18 Small Garden Ideas: Smart Designs to Maximize Compact Gardening Space
Whether you're looking for garden ideas to create a stunning balcony garden, want to introduce some garden furniture to your patio or love being surrounded by greenery, you'll find plenty of inspiration for your small outdoor space below.
- Small garden ideas can transform even the smallest outdoor space with thoughtful design, creative plants, the right materials, and more.
- Small garden ideas have many advantages, the main one being that they require very little maintenance.
- Small gardens, city terraces, balconies and even less loved corners can be turned into attractive outdoor spaces with a little care and attention. Visual tricks, good lighting, interesting planting and comfortable seating will play to the strengths of the most awkward or compact gardens.
SMALL STYLISH GARDEN IDEAS
1. PLACE A SMALL GARDEN WITH DECK
Terraces do more than provide a space to sit, drink and eat; They can also help divide a small garden into zones, helping the space feel cared for, functional and possibly even a little larger.
2. ADD COLOR WITH PRETTY PAINT
If you're looking for an aesthetic change that won't break the bank, grab a can of exterior paint. Giving unloved woodwork a few coats is one of the most cost-effective ways to make a big impact in a small garden, turning that too-close back fence or shed into a backdrop.
Lighter colors can make a small garden feel lighter and brighter, while bold ones will make a serious statement.
3. MAKE SPACE FOR A ROCK GARDEN
Rockeries aren't the most contemporary ideas for water features, but their scalability makes them the easiest to place in smaller spaces.
A small garden rockery, especially if partially hidden among whimsical plants, can add a sense of wonder to the garden, as well as the relaxing ambient soundtrack of rippling water.
4. DEDICATE A FLOWER BED TO EDIBLES
Enthusiastic cooks, get yourselves a garden. You don't need a rolling garden to grow your own food, just a bedding area dedicated to edible delights.
Great ideas for small gardens include chili peppers, beans and tomatoes because they all offer high yields in a small space. If you're really short on square footage, potted herbs can be stacked on outdoor shelves.
5. WITHOUT GRASS, NO PROBLEM
Trading in grass for a patio doesn't mean you have to ditch the green for gray. Putting your garden patio first is a low-maintenance lifesaver, meaning you can focus on bringing a wider variety of greenery into the space.
Here, easy-care paving slabs are raised with raised bedding and climbers intertwining through a trellis.
6. KEEP IT SIMPLE IN A SMALL GARDEN
Don't get carried away planning a small garden. A carefully chosen palette of materials and plants is often the most satisfactory.
However, this doesn't mean you can't be adventurous and experimental, just keep in mind that trying to squeeze everything into a compact space will clutter it up and decrease usability.
7. PLANT SMARTLY IN SMALL SPACES
The choice of planting is essential in smaller gardens. Use plants that do not overwhelm the space.
However, you should also make sure that you are not always looking for fences or boundary walls as a place to plant. A really useful plant is the evergreen climber Trachelospermum Jasminoides , commonly known as star jasmine. It will offer year-round interest with an abundance of white flowers from mid to late summer.
8. POT IN A SMALL GARDEN
Using potted plants provides additional flexibility in smaller gardens. They stand out in gardens with balconies or if you are looking for ideas for gardens in patios where there is no land to plant.
You can place the pots around your dining room terrace and easily relocate them when you need to, as well as vary the planting from season to season.
9. CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Continuing the inside-out approach will help the garden feel like part of your home.
This can range from paint colors and materials to simply using plants whose flower color complements the interior.
Keep in mind that although some paving materials can be used both indoors and outdoors, outdoor stone will tend to wear over time.
10. CREATE INTEREST WITH A WATER FOUNTAIN
Present focal points, which can include sculptures or water features , specimen trees, and even an outdoor fireplace.
Correct positioning is important. Some will be more successful as the centerpiece of the design, while others are better hidden within the planting so that you are not fully aware of them until you enter the garden.
11. RIGHT LIGHT
Clever outdoor lighting ideas can transform small garden spaces: “Illuminating specific areas and focal points will create interest and provide a backdrop to the home all year round, even when you are not in the garden.” ‘
“It is important not to illuminate the entire space, areas of darkness are essential to the success of a garden lighting scheme,” he advises.
12. CREATE A SHADED CORNER
Think of a shady spot as a multi-sensory experience of sight, sound and smell.
The trees provide excellent cover without blocking too much of the sun and can be pruned to suit your needs.
The best trees for a small garden are laurels ( Laurus nobilis ), Euonymus Japanese maple ( Acer palmatum ), and Magnolia Christmas berry ( Photinia ‘Little Red Robin' ).
