30 Innovative Small Space Garden Ideas

Here are some small space garden ideas that will turn a tiny garden into a sight to behold. Want to join the grow-your-own-food trend? Want a whimsical corner decorated with plants or an intimate spot to have a good conversation? Who says small space gardens cannot be as aesthetic as a sprawled garden?

You can still grow plants if you have a small yard, a patio, a balcony, or a windowsill. Time to think outside the box and get creative about utilizing the smallest spaces. This article is for people with limited space and unlimited gusto for gardening.

Transform your garden into your personal Eden with these small-space garden ideas.

1. Here Are Some Gardening Ideas to Artistically Display Your Plants in A Small Area:

1.1 A Lattice Wall

Don’t have any plantable ground? I spy a wall waiting to turn into a quaint green living wall with my eyes. Decorate your wall with a trailing vine of lettuce. It can also give an unexpected touch to your yard.

Another way to utilize the walls is by making fold-out shelves. Make a fold-out shelf to showcase your herbs and decorative items.

1.2 Herb spiral

One of our favorite small space garden ideas is creating the herb spiral. You can squeeze all your favorite herbs into a tiny space with the help of spiraling. Use bricks to form a spiral design allowing you to plant sun-obsessed and shade-loving plants in the same area.

1.3 Herb Garden

Show off your vibrant potted plants by displaying them in a sequence. In containers, you can grow all your favorite herbs, be it oregano, chives, rosemary, or basil.

1.4 Grass Stepping Stones

You can enjoy a little bit of grass on your ground. Faux grass stepping stones appeal to your yard and are inexpensive and easy to make. This is one of the most unique small space garden ideas.

1.5 Mason Jars

Mason jars are also perfect for growing herbs. They make your garden stylish and add a country touch to them.

1.6 Garden Stool

Get a stool and use it for multiple purposes like reading, dining, and keeping potted plants. Make sure to decorate it to make your garden look charming.

1.7 Window boxes

Are there any small space garden ideas for people with no gardens? The answer is yes.  Flabbergast everyone who walks by your house. You can liven up the exterior of your house by planting some herbs and flowers in a window box. You do not have to put in a lot of time or effort.

1.8 Greenhouse

With some creativity, you can add extra room for your plants, even in the tiniest spaces. Use a mini zippered greenhouse to add greenery to your balcony. You can also keep plants in a container on the floor and hang them.

You can also get an old-school greenhouse and keep it in your yard or patio. It will let your plants get sufficient sunlight and protect them from wind, insects, and animals like raccoons.

1.9 Hang the Pots

Speaking of hanging, this is another one of our favorite small space garden ideas. Hang potted plants and show off the herbs, flowers, and vines. They are the best way of indoor gardening. You can also hang plants from your balcony.

They add lush greenery and beauty to every corner of your house. It is not only a decorative piece; it also increases the oxygen level in your home and regulates some pollutants.

Here are some of our favorite DIY hanging garden ideas:

1. Hanging Shelf Garden

You can make a shelf to put your plants on with just a few simple materials like wooden planks and ropes.

Check out Hanging Garden

2. Hanging Woven Potted Pots

Hang your plants from a woven wall hanging. This will make your wall look graceful.

Check out Woven Hanging Planters

3.  Rope Potted Plants Hanger

Just tie a rope around a wooden piece and hang it from the wall. Place your plant on the wood. Building a Rope Hanger for plants is child’s play.

Check out Rope Hanging Planter

4. Hanging Leather Pots

Recycle your old belts and hang the pots with leather. This combination of leather and green looks exquisite.

For the tutorial, check Hanging Leather Planter

5. Hanging Beaded Wood Pots

Use ropes and wood planks to make levels. Add beads to get a chic-style plant hanger. They can be used for herbs, flowers, fruits and vegetables.

Visit Always Rooney

6. Hanging Flowers in Baskets

Reuse those old buckets. Hang pretty flowers in simple buckets and make your surroundings exuberant.

