Are you a funny guy or gal that appreciates oddness and fun? Or maybe you want to send your neighbours a message?
Either way, you need to check our list of unusual garden ornaments. They will cheer up your day and bring up a smile on the face of your children and guests. We’ll start with a list of unique and funny garden ornaments and further down you can read about the things you need to consider before buying.
Table of Contents
10 Unusual and Quirky Garden Ornaments in the UK
Let’s see some of the most unusual garden ornaments on the market:
Frog Lying Down Ornament
Specific features: 21 x 18 x 12 cm; 2.5 kg; solid cast stone; green; hand-painted; weatherproof; frost-resistant; made in Germany
If you’re looking for funny garden ornaments, this frog that appears to be basking in the sun (or rain), contemplating its froggy life is a monument of perfection. You can’t help but smile when you look at it.
Considering its dimensions and low weight, the advantage is that you can place it anywhere: beneath a tall bush or even under a suspended barrel. You now have a partner in crime each time you have an outdoor picnic, reminding you to relax.
Its solid cast stone construction is sturdy, and its German-made quality is obvious. This statue is weatherproof and resistant to frost, so you won’t have to take it inside in inclement weather. However, the poor frog might not resist heavy gusts of wind.
The frog looks great too, considering it’s hand-painted with attention to detail. Unfortunately, its colour might make it hard to notice in certain places.
PROS:
- Amusing
- Versatile
- Sturdy
- Weatherproof
CONS:
- Doesn’t stand out
- Not for extreme wind
La Hacienda Snail Lacquer Glow In The Dark Beaded Metal Animal
Specific features: 23 x 28 x 14 cm; 800 g; sheet metal; glow in the dark
Best use: Nightlight; garden ponds
When it comes to weird garden ornaments, this snail really has it (s)nailed down. Who wouldn’t want a pest in their garden if it looks so funky?
At just about 800 grams and small dimensions, you can fit it anywhere. It’s a versatile ornament, which looks great in shadowy places, near a footpath or a garden pond. The disadvantage is that it has no spike to fit it in the ground, so you’d best use a tent peg.
The sheet metal manufacturing is resistant enough, but it’s not amazing for inclement weather. It has a wonderful intricate construction and high attention to detail, but that also means it requires a bit of maintenance and cleaning to keep it looking sharp.
The glow-in-the-dark beads are an advantage if you need some light on your front patio or along a footpath. However, you need to place the statue in direct sunlight during the day to make sure it lights up during the night.
PROS:
- Quirky
- Versatile
- Resistant
- Glow-in-the-dark
CONS:
- No spike to fit in the ground
- Not amazing for inclement weather
- Requires a bit of maintenance
Design Toscano Meditative Buddha of the Grand Temple Garden Statue
Specific features: 50.8 x 38.1 x 66.04 cm; 8.55kg; real crushed stone; hand-cast; designer resin; UV-resistant black stone coating
Are you interested in decorative Asian art? Are you religious or love meditation? Do you envisage creating a quiet sanctuary in your garden? Then this Meditative Buddha is one of the best choices.
Its dimensions and weight make it one of the medium-large garden ornaments on the market. You can place it indoors as well as outdoors, near a pond or inside a circle of flower beds.
Its construction is sturdy, manufactured from real crushed stone that resists bad weather. The black stone coating is resistant to UV rays, so you can place this statue in direct sunlight too.
Regarding the craftsmanship, this Buddha statue conveys a quiet majesty and looks exactly like an Asian antique. Besides, its hand-cast design increases its quality and beauty.
PROS:
- Realistic
- Solid
- Weather-resistant
CONS:
- Large
- Hefty
- Pricy
Large Nosey Neighbour Gnome Ornament Feature
Specific features: H26 x W21 x D15cm; polyresin; hand-finished; weather-resistant
There are not many ornaments more unique than this nosey neighbour statue. You can place it between some bushes facing your neighbours’ house to make them laugh or think twice about spending too much time around your shared fence. You can even give it to them as an inspired birthday gift!
Either way, it’s a popular choice. It’s not a large garden ornament, but it sends the message across.
