33 small garden ideas – clever ways to maximise your outdoor space

Just because a garden is small, it doesn't mean big ideas are off limits – the right small garden ideas can transform the look of any outdoor space, no matter the size.

Even the most creative garden ideas can be applied to a small space, whether you have a tiny terrace or a balcony, and there are plenty of budget garden ideas to choose from if you're trying to keep costs down.

It's important to make use of all the space available in a small garden. 'Planting and decorating walls and fences helps to drive the eye upwards, which makes a garden look bigger while making use of the extra space,' says Lee Trethewey, garden design expert at Sustainable Furniture.

If you're deciding how to plan a small garden and need some inspiration, we've rounded up some of our favourite small garden ideas for you to browse.

Small garden ideas

There are just as many benefits to having a small garden as there are a large garden.

'When space is at a premium, designing and decorating your garden can feel like an impossible task, but small gardens have huge potential,' says Francesca Hadland, Styling Expert at outdoor furniture company Bridgman.

With the help of trusted garden experts and our team, we've brainstormed the best small garden ideas you could be applying to your outdoor space this year and beyond.

1. Make a feature of trailing plants

Adding some of the best trailing plants for outdoors to your space can create a striking focal point in a small garden. The beauty of trailing plants is that they can be planted in various gaps that you might not previously have considered filling, from nooks in stone walls to hanging baskets on fences. You can even plant them in window boxes for added charm.

'Hanging baskets are one of the easiest ways to display them, and cascading flowers are sensational to walk under,' says Andy Ellis, former professional gardener and founder of Posh.co.uk. 'You can also try hanging balcony displays and hanging terrariums if you're feeling a little bolder!'

2. Be clever with lighting

Lighting can be a powerful tool if you're searching for small garden ideas that make the space look bigger.

'Clever use of lighting can help small gardens look bigger than they are,' says Rachel Morris of home and garden lighting firm 4lite. 'Lighting the furthest points of the garden with spotlights and spike lights facing into shrubbery or uplighting trees and fencing will draw the eye into the distance.

'Creating a sense of space while lighting boundaries throughout the garden, whether flower beds, steps or decking, will trick the eye into perceiving more depth. Any lights at ground level will create a secondary backdrop away from a seating or dining area, making the space feel bigger.'

So, consider which garden lighting ideas will work in the space you have when planning your small garden.

3. Make the most of pots

Small gardens are often limited on lawn and border space, but a really easy garden idea is to compensate by adding pots and containers to the space.

'If you don’t have the space for beds and borders, you can still achieve an impactful display with containers,' advises Marcus Eyles, Horticultural Director at Dobbies.

'Early season primroses, violas and pansies work well in pots for beautiful spring colour, and you can cluster these together for maximum effect. Hanging baskets and window boxes are another great space saver and can be filled with seasonal plants for a cheerful display.'

There are countless upcycled planter ideas for the garden, too.

4. Level up with flower beds

Experimenting with a few flower bed ideas in raised planters can transform the look and feel of a small garden, especially when you're looking to add some more greenery to the space.

'Many small gardens lack lawn space and are dominated by stone patios,' Tom from Gardenstone explains. 'A lack of lawn can reduce the number of plants you can plant in your garden. This provides the perfect opportunity to create a zone for raised flower beds.

'Not only will raised flower beds allow for extra planting opportunities, but they also provide different levels, making your garden appear more spacious.'

5. Use light colours

The colours you choose to paint your garden can completely transform the look and feel of the space.

'Light-coloured fencing and furniture helps to prevent the garden from feeling small and dingy,' says Lee from Sustainable Furniture. 'It reflects light, which makes it feel brighter and bigger.'

Having a play around with different garden paint ideas is a fun way to set a brand-new colour scheme for your garden.

6. Add corner seating

When it comes to seating, use all the space available to make the most of a smaller garden.

'For small gardens, corner seating is a game-changer,' says Jenny Davis, head of marketing at Forest Garden. 'Think of it like a space-saving puzzle piece. By utilising those often-dead corners, you can create a surprisingly spacious and inviting seating area.