7. Hanging Embroidery Hoops Planters

Use embroidery hoops and woven baskets to make planters that will add versatility.

To DIY, visit Heart and Vine 

8. Hanging Cemented Triangle Planters

Make triangle-shaped pots and containers out of clay and paint them. This will look like it was made of cement. You can also add texture to the pot.

Check DIY Cement Hanging Planters for more details.

9. Hanging Macrame Pots

Use macrame to make your plant hanger prettier. You can also add a gold metal ring to add glamour to your small garden.

10. Hanging Plant Bars

Hang your plants from a simple wooden bar on your balcony or behind your couch. This is the perfect way to add greenery to your indoor space.

1.10 Square Foot Gardening Method

Shift to the grow-your-own food era by planting small herbs and edibles in small spaces. Square foot gardening is an effortless way to create small and efficient kitchen gardens in an orderly manner.

The basic idea is to form a small garden bed and divide it into one-foot areas. You can then plant seeds/seedlings of different herbs and vegetables in one or two squares.

1.11 Cluster and Stack

You can also decorate your plants in a cluster on your deck/patio or stack them on open shelves. This way, you can squeeze in the maximum number of plots. It will make your deck look verdant and vibrant.

1.12 Hang from Fence

Remember we said we would utilize every space possible? Another idea is to hang herbs in containers from the fence. The container can be made out of burlap. This will allow a drainage space. This will give your mini garden a very cute look. You can also cover your fence with vines.

1.13 Pallet

You can also make a pallet and secure your plants with the help of nails, hooks, or steel wire. You can also keep the pallet horizontally to make it a bed. Make sure to give your plants enough space and sunlight to grow.

1.14 Piling the Pots

Build a tower of plants! Stack the pots on each other so that every plant gets the sunlight and space to grow. This is the perfect way to adorn the nooks and corners.

1.15 Cinder Blocks

Give those old cinder blocks a new purpose. Make a shelf out of plywood and colored cinder blocks and exhibit your plants.

1.16 Fairy Garden

Make your mini garden magical. Plants are not the only thing you can keep in your pots. A mini birdhouse, homely stones, and other tine accessories can add dimension and make your garden stunning.

1.17 Vertical Gardening

Make a wood stand vertically. You can use hooks to attach the plants to the mount board. Fill the vertical space with multiple plants, and you have a fence to cushion the noisy neighbors.

1.18 Wooden Plant Display

Speaking of wood, you can get a wooden showcase to put your small plants. It has multiple levels and is divided into different compartments. So, you get several tiny spaces. You can keep this indoors or in the outdoor area. The space will look green and organized.

1.19 Garden on A Ladder

Got a ladder you don’t need lying around? Festoon it with dainty plants and fancy flowers. So just with a few boards and winsome paint. You can also put plants on a tray in your side yard.

1.20 Companion Planting

Plant the flowers and vegetables together in the same beds. Making your herbs and veggies share the bed will help you save space. It also attracts more pollinators and stimulates high yields.

Check Companion Planting for more

Now storage is not the most exciting thing, but you need tools to get on top of tasks like cleaning the area and pot. Here are some good housekeeping ideas to keep your tools.

1.21 A Teeny-Weeny Shed

A little shed painted with soft color in the corner of your small garden will give the garden a complete look and provide enough storage for all those tools needed.

1.22 Rolling Cart

Did you know plants bend in the direction of light to get more sunlight? Keep your plants on a rolling cart and move them around so they won’t have to twist and turn. The mobile garden is a genius idea if your patio gets limited sunlight. Maybe next time you take your dog on a walk, take your plants too.

You can also keep tools in the lower portion of the cart. This is one of the small space garden ideas which serves a dual purpose.

1.23 Wood Pallet

Mount a beautiful wood pallet covered in pretty colors, and you have your storage area. It takes minimal space, and you have all your tools handy while gardening.

1.24 Hook

With just a piece of remnant wood and a bundle of cup hooks, you can get yourself storage for tools that occupy a tiny space and looks cute.

