Eco-Friendly Outdoor Decorating Tips

Eco-friendly decorating is all about creating functional, attractive spaces that minimize waste and have a positive impact on the environment. By incorporating mindful designs and sustainable materials, you can turn your backyard into a stylish setting that’s good for your family and great for the planet.

We want to help you create a beautiful, eco-conscious space, so we’re sharing simple yet impactful eco-friendly decorating ideas. Keep reading for outdoor inspiration.

Finding sturdy, all-weather outdoor furniture that doesn’t harm the environment is much easier now than it used to be. Many manufacturers design stylish and eco-friendly pieces made with recycled materials that easily combat the effects of rain, heat, and salty sea air.

At POLYWOOD, for example, we craft our furniture from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic, which is extremely durable and resistant to harsh weather and outdoor elements. Our lumber is strong, safe, and infinitely recyclable—the perfect eco-friendly outdoor furniture material.

Are you a visual learner? Watch each step of our recycling process and learn how we turn discarded plastic into Adirondack chairs, chaise lounges, and other beautiful outdoor furniture.

Speaking of sustainable furniture, there’s another backyard favorite you may want to swap out: your fire pit. It’s the perfect place to unwind and roast marshmallows after sunset, but burning wood can release particles and emissions that negatively impact air quality. In fact, the Washington State Department of Ecology reports that 5% of winter air pollution comes from wood smoke.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, smoke created from burning wood releases particulate matter that can harm the local environment and your health. Inhaling elevated levels of particulate matter can irritate your eyes and respiratory system, lead to bronchitis, and aggravate chronic conditions like heart or lung disease.

Here’s the solution: Switch to a propane—or ethanol-fueled fire pit table to prevent harmful wood smoke from entering the air. This change will also give you greater control over the flame height while reducing cleaning and maintenance.

The essence of outdoor eco-friendly decorating lies in choosing decor, furniture, and building materials that are fully recyclable or made from recycled materials.

When shopping for planters, choose pots and containers made from recyclable materials so you can fill your deck, patio, or walkway with an array of potted plants. Installing a birdhouse or erecting a sculpture along your wraparound porch to break up the space? Select materials like steel, wood, and plastic that can be repurposed later.

A large part of your outdoor decor is your carefully curated landscaping. Get your backyard off to a good start by choosing plants native to your region. These plants are already acclimated to the local climate and will thrive without issue. Use the National Wildlife Federation’s native plant finder tool to take the guesswork out of plant shopping.

Select herbs, flowers, and shrubs that attract pollinators. Plants that produce pollen and nectar provide bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other animals with a pesticide-free environment, helping your area’s flora and fauna thrive. Plus, many of these flowers naturally dazzle with their beautiful colors and lovely aromas—they’re nature-made outdoor decorations.

You can also add bee houses to your backyard to further support your pollinator project. Buy pre-made models or build your own by following DIY video tutorials on YouTube.

Providing shelter and sustenance for the feathered and furry creatures in your community extends the natural ecosystem into your backyard.

Bird feeders and houses are easy inclusions. Do some research online to choose the right birdhouse, as different designs attract different species of birds. You can paint any birdhouse you purchase to complement or contrast with your yard’s other decorations and design elements.

Birds are just the beginning—building habitats for other wildlife can help manage pests and offer unique viewing opportunities for you and your family.

A few basic additions will attract all kinds of critters to your yard.

• Pile several rocks in a sunny spot and plant shade-tolerant ground cover under trees to attract lizards, turtles, and frogs.
• Turn clay pots on their sides near water to give toads, frogs, and other amphibians cool, damp refuges.
• Mount bat houses on tall poles facing the sun to give bats a safe place to roost.
• Install owl boxes high up in sheltered spots to give feathered fowl a place to call home.

Solar lights illuminate your yard without wiring and simultaneously save you money on your energy bill. They charge during the day while the sun is out and emit a soft, gentle glow in the evening to keep your porch, balcony, or deck bright enough for the next round of cocktails or a nighttime movie screening.

As long as the area where you install a solar light receives a basic amount of direct sunlight during the day, it can brighten up your yard all evening long. Many solar lights use a single LED, while more expensive options include both an LED and a small halogen flashlight bulb.

If you’re the creative DIY type, solar lighting offers nearly endless decorative possibilities. You can place one inside a jack-o-lantern, tiki torch, or hanging fixture to create mood lighting for any season. Hang solar lights along entryways or bury several in the underbrush of your garden for a mystical look.

For backyard irrigation, you can’t beat the environmental benefits of an old-fashioned rain barrel. These barrels don’t have to be an eyesore on your property—with the proper installation and barrel, you can still have a breathtaking yard that benefits from drip irrigation.

Rainwater barrels prevent soil erosion and prevent rainwater waste from ending up in the sewers. To keep barrels out of sight, place them on the side of your property and route them to your irrigation system. Alternatively, embrace the rain barrel as a decorative element by painting it or spending a little more on stylish models that align with your home’s architecture and aesthetic.