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If you live in an area with unpredictable weather, you might feel like rain is pouring off your roof one day and it's as dry as a desert the next. But what if you could capture that precious rainwater and store it for days when it's not so abundant? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, watering lawns and gardens accounts for up to 40 percent of water use in the summer, but rain barrels can help you conserve water, reduce runoff, and save money.

In a recent episode of Hometown, Ben Napier built a greenhouse to surprise his wife, Erin Napier, for Mother’s Day. The greenhouse and surrounding gardens have many beautiful features, from stained glass window panels to a cozy coffee table built for two. In an Instagram post after the show aired, Ben shared that he also installed two large rain barrels outside. But even this practical feature didn’t escape his keen eye for design. Instead of the typical large, bulky rain barrels, Ben chose two stylish barrels that mimic terracotta planters. Here’s what prompted Ben to add rain barrels to his greenhouse, the tricks he discovered along the way, and ideas to help you make that much-needed rainwater collection system overhaul.

The terracotta style barrel blends in seamlessly

"How about these 'terracotta' rain barrels?" Ben Napier wrote in his Instagram caption. "They're plastic and I found them on gardeners.com." The teardrop-shaped barrels, or "rain urns," come in two shades, soft brown or classic terracotta, and cost $299 each. The barrels hold up to 65 gallons of water each and come with a built-in faucet and a 5-foot hose. However, as Napier quickly learned, you shouldn't throw the instructions away when you install them. "Funny story, these have a plug in the bottom. I originally installed them without the plug. After multiple storms, they're still empty," he wrote.

Aside from rain barrels’ ability to reduce tap water usage and contain runoff, any plant lover will swear by the benefits of using rainwater for watering lawns and flowers, including HGTV star Ben Napier—and his grandmother! “My grandmother has 55-gallon barrels to collect rainwater from her gutters. She told me her flowers prefer rainwater,” he wrote on Instagram. “I want to do the same thing, but these are prettier than a big blue barrel.” There’s definitely some truth to her grandmother’s words. Plants love rainwater because it doesn’t contain minerals or chemicals like treated tap water. Plus, rainwater is often rich in nutrients and is a rich source of nitrates.

Give your rainwater system a makeover

If there's one thing to take away from Ben Napier's delightful greenhouse update, it's that aesthetics shouldn't be treated as an afterthought. Instead, choose one that enhances the beauty of your outdoor space. While they do have a charming rustic appeal, you don't have to buy the exact barrels that Napier features in his greenhouse and garden designs.

If rustic terracotta isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other good-looking options on the market. A traditional wooden barrel design like this 50-gallon one from Tractor Supply for under $140 would fit in nicely with a more rustic style. Or, this 50-gallon gray brick rain barrel for $178.02 at Lowe’s would fit in with a more modern urban garden setting.

For an inexpensive way to update your garden's rainwater collection system, you can even learn how to make your own rain barrel. Beautifying an existing rain barrel can be as simple as spraying it with acrylic spray paint in a warm terracotta color to match your house, creating a monochromatic look, or turning the barrel into an eye-catching mural. To add a faucet to an existing rain barrel, use leftover materials to make a DIY rain barrel stand to raise it above the ground for easy emptying.