The polyresin manufacturing has a consistent texture, which explains the vivid details on this ornament. On the other hand, polyresin can easily break.
Add to that the hand-finished details, and you get a class-A craftsmanship. Another advantage is its weather-resistant construction.
PROS:
- Versatile
- Ingenious
- Great detail
- Weather-resistant
CONS:
- Easy to break
- Might be hard to notice
Thumbs Up Zombie Gnome Crawler
Specific features: 23 x 12.5 x 14 cm; 435 g; terracotta; handcrafted; glow-in-the-dark eyes
Best use: Halloween party; accepting the imminent zombie apocalypse
This little guy will end up scaring away all your undead garden gnomes, but it still makes for a funny garden ornament. Its glow-in-the-dark eyes might even scare off your neighbour’s cat!
The terracotta construction is resistant to rain, and the handcrafted details look amazing. The colours are fairly realistic, and the gnome’s prone position make this ornament really stable, so you can fit it in various places.
Its dimensions and weight are quite small, though, which means it might be a bit unstable in a heavy wind. However, considering this is one of the cheaper garden ornaments on the market, it’s totally worth every penny!
PROS:
- Funny
- Great for parties
- Rain-resistant
- Good details
CONS:
- Can’t be left outside when windy
Onefold – Wise Skull Set
Specific features: 12 x 13 x 12 cm; 1.5 kg each; hand-cast design; concrete; hand-finished; antique appearance; solid; weather and frost-proof; made in England
Best use: Gothic-themed gardens
Concrete garden statues are a popular choice when it comes to ornaments. But this set of wise skulls that speak, hear and see no evil is really unusual, a dark parody of the Three Wise Monkeys. It does send a wonderful message to your neighbours and guests, doesn’t it?
Besides, this set is great for creating a gothic atmosphere in your garden. Easily noticed, these skulls can be placed anywhere: on your patio, footpath or windowsill.
The dimensions aren’t huge, but each skull weighs 1.5 kg, which makes them really solid. Along with a concrete manufacturing that’s resistant to weather and frost, this is one quality garden ornament.
The craftsmanship is great. Onefold is a reputable company, the set is made in England, with a hand-cast design and hand-finished details, which give it an antique appearance. The skulls even look very realistic from behind!
PROS:
- Sturdy
- Solid
- Weather and frost-proof
- Antique appearance
- Realistic-looking
- Easy to notice
CONS:
- Look a bit ominous
Large Contemporary Sculptures – Loving Kiss Modern Garden Statue
Specific features: 82 x 16 x 24 cm; 6 kg; poly-resin; real stone appearance; indoor and outdoor use; traditional crafting methods; hand-crafted; weatherproof
Best use: Modern-themed gardens
If you want to decorate your garden with a large ornament, this Loving Kiss statue is perfect for the job. Its craftsmanship is high-quality, using traditional crafting methods, including hand-crafting. As such, the attention to details is very good.
The material used is poly-resin, but the finishing touches give this sculpture the appearance of natural stone and a stylish look. The statue is durable and weather-resistant, but it’s not advisable to leave it outside in extreme wind conditions.
A low-maintenance piece, this great-looking statue can be placed indoors as well as outdoors, in various corners of your garden. This statue is quite versatile and makes for a wonderful wedding gift.
PROS:
- Quality construction
- Stylish look
- Weather-resistant
- Versatile
CONS:
- Can be knocked down in windy weather
Garden Ornaments – Large Deer Antique Bronze Sculptures
Specific features: 85 cm large deer; 41 cm small deer; 10.5 kg; aged bronze finish; aluminium; hand-made; traditional crafting methods
Best use: Statement piece
These large garden ornaments representing a buck and a deer are a bit more expensive than your average choice, but they’re definitely a statement for people in search of unique garden ornaments.
The reason lies in their singular look, thanks to their aged bronze finish. Besides that, they’re manufactured with traditional crafting methods and boast very lifelike hand-made details.
The aluminium construction is sturdy and resilient to any types of weather, as well as rust. However, the statues aren’t very heavy so they might fall down in a heavy gust of wind.
