A small outdoor space shouldn’t limit the results you can achieve. There are a ton of wonderful and creative ideas for small gardens – which, while they may require a little more attention than larger gardens, have many advantages.
For starters, it forces you to be a little more innovative, which can often result in style and beauty. Another benefit is that, due to their size, most of the time they are low maintenance.
Explore what you can create with any available space:
1/45 A gravel floor is beautiful and low maintenance! Finish with some furniture, pots full of plants and you have the perfect spot to enjoy a summer day. (Future PLC /Keith Henderson/Playback)
2/45 Build a house for the kids! Introduce a green roof so that it blends in perfectly with the environment. (Future PLC /Annaick Guitteny/Playback)
3/45 Just like indoors, opting for neutral walls and floors can make a small room feel lighter. Get pops of color with vases filled with colorful flowers. (Future PLC /Simon Bevan/Playback)
4/45 Choose white furniture and position it at the back of a paved area to get the illusion that your space is bigger. (Future PLC /Annaick Guitteny/Playback)
5/45 If you’re working with two levels, see if you can include a shaded area. This charming place is perfect for curling up with a book and staying out of the sun or in the evenings by a bonfire. (Future PLC/Darren Chung/Playback)
6/45 Choosing outdoor furniture that folds or stacks when not in use is a great way to save precious space in a small garden. Mix and match colors for a brilliant scheme. (Future PLC /Simon Bevan/Playback)
7/45 Build a hut with a homemade sun lounger. A few square meters, economical materials and your imagination are all you need. Take two twigs, two pallets and a piece of fabric to create this incredible backdrop. (Future PLC /Chris Everard/Playback)
8/45 Include greenhouses for growing plants. You can find medium-sized greenhouses, mini versions, as well as low-level options that can run along your home’s wall or outside fence. (Ikea/Reproduction)
9/45 A garden bench is a practical and stylish way to make an impact. Choose a modern design and place exotic pillows for a colorful look. (Future PLC /Darren Chung/Playback)
10/45 With good planning you can have a raised flower bed, a living wall and a nice sofa. (Future PLC /Polly Wreford/Playback)
11/45 Even the smallest terrace can be transformed into something exceptional. Simple flooring such as travertine or traditional stone creates an elegant, rustic look. Just add comfy seats and you have a super charming nook. (Future PLC /David Giles/Playback)
12/45 Raised beds are great extra seating options when you can’t add a chair or two. Plus, your plants will be easier to care for! To increase comfort, place pillows in complementary colors to your plants. (Future PLC /Amy Cutmore/Playback)
13/45 Make use of a trellis to add color and greenery. Climbing plants are a great solution for small gardens as they lift flowers and foliage off the ground. (Future PLC /Jamie Mason/Playback)
14/45 If you own a patio, think about how you can utilize every inch of it. A seating corner is perfect for gathering friends and family together on a warm summer night. (Future PLC/Colin Poole/Playback)
15/45 Planters are a classic way to include plants and flowers in small spaces. Grow herbs if placing them in the kitchen! (Future PLC /Joanna Henderson/Playback)
16/45 Make the most of your small space with vertical shelves. This solution provides efficient storage. (Future PLC /Colin Poole/Playback)
17/45 Don’t let the limited area stop you from enjoying alfresco dining. Invest in a compact dining solution such as mid-size tables or bistro sets. Position against a wall, serving the purpose without intruding too much. (Dunelm/Playback)
18/45 Create interesting zones with different materials like stained wood decking ideas, patio in clear material and decorative stones or chips. Finally, let the lush foliage sprout, filling the space with structural greenery for a controlled finish that’s easy to maintain. (Future PLC /Annaick Guitteny/Playback)
19/45 Transform a small patio into an amazing area with a living wall. Plant a natural focal point for a super contemporary way to offer interest without cluttering up surfaces. (Future PLC /Annaick Guitteny/Playback)
20/45 Create extra surface area, precious for beautiful vases and accessories, by putting in some shelves. To handle the weight, consider investing in a brick model. (Future PLC /Jamie Mason/Playback)
21/45 Build a multipurpose shed. It can house garden furniture in the winter and become a party bar in the summer. (Future PLC /Joanna Henderson/Playback)
22/45 A decorative rug is one of the easiest small garden ideas to achieve and draws the eye to a defined area. (The Rug Seller/Playback)
23/45 White ink is often used because of its lightening and lightening properties. Enjoy it! (Future PLC/Nick Pope/Playback)