'This frees up the centre of your garden for walkways, planting, or even a small water feature. Plus, corner sofas often seat more people than individual chairs, so they're perfect for summer gatherings. It's a win-win for maximising functionality and creating a cosy atmosphere in your outdoor haven.'

There is a wide range of corner seating to suit every garden. We love the Ibiza 5 Seater Corner Sofa Set at Dunelm.

7. Zone with rockeries

Splitting your garden into zones can make the space feel like a bigger outdoor living area, with sections allocated for socialising, relaxation or even entertaining. But what is zoning?

'Zoning is the process of splitting your garden into different sections in order to create the feel of added space,' explains Tom Clifford, director at Gardenstone. 'Not only does zoning allow for a more organised use of space, but it will also increase the time you spend in different areas of your garden.

'Rockeries are ideal for breaking up space in your garden, especially if the majority of your garden is made up of lawn. Although large areas of lawn may seem like a great idea for expanding the space, they can actually have the opposite effect by exaggerating the limits of your garden.

'Instead, use a small rockery to divide the space. Rockeries are simple to create and require little maintenance, so they make the perfect addition to any garden.

'Creating a rockery is as simple as taking a few large stones and surrounding them with your choice of perennial plants.'

Tom Clifford

Tom Clifford is a director of Gardenstone, a leading garden landscaping supplier that specialises in garden edging, patio paving, gravel and walling materials. Tom has been in the garden landscaping business for over 13 years, making him an expert in garden design and maintenance.

8. Add a pond for wildlife

While you might think there isn't room for a pond in a small garden, you'll be surprised at just how many garden pond ideas there are for compact spaces.

'A pond makes a great addition to a small garden as it attracts an array of wildlife like birds, hedgehogs, frogs and even bats,' says Tom from Gardenstone. 'Small gardens often attract little wildlife due to a lack of plants and greenery, so a small pond is a great way to encourage animals into the space.

'Ponds don’t always have to be big to attract a lot of wildlife – in fact, even a small container placed in a corner of your garden can do the trick.

Try the Swell Pond Liner from Amazon, available in various sizes.

9. Choose a multifunctional shed

Though you might hesitate to invest in a shed to free up room for other small garden ideas, sheds are a more versatile feature than you'd think.

'Sheds have hidden potential! They can be your summer oasis and winter workhorse,' says Jenny Davis from Forest Garden. 'Here's the secret: multifunctionality.

'Think smart storage solutions like vertical shelving and mobile workbenches that fold away. This frees up space for a portable bar cart in the summer, stocked with all your entertaining essentials.'

Slimline options are also available if you're looking for small garden storage ideas.

10. Add a pergola

Add another level to your garden with a pergola, which can be adorned with an array of climbing plants or covered to provide shade on hot summer days.

'A pergola is perfect for garden zoning as it provides a designated area for you to relax and unwind,' says Tom from Gardenstone. 'The use of height provides more dimension to your garden and therefore maximises the appearance of space.

'Make the most of this vertical space by planting climbing plants on the outside of the pergola. This will provide visual interest and help the pergola blend into its surroundings.'

The OutdoorGardens Wooden 2 x 2m Pergola from B&Q is a great place to start.

11. Create a living wall

Take inspiration from living wall ideas by using vertical wall space for thoughtful planting. This allows even the smallest of garden spaces to flourish and is particularly useful if you're looking for decorative grassless garden ideas.

Living walls, or green walls, are increasingly making their way into residential gardens. Foliage is rooted into a structure which is attached to a wall.

A range of herbaceous perennials, grasses, small shrubs, herbs and even fruit and vegetables can be used to create these vertical small garden ideas. Try including scented plants, seasonal flowers and bulbs, but talk to your local garden nursery about plants that will suit the aspect and microclimate of the wall on which they will be grown.

'Our slatted wall planters, £99.99 each at Forest Garden, are a fabulous accessory,' says Jenny from Forest Garden. 'Not only do they allow spaces to be partitioned, but in smaller gardens, they are great for creating a living plant wall, bringing greenery to exterior walls.'

