20+ Creative Uses of Concrete Blocks in Your Home and Garden

Greetings from i Creative Ideas! Concrete, cement, and cinder blocks are large rectangular bricks commonly used in constructions. They are also inexpensive and reliable materials for many home and garden DIY projects. With some creativity and time, you can repurpose these smart blocks into practical furniture or decorative pieces at home or in your garden. Here at i Creative Ideas, we have come up with a rounded up more than 20 creative uses of concrete blocks or cinder blocks in our home and garden. Some of them are actual DIY projects and come with full tutorials. Others are just ideas for you. From indoor furniture, outdoor furniture to garden planters, we hope they will be inspirational to you and get you started on your next concrete block project. Let’s check out all these creative ideas!

1. Concrete Block Garden Bench

This is a very affordable outdoor bench that costs only $30 to build. What a creative idea to make extra seating in the garden! (photo credit: Better Home and Gardens)

2. A sofa bed made with 42 white concrete blocks

This one is inspired by the first photo and made for indoor use. I like the extra storage space in the hollow blocks where you can place shoes. Also the colorful cushions match the wall paper so well. Looks really cozy! (photo credit: Claudio P. Aguiar)

3. Concrete Block Vertical Planters

This is a smart and inexpensive way to add wall planter feature to your backyard. I like the different varieties of succulents. (photo credits: Apartment Therapy, Apartment Therapy, Urban Gardens)

4. Concrete block outdoor stairs

What a creative idea to use concrete blocks for steps! (photo credit: Vizimac)

5. Cinder block bookshelf

Stack the concrete blocks and two wood planks and you’ll have a nice bookshelf. (photo credit: New Zealand Design Blog)

6. Cinder block garden furniture set

Use cinder blocks to build garden furniture set for outdoor BBQ parties. I love the coffee table. (photo credit: Ispaci)

7. DIY Cinder Block Outdoor Bench

This fun outdoor bench is also inspired by the first photo. You will need 12 blocks and 4 pieces of lumber to slip in the openings of the blocks. It is an easy DIY that you can finish in one hour. (tutorial: Kayla’s Basement)

8. A nice entertainment center

The entertainment center is made of cement blocks and black melamine shelves. You can take advantage of the holes of the cement blocks to store CDs, DVDs and books. (photo credit: Parka Avenue)

9. Affordable Outdoor Kitchen

Reuse or repurpose old materials such as concrete blocks and leftover wood to build this gorgeous outdoor kitchen. (photo credit: Better Homes and Gardens)

10. DIY Cinder Block Bench

This is another DIY outdoor bench that’s inspired by No. 7. (tutorial: Fab Everyday)

11. Concrete block fire pit

You can build an easy, affordable and functional fire pit from concrete blocks. Isn’t that cool? (tutorial: Must Add Fabric Softener)

12. Concrete block nightstand

This nightstand looks cute and fits a small apartment with limited space. (photo credit: Dwell)

13. Modern Grassy Centerpieces in Cinder Blocks

This is an easy and affordable way to create nice centerpieces using cinder blocks as the planters. (tutorial: Design Sponge)

14. Cinder block bed risers

You can use cinder blocks to raise the bed and take advantage of the extra storage space for things like shoes and other small items. (photo credit: Design Sponge, Design Sponge)

15. DIY Cinder Block Rocket Stove

Here’s a quick and easy way to make your own rocket stove with just four cinder blocks. (video tutorial: YouTube)

16. DIY Cinder Block Vases

Paint the cinder blocks in plaid stencils and transform them into beautiful vases for your patio. (tutorial: Design Improvised)

17. DIY Outdoor Seating

This is another DIY cinder block outdoor bench. The cinder blocks are painted blue to add a colorful touch. (tutorial: Lena Sekine)

18. Cinder block centerpieces

This beautiful cinder block centerpiece is great for a rustic outdoor wedding. (tutorial: Yes Please)

19. Cinder block platform bed

(photo credit: Designtripper)

20. Cinder Block Planters and Outdoor Bar

Add a solid wood top to the cinder block planters to make an outdoor bar. (tutorial: Design Sponge)

21. Cinder Block Raised Garden Bed

If you are thinking about adding a raised bed to your garden, using cinder blocks is a good choice because they are quick and easy to install, and less expensive. (photo credit: I Save A to Z, Savvy Gardening, Vintage Kids Modern World)

22. Cinder Block Birdhouse

Turn a cinder block into a birdhouse! It’s such a fun and cool idea. Kids will love it. (tutotial: Lowes)

23. Cinder Block Compost Bin

Use cinder blocks to build a compost bin. (tutorial: Cara Corey)

24. Concrete Block Patio Furniture

Here is a complete concrete block patio furniture set with a fire pit, armchairs and a bench. (tutorial: B Organic)

25. $3 Cinder Block Grill

Need a grill immediately? Use cinder blocks instead and make delicious kabobs. It costs only $3! (tutorial: The Little Kitchen That Could)

