Are you hoping to make your garden stand out with tasteful hints of rustic charm? Well, you’ve certainly come to the right place.
Today, we’re going to talk all about Rustic Garden Arbors.
So, without further delay, let’s get started!
11 Rustic Garden Arbor Ideas
- Minimalist Craftsmanship
- Window Frames (shabby chic, cathedral style)
- Tree Branches
- Driftwood
- Upcycled Wood Planks
- Wood Pallets
- Wooden Ladders
- Pergola Design
- Rustic Garden Signs
- Cast Iron Hardware (hang wind chimes?)
- Edison Lights
Minimalist Craftsmanship
If you’re going for a rustic look to your arbor, it’s really not necessary to try tackling some sort of impossibly intricate design. Less is truly more sometimes.
Two vertical wooden planks on either side as the base, two crescent shaped top pieces to connect the base pieces on one side to the base pieces on the other side, and some smaller, vertical pieces of wood to hold it all together —and you’re done!
Simple, rustic charm.
The horizontal pieces of wood add additional surfaces for vines to climb on and for you to attach flowers and other cute accents to.
Plain old wood looks great — but so does some stain or a splash of white paint.
Regardless of what color you decide on, you’ll want to make sure that you’re treating your wood with a weather-protected coating so you don’t end up with a yucky, moldy arbor!
Window Frames
Your friends and family are going to be amazed by your craftiness if you pull off an arbor made out of upcycled old window frames!
Per usual, you’ll want to weather-protect any and all woods used outdoors. Once you get that out of the way, the list of possibilities goes on and on!
You can lazily add hints of white, ivory, robin’s egg blue, or even olive green paint to achieve a shabby chic aesthetic! Just remember that we’re avoiding full-coverage with this technique and aiming for exposed wood. Trust me, it adds character!
Hint: when going for a shabby chic paint look, make sure there’s very little paint on your brush. This dry-brushing technique gives wood that beautiful distressed look and adds loads of rustic charm!
Don’t forget, you’re not limited to perfectly square or rectangular window frames. Rounded or even cathedral-style windows will make an incredibly attractive addition to any rustic garden arbor!
Tree Branches
This one is stunning when done right, but also pretty self-explanatory, so I’ll keep the details short and sweet (as to not totally bore you).
If you want an exceptionally rustic look, you can skip the wood cuts and head straight into the woods for some completely untouched tree branches that have fallen to the ground.
Generally speaking, if you find sticks and branches that are taller than you, you’re on the right track. Just try to keep your branches at a similar length so everything fits together when it’s time to assemble (though you can always trim your branches if need be).
Driftwood
These arbors are the best. You’ll see a lot of these if you search for beach wedding arbors online.
The process of making these arbors is quite similar to that of the regular tree branch arbor. Branches are branches — regardless of where you find them.
The main difference here is where you go to collect your branches. With driftwood, you’ll want to head toward the sea rather than the woods!
Driftwood is also extremely lightweight — so it’ll be easy to move from one place to the other as well as simple to work with when assembling your lovely rustic garden arbor.
Oh, another cool thing about driftwood is the way it tends to twist and turn — making it a gorgeous option for any arbor — especially a wedding ceremony arbor!
Upcycled Wood Planks
If you’re looking for a slightly (but not much) more modern look than an arbor made from sticks and branches, why not upcycle some old pieces of wood you’ve got lying around?
Those extra pieces of plywood you have sitting in your garage? Use them!
No wood should go to waste — and no wood is too ugly to upcycle (unless the wood is rotted, in which case, it’s probably time to say goodbye).
You can find tons of different design plans for DIY arbors right on Google or Etsy.
So if you’re handy with a hammer and screwdriver, then what are you waiting for?
Wood Pallets
I’ve seen people turn wood pallets up onto their side (vertically) and use them to build extremely unique-looking garden arbors!
With this type of DIY arbor, you’ll probably have a little bit of a deeper walk through the arbor, but that’s super unique. & unique is cool.
You can attach two vertical wood pallets (one standing on top of the other to create a nice, tall side) to create one side of your arbor. Then, repeat the same thing on the other side before attaching them together with a fifth pallet at the top.
You’ll want to ask somebody to help you and also watch out for any stray nails or dangerous splinters.
With any outdoor wooden fixtures, you’ll need to make sure the wood is rot-resistant (or treated with a substance that makes it so).
It may not be everyone’s style, but if you’ve got some pallets lying around and this style fits in with your rustic arbor vision, you should definitely go for it!
Wooden Ladders
If you’ve realized that I’ve talking about wooden ladders a couple of times before, it’s because I absolutely love the cute, rustic appeal to wooden ladders.
(Yes, you caught me. I am among the ladder-obsessed).
Wooden ladders will make perfect sides and sturdy tops for any homemade garden arbor. They’re wooden rods also make them extremely practical for grape vines or any other nearby plants that like to climb.
& even if you don’t have plants that do a lot of climbing, you can still use the rods of your arbor to hang a few trinkets or hanging planters! You can even use a mason jar planter (or many of them) with jute twine tied tightly around the jar on one end and attached to your arbor at the other end!
Pergola Design
Who doesn’t love a classic pergola?
Now, it seems like pergola-style arbors are becoming more and more popular. I’ve particularly seen a lot of these at different wedding venues.
You can dive into a pergola-style DIY design using many of the materials we’ve already mentioned. To find a perfect mix between rustic and sophisticated, I would recommend staining your wood and treating it with tung oil or poly after building your arbor.