12. Plant a potted orchard

You don't need a lawn to create a lush garden – and flower beds aren't necessary either. A low-maintenance 'flooring' option such as gravel is great for small gardens, and it can provide the base for your very own potted orchard.

Add lots of pots, filled with everything from the tiniest flowering plants to fruit trees. Finish off with some garden furniture and you'll have the perfect spot to enjoy a summer's day.

13. Don't forget about trees

One mistake people often make when it comes to their small garden ideas is assuming they have to leave out trees and larger shrubs, when actually, small trees can be a great addition to these smaller spaces.

Some of the best trees for small gardens include blossoms like the Flowering Ornamental Cherry Tree Prunus 'Kojo no Mai' Standard from B&Q, and some evergreen varieties.

If your garden is overlooked, consider checking out the best privacy trees for smaller spaces.

14. Opt for flexible furniture

Finding the best garden furniture for your outdoor space is worth spending some time on, especially if space is at a premium.

'Steer clear of cluttering up a petite patio area with furniture that sits unused most of the year,' advises Francesca from Bridgman. 'Think smart with stylish and space-saving flexible furniture.

'Chairs, bar stools and even loungers that can be stacked on top of each other and stored away when not in use make perfect small garden ideas. Pair with a foldable table for a set you can effortlessly move to one side whenever you choose.'

15. Think vertically

Save precious outdoor square footage by taking what you can off the ground. If you have a wall or strong fence available, this is the ideal spot to fix a slim shelving unit. Alternatively, DIY it by making use of the best garden pallet ideas.

You can use these levels to display potted plants, keep smaller garden accessories, or hold your hat.

'When it comes to designing a small garden, making the most of the space you have is essential, so vertical planting options are a great solution,' says Marcus from Dobbies. 'Not only will these free up room, they’ll also create instant impact and can be used to grow everything from flowering plants and perennials to herbs and leafy greens.'

16. Repurpose an old step ladder to display plants

This is another way to take pots and planters off the ground. By placing them on the steps of a step ladder, you're freeing up the space below for more greenery. The well-worn appearance of an old wooden step ladder also adds rustic charm to your garden.

This planting solution creates extra space to showcase potted plants and garden accessories. No matter how small your space is, you can guarantee you'll be using it as efficiently as possible with this small garden idea.

17. Go big with variety

'Don't be tempted to limit your garden to small plants as these will only emphasise the size of the garden,' says Alix from Dig Club. 'Instead, plant a range of sizes to create shape and variety.

'When planting shrubs, opt for larger specimens but don't go for very dense varieties as these will look like they take up more space than they do. If you want a tree, choose multi-stem ones which appear lighter, as you can see through the stems to the rest of the garden.'

The Multi-Stem Toffee Apple Tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) from Gardening Express is a striking must-have for any small garden.

18. Attract wildlife

Just because a garden is small, it doesn't mean it can't provide a home for nature, and there are plenty of wildlife garden ideas to choose from.

Hang nut and seed feeders for birds on tree branches and leave a tray filled with water for them to drink and bathe in. Leave gaps in fences to create a hedgehog highway and fill your garden with colourful flowers to attract butterflies and other pollinators. It will not only make your garden a calming space, but it will delight little ones when they spot visiting wildlife, too.

19. Plant according to sun and shade

Plants need sunshine, but there are plenty that don't like direct sun all day and prefer shady spots. So, plant according to your garden's situation, as well as its soil.

'Shady and north-facing gardens can still look fabulous,' says Alix from Dig Club. 'If your small garden doesn’t get much sun, don’t worry – you can still fill it with wonderful plants that can bring character and personality to the space.

'“Jungle”- or “forest"-style plants such as ferns, dwarf bamboo and impactful shrubs like Fatsia japonica with their large leaves can help fill the space and create a lush, green haven. Colour can still be delivered through geraniums such as ‘Rozanne’, alliums and irises, which provide pops of confident colour amongst the greenery.'