1.25 Pegboard

Pegboards are the perfect way to store tools as you can adjust them as per the requirement. This also requires a very small space.

Next, we have some small space garden ideas to turn your garden more whimsical and intimate.

1.26 Add Furniture

Give your garden a focal point. Add some chairs and tables to have an intimate spot to hang out and have a good conversation. Install vibrant chairs to raise the curb appeal. You can also build an outdoor dining area.

1.27 Color Stones

When you have a small garden, it is important to highlight every aspect. One of the small space garden ideas not related to plants is mixing paving materials to get a mosaic-like effect. Embellish your patio with bright, irregular stones to add dimension and style.

1.28 Sling Chairs and Hammocks

Add swings, hammocks, or designer sling chairs in a shady corner of your outdoor space. This will make your small garden cozier. Using a foldable sling chair, you can free up the garden area when you don’t want to sit there.

1.29 Lights

Use pretty metal candle lanterns to add lightning to your Eden. You can also mix up some classic string lights. Hang them on a fence or under an arbor. It will make your small garden even more charming and double the fun at any gathering.

1.30 Water Sculpture

You can create interest by adding a water sculpture, whether a rock garden or a water fountain. This will be another focal point in your garden. You can make a bubbling fountain with a waterproof pot or a plastic bottle, a pump or pipe, led lights, and some elegant river rocks. This one on the list of small space garden ideas will make your garden ethereal and add a zen appeal.

2. Tips For Small Space Garden Ideas

Here are some tips to make the most of a tiny garden and optimize your outdoor space.

2.1 Plan Layout

Analyze the sun’s movement and make garden plans. You should create a layout of the whole space. Decide where to put the plants and where to make the lounging space with chairs. Make sure to utilize every inch of space. An effective plan layout will provide more space for your small space garden ideas.

2.2 Divide and Conquer

Divide your small garden into defined regions. This is one of the most basic small-space garden ideas to make your yard look bigger. Use different flooring materials for different areas or decking. Decking helps to create zones. You can also divide the outdoor space with the help of some overhead treatment, like a pergola. This will provide you with a shady corner and enhance privacy.

2.3 One Palette

One less popular small space garden idea is to use one color scheme and paint your furniture with soft or vibrant colors. Planting flowers of the same or similar color can make your garden look less chaotic and Hodge podge.

2.4 Add Dwarf Plants Or Small Versions

Plant breeders have introduced dwarf plants and smaller versions of a plant like Little Mischief Rose that take less space. Use these instead of the large plants if you have a small garden.

2.5 Productive Plants

Instead of planting seasonal flowers and vegetables, opt for super productive plants that are long-lasting. For example, Verbena Bonariensis can be accommodated in small areas, lasting from May to winter. Star Jasmine is another good option.

2.6 Add Edibles

Want some small space garden ideas for your veggies and fruits? You don’t need a rolling kitchen garden. You can grow your own food in beds dedicated to vegetables. Chilies, runner beans, and tomatoes are great examples of vegetables growing well in a small area. Adding calcium to soil can increase the yield. It makes your plants more uptight and builds their immunity.

For smaller or enclosed spaces, draw attention through simple but enticing designs. It is important to have focal points. Maximize space by dividing the areas into separate zones and using multiple flower beds. Level up to add dimension to a tiny space.

Consider getting upright plants as they take less square footage. The furniture should be of appropriate dimensions to fit in the surroundings. Play with scale. Add plants of different heights to make your yard look neat.

Prioritize comfort. Ensure you have a separate space for sitting. Do not overcrowd the tiny garden with too many different pot shapes and sizes. Finally, invest in simple, elegant, and effective lighting for small spaces. This will enhance curb appeal and make the area look bigger.

Planting around the pavement and deck can help soften the hard landscaping. Length catches the eye, so vertical features like climber are a good option for planting around the pavement.

Last Updated on November 10, 2023 by ritukhare