I Can’t Believe How a Couple of Unused Planters Turned Into a Gorgeous Statement Piece

Is this finally the year you incorporate a DIY backyard water fountain into your outdoor space? It may feel like a daunting project, but creating a water feature could be as simple as tracking down a bunch of cheap terracotta pots from IKEA and a basic pump. One Instagrammer made a fountain just with those materials, and the result looks so beautiful that you’ll want to make one for your yard ASAP.

“We had this idea last week, and the challenge was to use what we already had,” Jessica Jelly from @the_rusticpallet wrote in a recent caption. “I guess my terracotta obsession really paid off because we didn’t buy anything for this project besides the pump. The key is to find three shallow pots slightly larger than the last. The possibilities are endless.”

A DIY terracotta water fountain is super-simple; all you’re doing is stacking up pots and adding a pump (that’s connected to a water source) in one of the vessels. You can customize the height of your fountain by stacking various larger pots on one another to make a pedestal. Jessica used two pots to prop up her fountain, but depending on what you have or can find, you can go taller or shorter. Just make sure you don’t stack your pots too tall; otherwise, your first summer storm could cause a tumble. You’ll also want to ensure you’re using terracotta pots with a drainage hole at the bottom.

“We hid the pump in the bottom pot that we notched out for water flow,” Jessica wrote. “Continued the hose through each hole and used a waterproof seal as we worked our way up. The pump we used has a few different head attachments and flow speed. I’m slightly obsessed with how this little project turned out!”

And because you can pick up a fountain pump and extender on Amazon for cheap, you could potentially complete this entire project for under $50. Even if you have to pick up a few new terracotta pots, you can still make the entire thing for well under $100.

Give your outdoor space so much more charm with this DIY terracotta fountain. Mix and match the pots you already have on hand, or source new ones from the thrift store or garden center to create something totally unique that both you and the birds in your backyard will love.