7 Genius DIY Solutions To Finally Say Goodbye To Ugly Downspout Eyesores

While downspouts may not be the most aesthetically pleasing item outside of your home, they do serve an essential purpose: keeping rainwater away from your foundation. But just because it has an important job doesn't mean it has to look boring or unattractive. In fact, there are dozens of ways you can easily upgrade your downspouts into an elegant landscaping feature. You can try painting your downspout to match your home's exterior, add a flower trellis to the pipe, or even build your own DIY archway to completely hide the drainage system. 

If the rest of your home's exterior meets your aesthetic standards, but your gutter downspout is the one area you can't seem to tackle, there are multiple DIY options to address the issue. Even if you're a new homeowner or beginner DIYer, you will likely be able to handle these projects on your own. Because these downspout upgrades are DIYs, they are more affordable than having professionals come out and take care of the job.

If you're not a fan of the look of your gutter downspout, you can cover it up with climbing flowers, ideally ones with continuous blooms. Some experts recommend climbing plants like clematis viticella and winter jasmine, or vines like ivy or honeysuckle. To ensure these plants grow in the right direction, you can wrap them upwards around the pipes. Ideally, you'll install a trellis system parallel to the pipe for the plants to grow on, to avoid clogging or damage to the pipe. 

If you don't have a green thumb, or you want a quick and easy way to cover up your unsightly downspout, a coat of paint can work wonders. Chances are, your downspout sticks out primarily due to its material and color, and how it contrasts against the exterior of your home. Match the drainage system to your house by painting it the same color or a complementary color. Note that the type of paint you use for this project will depend on the material your downspout is made from. If they are made of metal, you will need a metal-specific paint. 

This is for any homeowner who loves a DIY woodworking project. An easy way to hide your downspout is to build a cover. Pick up three boards at your local home improvement store: cut two to the height of your downspout and one a bit wider than its width for the front. Attach the three along their sides with nails or wood glue, creating a U-shape that fits snugly over the pipe. If you want to go the extra mile, you can stain or paint this wood covering. 

Some homeowners dislike how their downspouts cause pooling around their walkways and the drowning of their plants. There are a few different ways you can redirect the water flow to something more aesthetically pleasing, one of which is to create your own mini dry waterfall. Stacking flat rocks and stones underneath the end of the downspout, you can either slow down the water flow and cover the pipe or completely redirect the rainwater to a different part of your yard.  

Similar to the DIY waterfall project, splash blocks are a wonderful way to redirect the attention from your boring downspout to a fun water feature. Instead of installing stones like with a waterfall, you can place splash blocks directly underneath your downspout to guide the water flow into your yard. You can find many adorable decorative options online or at your local home improvement store. They typically come in sets of three, and you place each one in front of the others to create a waterfall-like system. 

One way to avoid the look of a downspout and utilize the water is to connect a rain barrel. This way, you can improve your home's exterior while collecting water for various outdoor tasks, such as watering the garden or cleaning your car. It also reduces the risk of water pooling around your home's foundation and damaging it. Ensure your barrel is standing on a sturdy surface before inserting it under your downspout. Note that some areas have laws governing rainwater collection, so you may want to check your local regulations before giving this a try.

If you're tired of looking at your downspout altogether, then a rain chain might be the answer for you. Instead of having rainwater flow down an enclosed downspout, you can replace that system entirely with a rain chain — a prettier, simpler alternative. Remove your existing downspout from the side of your house and install a chain, which is available in a myriad of designs. Attach your rain chain to the hole in your gutter and secure it to the ground to prevent the wind from blowing it out of place.