Garden Gnomes Design Ideas

Our charming decorative outdoor gnomes have found a place in the heart of most Western cultures. We can find the first stories of gnomes showing up in European folklore. These mystical creatures were understood to be creatures of goodwill. Under the cover of darkness they would reward the efforts and enterprise of farmers, merchant traders and wives through lending assistance in the garden fields, stores and in home gardens.

Ceramic gnomes were first crafted in the countryside of Germany. Their creator was Phillip Griebel and gnomes first came into being in the mid-nineteenth century. The gnomes were purchased for superstitious and metaphysical reasons as they were believed to fend off thieves from grain and vegetable supplies.

Gnomes were brought into England by Sir Charles Isham and this happened in 1847. Isham was wanting to spice up his garden with a burst of color and he found that the gnome was the ideal way to go about it. One of Isham's surviving gnomes is valued at over two million pounds sterling.

Griebel was originally only making statuary in the form of deer and fairies. When he began manufacturing the gnomes, demand skyrocketed. Demand exceeded supply and the gnomes were a hit amongst the German customer base.

Manufacturing the humble gnomes continued until the start of World War I. The ability to maintain production was affected by the German war efforts but production resumed in the mid 1940s. Communist police had suspicions that the garden gnomes were being used as conduits for smugglers but the gnomes went on to become the leading export of Eastern Germany.

The fall of Communism lead to the market becoming flooded by cheap imported Czech and Polish imitation garden gnomes. The legacy of Griebel's original garden gnome design continues on today with the family's original manufacturing plant still standing in Central Germany.

Garden gnomes today can be found frozen in many positions such as riding a motorcycle, wearing roller skates or even holding solar lights. They have been completely revamped to suit the variety of peoples' modern day interests and hobbies.

They are wonderful displays that would truly add feeling to your yard.

Step #1: First, you need to settle on what kind of garden gnomes would reflect your personality, interest and preferences. Like any other garden decorations, gnomes also come in wide variety of themes and designs such as the fish, golf, write, play, music, dance, and a lot more. Some are happy but some are sad. As an owner, you will be the one to pick and just go for themes that would perfectly fit you and your garden.

Step #2: Picking is not always based in style and appearance; it should also include the kind of material. In choosing garden gnomes, select those that are made with weather-resistant material so that they can be durable enough. If you don't have any idea of any purchasing stores to go to, check on nurseries, garden centers and home improvement stores for they can surely offer these kinds of decorative items at vast collections.

Step #3: You need to arrange well your personal garden gnomes. Select them according to size, color, and even pick them by sets, for less. Organize them accordingly so they will be nicer to look at and your garden will appear more organize. If you like to add some pairing or combinations, make sure to choose good combination, one that is visually appealing.

Step #4: If you are already done with your arrangement ideas, you can already start placing the garden gnomes. Search first for the right spot wherein they can be look at as some natural displays, as if the gnomes live in there. Some recommendations will be putting them below green bushes, next to wonderful flowers or have them out behind trees. These are only some suggestions you can try but if you don't agree with the idea, you can think of your own. Group them as multiples and create an appealing theme that is just perfect.