When you’ve wrapped up a landscaping or building project, you might find yourself with some leftover bricks, pavers or concrete blocks. Before you consider tossing them out, think about the potential! These versatile materials can be repurposed into creative and practical DIY projects that add charm to your home and garden while keeping waste out of landfills.
1. Build a Fire Pit (The Ultimate Backyard Feature)
Transform your outdoor space with a DIY fire pit using leftover bricks or concrete blocks. Not only does it create a warm, inviting focal point, but it also gives you a reason to entertain outdoors all year round. Check out our DIY Fire Pit Guide for step-by-step instructions.
2. Get Creative with Outdoor Furniture
Why buy expensive outdoor seating when you can build your own? Bricks and concrete blocks make sturdy bases for benches, coffee tables and even barbecues. Pair them with a timber top or cushions and you’ve got a unique, weather-resistant piece of furniture. Explore some more DIY furniture ideas for inspiration.
3. Define Your Garden with Edging
Give your garden a polished look with brick or paver edging. It’s a simple, low-maintenance way to separate garden beds, pathways or lawns. Plus, it prevents soil from spilling over and keeps mulch neatly contained.
4. Use as Weights or Doorstops
Bricks and concrete blocks are naturally heavy, making them perfect for practical uses like holding down tarps, securing outdoor furniture or even acting as rustic doorstops. A simple coat of paint can turn them into stylish, functional home accessories.
5. Fill Gaps and Holes in the Garden
If you’ve got low-lying areas or holes in your yard, leftover materials can serve as a solid fill base. This helps improve drainage and prevents water from pooling in unwanted spots.
6. Improve Drainage in Planters
Bricks or broken pavers at the bottom of large plant pots help with drainage, preventing water from sitting at the roots and causing rot. It’s an easy way to make your plants healthier and your pots lighter.
7. Craft a Rustic Pathway
Create a charming garden path with your leftover pavers or bricks. No matter how you lay them, a DIY pathway adds character to your garden and makes navigating easier.
8. Design a Unique Planter
Stack bricks to form raised beds or use individual concrete blocks as planters for a herb or succulent garden. The natural drainage of masonry keeps your plants happy and the structured look adds an industrial-chic element to your space.
9. Make a Mini Retaining Wall
Small leftover concrete blocks can be stacked to create low retaining walls for garden beds or decorative borders around trees and shrubs. It’s a great way to add structure while repurposing materials effectively.
10. Make a Simple Outdoor Shower Base
If you enjoy outdoor showers, lay down a base of leftover pavers or bricks to create a quick-draining shower platform—perfect for beach houses or backyard pools.
Waste Not, Want Not – Get Crafting!
Bricks, paves and concrete blocks aren’t just for large construction projects—they’re the perfect materials for clever and sustainable DIY creations. Whether you’re crafting a fire pit, a garden path or just using them for practical everyday purposes, these materials can have a second life instead of ending up in a landfill.
For more DIY project ideas, visit Apex Masonry and explore how you can make the most of every brick, block and paver!
