Ditch Traditional Bird Feeders For A DIY Affordable IKEA Solution That Keeps Seed Dry

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Let's face it: most bird feeders aren't exactly elegant. In fairness, they weren't designed to be. When you're trying to create a stylish patio space without breaking the bank while keeping birdseed dry, the options for sleek bird feeders are limited. Enter crafty YouTuber Jean.Bietau. They whipped together a stylish DIY bird feeder using two BLANDA BLANK serving bowls from IKEA.

The DIY itself is fairly straightforward. You drill holes into the bottom of each bowl and thread the bowls onto a threaded steel rod, securing them at either end with wingnuts. Then you paint and hang your new bird feeder in your yard. The convex top bowl acts as a rain cover — water trickles down the sides — while the concave bottom bowl guides the water down and away from the birdseed inside. Best of all, this stylish feeder is both bird- and weather-friendly. It's a win-win situation!

Looking for more wins? This DIY project is budget-friendly, too. The BLANDA BLANK serving bowls cost $3.99 for the 5-inch bowl and $5.99 for the 8-inch bowl. There are larger sizes, such as the 11-inch and 14-inch bowls, but these are probably too big for a bird feeder and would be too heavy when filled with birdseed. If you make this budget-friendly DIY to attract more birds on a Saturday, your yard will be the new avian hotspot by Sunday.

The first step in transforming a kitchen staple into a DIY feeder that birds will flock to is drilling holes in the bottom of the BLANDA BLANK bowls. Drilling holes into stainless steel is a bit more complicated than drilling into wood or plastic. Stainless steel is incredibly strong and can damage your drill if you don't use the right method. Start by using a Yuioase Automatic Center Punch to create a pilot hole for the drill bit. Spray a lubricant like WD-40 onto the bowl's surface and, using a drill bit designed for metal — the Macxcoip Cobalt Drill Bit Set is a good bet — slowly drill through the pilot hole. Use strong, steady pressure and take your time.

If you like the silver of the raw stainless steel, thread the bowls onto the threaded steel rod, fill the bird feeder with seed, and hang it outside. You may think that brightly colored bird feeders attract more birds, but birds are typically more attracted to silver (and green) feeders. Bonus: these hues complement the design palette of most backyards. However, if you do want to add a little color to your new bird feeder, do it before you assemble it. When selecting paint, reach for something non-toxic, like a weatherproof acrylic or water-based paint. They won't last as long as epoxy or oil-based paint, but they're less toxic. Be prepared to touch up the paint job every once in a while.