PROS:
- Realistic
- Singular look
- Weatherproof
- Rustproof
CONS:
- Not for heavy wind
- A bit expensive
Digging Dog Garden Ornament
Specific features: 25 cm height; resin; weatherproof; frost proof; the back half of a Jack Russell terrier; made by Jonathan Eaton
Who wants to have their backyard dug up by a dog? Nobody, but you can certainly give your significant other a scare by placing this back half of a Jack Russell terrier in your garden!
With its 25 cm height and bright colours, this gnome is hard to miss. Made by Jonathan Eaton himself, and not a cheap, plastic forgery, the dog is a must-have for passionate vintage collectors. As such, it’s a great gift for anyone with a sense of humour.
The resin construction is another plus considering the statue is weatherproof and frost proof. On the other hand, it’s lightweight, so you might have to move it around according to the seasons. The resin is also not that durable, particularly prone to chipping.
PROS:
- Funny
- Useful
- Vividly coloured
- Great for vintage collectors
- Weather and frost-proof
CONS:
- Not particularly durable
- Prone to chips
Garden mile® Unique Red Telephone Box Hanging Bird Feeder
Specific features: 23 x 16 x 16 cm; kiln-dried plyboard; hand-crafted; non-toxic coating; bright red; wide platform; corner holes in bottom tray; easy-to-lift top
Best use: bird feeding house
This hanging bird feeder is dedicated to people who appreciate quirky garden ornaments, thanks to its iconic design that tells so much about British history.
The bright red colour is easy to see, as well as cheerful. But this bird feeder is functional too, with its wide platform and ability to keep plenty of bird food dry and protected from the wind. The bottom tray has corner holes, which are great for drainage, while the top is easy to lift.
This versatile bird feeder can be attached from a tree or simply mounted on a hook somewhere else. You can easily move it around, especially considering its small dimensions.
This ornament is made from kiln-dried plyboard and hand-crafted to make the details more realistic. The coating is a non-toxic paint that’s safe for the birds, but it fades when left in the rain.
PROS:
- Visible
- Attractive design
- Functional
- Easy to use
- Easy to move
- Non-toxic paint
CONS:
- Colour fades
- Not resistant in inclement weather
Things to Consider Before Buying
Even if you’re looking for out of the ordinary garden ornaments, there are still some factors to consider:
Materials
The materials used tells you how resistant your piece is. For example, stone and aluminium are the most sturdy and durable. Resin-based materials or plyboard ones are less resistant, although they have more realistic details. Also, make sure to check that the coating is non-toxic.
Size and Weight
A bigger, heavier garden ornament is stable, meaning you don’t have to move it around depending on the weather. Bigger ornaments add structure to your garden, and they won’t be overshadowed easily. On the other hand, smaller ornaments are great if you want to keep changing the look of your garden.
Colour and Craftsmanship
These factors are important because they make your garden ornament stand out. A vividly coloured statue is easy to notice, while hand-crafted details make it look more realistic.
Weatherproof
The best garden ornaments on the market are weather-resistant. This means you don’t have to bring them inside every time it’s raining or windy to save them from breaking or discolouration. Some of them even have a UV-resistant coating, which is important to keep the colours looking sharp.
Purpose and Placing
Get the garden ornaments that look good in your garden, so think of a theme and stick with it, even if that’s an ode to kitsch. If you’re getting a gift for someone, think of what their garden looks like and what fits with their personality.
Placing is also important to consider in advance. Check if the ornaments have included useful extras for hanging or placing in the ground.
Budget
Your budget is another significant factor. There are plenty of cheap garden ornaments that look great, but they might not pass the test of time. If you want a statement-piece that endures harsh weather for years to come, you might want to invest a bit more.
In Conclusion
Unusual doesn’t begin to describe some of the garden ornaments in this article. There is something for everyone, for low or high budgets, for romantics or jokesters, for your own garden or as a gift for someone in your life.
Now that you’re here, which of this special garden ornaments do you like best? Which one do you like the least and what other special garden ornaments do you already have?