DIY Terra-Cotta Rain Chain

Give your boring downspout the boot, and replace it with this adorable and colorful rain chain. Popular in Japan, versatile rain chains are the perfect outdoor accessory for transporting rain water to your flower bed, and they are certainly a cuter alternative than a basic gutter! With the aid of a few tiny terra-cotta pots and a gold chain, this stunning design is only an afternoon project away.

Paint Base & Pots

You'll start with nine tiny terra-cotta pots and one large saucer. For an ombre look, start with your favorite shade of outdoor paint color, and cover three pots and the saucer. Next, mix in a lighter color, and cover three more pots. Continue mixing for a lighter shade, and cover the remaining three pots.

Separate Chain

Lay a 12-foot chain on a flat surface. Measure a 12-inch length, and separate using pliers. Continue to cut the chain every 12 inches.

Link Pots

Take a mini s-hook, and loop it through one end of a 12-inch chain piece and into the drainage hole of the terra-cotta pot. Connect a second piece of chain to the other side of the s-hook, and continue adding pots. The easiest way to do this it to first attach the chain to the house, and then complete your rain chain while the chain hangs vertically. To create the remainder of the chain, connect the chain links to each other with the s-hooks until all of the terra-cotta pots have been used.

Hang Rain Chain

Set the terra-cotta saucer under the final pot for a place to catch the rain runoff. Fill the saucer with rocks, and just like that, the rain chain seamlessly becomes part of the surrounding landscaping.