What to Do With Old Picture Frames in the Garden
What to do with old picture frames is a question I’ve asked myself more than once. Turns out the garden has been waiting for them all along!
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Key Notes
- Repurpose old picture frames for a charming and unexpected garden focal point.
- A painted easel gives your frame height, color, and a gallery-worthy look outdoors.
- Trailing plants like fuchsias and petunias are perfect for spilling over the frame’s edge.
- This project works in a garden bed, on a patio, or near your front door.
- No woodworking skills required.
You know that stack of old picture frames in the basement.
The ones you keep meaning to do something with, the ones that have survived three garage sales because you just couldn’t let them go?
Good news, they were waiting for this!
With a little paint, a simple easel, and a hanging basket full of trailing flowers, an old frame becomes one of the most charming things you can put in a garden.
It looks like a painting came to life. A gallery moment. Right there between the maple trees!
Repurposed frames have a way of stopping people in their tracks.
And this particular project costs almost nothing…especially if your frames are thrift store finds or treasures rescued from yard sales and estate sales.
This is a great way to give something old a gorgeous new purpose right in your own backyard!
I’m also sharing fun garden projects from my friends in the Handcrafted Society. Like amazing seeds, I will sprinkle their projects throughout this post!
Why This Works in the Garden
It just makes sense!
We use frames to draw attention to art pieces we love.
To say, “look here!”
To give something a defined, intentional place in the world.
The garden deserves that same treatment.
A repurposed picture frame on a painted easel does exactly what wall decor does inside your home.
It creates a focal point and adds height. It gives the eye somewhere to land, and when you tuck a lush hanging basket right inside the frame, the flowers become the painting.
It’s a fun way to blur the line between indoors and out. Between a gallery and a garden!
What You’ll Need
The good news is that this project comes together with just a handful of supplies, most of which you may already have.
- A large old picture frame in good condition.
- A wooden easel
- A hanging basket with trailing plants
- Spray paint in your color of choice
- Outdoor Sealant or Weatherproof Top Coat
- Small U-nails or sturdy cord
- Hammer
- A drop cloth
Missy’s Note
Wooden frames in different styles work beautifully for this. An ornate frame with carved details reads like a sculpture. A simpler antique picture frame feels rustic and relaxed. Even a large frame with clean lines makes a bold, modern statement against a backdrop of greenery.
I found my frame tucked in a corner of our basement.
Inside? My senior portrait!
Talk about a time warp. (OK, share your senior picture pose in the comments!)
The ornate frame is perfect for this project so the “high school Missy” photo is going back into hiding!
This DIY plant tray from The Crowned Goat is simple to create and comes in handy while weeding container gardens, garden beds and more
How to Repurpose an Old Frame for Your Garden
I promise, this is so easy. You’re going to love it in your garden!
Prep Your Frame
Start with a good cleaning. Wipe down your frame to remove any dust or grime. Then remove any remaining artwork, glass, or backing, so you are working with just the framework itself.
I used my frame in its original finish. However, you may want to paint yours. If so, I suggest you give it a light sand if there are any rough spots.
Paint Your Easel (And Optionally Your Frame)
As mentioned, for my version, I painted on the easel a few light coats of dark green, and it looked like it belonged in the garden from the start!
Painting your frame to match is a great option too if you want a more cohesive look. Totally your call.
Seal Your Easel and Frame
A coat of outdoor weatherproof sealant is what gives your repurposed frames and your easel a real second life outside.
This is the step people skip and then wonder why things look rough by August.
Don’t skip it!
Secure your Basket
This is where you will want to put on your engineering hat. I’ll share what I did. But honestly, every easel is different and you may find a different configuration that works for you.
I used a simple U-nail (sometimes called a fence staple). With a hammer, I tapped it into the wood easel in the center of the easel top.
Important: Tap it in partially leaving enough space for your basket hook.
Now hang your flower basket from the hook.
Set the Frame on the Easel and Step Back
Place your frame on the easel and just enjoy it for a minute. You just turned an old frame into a beautiful garden art piece.
That never gets old!
Learn an easy way to hang flower pots to create a charming outdoor garden-inspired display. Donna from An Organized House will show you how.
Best Plants for Hanging Basket Art
This is where the whole thing comes to life. The right plants turn a repurposed frame into something that looks like it belongs in a magazine!
I went with begonias, and I’d make that same choice again in a heartbeat. They’re full, lush, and come in colors that really pop against a dark green frame.
A few other trailing varieties that work beautifully for this kind of a display:
- Petunias
- Fuchsia
- Trailing verbena
- Bacopa
The goal is to choose something that spills a little over the edges and gives the impression that the flowers are the painting.
Choose colors that complement your frame and easel, and you really can’t go wrong.
