A Garden Obelisk adds beauty and height to your garden and landscape, in addition to being plant support. I have been swooning over them for years and since we had a little extra time on our hands this summer I thought why not make a few. A friend gave me an ivy plant with a small powder-coated wrought iron trellis and I have enjoyed it for years.
Wooden Garden Obelisk
We enjoy our garden and yard all year since we live in Florida. I decided to top my obelisk with solar lights since it starts getting dark too early in the fall. Last year we build a garden trellis and we made DIY wooden lanterns with solar lights.
I have enjoyed them every day of the year. You can find how to make a garden trellis in this earlier post.
You will find a ton of DIY outdoor projects at the end of the post from some amazing blogger so don’t miss any of their inspiration.
This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you purchase from one of these links I will make a small commission, but rest assured you will not pay more for any products.
Garden Obelisks with solar lights and solar fairy lights
We added some mood lighting for the night in the garden with solar lighting. The glass globe lights I found here and the amazing solar fairy lights I found here.
Solar lights for Obelisk and garden
night time view of the obelisk with solar lights
How to Build Obelisks
My first consideration was making the obelisk so it would coordinate with the other items in the garden such as our trellis, lanterns, and the flowerbox and shutters. We built the gorgeous brackets from a leftover fence post. We build a floating deck and garden hose holder that all coordinate as well.
DIY Garden Trellis with easy DIY solar lanterns
Building the obelisk with the same type of wood and in the same style was my goal. So I set to work trying to find the same solar lights as I used in the lanterns for last year. The globe is crackled glass and they cast an amazing dreamy patterned glow.
Handmade solar lanterns at night
To begin building your own super easy obelisk gather your tools and materials.
Materials to Build an Obelisk
- 5/4″ (5.5″ by 5.5″) Deck board PT (Pressure Treated Lumber)
- 2 each of 1 x 2 x 8 PT
- 2 each of 2 x 2 x 8 PT
- 4 each of 2.5″ Deck Screws
- 1 3/4″ Galvanized Nails
- Outdoor Wood Glue
- Sandpaper 120 Grit
- Solar Light
- Measuring Tape
- Clamps
Tools
You can find some other great outdoor finds in my Amazon shop.
Building Instructions
Cut top to make a square.
Router edges top and bottom.
Mark the center for installing the solar light.
Mark corner ½” from the outer edges for leg placement.
Drill pilot holes ¾” from outer edges at the corners and countersink.
Drill a ⅞” hole for the solar light.
Cutting the Legs (this will make an obelisk approximately 48′” tall)
Cut legs at a 7-degree angle and 7-degree bevel at both ends
Make the first cut and slide the piece through; do not turn the board and make a second cut to length.
Use the first leg as your template to cut the other 3 legs.
Clamp the top facing down to a steady surface with access to a pre-drilled hole.
Position a leg on the bottom side of the top wooden square lining it with the marks you made ½’” from the corner.
Hold the leg in place, and drill through the pilot hole into the leg about ⅛ to ¼” for the alignment hole
Repeat this process for the other three legs.
The leg is just over 47” so I divided it into 4 equal spaces to determine the rung placement and marked those places with a pencil.
Tip: Cut a scrap board as a guide for marking the rung placement.
Building the Rungs
Measure across the legs at the marks to determine the length of the rung at the miter.
Set the compound miter to 45 degrees and a 7-degree bevel and make your first cut.
Turn board 180 degrees and mark the length for the second cut
Make the cut and check it against the marks on the legs to ensure it is the correct length
Place the rung back on the miter saw using it as a guide to set the length stop.
Cut the remaining three rungs.
Assembling the Rungs
Tip: Use clamps to hold the rungs on the legs to check for fit.
Once you are happy with the fit you are ready to assemble the rungs.
Add wood glue to both corner pieces to be joined and nail the corners forming an angle. Continue this process until you have a square frame.
Repeat for the remaining rungs by measuring at each rung mark.
Use sandpaper to sand the corners until smooth.
Install rungs at your pencil marks and clamp in place then nail the rungs to legs.
Repeat for each rung.
Finish with a water seal.
Place solar light in the opening at the top.
Lumber and tools to build an obelisk
Router edges of the obelisk top piece of wood
Mark the center for the solar light hole
Drill solar light hole
Marking the leg placement
Using a pencil mark the pilot holes
Cutting legs to length
Placing legs on the bottom of the top
Leg pilot hole
Measuring to determine rung placement
Finding the length of the rungs
Rung angled cut
Setting the length stop block
Rung pieces ready to assemble
Apply wood glue corners of rung square
Use nailing the corners of the rung square
Rungs squares for the obelisk
Using clamps to hold the rungs in place to nail
Checking the placement of the rungs
Finished Obelisk
Adding the solar light to the obelisk
Displaying Obelisk
I could not have just one so I ended up making three. They are so pretty just the way they are, but I really want to grow some climbing roses, flowering vines, and or green climbing vines. Another idea for display is to incorporate the obelisk into my fall outdoor decorations. The adorable handmade pillow and mini fabric pumpkin I made and you can easily make some too see how in this earlier post about fall decorating.
