Typically insects find homes anywhere they can, in the ground, under leaves, under rocks, pavers, bricks, any place that provides a safe hiding spot. Insects thrive in rotting wood and leaves, but most of us are not crazy about seeing piles of leaves or wood in our outdoor living spaces. This may mean insects won’t be drawn to our yards or gardens, especially beneficial ones that are good for the garden and eat pests that would otherwise wreck your plants. And that’s where a bug hotel comes in — placing a bug hotel in yards or gardens significantly increases the chance of these hero insects moving in.
What is a Beneficial Insect?
There are three kinds of beneficial insects that are necessary for a garden or yard to flourish:
- Pollinators
These are the bees, butterflies, moths, or wasps that help collect and spread pollen. - Predators
These are ladybugs, praying mantis, lacewings, spiders, and beetles that eat other destructive insects. - Decomposers
These include flies, slugs, beetles, ants, and worms which chew up bits of leaves, dead animals, or dead wood.
What is a Bug Hotel?
A bug hotel is an artificial “building” that serves as long-term lodging or a winter hibernation spot for insects. You can hang bug hotels from trees, attach them to fences or stake them to the ground as long as they are near the flower and vegetable gardens. Some bugs prefer full sun, while others like shady spots, so you should consider the kind of insect you want to attract when placing your hotel.
To Buy or DIY Your Bug Hotel
According to Audubon, beneficial insects have a basic need for water, food, and shelter. By providing these things, your garden will become an inviting home for them. And there’s nothing more inviting than hosting a hotel for the bugs to move into! But whether you buy it, like these from Amazon, Breck’s, and Wind & Weather or make it yourself depends on your inclination and materials you have or can get your hands on. Even if you decide to build your own bug hotel, there are plenty of kits and plans you can use. In fact, we found bug hotels made out of bricks, chicken wire, drain pipes, milk cartons, drawers, palettes, plastic bottles, plant pots, photo frames, popsicle sticks, tires or any combination thereof!
If you want to build your bug motel from scratch, check out our FREE download on how to build a bug motel offering instructions and tips for a successful build.
Our DIY Bug Hotel
We had on-hand some old small tires that we were going to use for another project but decided these would work better for the bug hotel. It was simple really – we attached the tires tread-to-tread, using nuts and bolts.
Then, we placed the hotel on some old slate panels and filled it up with different items, using old PVC pipes, paper towel rolls and bamboo stakes from Amazon as well as plastic plant pots to fill the holes.
Fallen tree bark and old broken bricks completed the project and viola! A bug hotel!
How to Use Your Bug Hotel
Your hotel should be out during summer when the wildlife is commonly active and protected against wind and rain during winter. Some experts recommend cleaning out and storing the bug hotel in a garden shed; others however, state that an occupied bug hotel should remain outside. Certainly any materials used to fill your bug hotel such cardboard, dried flowers, twine, burlap may need to be replaced each season.
A bug hotel is a simple, easy, and fun way to bring beneficial bugs to your patio garden area. Make yours unique to your garden theme and repurpose materials that have been hanging around your garden shed and/or shop area just waiting to be used. No doubt, in addition to having bugs help your garden grow strong, you will have an intriguing conversation piece to share with your guests while entertaining with food and drink on your patio.
Bringing It All Back to Your Outdoor Space
A bug motel might seem like a small addition. But small additions, when done thoughtfully, are what transform a patio into something more. Something that feels intentional, supports your well-being and that works with nature instead of constantly fighting against it.
And if you’re already thinking about how all these pieces fit together — from layout to materials to long-term maintenance — that’s exactly where having a plan makes all the difference. So if you’re ready to go beyond one feature — beyond bug motels, lighting, or furniture — and start creating an outdoor space that actually supports your well-being… then it’s time to look at the bigger picture. A Guide to Creating an Ideal Outdoor Living Space helps you connect the dots between design, function, and how you want to feel when you step outside your door.
A well-designed patio doesn’t just look good — it changes how you live. At the end of the day, it’s not about adding more to your outdoor space. It’s about adding the right things — and letting them do what they were designed to do.
Bug Motel FAQs
Do bug motels really work?
They do — but not like flipping on a porch light and watching everything show up at once.
A bug motel works slowly, almost invisibly at first. It provides shelter for beneficial insects already living nearby — like solitary bees, ladybugs, and lacewings. Over time, those insects begin to use the space for nesting, resting, and protection from the elements.
And here’s the part most people miss: when those insects stick around, your outdoor space starts working for you. Pollination improves. Pest populations balance out. Your plants look healthier without you constantly stepping in to fix things.
It’s less about instant results and more about building a system that supports itself.
Are bug motels a good idea?
They are — when they’re part of a bigger picture.
A bug motel on its own is just a structure. But when it’s placed intentionally within a well-thought-out outdoor space, it becomes part of something much more meaningful: a healthier environment that supports both you and the space around you.
This ties directly into the idea that wellness doesn’t start inside your home — it starts just outside your door.
That said, a neglected bug motel can backfire. If it traps moisture, grows mold, or sits untouched for years, it can attract the wrong kind of attention.
The key is simple: treat it like you would any other feature on your patio. Maintain it. Pay attention to it. Let it evolve with the space.
If you’re looking at your outdoor space and wondering how all these pieces actually come together (layout, budget, materials, maintenance), the LivingOnThePatio Starter Kit was built for exactly that moment.
Can you DIY a bug motel?
You can — and you probably should.
There’s something different about building a feature for your outdoor space with your own hands. It shifts your mindset from “decorating” to “creating an environment.”
A DIY bug motel doesn’t need to be elaborate. In fact, the simpler it is, the more likely it is to succeed. A small wooden box, a repurposed crate, or even a tucked-away corner filled with natural materials can do the job beautifully.
And if you’re someone who enjoys hosting or creating outdoors, this becomes a conversation piece without even trying. Guests will notice. Kids will ask questions. And suddenly your patio isn’t just a place to sit — it’s a place to discover.
What recycled materials are best for bug motels?
This is where creativity meets intention.
The best bug motels use materials that mimic what insects naturally seek out, just organized in a way that works within your outdoor space.
Some of the most effective options include:
- Hollow plant stems or bamboo for solitary bees
- Twigs and small branches for beetles and other crawlers
- Pinecones for ladybugs seeking shelter
- Bark, wood chips, or leaf litter for general habitat layering
- Old bricks with holes or clay pots for structure and depth
- Untreated scrap wood for framing
If you’re repurposing materials — and we highly recommend it — just be mindful of what not to use. Avoid painted wood, pressure-treated lumber, or anything that could hold excess moisture.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s creating a natural, breathable space that feels like an extension of the outdoors—not something forced into it.
Please Leave a Comment: Bug Hotel
Leave a comment below and tell us if this information was of value to you or tell us what we missed and can add to this post. Let us know what kind of hotel you built or purchased and how successful you think it has been for your garden. Attach a photo so we can see your bug hotel! And tell us your locale. We’re in Roanoke, Virginia, USA.
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