Garden gnomes used to be one of the most popular garden ornaments and, even if they’ve become less common in recent decades, they’re steadily increasing in number again to the uniqueness and variety in gnome designs.
Traditional gnomes make for a quirky garden feature and are overflowing with character. Whether you’re interested in starting a collection, want to add another one to your arsenal, or want to give one as a present, here are the best garden gnomes for you to choose from!
Backyard Boss Top 5 Best Garden Gnomes for 2021
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Why You Can Trust Us
Surprisingly, the garden gnome market is heavily saturated with countless designs and fun features, making it difficult to find what you're looking for. Since we’ve been through this search before, we wanted to help you.
To find the best garden gnomes available, we relied heavily on extensive research, consulted various experts and consumers, and made sure to have firsthand experience with each gnome. To lessen your hassle even further, we also included a bonus section at the end with all the garden gnome basics that you need to know, with reputable sources that you can use for your research.
Best Freestanding Garden Gnome
This quirky gnome can be placed anywhere and makes for a great gift.
- UV-resistant paint
- Stable design
- Secure packaging
- Paint chipping with intense weather
- Sloppy bird paint job
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Why We Like It: This is a cute garden gnome addition that was hand-cast with a unique mix of crushed stone and designer resin. It makes it incredibly durable, especially since it’s also coated in UV-resistant paint to minimize any fading.
At eight inches tall, this gnome is the definition of zen as he sits in the classic lotus yoga position, with his bright white beard cradling a darling bluebird. It’s a fun gnome design that’s super easy to love!
Who Should Buy It: This would be a great gnome to start someone’s collection.
Best Mounted / Hanging Garden Gnome
This mounted sculpture creates a fascinating illusion that's funny and sparks tons of curiosity in kids!
- Keyhole hanger for mounting
- Mobile metal windowpane
- Fun illusion design
- Detailed hand-painted features
- Mounting needs reinforcement
- Metal is not rust-resistant
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Why We Like It: This mounted piece makes for a fun illusion on large trees and fences, looking like a little gnome is climbing out of it. Shaped like a window and complete with a swinging metal window pane, it’s built out of poly resin and has a keyhole hanger at the back. It measures 12-inches tall and has been carefully hand-painted to bring it to life.
Who Should Buy It: This would be a great addition to child-friendly homes with trees or fences that could use a little dressing up.
Best Functional Garden Gnome
This gnome doubles as garden decor and a bird feeder to add more life to your garden.
- Charming bird feeder
- Hand-polished and hand-painted
- UV-resistant paint
- Shallow pocket for bird feed
- Too lightweight for heavy wind
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Why We Like It: This classic garden gnome not only adds cheer to your garden but also invites more life into it with its charming bird feeder design! This 11.5-inch gnome looks adorable while holding a large sunflower that’s to hold feed for birds to fill themselves with. It’s made of resin and has been hand polished and painted with a traditional fade-resistant finish.
Who Should Buy It: This would be helpful for those who want to invite more birds into their home!
Best Solar-Powered Garden Gnome
This gnome with solar panel cleverly brightens up a small garden area without complicated outdoor light installations.
- Water and fade-resistant paint
- 8-hour solar-powered light
- Power switch
- Automatic light at night
- Flimsy flocking
- Difficult light repairs
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Why We Like It: This weather-proof gnome comes with a very useful solar-powered lantern design. Not only does it automatically light up for eight hours in the evening, but it’s also built with sturdy resin and topped with water and fade-resistant paint.
The gnome also has a flocked mossy green design, blending into your garden while still standing out uniquely. It stands at a 13-inch height and, if you're not interested in the light, you can turn off the solar panels with its power switch.
Who Should Buy It: Solar-powered gnomes would be great for those who need to subtly light up a special garden feature at night.
Best Mini Garden Gnome
This set creates an incredibly cute and lighthearted picture in your garden.
- 5-piece set
- Individually hand-painted
- Secure packaging
- Too small for grassy land
- Loose pieces can cause problems
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Why We Like It: This colorful gnomes set comes with three miniature gnomes, a pair of gnome-sized boots, and their very own campfire. Altogether, they make a relaxing picture of friends lounging beside a warm fire.
Although it only reaches a three-inch height, with each gnome roughly the size of a fist, their perfect size makes them great for indoor and outdoor fairy gardens! It’s made of high-quality resin and, despite its small size, has a beautifully detailed hand-painted finish.
Who Should Buy It: This would look amazing in indoor and outdoor fairy gardens.