20. Turn it into a tropical oasis

Outdoor living is wonderful, but no one wants a garden that's filled with furniture and devoid of life. When working with small garden ideas, incorporate plenty of pockets of foliage around paths or patios with hedges, shrubs and trees.

If your small garden doesn't get much frost, grow species that thrive in warm weather such as grasses, palms and tree ferns (which like partial sun and shade). Tropical plants like these will give your garden a holiday feeling all summer long.

These living elements will make your garden more enjoyable for you and your family, too. 'Trees bring several other benefits to your garden, such as the calming sound of leaves rustling in the wind and the ability to lower the volume of artificial noise in your garden,' says Cass Heaphy from Paving Direct.

21. Use walls and fences for climbers

Don't forget to use walls and fences to show off greenery in small spaces. Climbing plants provide shade and create a lovely sense of enclosure. They're good at absorbing noise and pollution, too.

'One of the best small garden ideas is to plant vertically,' advises Alix from Dig Club. 'You can play with planting combinations and create interest and height with textures, colours and form. Use climbers such as the evergreen star jasmine to add interest and greenery without taking up too much space.'

22. Take the indoors out

Make a small garden feel bigger by making it feel like a continuation of your indoor space with outdoor living room ideas. Dress your small garden space with a furniture set and add decorative outdoor fairy light ideas to ensure it's a space you want to spend time in.

'Do not let attention to detail go amiss – the same principles apply externally as they do to an interior project,' says Emmie Brookman, creative director of homeware brand Silver Mushroom. 'Your outdoor space should be an extension of your home, so make it comfortable and accessorise the same way you would indoors by introducing cushions, throws, candles and bowls.'

Similarly, a plethora of potted plants add foliage, and as pots are moveable, you get a sense of freedom to change things around from time to time.

23. Create a mini herb garden

Herb gardens don't have to exist on your windowsills or in a large dedicated vegetable patch. Upcycle a coffee table to create a homemade and bijou planting area, perfect for herbs.

As well as saving you space beneath for extra planting or storage, by having the plants higher, you'll save your back a lot of strain from bending over veg beds.

'As well as herbs, salad leaves and lettuce are also incredibly easy vegetables to grow,' says Cass from Paving Direct. 'Some plants come through within four weeks. Find seeds in your local shop and sow in regular intervals for a full salad bowl throughout summer.'

24. Grow your own veg in containers

Not all crops require a large dedicated patch, and if you're wondering how to start a small vegetable garden, there are plenty of ways you can incorporate one into a small space using containers.

'Tomatoes are some of the easiest vegetables to grow in containers,' says Cass from Paving Direct. 'As long as you have a location that receives at least five to six hours of sunlight per day, you can learn how to grow tomatoes in pots with ease. There’s a large variety of tomatoes out there, but if you are limited for space, choose smaller cherry tomato varieties.'

'Runner beans, sugar snap peas, broad beans, and French beans can also be grown in containers, as long as they’re basking in the sun all day. All you need is a pot that is at least one foot deep and, if you have a climbing variety, a trellis-like structure for the vines to grow on. Make sure you sow seeds regularly so you get a succession of harvests over the summer.'

25. Choose slimline options

Slot in a slimline plant stand in smaller outdoor spaces to fill in spaces and hide bare strips of fence or wall.

Add a ladder stand to add height to displays – it's one of the easiest budget garden ideas and easy to move if you fancy a change.

26. Add a gallery wall

Play with garden wall decor ideas by creating a display of frames and wall-hung planters. Utilise junk shop finds by hanging old wooden frames and upcycle old loaf tins as planters. Just drill holes in the base for drainage and the side for hooking onto the wall.

Hang them above a pretty garden bench as you would a sofa indoors and finish off with some cushions and a throw.

27. Create a mini outdoor kitchen

There are plenty of small outdoor kitchen ideas that can help you extend your cooking and dining area outdoors.

Potting tables can provide a slim, compact surface along one side of a patio for outside food prep. Choosing units with galvanised or zinc-topped surfaces will make wipe-down easier and protect wooden surfaces from weather damage, too.