24/45 As with interior decorating, the use of color can help to invigorate an outdoor setting. A bold splash of color allows the plants to really stand out against the colorful backdrop. (Future PLC/Dobbies/Playback)
25/45 In a small garden, camouflaging the walls is super beneficial. Applying green paint helps to blend in and increase the feel of the surrounding greenery. (Future PLC /Lizzie Orme/Playback)
26/45 Take inspiration from the elements of a living wall using vertical surfaces for careful planting. The simple, smart addition of horizontal fence panels can transform a decorative wall. (Future PLC /Joanna Henderson/Playback)
27/45 Look down! Choosing different types of flooring between zones suggests changes in space without having to physically divide with borders or planting. (Future PLC /David Giles/Playback)
28/45 A little color can liven up any garden fence. Even a dark hue can make a statement and beautifully complement the green foliage. (Cuprinol/Reproduction)
29/45 Elevate furniture off the floor to create the illusion of more space, such as a hanging chair. A garden is all you need to have a reading corner, the perfect place to get away from it all. Highlight the area with clusters of pots that contain foliage at different heights and scales. (Future PLC /Tim Young/Charlie Young/Playback)
30/45 Invest in some large throw pillows for when you have guests over. They are less imposing than alternative garden seating solutions and are easy to stack on top of each other when not in use. (Argos/Playback)
31/45 Plan your own entertainment zone with a folding table made from a pair of pallets and a piece of chain. (Future PLC /Tim Young/Playback)
32/45 Add perspective with different levels. A classic way of doing this is to have a raised or lowered terrace and the lawn at another height. Borders and steps will help include extra spots for potted plants or areas to add furniture to accommodate guests. (Future PLC /David Giles/Playback)
33/45 Play with heights to add a sense of depth. Groups of different pots containing foliage in different heights and scales is an ideal solution for small spaces. (Future PLC /Tim Young/Playback)
34/45 Divide your environment into zones with individual purposes. Due to the multifunctional uses, the place will look bigger. Think entertainment area, reading nook, outdoor kitchen ideas, play area, vegetable garden… anything is possible! (Future PLC /Colin Poole/Playback)
35/45 A foolproof idea to make a room look bigger is using a mirror! For a unique design, use an old gate on a piece of mirrored board. Put a table close by so you can enjoy the view. (Future PLC /Tim Young/Playback)
36/45 Expand your kitchen! Garden tables can provide a surface for outdoor food preparation. Choosing units with galvanized or zinc-topped surfaces will make cleaning easier. Hang a bamboo above and use hooks to hang kitchen utensils along its length. (Future PLC /Tim Young/Playback)
37/45 Just as you would hang pictures indoors, create a display of picture frames and hanging vases on an outside wall. Recycle old cans as planters – just drill holes in the base for drainage and in the side for wall mounting. (Future PLC /Tim Young/Playback)
38/45 Get a ladder model bookcase to add height to your small vases – it’s an easy design and you can always move it around if you want a change. (Future PLC /Dunelm/Playback)
39/45 Make your small garden feel like a continuation of your indoor space with outdoor living room designs. Invest in a set of furniture and decorative lights to ensure it’s a place you’ll want to spend time in. (Future PLC /David Giles/Playback)
40/45 Your herb garden doesn’t have to exist only on window sills or in a large vegetable garden. Recycle a side table or coffee table to create the perfect home area for you to grow herbs. (Sadolin/Playback)
41/45 The hooks help a lot in saving space indoors and work very well to receive your seedlings. Hang smaller ones until they are big enough to plant or move to larger containers on the ground. (Future PLC/Playback)
42/45 Sacrifice a raised bed to build a deck section with a giant blackboard and sandbox for the kids to play in on a sunny day. (Future PLC /Tim Young/Playback)
43/45 Revive a dreary outdoor area by painting and refreshing weathered wood. Create a cheerful atmosphere by adding a pile of pillows and flowery accessories. Pops of color against a white backdrop will give the room the illusion of being larger than it really is. Choose benches and rugs that are slightly smaller than normal to enhance this effect. (Future PLC/Playback)
44/45 Layers offer the illusion of depth, and you can take advantage of that. Combine raised beds and ground-level beds to add height so it looks like there’s a lot more foliage. Slightly raising a path or walkway will make ground-level planting appear taller as well. (Future PLC/Playback)
45/45 Save precious square meters by taking your garden off the ground. If you have a strong wall or fence available, this is an ideal place for a setup…