Types of Garden Gnomes
Image Credit: Twig & Flower Store via Amazon
Gnome figurines come in countless shapes and forms but are most simply classified by their design and the material they’re made of. They can be constructed out of many materials and using different processes. Usually, they’re made of clay, cement, resin, and plastic.
Clay
Specifically, terracotta clay is the traditional garden gnome material. The clay is shaped with a basic mold, hardened in a kiln, and then hand-painted afterward.
Cement
Cement is a popular material for DIY gnome projects since it is inexpensive and easy to do, especially with a good mold on hand.
Resin
Resin materials are what most commercially sold garden gnomes are made of. This material is not only durable but also very easy to cast and paint.
Plastic
Plastic garden gnomes are steadily becoming more popular since they’re easy to shape and very inexpensive.
Garden Gnome Designs
Image Credit: David Brooke Martin via Unsplash
Garden gnome designs refer to its installment and special features. They’re easiest separated by freestanding, mounted/ hanging, and functional.
Freestanding Garden Gnomes
Freestanding gnomes are the most common design. These can stand on their own and have a noticeable heft to them for better stability.
Mounted or Hanging Garden Gnomes
Mounted or hanging gnomes are made to occupy less floor space. These are great for tight gardens and can be mounted to tree trunks and fences or hung off the branches and porch ceilings.
Functional Garden Gnomes
Depending on the theme, functional gnomes have special features that make them more useful. Functional gnomes can have bird feeders, rain gauges, or even a fountain!
Advantages of Having Garden Gnomes
Image Credit: David Brooke Martin via Unsplash
With so many ways to decorate a garden using special furniture and beautiful landscaping, why use garden gnomes? Here are some of their advantages that you might not have considered before!
Adds charm to a garden
Garden gnomes are classic yard ornaments that are designed with fun in mind. Each gnome has its personality and is built with lighthearted expressions. It's doing entertaining activities that are incredibly easy to be endeared by.
Can have strategic functions
Many gnomes are not only designed to be fun but also functional. Some come with solar lights, bird feeders, and even rain gauges! Using these functions wisely can enhance the garden experience and highlight your favorite yard features.
Shows your personality
Novelty gnomes come with designs that can show off your personality, interests, and hobbies to anyone who sees it. It's not uncommon to find designs with pop culture references, consuming modern food and drinks, and doing fun activities that you’d also enjoy.
Self-sufficient ornaments
Although most items bought for the outdoors require regular maintenance and upkeep, good-quality gnomes don’t. They simply need to be positioned and then left alone, with the occasional damage check after bad weather.
Could bring luck and protection
If you've read the history of gnomes, you know that Gnomes started as a symbol of luck and protection. Farmers used to use them in the hopes that they would bring a fruitful harvest and work the land while they slept. Whether you believe it or not, having a bringer of good fortune near you won’t hurt!
What to Keep in Mind Before Picking Your Garden Gnome
Image Credit: Craig McLachlan via Unsplash
While choosing your garden gnome, it’s best to check these details to make sure you know what you’re getting.
Size
Garden gnomes can be as tall as a toddler or as small as your fist. Before deciding, always check the height of gnome statue i.e. its dimensions to see if it's the right fit for what you have in mind.
Material
Materials, including the paint used and bonus metal components, are a huge factor and should be kept in mind, especially if you’ll place it somewhere with tons of sun and rain exposure.
Design
Be sure to choose a design you don’t mind seeing every day. Choosing a consistent gnome paint finish will also make it easier to grow a cohesive gnome collection, even if you buy from different brands.
How we Picked
All our yard gnome recommendations were chosen carefully through a process that allows us a full understanding of each gnome’s potential.
We started by conducting thorough market research of a huge variety of garden gnomes and took note of those with promise. Afterward, we listened to various experts and consumers on what they thought of each item, lending insight into which gnomes were consistently better received than others.
Finally, we had to see and experience what each shortlisted garden gnome was like in reality. These steps allowed us to find five of the best garden gnomes that would be fantastic additions to collections and yards all over the country!
Our Pick of the Best Garden Gnome
Garden gnomes might be a little unconventional, but we know that that’s exactly what makes them so endearing!
If we were to choose our favorite, the excellent choice would be the Design Toscano Zen Garden Gnome. This gnome would fit perfectly in various garden layouts, is built with durable materials, and, most importantly, has a design that can instantly bring a smile to anyone’s face. It’s a valuable addition to any collection and is a great gift since it’s so easy to appreciate.
However, we understand all too well that this might not be the right fit for you (or you might already have it, maybe in a different color). Even if that’s the case, we’re sure that your next gnome purchase is right here and just waiting to come home to you!