Metal Garden Decor Design

If your backyard is looking a little drab and lacking in character, it might be time to add some metal garden decor. Metal garden decor can be fun or functional. It can be used to add structure and form to a flat landscape or to add an eye-catching focal point to your yard.

When designing a garden, structure is very important. One simple way to add structure and definition to a yard is with a large metal archway. They are easy to setup and require little or no maintenance. Add a climbing rose or vine and the covered trellis will beckon your visitors to walk through and discover the secrets on the other side. Metal trellises are no longer just functional plant supports. They are often creative works of art that look beautiful on their own. With or without plants they add vertical interest by drawing the eye upwards into the garden.

For bird lovers metal bird baths and bird feeders provide a place for their feathered friends to rest and recharge. Migratory birds often travel thousands of miles and seek out safe havens on their long journey. Add a beautiful copper birdbath and squirrel-proof bird feeder and you will have many grateful guests.

Copper rain chains replace ugly downspouts with ornamental copper cups and chains which guide the water down from the roof. Also called "kusari doi", rain chains originated in Japan hundreds of years ago and were used to capture rainwater in water basins. A copper rain chain turns a boring downspout into a beautiful water feature as the rain gently cascades down the copper. Soothing on the ears as well as the eyes they are a pleasure to behold.

Most people use metal garden decor to add personality to their yards. Large bronze or stainless steel sculptures are often focal points in large gardens. More commonly people add smaller sculptures, stakes or wall hangings to create interest or liven up a dull spot. Some pieces are surreptitiously placed and surprise or delight when they are stumbled upon. A metal cat may sit on the fence or an alligator lurk in the bushes. A metal frog can be found climbing up the trellis. Have your flowers starting to fade? Add a colorful metal sunflower or two to fill the holes.

Metal garden decor is an easy way to enhance your outdoor living space and add your own personal touch.

No garden is complete without a least one piece of wonderful metal garden art. Even the most die hard gardening purists have been known to quietly sneak a piece or two into their yard. With so many artists working in the field and so many different materials to choose from, the choices are endless. No matter what your taste, you will find at least one piece of metal garden art to add year round color and character to your garden.

Steel is the most popular material used in metal garden art because it is inexpensive, versatile and easy to work with. It is used to make garden sculptures, garden stakes, wall art and metal garden decor like lanterns, wind spinners and bird feeders. Steel can be used in its natural state, varnished, painted or left to rust. Some artists even combine rusted metal with treated metal for pieces with a very unique look. For larger more contemporary pieces, corrosion resistant stainless steel is used to create striking, architectural pieces.

Some of the most creative, fun and whimsical pieces of metal yard art I have seen are made from recycled metal. Recycled steel oil drums or tanks, discarded bicycle or tricycles, broken tools and nuts and bolts, these all provide the raw materials for the creative eco-artist. A rusted oil drum is incarnated as a happy pig, and a broken rake becomes a bird.

Copper is also widely used in metal garden art because it is beautiful, durable and adds elegance to any garden. If allowed to oxidize it will age gracefully to a natural weather worn green patina. It can also be preserved with a clear coating to maintain its bright, shiny look. Copper sculptures, wall art and garden stakes add a touch of class to any decor.