18 Adorable Decorative Windmills You Should Grab For Your Garden

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A decorative windmill is a classic and fun statement piece to add to your yard. They not only add movement, but are also bright and fun. Windmills have been around for thousands of years, and were originally used to power a mill or a machine. Now, the term refers to anything that even faintly suggests a windmill, whether or not it serves a purpose beyond looking pretty. These new, modern designs are an excellent way to put a maximalist spin on your garden and add a visually stunning centerpiece in any yard. They're also relatively low-maintenance. Once you get one set up and properly staked in your garden, you won't need to do much else to make it stand out.

The market is flooded with dozens of options for decorative windmills for your garden, which means it's not always easy to find the perfect one for your yard. The list below covers a wide expanse of windmills, from the more traditional-looking designs to ones that are unique and barely recognizable, to help you get an idea of what kind of decor you want in your garden. Most are made from durable and protected metal, so they are sure to be a main feature in your yard for years to come. And though these are decorative, they all have an element on them that actually spins. Some even come with additional benefits, such as hiding unattractive parts of your yard or acting as a shelf for potted plants.

If you have a Costco membership, keep an eye out for this Tri-metallic Wind Spinner. It's able to withstand winds up to 35 miles per hour and is made fully out of steel with a copper coating to protect it from both the sun and the weather. Designed to move with just the slightest hint of wind, it is a good choice for those who want a decorative windmill but don't regularly get large gusts. Including the stakes, this piece is almost 7 feet tall, so it can stand apart even from taller shrubs and flowers.

This highly-rated and nearly 7-foot-tall Prairie Windmill Wind Spinner on Etsy is a fun twist on the classic design. It's made to shine in the sun, reflecting two beautiful, rustic colors. The material is metal and has a UV protective coating. It not only rotates in the wind, but the fan on the back allows it to turn to face the right direction, so you will see this beautiful piece spinning any time the breeze picks up. This windmill comes with long prongs and a sturdy base to help it hold up to strong winds. 

The Alpine Corporation Tall Floral Windmill Stake with Jeweled Kinetic Spinner can be found at Home Depot. The colors are a beautiful mix of orange and green, as well as shades in between, and the shape closely resembles a flower. It reaches a little over 5 feet tall and is made from a durable metal. However, while this spinner is beautiful, you may have to play around with the perfect place to set it down, as reviewers say it doesn't always move in the wind, especially low gusts. 

If you want the idea of a windmill, but something far from traditional, this Large Metal Wind Spinner for Yard and Garden swirls around its central pole in the breeze, rather than a circular wheel of blades. Because of this it also doubles as an art piece that is worth looking at even when there is no wind around to make it move. If you live somewhere where gusts are sporadic, a windmill like this could be a good addition to your garden. 

The Tall Iron Windmill with Pig Family on Weather Vane on Etsy adds charm to a traditional design by adding cute little animals on top. While animals on a windmill isn't entirely new, instead of being made from the same metal and having a 2D design, these colorful and 3D pigs add a pinch of extra whimsy. If you like the idea, but pigs aren't your style, the same artist offers a few similar designs with different animals, including horses and ducks, to choose from. 

The Painted Wooden Farm Windmill is a beautiful handmade choice. On Etsy, you can pick out the main and trim colors you want, which means you can better match it to your unique flower bed decor ideas to make your lawn stand out. The structure is mostly wood, made from pressure-treated pine, except for the important hardware to allow the thing to spin, which are sealed and powder-coated to help the parts hold up against the elements. This windmill is little over 6 1/2 feet tall and weighs 33 pounds. 

The Amrhein Rustic Windmill Steel Garden Statue on Wayfair serves multiple functions. Primarily, it's a decor option that blows quietly in the breeze, adding a visual appeal without any annoying sounds. However, the two shelves on the windmill are also functional, able to hold around 70 pounds. They are perfect for placing small container plants you'd love to have in your garden, but might not do well directly in the soil. It does come pre-rusted, so you won't get to see the change occur over time. 

If you want something that looks like a traditional windmill, but is a perfect size for tables or smaller spaces, consider the Handmade Orange Metal Windmill on Etsy. It measures just under 2 feet tall, and the spinning blades themselves are an eye-catching bright orange. This color goes well with almost all greens, making it a wonderful way to add pleasant contrast to your garden or lawn. It also looks good alongside blue, white, and pink, so it'll equally look great in a fully blooming flower garden.