13. GO UNDERGROUND
Transform an overlooked or exposed garden space. Sunken gardens make excellent shelters and are especially useful on urban plots where boundary fences can cast unwanted shadows.
Lowering a terrace by only 45 cm makes it easier to create a greater sense of privacy with plants or awnings; If you want to go lower, ask a landscape architect to check the water table and advise on drainage. In a sloping garden, carve out terraces and create an outdoor room on the lowest level.
14. INCLUDE GOOD CLEANLINESS
It may not sound very exciting, but taking charge of tasks such as cleaning and tidying pots, sheds and greenhouses is the perfect way to ensure your small garden is tidy.
Not only will this allow you to make the most of even the smallest areas, but a tidy space can also make a small garden appear larger.
If space allows, why not invest in a potting shed? Take a look at these shed ideas for more tips.
15. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VERTICAL SPACE IN A SMALL GARDEN
If floor space is at a premium, plant vertically instead. One of the most sought-after looks this year: living walls are taking planting to a whole new level.
To create these vertical gardens, plants are rooted in a structure that is then attached to an interior, exterior, or freestanding wall. Systems can range from something as simple as pots hung on a vertical wall, or highly sophisticated modular hydroponic panels where all plants' water and nutrient requirements are precisely delivered and electronically controlled.
16. OPTION FOR LOW FURNITURE FOR YOUR GARDEN
It is very important to get the perfect scale in a compact area. Notice how your furniture relates to each other and to the surrounding space.
A tidy garden sofa and armless, or single-arm, chairs are good options for a small garden or patio where space is limited.
17. BUILD AN OFFICE AT THE END OF YOUR SMALL GARDEN.
What better way to start the workday than with a relaxed walk to the end of your garden? You don't need to have a large garden to build one of these, like in the image above, but if you're looking for long garden ideas , this could be a great addition to the background of your garden, as it will be. a good distance from the main house.
Building an extra room with a garden view is now a growing trend. With the current trend for multi-purpose open-plan family rooms combining a mix of kitchen, dining and living spaces, garden rooms and conservatories fit the bill perfectly.
18. ENJOY TOPIARY ON A SMALL SCALE
Often used on a grand, formal scale, try topiary shapes in short space areas for dramatic effect.
In these small gardens, the topiary box has been cut into balls, close together, to create a checkerboard feel.
HOW CAN I GET THE MOST OUT OF MY SMALL GARDEN?
In smaller or closed spaces, it is important to draw attention through a simple and attractive design.
Many urban patios or gardens can be overlooked. Try to obscure any unwanted views with thoughtful planting that adds some height but not too much depth to avoid eating into a compact surface.
Long-lasting plants like Verbena Bonariensis add height and can be contained in small areas with flowers that last from May through winter. Often a combination of hardscaping, such as stone and brick, with bold architectural plantings works best.
A terrace planted with a couple of large olive trees and a bed of vibrant herbs, for example, will have more impact than a mass of overplanting. If your garden faces a side return, consider painting the wall white to reflect light and increase the feeling of space.
Another trick is to mix hard materials. Stone paving interspersed with narrow strips of pebbles can look effective, as can juxtaposing angles, such as contrasting an elegant countertop with paved travertine.
The length will draw attention, so try to place a featured plant, sculpture or small water feature towards the end of your space. Consider incorporating fixed seating, such as a banquette that runs along an external wall, to instantly increase usable space, ensuring the venue receives sunlight.
HOW TO MAKE A SMALL GARDEN LOOK GOOD?
Use planting to soften harsh features. In smaller spaces, a sculpted, streamlined look may work best, such as terraces paved with stone or other materials, whether brick or paint, that reference the property, blending the inside with the outside. But offsetting these harsh materials with a mix of clipped and more whimsical plants will soften the edges and add texture and interest. Make sure you know where the sun rises and sets in your garden so you can plant accordingly.
Balconies and rooftop gardens can also benefit from simple planting. Prioritize space for sitting or eating and avoid overcrowding with too many pot shapes and sizes; Aim instead for one or two statement pieces, such as a pair of laurels or a sumptuous planter with your favorite flowers, whether geraniums, hydrangeas or brimming snowdrops. Finally, invest in simple but effective lighting for small spaces to enhance curb appeal and increase the feeling of space.
“Small gardens look great with just a few key elements that tie the whole space together.” This can be by using repetition of an accent color or a plant. Sometimes I choose a cushion fabric and then repeat its color throughout the planting. The trimmed box can be used as a structural plant all year round, while the Zantedeschia thrives in city gardens in small amounts of shade and adds a lush feel to the garden.