Hang a bamboo pole above your units from cup hooks screwed into the wall or fence and use S-hooks to hang kitchen utensils along its length.

28. Double your space with mirrors

When working out how to make a small garden look bigger, one foolproof idea is to use garden mirrors. Create your own using an old gate or some painted trellis mounted onto a piece of mirrored board.

This is not only an inexpensive alternative to an outdoor mirror, but it also prevents any danger through mirror breakage. Set a table close by so that you can enjoy a view of the garden wherever you are seated. Using a grid-style mirror means that birds are less likely to fly into it.

29. Create a kids corner

Sacrifice a raised bed to create a section of deck with a giant blackboard and covered sandpit for some sunny day play. Try using old railway sleepers to create a barrier for sand and soil.

Finish by fixing a peg rail to the underside of the sandpit lid for hanging toys and tools.

30. Set up a private bar

Look to outdoor bar ideas to create your own little entertaining zone with a clever pull-down bar made from a couple of pallets and a length of chain. Cut the top section from the pallet to use as the flip down section and attach using two strong hinges and lengths of chain.

Adding an outdoor herb planter to the top section will keep them within easy reach for drinks and barbecues.

31. Hang furniture to free up floorspace

When working with small indoor spaces, designers will explain the importance of elevating furniture off the floor to create the illusion of more floor space. Wall-mounted bathroom units are a prime example of where this applies.

Use the same design as a small garden idea by choosing a hanging chair. A nook of a garden is all you need for a reading corner, and a hanging egg chair keeps the ground and sightline clear, giving the feeling of space in even the smallest of gardens.

32. Add new levels

Add interest to small garden ideas by creating different levels. A classic way to do this is to have a raised or sunken terrace, with the lawn sitting at a different height.

The ledges and steps will help open up how you can use the space, adding extra spots for plant pots to be arranged or furniture added to accommodate guests. You can also achieve this look with the clever use of raised beds.

33. Get creative with shelves and hooks

Shelves and hooks aren't just for indoors. Create extra precious surface area for pots and pretty accessories by putting up some shelves. Ideally, they should be mounted into brick, as your garden fence might not be able to take the weight.

Reclaimed scaffolding boards are an inexpensive solution, supported by cast iron brackets that you can pick up from your nearest DIY store, like the Vintage Style Cast Iron Hanging Bracket from B&Q. A recycled peg rail can also be used as the perfect place to hang outdoor lighting.

FAQs

How do you make a small garden look nice?

'Just like for indoor spaces, choosing the right colour schemes will help make your outdoor space look amazing,' says Chris Bonnet, owner of Gardening Express. 'Vibrant flowers, shrubs and features can make small gardens appear lighter and bigger, warm colours make spaces feel more intimate, while cool tones add depth and serenity.'

It's also important to keep on top of tidying and maintenance to keep your garden looking its best. 'All plants should be cared for efficiently, furniture should be looked after and maintained, the floor should be cleaned and the lawn should be mowed,' says Lee from Sustainable Furniture.

How do you arrange a small garden?

'First, decide on the main role for the space,' says garden designer Alix from Dig Club. 'Choose what you'd like the garden to be primarily used for (such as a dining area, drinks terrace, or just a space for planting) so it won't feel overly busy and cramped.'

Next, consider its upkeep. ‘Think really carefully about how much time you are willing to dedicate to maintaining your small garden ideas,’ advises garden designer Charlotte Rowe. ‘If you’re limited on time, harder landscaping and sturdier plants will require much less attention than a lawn and beds with complex planting.’

How much does it cost to landscape a small garden?

You can plan your own small garden ideas, but a trained designer will help you not only with your plant selection, but also to work out how you can best maximise your space. Some will also do the landscaping (or work in tandem with a landscaper) to complete the job.

Garden landscaping costs depend on the size of your garden, the complexity of the design and how much experience the designer has. An initial consultation might cost £450. A typical urban garden can cost anything from £6,000, including the design and build.

No matter how petite your space is, there's a way to add style, function and design to your garden so you can make the most of it year-round.