Vintage Bicycle Garden Art
have an old bike laying around? Here’s how to revive it and elevate it to art status!
Summer is finally here and gardening life has just begun for us in the north! It’s time to thoroughly enjoy all things plants and flowers in every way, shape and form. Whenever I can, I love to incorporate my vintage finds into my outside decor. This year it was my goal to use an adorable black vintage bicycle I picked up last summer. I’ll show you how to enjoy Vintage Bicycle Garden Art as your porch decor!
Today’s project is part of a “Spring Into Summer” porches, patios and outdoor spaces blog hop tour, hosted by Amber at Follow the Yellow Brick Home. If you’re coming over from Bluesky at Home, I’m sure you enjoyed Carol’s tips on how to update your patio for summer! I can’t wait to see the beauty this creative bunch of bloggers has come up with!
Vintage Bicycle Garden Art
Vintage bicycles have a timeless appeal and can bring such charm to the home and garden. I’ve always loved everything about them. To celebrate today’s post and the beginning of summer, I created a cute vintage bicycle printable to kick off your summer decorating! I’ll have it in my free Resource Library, if you want to become an Insider and grab it down below;)
I have to admit, I already have one vintage bicycle in my garden, surrounded by hostas and shade flowers. But when I found this black and white version for super cheap ($25!) at a church sale last summer? It had to come home with me!
Last summer I just propped it up in the corner and didn’t give it much love. I don’t want this cutie to get rusty sitting in the rain, like my other one has, so I needed to come up with a way to enjoy it, but didn’t want it to take up floor space on my covered porch.
Each year I challenge myself to come up with new ways of decorating my outdoor spaces. (see last year’s Summer Porch Tour). I wanted to bring some black onto my porch decorating this year, inspired by the vintage enamelware coffee table I just picked up (“A Patriotic Porch Pinterest Challenge”). Then it hit me…I could use the vintage black bicycle on the covered porch…and hang it!
Clean and Refresh Your Vintage Bicycle First
Before any pretty-making can be done, start with a little vintage beauty treatment: scrub the vintage bicycle with a soapy pad like S.O.S. or Brillo and rinse with water. The soapy pad will cut the grease and grime that has built up over the years.
Next, brush on a light coat of outdoor polyurethane on the bike frame. It will bring out the color and seal in any rusty spots. I even brushed a coat on the cute black and white seat.
Lastly, if this vintage bicycle is going from functional to art, it doesn’t need the ugly brake cables. Snip off the wires at the handlebars and by the wheels. (O.K…this pic is from my other rusty bike, if you’re paying attention;)
When You Need More Decorating Space, Hang it Up!
Once the vintage bicycle got it’s beauty treatment (“How to Refresh Vintage Galvanized Metal”), Mr. Fix-it used a couple boy scout knots, and hung our new art with a couple sections of rustic rope. We have 3 sturdy hooks on the porch that I can use to swap up seasonal decor. The bike can easily be taken down when we host our impending outdoor grad party (“Graduation Party Planning”), and popped back up after!
Now, to give this vintage classic some garden beauty!
Add a Basket to Your Vintage Bicycle Garden Art
What’s more classic than having a basket on the front of a vintage bicycle, right? I picked up a giant Easter basket-looking thing alongside the road one day and realized it was the perfect size for the bike. Once the handle was pulled off, I lined the inside with a coco liner. I planted it up with some pretty shade flowers, since this west-facing porch wall doesn’t get sun much of the day.
Add a Toolbox to the Luggage Rack of Your Vintage Bicycle Garden Art
We stole the luggage rack off my other blue bike so I could add this cute green vintage toolbox in the back. (Don’t tell the blue bike this is my new favorite child;) It got the same beauty treatment. I tucked in some variegated foliage plants and hung it from one of the hooks. It’s not actually sitting on the luggage rack at all, but it looks like it is!
Don’t you love that vintage label on the inside top? Vintage metal toolboxes with fresh flowers peeking out is one of my all-time favorite things in. the. world. Think it’s the rustic + pretty combo;)
Add Some Old Tools to Your Vintage Bicycle Garden Art
Vintage garden tools are a fun collection, especially when you can find them in various colors. I decided they could be a fun addition to this new art installation. I simply tied them onto the bike spokes with their handles in and added some faux succulents around for some additional texture.
I’d love to get some real succulents growing in the bike spokes, but faux succulents are instant gratification, and much easier to take care of.
This new vintage bicycle garden art will be a fun greeting right next to our main entrance this summer!
Get this Cute Bicycle Printable by Becoming an Insider!
To celebrate the start of summer, get this FREE printable to kick off your decorating! By becoming a Lora B Insider, you’ll get free access to all my decorative and helpful resources! I’ll encourage you to see potential so you can create the unique in my weekly newsletter, too!
If you’re already an Insider, check your weekly email for the password to grab your Vintage Bicycle art!
Do you own a vintage bicycle? Or are you inspired to get one? They are classic vintage architecture and look so good as garden art! Hope you enjoyed seeing the process behind this Vintage Bicycle Garden Art, perfect for porch decor. I can’t wait to see the rest of the inspiration on this Spring Into Summer hop! If you’re hopping in order, enjoy Kelly’s easy summer porch ideas at The Tattered Pew!
Pin, Share and Enjoy the Rest of the Hop!
