Garden Statues: Tips to Make Them Look Stunning in Your Yard

Statues you see at your local garden center look great until you bring them home and try to figure out where to put them in your yard. Just like clutter or awkward furniture positioning inside your home, garden statues that don’t quite fit just right can really make your yard look cramped, messy, and even tacky. Everyone knows at least one house in their neighborhood that looks like that. But if you take the time to plan out your ideas before you hit the garden center, you can completely avoid the junky look. Here are a few lovely examples of statue choices and placements for the gardens they live in.

Showcase your Style

Does your yard have a particular theme or give off a specific design style vibe? If not, you might want to consider picking one and sticking to it. After all, a whimsical gnome would probably look a little funny sitting across from a big stone Buddha. Whether you’re going for a style that’s shabby chic, zen garden, country living, or even Alice in Wonderland — try to keep it streamlined enough in order to avoid clashing and confusion.

shabby chic ornament 1 — Garden statue for shabby chic style

country living style 3 — Garden statue for country living style

alice wonderland 4 — Garden statues for whimsical Alice in Wonderland style

Create a Stunning Focal Point

There’s not much point in adding any statues to your garden or yard if they can’t be seen. Take note of what direction you’re looking at from the windows inside the house, the patio set, the entrance, and any other areas where people will be standing, sitting, or passing through. Place statues off to the side but still in view from windows, position them in open spaces, or use frames in your landscaping to highlight them.

perspective 1 — Garden statue placed off to the side, but still in plain sight

frame1 — Garden statue used in an open space in front of a large tree

frame 3 — Garden statue framed by an arbor

Highlight Functionality & Landscaping Design

You want to be able to go out and enjoy your yard, don’t you? The other things you incorporate into your yard — like patio furniture, ponds, or benches — will give you hints as to where you should place your statues. Consider positioning them on or near tables for entertaining, beside entrances or other sections of the yard, next to doorways, alongside paths, or next to your patio furniture.

functional 2 — Garden statue placed on top of outdoor dining table

functional 1 — Two garden statues mark the entrance of a path

functional 3 — Garden statue placed next to the doorway of a home

functional 4 — Garden statue placed along a landscaped pathway

functional 5 — Garden statue used to highlight patio furniture

Keep It Simple

When in doubt, stick to simplicity! After all, you probably don’t want your new garden statue to be the big garden piece that’s always in the way. It may serve as an interesting focal point, but it should really be used to complement and add to the overall look of the landscaping. Use statues to bring out the flowers or plant life, pair similar sets if you want more than one together, or use them to subtly draw the eye to something else — like a background view.

simple 1 — Tall garden statue used to support the floral look

simple 2 — Two deer garden statues used together still keeps it simple

simple 3 — Garden statue drawing the eye above it to look at the view

What are your favorite types of garden statues? Angels? Gnomes? Gargoyles? Farm animals? Or maybe you prefer a stunning sculptural piece? It’s amazing what you might be able to find out there. You can get really creative and whimsical with the types of statues that are now available if you’re willing to go for something really different!