DIY Concrete Yard Sign Stands: The Secret to Porch Decor

Yard Art on My Front Porch Is an Absolute Must!

Yard art on my front porch is an absolute must! I just gotta have it. However, porch floors aren't exactly conducive to traditional stake yard signs. You have to get creative to make it happen!

As usual, my partner Bruce helped save the day. We came up with a way to use small buckets, PVC, and concrete to create a permanent yard sign stand. This is the perfect DIY solution for anyone wanting to display patriotic outdoor decor, wooden yard decorations, or seasonal yard art patterns on a hard surface. If you want a deeper dive into the specific build dimensions, you can also check out our master guide on How to Make DIY Concrete Stands for Wooden Yard Art.

The Supplies

I found the perfect container at Hobby Lobby—this awesome Red Giant Party Cup Bucket—and got it for 40% off! When you're shopping for your own bucket or planter, the most important thing is to make sure there are no drainage holes in the bottom. A container that stands about 10” tall is the perfect size for this project.

Aside from the container, we picked up a bag of dry concrete mix, a 1.25” PVC pipe (the kind usually used for plumbing), and a can of flat black spray paint at Home Depot. You'll also want an empty 5-gallon bucket on hand for mixing the concrete and a can of non-stick cooking spray from the kitchen.

How to Build Your Custom Yard Art Stand

We started by cutting the PVC into 10” lengths. The PVC acts as a receptacle for the green channel stake on the yard sign. Once the pipe was the right length, Bruce used a cutting tool to put some notches in one end. These notches are where the foot peg on the green stake will rest. This little trick ensures your sign won't spin around when the Midwest wind starts blowing!

Next, we poured the dry concrete mix into an empty 5-gallon bucket and added water. You want a consistency that is moist enough to pour easily, but not so runny that it won't dry properly.

Once we reached that "just right" consistency, we placed the PVC pipe in the middle of our Hobby Lobby bucket. We kept the notched end at the top and the other end at the bottom. I held the PVC pipe upright while Bruce poured the concrete in. We filled our buckets about half-way and let them dry completely. We used a quick-set concrete, so it didn't take long to set up.

Finishing for a Professional Look

A little non-stick cooking spray works great on the inside of the bucket if you want to slide the concrete block out later. After the concrete dries, we use black spray paint on the entire bucket, inside and out, along with the PVC pipe to match. Choosing black allows the stand to cleanly recede into the background, keeping your eye moving straight to the yard sign as the true star of the show. (Stay tuned! In a future video, we’ll show you some fun ways to decorate the outside of these black stands.)

Important Tips for Your Yard Art Displays

• Size Limitations: These specific stands are designed for a small yard sign (no larger than 22” tall). If you want to display something bigger, you’ll need a larger bucket, more concrete, and a longer PVC pipe for stability.

• Wind-Proofing: When the wind starts blowing—and it will—you don't want to be outside picking up a sign that has blown over. That is exactly why we notched the PVC; it keeps that foot peg locked in place so the sign stays put.

Whether you're setting up an outdoor gingerbread house for the holidays, testing out our brand-new Custom Wooden Christmas Yard Sign, or showing off your favorite patriotic yard decor, these stands make it easy to decorate any space you choose!

Whether you're setting up an outdoor gingerbread house for the holidays or showing off your favorite patriotic yard decor, these stands make it easy to decorate any space you choose!

Printable DIY Project Shopping List

Print this section out or screenshot it before heading to the store!

At the Craft Store:

• [ ] 8-to-10-Inch Bucket or Planter: Approximately 10” tall with no drainage holes in the bottom. (Check out the Hobby Lobby Red Giant Party Cup Bucket if you want the exact one we used!)

At the Home Improvement Store:

• [ ] 1.25” PVC Pipe: Standard plumbing PVC (will be cut into 10” lengths).

• [ ] Dry Concrete Mix: Quick-set concrete works best to speed up drying time.

• [ ] Flat Black Spray Paint: All-surface spray paint for coating the bucket and pipe.

• [ ] 5-Gallon Bucket: Standard empty bucket for mixing the concrete.

From the Kitchen:

• [ ] Non-Stick Cooking Spray: Used as a release agent if you prefer to slide the concrete out of the bucket later.