Side note: the Etsy seller, LINEAARTS, sells wonderful garden and pergola designs for those of you who love to build things yourself, but just need a bit of guidance! You can check out their incredibly clever garden bench/pergola/arbor-hybrid design here.
Rustic Garden Signs
If you’re looking for a rustic garden entry sign for your arbor — look no further than the PersonifyGift shop on Etsy! Their signs are handmade with poplar plywood, sealed with lacquer to increase outdoor-friendliness, and made-to-order with your special, personal touches in mind!
They’re perfect if you’re looking for rustic with an added touch of class!
Here’s our favorite sophisticated and rustic garden sign from PersonifyGift:
Cast Iron Hardware
Cast iron hardware (when properly treated with wax or some other anti-rusting agent) will make a pretty awesome addition to any rustic garden arbor.
A few flanges, elbows, and rods and you’re ready to rock! I especially think these are great for hanging wind chimes, galvanized accents (like your watering can), or even some of your gardening tools! (Just watch out with where you put sharp tools that could fall and hurt you, your family, or your plant-friends!
Edison Lights
Such a groovy addition to any rustic arbor or garden setting!
Edison lights add a touch of hipster flare as well as that warm-lit ambience that really makes you want to stay outside long after the sun goes down.
Remember, they don’t have to be Edison lights if you’re more of a globe light or holiday light type of person.
The only things that really matter when setting up string lights is that you install them safely and that you get all the warm, cozy vibes your heart desires!
Conclusion
I’d say you’re in pretty good shape to design the rustic garden arbor of your dreams! We’re happy to know that your garden paradise will soon be even more stylish and innovative!
I wish you a lifetime of bountiful harvests and successful building!
Happy planting!
I hope you enjoyed this guest post by LMadGz! If so, please share it with someone who might also like to read it.
You might enjoy this article about cute and clever Garden Bridge Ideas.
You can also read about some here.
You can get some ideas of what to plant on an arbor here.
If you want to read some of my most popular posts, check out the “Best of GreenUpSide” page here. Enjoy!
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or opinions, but I can provide you with information on rustic garden arbors based on the concepts mentioned in this article. Here's what I found:
Rustic Garden Arbor Ideas
Rustic garden arbors can add a charming touch to your garden. Here are some ideas mentioned in the article:
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Minimalist Craftsmanship: For a rustic look, you can create a simple arbor using two vertical wooden planks as the base, two crescent-shaped top pieces to connect the base, and smaller vertical pieces of wood to hold it all together. You can add horizontal pieces of wood for vines to climb on and attach flowers and accents to. Staining or painting the wood can enhance the rustic charm. Remember to treat the wood with a weather-protected coating to prevent mold growth [[11]].
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Window Frames: Upcycled old window frames can be used to create a unique and shabby chic arbor. You can add hints of paint, such as white, ivory, robin's egg blue, or olive green, to achieve the desired aesthetic. Dry-brushing the paint can create a distressed look and add rustic charm. Rounded or cathedral-style windows can also be used for a more attractive design [[12]].
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Tree Branches: Using fallen tree branches can give your arbor a natural and rustic look. Look for branches that are taller than you and try to keep them at a similar length for easy assembly. Trimming the branches is an option if needed [[13]].
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Driftwood: Driftwood can be collected from the sea to create a stunning and lightweight arbor. Its twisted and turned appearance adds to its beauty, making it a popular choice for beach wedding arbors. Driftwood arbors are similar to those made with tree branches, but the source of the wood is different [[14]].
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Upcycled Wood Planks: Upcycling old pieces of wood, such as plywood, can give your arbor a slightly more modern look. You can find various design plans for DIY arbors online. Ensure the wood is weather-resistant or treated to prevent rot [[15]].
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Wood Pallets: Wood pallets can be used vertically to create a unique-looking garden arbor. By attaching two vertical pallets on each side and connecting them with a fifth pallet at the top, you can create a tall and distinctive arbor. Ensure the wood is rot-resistant or treated for outdoor use [[16]].
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Wooden Ladders: Wooden ladders can be repurposed as sides and tops for a homemade garden arbor. The ladder's wooden rods are practical for plants that climb, and you can also use them to hang trinkets or hanging planters. Ensure the wood is weather-resistant or treated for durability [[17]].
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Pergola Design: Pergola-style arbors are becoming popular and can be built using various materials mentioned above. Staining the wood and treating it with tung oil or poly can create a mix of rustic and sophisticated aesthetics. You can find DIY designs and guidance online or from sellers like LINEAARTS on Etsy [[18]].
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Rustic Garden Signs: Adding a rustic garden entry sign to your arbor can enhance its charm. Handmade signs made from poplar plywood and sealed with lacquer can be found on platforms like Etsy. These signs can be personalized and add a touch of class to your arbor [[19]].
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Cast Iron Hardware: Cast iron hardware, when treated with an anti-rusting agent, can be a great addition to a rustic garden arbor. Flanges, elbows, and rods can be used for hanging wind chimes, galvanized accents, or gardening tools. Ensure the hardware is properly treated to prevent rusting [[20]].
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Edison Lights: Edison lights, or other types of string lights, can add a groovy and warm-lit ambiance to your rustic arbor or garden setting. Install the lights safely and create a cozy atmosphere for your outdoor space [[21]].
I hope these ideas inspire you to create a beautiful and rustic garden arbor! Happy gardening!