26. Cinder Block Decorative Tower

Paint the cinder blocks and stack them to build a cool totem sculpture to decorate your home and garden. It looks really cool! (photo credit: Flickr)

27. DIY Stackable Cinder Block Sculptures

Place tealight candles in this stunning cinder block sculpture and light up your garden. Beautiful! (tutorial: The Horticult)

28. Cinder Block Bookshelves

Cinder blocks are great for building bookshelves. Easy, sturdy and affordable! (photo credit: Mindful of Beauty)

29. DIY Cinder Block Table

This cinder block table is very easy to make and only requires four blocks and a wooden board. (tutorial: The Merry Thought)

30. DIY Concrete Block Planters

Use concrete block planters to decorate your staircase. (tutorial: Remodelista)

20 Responses to "20+ Creative Uses of Concrete Blocks in Your Home and Garden"

jenny morocho says:

January 17, 2015 at 5:49 pm

estan muy lindos y ms q esto ayuda a conservar el medio ambiente y son muy facils d hacr genial idea s los felicita
1. admin says:
  
  January 17, 2015 at 11:01 pm
  
  Muchas gracias. Por favor, comparte este artículo con tus amigos!
sameena says:

January 19, 2015 at 12:24 am

Hi , I love those ideas. It’s very good.
1. admin says:
  
  January 19, 2015 at 1:10 am
  
  Thank you!
stephanie says:

January 21, 2015 at 3:57 am

I luv some of these ideas. I lost my home in the super storm sandy and have yet to finish my yard. This gave me some great ideas thank you
1. admin says:
  
  January 21, 2015 at 12:13 pm
  
  I am so sorry to hear that. Wish you all the best and thank you for your interest in this post!
Mike says:

January 21, 2015 at 12:31 pm

All of these ideas look fun and all, but this article is misleading because everyone knows that the ground shifts in areas with frost. That garden, the benches, the planters… almost everything on this list will shift and look like absolute hell after one season. Even the bed is going to rock all over the place and possibly damage the flooring the second the “games” begin. Without informing people of the proper procedures for installing a proper gravel/sand base beneath the blocks, you’re setting them up for a potentially expensive mistake at the most, and a really crappy looking backyard at the least.
1. Mike says:
  
  January 21, 2015 at 12:34 pm
  
  I promise I wasn’t trying to rain on your parade, because the ideas ARE really cool and do look great. I just know what happens when amateurs attempt something without proper knowledge.
  1. josh says:
    
    January 26, 2015 at 8:09 pm
    
    I’ve been in the masonry field for over ttwenty yrs and I’ve done similar projects. We’ve had no problems with shifting or cracking being as the blocks are not mortered together. The fire pit however will eventually crack and bust cause they are not rated for high heat. Overall very good article. Thank you
2. Donna says:
  
  February 16, 2015 at 3:03 pm
  
  Thanks for keeping it real for amateurs you are absolutely correct in your words. Concrete holds weight and danger. My first thought was children climbing on them also a danger sign. Planters scream climb up me or is that just my fun side?
Lee says:

January 21, 2015 at 8:14 pm

I thought cinder blocks where discouraged due to the fact that they leach chemicals into your growing food in gardens? Thoughts? I was thinking of doing one this year but am afraid of the outcome.
1. Phillip says:
  
  January 25, 2015 at 9:18 pm
  
  What chemicals would be released by concrete? Cinder blocks Concrete blocks are made from concrete, no chemicals are used in the manufacturing of these type of blocks that I know of but I guess it depends where you live and who buy them from.
2. Tony says:
  
  February 1, 2015 at 9:21 am
  
  I too have read about this danger. Using wood for vegetable beds would be better. The right choice of natural wood, unstained and untreated could look really nice with the other concrete outdoor ideas.
Jeni says:

January 23, 2015 at 11:22 am

My son was just robbed at college and left with an empty apartment. These ideas are going to be perfect to replace furniture for him!! Perfect for a guy in college to create a cool looking, and functional place! Thanks- love it
tracey says:

January 23, 2015 at 12:38 pm

Fantastic ideas.
Lizzy says:

February 2, 2015 at 7:57 am

The outdoor ideas look fantastic and make me wish I had a larger outdoor space! The indoor ideas are only practical if you plan never to allow any children near them. Or anyone with any medical condition which might affect their balance. A trip or fall near those blocks could lead to a nasty injury.
Sharon says:

February 2, 2015 at 1:35 pm

I love all of these ideas might just try a few myself . Thanks for sharing
Brenda Turnquest says:

February 19, 2015 at 7:23 am

What chemicals? Find out how cement blocks are made before making such a statement. Homes and walls and pathways and even roads would not be built if cement was so harzardous to our health.
9814651610 says:

February 26, 2015 at 8:04 am

It is very good Idia.I love my garden.now I try to take flowers in these blocks
Katie says:

April 29, 2015 at 7:11 am

I love the flower bed idea and really want to make this, but for the blocks that are extending, how do you keep the soil from falling out of the bottom of block since the hole goes all the way though?

Comments are closed.