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. At the end of this post, I have a fun new project I think you might enjoy.
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 built a garden trellis, DIY wooden lanterns, Window flower boxes, Shutters, a hose holder, and DIY Raised garden beds, and we wanted these obelisks to coordinate with the other outdoor projects.
I have enjoyed them every day of the year. You can find how to make a garden trellis in this earlier post.
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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 these amazing solar fairy lights are my favorite.
Solar lights for Obelisk and garden
Nighttime view of the DIY obelisk with solar lights
How to Build Obelisks
My first consideration was making the obelisk coordinate with the other items in the garden, such as our trellis, lanterns, and the flower box and shutters. We built the gorgeous brackets from a leftover fence post. We built 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 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.
DIY 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 must-haves 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.
Then 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 for sanding the corners until smooth.
Install rungs at your pencil marks and clamp them 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
🌸Do you enjoy a beautiful garden and yard? Please join me HERE for everything you will need to create a beautiful garden/yard one project at a time.
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 can easily make some too see how in this earlier post about fall decorating.
🌸 For your convenience, I have gathered all my outdoor must-haves HERE (I think you will enjoy them too).
Chair with pumpkin pillow, trellis, and obelisk
While you have out your woodworking tools, why not make some Halloween decorations?
It is an adorable DIY wooden yard skeleton. It is now in my obelisk garden until the end of the month.
Halloween garden decorations you might enjoy are these adorable Halloween Yard Skeletons. They are straightforward and fast to build. I just built another one so I can have one in the front yard too. I will use solar fairy lights to wrap around him and a solar flood light pointed at him. I think the kids will love him. See how to make one too HERE.
DIY Skeleton
Cutting out the hip pattern
If you are ready to plan your outdoor dream space, please join me to create the “Best Life Now” in our gardens (join HERE).
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. Andrea inspires me 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. From White Arrows Home, Kristin shares how she and her family enjoy their lakeside home and glorious yard.
Cozy fire pit perfect outdoor space
If you are ready to plan your outdoor dream space, please join me to create the “Best Life Now” in our gardens (join HERE).
See you soon,
Kippi
Lia says
I absolutely love how it came out! You are creating such a cozy outdoor space!
Kippi says
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
Andrea says
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.
Kippi says
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
Chas Greener says
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.
Kippi says
Thank you so much. It has been a fun hop and I am looking forward to the next one.
Have a great week,
Kippi
Kathy says
It is just lovely. I have always wanted an obelisk in my yard and now, with the instructions, I will.
Kippi says
Thank you so much for your visit today. I hope you love your obelisk too. Have a great week.
Hugs,
Kippi
Gayle says
Great looking yard. The hard work that was put into your project was well worth it.
Kippi says
Thank you so much. We have a few more projects and we will be ready for fall.
Marilyn says
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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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Kippi says
Thank you so much for your visit. I enjoy your blog and your party. See you soon.
Kim says
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…
Kippi says
Thank you so much for your visit. Have a great day,
Kippi
Jayne says
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!
Kippi says
Thank you so much. You made my day.
Have a great day,
Kippi
Scarlet says
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!
Kippi says
Thank you for your visit. The obelisks are so easy to build.
Have a great day,
Kippi
Ellibelle says
I’d love these in my garden! Thanks for sharing how they were made!
Ellibelle’s Corner
Kippi says
Thank you so much for your visit. I am excited about planting some vines on the obelisk.
Have a great day,
Kippi
Kim | Shiplap and Shells says
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!
Kippi says
Thank you so much for your visit and kind comments.
Have a great week,
Kippi
rachelle says
Kippi, i love these obelisk with all the pretty lights. What a beautiful way to draw attention to a yard day or night.
RR
Kippi says
Thank you so much I hope you have a beautiful day,
Kippi
Lori Nell says
Absolutely love how these turned out! Great DIY post. May have to try this.
Kippi says
Thank you so much Lori. I hope you have a great day,
Kippi
Sara says
This is stunning! I so want to build this but lumber is now in short supply here in Canada. Will definitely do this, though 🙂
Kippi says
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
Cat Michaels says
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.
Kippi says
I hope you enjoy a “new” obelisk with the prettyn lights. I enjoy mine every night.
Have a great week,
Kippi
Michelle Leslie says
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.
Kippi says
You really made my day! I hope you enjoy your DIY obelisk too.
Hugs,
Kippi
Kerryanne says
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
Kippi says
Kerryanne, I am so delighted to have my obelisk featured on your lovely site:)
Many thanks for your support,
Kippi
FsfPrero says
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MaryJo Materazo says
OH! I love these. I have seen other versions of these but none with a solar light. Pinned and I hope to build some of these for my veggie garden for our tomato plants. Thanks for the inspo! Happy spring. XO- MaryJo
Debra Oliver says
Hi Kippi, I just love your obelisks; and thanks so much for sharing your great DIY with us! Thanks for linking up at All About Home. I’m featuring your post Monday evening.
Laura Connor says
Please consider the problems outdoor lighting causes migratory birds.
https://theconversation.com/want-to-save-millions-of-migratory-birds-turn-off-your-outdoor-lights-in-spring-and-fall-114476