ourselves and our families. Question: How can you improve your backyard with found objects? "Found objects can improve the backyard or a garden by providing structure. My way of testing the structural value of an object is observing it during winter. If it just looks like clutter over the winter, than it doesn't earn it's place," she says. In other words, your outdoor space has to have "good bones" in its design. For items that are too delicate to remain outside all winter,  misskitty recommends trying them out in late fall or early spring, while trees and plantings are sparse. "Found objects can improve a backyard by helping to define one large space into several outdoor 'rooms' or areas," she says. "They can be used to draw the eye where you want something highlighted, such as the end of a walkway or the center of a planted section." "Found objects can also improve the backyard by being functional in a new way. For example, I drilled two small holes in my outdoor dining room table to receive a tall shepherds hook from which I can now suspend an outdoor chandelier (since there was no nearby tree branch)," she says. "I also converted the outdated top mirror portion of an elaborate vintage dresser into a faux hearth, and I converted a metal daybed frame into outdoor seating by replacing the mattress part with wood and adding a living growing 'canopy' to the 4 posters." "Finally, found objects can improve a backyard that has more concrete than earth, since many objects lend themselves to container gardening." Question: What is the one thing you are most proud of in your backyard? "I guess right now it is my outdoor patio, which is constructed entirely of found items including the pea gravel. At night, the most amazing thing is the reflected candle light in my mirrored 'hearth.'" Related Articles: Frugal Winter Wonderland: Ice Candles Frugal Gardening: Can You Use Store Bought Produce for Seeds? Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantfrugal tags User Comments  Linda Hansen (1796) 05 Feb 2007 04:13 AMAfter my dad passed away, we took his old mailbox down. I planted purslane in it and put it in a flowerbed in my backyard. After Paul's dad sold their family home recently, we took the family name sign down his now deceased bro made many yrs ago. I put sturdy clothing hooks in it and it hangs in the bathroom for the kids' towels. Community Tags backyard, Decorating, garden Discuss this article
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