“Spring Into Summer” Blog Hop
Sharing at these lovely parties:
How did I miss this one! I’m definitely showing this to my son who is an avid mountain bike enthusiast. He loves to decorate his home with interesting biking decor and I know he’ll want something like this for his backyard. Love how you used an old toolbox on the back carrier My DIL, who loves succulents, is going to love the succulent planter idea on the wheels. Pinned 🙂
This was fun, Marie, because I love that black and white bike! Glad you found this one:)
Just adorable, Lora! Love how you used the ‘containers’ to cover the ropes! You are just so clever! Thanks for sharing at Tuesday Turn About… we are blessed to have you!
Thanks, Julie!
I adore this, Lora! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm! Pinned!
Glad you liked it, Cecilia!
This is so adorable, Lora! That toolbox is genius, and the little hand tools in the spokes is delightful. What a brilliant idea to create a printable that coordinates with it. Pinning! Thanks so much for sharing at Tuesday Turn About!
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Crissy! Guess I’m a “theme” girl all the way, especially when it comes to vintage bikes;)
This is so much fun!!!! I have a vintage bike that I love and yours is absolutely amazing!!!
They are such a fun piece to style outdoors, aren’t they, Kristin? I’m sure you make yours look adorable!
I have never seen bicycles displayed this way! So cute and clever! There are so many great ideas!
Always happy to bring another idea into the ring, Angelina;)
So cute, i have one with a basket in front but you have give me so many more ideas, thanks Lora.
Oh, good, Marlene! Have fun gussy-ing yours up!
Lora, your bicycle is so creative! I am so impressed with this, it should be featured in a magazine! The plants are fantastic, but my favorite is the gardening tools added to the wheel! Just brilliant!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Chloe! I wouldn’t mind at all if it ended up in a magazine;) Thanks for your kind words!
This is such a creative way to upcycle an old bike Lora! The way you have everything styled with the flower basket and garden tools is so fun too. You always have such a fabulous way of mixing vintage finds beautifully into your decor and this project is no exception! I love it. Hugs and happy summer, CoCo
Thanks, CoCo! I do love the mix of wonderful old things with pretty flowers and living things!
Lora here is another one of your magazine worthy vintage junk garden ideas! Wow I love the black bicycle so much! I haven’t seen a black one and for $25 I would definitely have snatched it up too! How creative to add the garden tools and succulents to the wheels. So fun!
Thank you so much for joining the hop. Have a happy summer!
Yes, the black and white combo had me at hello, too! I love the ones with the two toned seats. I’m glad I get to enjoy it to it’s fullest this summer!
Oh my goodness a work of art is right Lora! I really love those hand tools tied to the spokes, very handy if you need one too. Pinning!
Definitely handy, Michelle! Course, the ones I actually use aren’t nearly as pretty as these ones;)
Lora, what a darling idea to use a bicycle in your yard for art. So whimsical. The closest I have is a huge wrought iron baby carriage that we use as a planter. Love your garden ideas.
Yes, I love a little bit of vintage whimsy mixed in with all the pretty summer flowers, Carol. Thanks!
Hey New Bestie! That is one FANTASTICALLY cute idea and awesome vintage bicycle. I love it! We have a bright blue reconditioned vintage bike that I want to put in our “garden” beds (yeah, I really can’t call it that) but the Mister says no. Maybe when Macy stops giving the dogs rides in the basket I’ll get my way?! Thanks for the great inspo – so many wonderful ideas!
Oh, the vision of a cute doggie in a bike basket, Cindy! Sounds like a great photo op to me;)
What a fabulous bike! And what you did with it is just plain awesome!! I love it!!
Thanks, Sheila!
How cute is that bicycle!!!
I have an old cruiser in the garden and wish I had some place to hang it.
I bet you can find a spot, Carol;)
this is so fun and creative, and that you’ve hung it on the wall is even better! LOVE it, and I pinned it!
Thanks, Debra! And thanks for pinning!
Lora,
Your bicycle is adorable! The basket, tool box, and gardening tools have turned the old bicycle into a unique piece of wall art. Your creativity makes your bicycle more interesting than the usual garden-decor bicycle. Of course, I pinned several images for future reference and for others to see your special bicycle.
Happy summer,
Judith
Thanks for pinning, Judith! I was hoping to take the bike to the next level of decor;)
Oh my word this is so clever! I love how you hung the bike and added all of the fun little garden touches! I bet you will enjoy it for a good long time! Happy Summer!
Thanks, Kelly! We will enjoy it’s full potential this summer, for sure!
The garden tools in the bike wheels is the cutest! So fun, Lora! It is a pleasure to join you for the hop this week!Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
Thanks, Cecilia! This could totally be done with just the bike spoke, too, for a smaller version.
That’s about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. I remember one of my brothers had a bike like that. I did get a bike for me to ride last week so I’m loving all things summer biking. Your printable is adorable.
The printable will be perfect for you, then, Katie! Enjoy your summer rides!
Lora what a cute idea. I love how creative you are.
Aw, thanks for the sweet compliment, Terrie;)
Oh I LOVE this project so much! I would love to add a vintage bike to my yard. I love how you incorporated the toolbox and vintage garden tools.
I could totally see a vintage bicycle in your beautiful yard, Laura!They’re just such a romantic classic, aren’t they? Thanks!
Oh my word, how clever. That bicycle is so fun and you have decorated it so beautifully. Love it.
Thanks, Marty!
Oh WOW Lora, I love what you did to that bicycle. Everything about it from the flower basket in front to the filled toolbox in the back. And the garden tools on the wheels. So cool. Pinned
It’s going to get the attention it deserves now, Michelle! Thanks for pinning;)