Cutting gardens bring smiles by their very existence — but when that garden is for the whole neighborhood, it also builds community. Diane’s zinnia cutting garden (South House Designs) does exactly that, complete with a handmade sign, painted birdhouses, and scissors ready for any neighbor who wants to snip a fresh bunch.
Learn how to create an affordable wire cloche for your garden. Anna from Skylark House is so clever and has all the details.
More Ways to Use Old Picture Frames in the Garden
The painted easel display is my personal favorite, but it’s far from the only creative way to repurpose old picture frames outdoors. Here are a few other ideas worth considering.
- Hang it from a tree
- Try a shepherd’s hook.
- Lean it against a fence.
- Layer several frames together.
More Ways to Use Old Picture Frames in the Garden
Wendy from WM Design House is turning a vintage birdcage into a whimsical garden planter, complete with a mossy nest of trailing plants spilling through the bars. It’s the sweetest way to give an old treasure new life in the garden.
Where to Display Your Garden Flower Art
One of the best things about this project is how flexible it is. The easel means you’re not committing to anything permanent. You can move it around until it feels just right.
A few spots worth considering:
- In a garden bed
- On a patio or deck
- Near the front door
- At the edge of a path
Michelle from Thistle Key Lane shares how to build your own solitary bee hotel or update a ready made one that will blend in with your garden.
Favorite Handcrafted Society Projects
Origami Envelope
diy travel journal
concrete Birdbath
One Last Frame
If you’ve got old picture frames collecting dust somewhere in your house, this is their moment!
A little paint, a sunny spot in the garden, and a basket full of begonias, and suddenly you’ve got something that looks like it took a lot more effort than it did.
That’s the kind of project I live for.
Give it a try and let me know how yours turns out. I’d love to see what you create! Drop a photo in the comments or tag me on social.
Cheers!
A Little About Me
Hi! I’m missy. So happy to meet you!
“Decorate with Joy! Live with Happiness”
I truly believe that your home should be a reflection of your personality, a space where you feel free to express yourself and create a sanctuary that feels uniquely yours.
I love creating mood boards, hunting down unique home décor treasures, tackling easy DIY projects, and gathering with family and friends. Homes are meant to be enjoyed, filled with laughter, and shared with the people you love!
– cheers –
Don’t Forget to Pin It!
Pin the image below to your boards on Pinterest (just click the Pin button in the top left corner). You can also follow along with me on Pinterest!
Shop The Post (And the Garden)
Amazing, Missy!! I never would of thought that in a million years but it totally looks beautiful!! Super pretty idea!
Awww, thank you, Rachel! I really appreciate it!
Brilliant idea Missy! Besides that your frame and flowers are just gorgeous! I can just picture how pretty your easel and framed flowers would look on a patio or porch too. You are amazing!
Thanks, Michelle! I think I need to try this on my front porch!
This is so beautiful Missy and really makes a statement in the garden. I have a few frames around I am sure I could use! Thank you for the great inspiration.
Hi Wendy, I know you have beautiful frames because I love looking at them in and around your she-shed! I loved doing a garden project this month. Now if the temperature would just drop, I’ll be really happy!
Love this fun and unique idea, Missy! I have several vintage frames I’ve collected from antique stores and yard sales, and I enjoy decorating with them indoors. I recently used one to make a wreath for my front door, but besides that, it never crossed my mind to use an easel as you did! Pinning now so I’ll remember to do this sometime!
Thanks so much, Donna! I’ve seen some of your gorgeous frames…you always style them so beautifully! I always get great inspiration from you!
Hi Missy – First, love the photo of High School Missy. Second, this is a great idea. I particularly love how you used the easel to hang the basket of flowers. So smart! Your project looks great and I love the creativity behind it. After all, gardens are art! Thanks for the tips and inspiration.
Thanks so much, Anna! This was a fun month for the Handcrafted Society!
Oh My Goodness-LOVE this idea, Missy! Literally waiting for my yard to dry out after our recent flooding to give this a try! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm, Cecilia – My Thrift Store Addiction
What a beautiful idea!!
What a fabulous idea, Missy! This is so pretty. I love how it draws your eye straight to those beautiful flowers and creates such a lovely focal point in the garden. 👌🏻
I am loving this idea!! Never seen anything like this before, but just so clever. #MMBC
Brilliant! It’s like bringing art to life, and so creative. Featuring when my link party opens.
What a beautiful garden display, Missy! The picture frame and easel really draws attention to those flowers in such a special way! Gorgeous!
This is so darling! I’ve never seen anything like this! I’m so happy to tell you I’ll be featuring this post at Thursday Favorite Things tomorrow. 🙂
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Thank you for sharing this with us on Farmhouse Friday. I LOVE IT! I’ll be featuring it tomorrow. pinned 🙂
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