Turn An Old Tea Set Into A Charming Water Feature For Your Garden

Curating a romantic garden requires attention to the small details, and accessories are just as important as the flora itself. Take inspiration from storybook gardens by creating your own fantastical water feature, and you'll be on your way to designing a backyard to rival the Queen's gardens in Alice in Wonderland. There are a lot of reasons why you should be adding an outdoor water feature, but if you want to elevate your garden or yard with a touch of whimsy, this hack is right up your alley. To get started, grab your favorite old tea set (one that you don't mind drilling some holes into). This will serve as the focal point for your charming new fountain. 

If you want a more noticeable trickling sound, you may prefer a ceramic coffee pot instead, as the narrower spout of a teapot will create a less powerful stream. You can always paint the coffee pot to look more like a romantic, vintage tea set if desired. For the rest of your materials, you'll need a large plastic flower pot with no holes in the bottom. Another key item is an electric pump with a tube, like the CWKJ submersible fountain pump. Finally, select a compost sieve or a piece of galvanized mesh that fits just inside your pot. This strainer will sit within the top of your pot. 

Once you have everything gathered, cut a hole in the mesh or sieve for the pump tube to pass through. Next, grab a ceramic drill and create a hole in the center of the bottom of your teapot. This is where you will insert the water tube. Hold your teapot just over the top of the planter pot and cut the excess tubing so there's enough to thread through the flowerpot and into the teapot (the tube should fit securely in the teapot, and may need to be squeezed through your drill hole). You might find it easier to measure and cut the tube before threading it through. To conceal the pot, either cover it with a fabric skirt or take this DIY a step further by coating an old towel with cement to create a decorative faux stone base.

Place several stones on top of your compost sieve or galvanized mesh, adding just enough to prop up the teapot while leaving some space for water to trickle through. As a finishing touch, place a teacup directly under the stream of water. The stream will overflow onto the stones, creating a charming display. A tea set is just one common thrift store find you can transform into beautiful garden decor. If you don't have a teapot handy, thrift stores are an affordable resource. Other items you can use include a metal watering can, a ceramic pitcher, or a copper kettle. For more flora-friendly tea set tricks, you can also upcycle a vintage teapot into a vase & flower frog.