Chair with pumpkin pillow, trellis and obelisk
More Outdoor DIY Projects
My friend Chas from Chas’s Crazy Creations shows how to make an outdoor candelabra that is solar-powered. It will be so nice to enjoy some wine and cheese on her porch at night.
4 Ways to Four ways to Use Solar Lights Outside
Over on the farm or Grandmas House DIY, my friend Tarah has set up an outdoor lunch bar to enjoy the breathtaking view of her home and farm. She has been fixing up her Grandmas’s house too.
Farm Yard Bar
Since we have so much extra time on our hands we have been dreaming about refinishing our dining room chairs. I am inspired by Andrea, from Design Morsels teak furniture makeover.
teak table after refinishing
I have been thinking about adding a water fountain since they are so relaxing. You are going to enjoy Mary’s from Life at Bella Terra’s water fountain I am green with envy. Mary shares how to renovate a water fountain so you don’t want to miss it.
Fountain Renovation
For a bonus, I wanted to share this amazing outdoor space perfect for the fall. Kristin, from White Arrows Home, shares how she and her family enjoy their lakeside home and glorious yard.
Cozy fire pit perfect outdoor space
Thank you so much for stopping by today. I hope you found some easy and quick fall inspiration. Please join the Fall Newsletter to get all the inspiration delivered to your inbox. I love keeping in touch so please say hello in the comments below.
See you soon,
Kippi
I absolutely love how it came out! You are creating such a cozy outdoor space!
Thank you so much for stopping by. I am so happy you like how they turned out. Just a few more projects and we will be ready for fall.
Have a great day,
Kippi
Wow that is impressive. Those turned out so nice looking and I like them all lit up. I love them with the light on top. Not sure my carpentry skills would be up to the task but your directions are really thorough. Glad you decided to join the hop.
Thank you so much. I really have enjoyed all the projects and I am looking forward to the next hop too.
Have a great day,
Kippi
Love you backyard garden obelisk Kippi! You know I love anything with solar lights in it and they look so great in your backyard at night. Wonderful hopping with you.
Thank you so much. It has been a fun hop and I am looking forward to the next one.
Have a great week,
Kippi
It is just lovely. I have always wanted an obelisk in my yard and now, with the instructions, I will.
Thank you so much for your visit today. I hope you love your obelisk too. Have a great week.
Hugs,
Kippi
Great looking yard. The hard work that was put into your project was well worth it.
Thank you so much. We have a few more projects and we will be ready for fall.
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Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
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Thank you so much for your visit. I enjoy your blog and your party. See you soon.
The obelisk is just stunning, as is the trellis and the hanging solar lanterns. What a lovely yard. Oh, to be as handy as you…
Thank you so much for your visit. Have a great day,
Kippi
Oh Kippi, you did it again! These are gorgeous and I would love to make some for my garden. Pinned for later – may be a project for next year but I will get there!
Thank you so much. You made my day.
Have a great day,
Kippi
These wooden garden obelisk look so pretty all lit up like that. I think they will be perfect for my husband’s hops plants to grow on too!
Thank you for your visit. The obelisks are so easy to build.
Have a great day,
Kippi
I’d love these in my garden! Thanks for sharing how they were made!
Ellibelle’s Corner
Thank you so much for your visit. I am excited about planting some vines on the obelisk.
Have a great day,
Kippi
I love your backyard garden obelisk Kippi! I have been wanting one. You’re creating such a beautiful outdoor space. Thank you for sharing with Charming Homes and Gardens. Pinned and followed you on Pinterest!
Thank you so much for your visit and kind comments.
Have a great week,
Kippi
Kippi, i love these obelisk with all the pretty lights. What a beautiful way to draw attention to a yard day or night.
RR
Thank you so much I hope you have a beautiful day,
Kippi
Absolutely love how these turned out! Great DIY post. May have to try this.
Thank you so much Lori. I hope you have a great day,
Kippi
This is stunning! I so want to build this but lumber is now in short supply here in Canada. Will definitely do this, though 🙂
Thank you for your visit today. I know you are going to love these too as soon as you can get the lumber.
Have a great week,
Kippi
Whoa! My trusty wooden obelisk that I didn’t build finally crumbled, and I’m wanting to build another. Thanks for your detailed instructions and advice on adding pretty outdoor lights to it.
I hope you enjoy a “new” obelisk with the prettyn lights. I enjoy mine every night.
Have a great week,
Kippi
Stunning and such a well written tutorial too. Thank you so much. I can’t wait to get all the supplies and make one for our garden too.
You really made my day! I hope you enjoy your DIY obelisk too.
Hugs,
Kippi
They look amazing Kippi and I love the added solar lights too.
Thank you for sharing your DIY garden obelisk at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I’m delighted to be featuring this project at tonight’s party and pinning too.
Hugs,
Kerryanne
Kerryanne, I am so delighted to have my obelisk featured on your lovely site:)
Many thanks for your support,
Kippi