The Amish Handmade Windmill on Etsy is mostly made from vinyl-poly, for a durable, but charmingly rustic decor option in your yard. It's rot-resistant, perfect for sitting outside in the elements for many years. This design comes in several different sizes and color options, to give you more flexibility. It's also hollow inside, helping you to hide unattractive vertical elements in your yard, like pipes or posts. With this design, not only do the blades turn, but the whole top of the windmill, allowing it to spin in any breeze, no matter the direction. 

The Eagleville Weather Resistant Wood Windmill on Wayfair is made from rot-resistant fir to help it handle the outside elements and provide a beautiful dark wood color to your garden. A little under 3 feet tall, this decor has some charming details, including a staircase on the side. You can also adjust if you want it to spin or not. Another fun feature of this windmill it's hollow spot underneath with a metal bar, giving you an alternative to places that could be a safety risk to hide a spare key. 

The Wood Windmill Backyard Garden Decoration on Wayfair is also a weathervane, turning directions depending on where the wind blows. It comes in tan or white, is made from rot-resistant wood, and measures 6 feet tall. This is a simple and rustic choice if you like the idea of a windmill, but don't necessarily want it to be the star of your garden. It's pretty sturdy, but it's also rather thin and light, so unless you stake it down very well, it may not be the best option for windy yards. 

The Large Kinetic Wind Spinner for Yard on Amazon is a good choice for something mesmerizing when a breeze blows. It won't steal the show from the rest of your garden. It's about 7 feet tall, but can be shortened as needed. It's definitely far removed from the traditional windmills you might be used to, but it's a fun and modern version, sure to entice anyone who can see it as the wind picks up, and to enhance your garden decor without drawing attention away from your plants. 

The Tractor Wind Spinner from Wayfair offers a bit of whimsy and joy. It comes in green or red and the tractor itself is 2 feet wide. The design is made from a mix of fabric and fiberglass to have a lot of movement. There are also hints of shiny items to catch the eye. The wheels spin in the breeze for a playful design. However, since the material is not metal, the durability might not be as good as some of the others on this list. 

Another fun animal option is the Metal Animals Windmill from Wayfair. This one has a metal rooster on the top, mimicking a more traditional weathervane. However, the animal is 3D, and features rich details on the wings and body. Considering roosters are a trendy element in country kitchen design, having similar decor outside can help your home and yard feel cohesive. Plus, roosters are simply just fun decorations. This is a pretty unique piece, measuring over 7 feet tall, so it's sure to catch the eye of any visitor.

The Wind Spinners Outdoor on Amazon is another fun take on a classic windmill. It's shaped like a flower facing the sky. Most of the design is a brilliant copper color, and the small flowers and tiny details are a blue reminiscent of rusted metal. This design is UV-, rust-, and fade-resistant, to keep it looking brand new and beautiful for quite a while. Additionally, the height is adjustable, going from 62 inches up to 86, so you can have it fit in your garden, wherever you decide to place it. 

The Kast Metal Transportation Rotator on Wayfair is a garden stake that doubles as a windmill. It stands just under 4 feet tall and features a cute and simple series of blades. Underneath them, there is also a truck with a sunflower in the back and a sign that says 'Welcome.' Place it near the front of your yard so everyone can appreciate this first look into your home and garden. The piece is weather-resistant and has minimal moving parts to reduce the chances of something breaking. 

WISLAS' Garden Windmill is another classic option. It comes in several colors — blue, gray, green, red, white, and yellow — and stands 8 feet tall for a bold piece in your yard. The blades start spinning in even a small breeze, and the metal is coated to help it handle outside elements so it will last and continue spinning for a long time. With the fin on the back, it's also able to turn around and face the breeze, no matter which direction it comes from.

The Tall Outdoor Wind Spinner is a compact design made of shiny metal. The back fin is shaped like an arrow, and the piece overall is bright and eye-catching. It fits alongside most garden plants and other decor, especially in the middle of a colorful flower bed. However, take care to stake it down very well, as this windmill is lightweight, and sometimes a good breeze can knock it over. Setting it up is easy as well, so you can have it out in your garden in no time.