Budget small garden ideas — 23 affordable ways to transform your outdoor space

Looking for budget small garden ideas? Well, we have good news for you: there are plenty of ways you can revamp a small outdoor space without breaking the bank.

That’s because many small garden ideas are about making subtle changes with a huge impact. Think growing plants from seed, upcycling containers and doubling up on vertical space — all the very best budget garden ideas applied to a tiny space.

We’ve thrown together a list of our favourite budget small garden ideas to help you transform your space.

1. Start a small compost bin

Composting is one of the most valuable practices when it comes to gardening, and one of the best budget small garden ideas, too. Not only will you be recycling food waste, but you’ll also create a rich feed for your plants — and you can get started in a tiny compost bin, so there's always room in a small garden.

Learning how to make compost is a handy skill to have under your belt — you’ll save money on compost from the garden centre, and bag yourself a healthier garden in the process.

If you're willing to make a small investment for even faster compost, the Hotbin Mini Composter from Thompson & Morgan is a brilliant choice.

2. Grow plants from cuttings

Another brilliant way to cut costs in a small garden is by growing your own plants from scratch — or, in this case, from cuttings. Ask friends, family and neighbours if you can take a cutting from their plants, or propagate your own.

Sure, it’ll be a little while before you see established plants, but long term, you’ll be looking at a garden that’s bursting with life — and if space is limited, it won’t take you long to busy it up. Just make sure you know when to take hardwood cuttings and softwood cuttings, as it'll depend on the season.

3. Revamp old garden buildings

Whether you’ve got a small shed or a garden room, a garden building can provide valuable storage and leisure space outdoors. Simply sprucing them up with a little TLC is a brilliant budget small garden idea.

‘If you already have a shed or greenhouse, replace any worn-out windows with new acrylic or polycarbonate glazing and give them a fresh lick of paint which can cost as little as £50,’ says home improvement expert Andrew Haydon from Simply Plastics.

They’ll boost the value of your property in the long run, too.

4. Build slimline furniture

With just a little bit of DIY knowledge, you can take a pallet and transform it into a sofa.

You may already have some pallets knocking around, but if not, try Gumtree, Marketplace and Freecycle to see if anyone has some to give away. It's also worth asking local businesses, too.

There are plenty of other pallet ideas which are perfect for a small garden, so it's worth having a think about slimline pallet furniture you can build for your space.

5. Squeeze in a mini-greenhouse

No matter how wee your space, don't let it stop you from growing an array of fruit and veg. Mini greenhouses are great for keeping plants warm, but can also double up as mini sheds, too. If you're going to be storing your gardening equipment inside, too, think about adding some frosted or fluted film to the glass to blurb out any clutter you're storing.

While you can find mini greenhouse options to buy at DIY stores and garden centres, you could also have a go at making you own for your budget small garden ideas using old windows sourced from a scrap yard.

Where to buy a mini greenhouse:

6. Grow your own veg

If you're short on space but you're keen to grow your own food, you'll need a list of the best vegetables to grow in pots — or learn how to start a small vegetable garden in a corner.

'There are many varieties of vegetables that are good for planting in small spaces, balconies or patios in containers,' says Andrew Mellowes, commercial director, Burpee Europe. 'Tomato ‘Veranda Red’ is a dwarf determinate bush variety, suitable for growing in pots as small as 11cm, but will also fill a two-litre container.'

7. Add raised beds

One two-birds-with-one-stone example of a budget small garden idea is to raise your planting. Raised beds are fantastic additions to every garden, especially as container gardens are becoming more and more popular. By taking your beds off the ground, you're visually increasing the square footage of your space, making it seem larger than it is.

You can build beds out of sleepers, pallets, and just about any building material you can find and are comfortable working with!

8. Take on a trellis

A garden trellis is a brilliant space-saving planting device for budget small garden ideas.

You can either add a trellis to a wall or turn a fence into one entirely. With your planting, you'll get so much more out of your space, as your plants will be able to grow up as well as out — so you won't need as many as you would without the vertical space.

9. Go nautical with a printed sail shade

Prepare for a hot summer with an affordable garden shade. While you can invest in a parasol, choosing a length of fabric that you can hang up as a sail-style shade will be more affordable and take up no floor space in a small garden.

If you have a nautical theme, then opt for one in shades of blue — it will tie in perfectly with the rest of the scheme.

10. Give your fence an update

Painting your fence and existing wooden furniture will give your small garden a lift without breaking the bank. If you choose a pale colour, it will help your outdoor space feel bigger, too.

'There is no one perfect colour for a garden fence — it all depends on the mood you want to create, the size of the space and the kind of plants you have,' says Marianne Shillingford, creative director at Cuprinol.

'Pale shades inspired by nature that reflect the light, plus white and cream, will always make small gardens look bigger — but, strangely, so does black, which makes the borders of your space visually melt away.'

Marianne Shillingford

Creative director of Cuprinol, Marianne Shillingford’s core objective in her role is to help people to be more confident about using colour in their projects. That might involve everything from working on new colour ranges and tools to writing press features and recording videos.

11. Source vintage furniture

Add character to your garden by buying secondhand furniture that can be used for storage outside. Car boots, antique fairs and flea markets are all good sources of furniture, and they often have old Bristol sinks, too, which can be used as planters.

Sideboards can double up as potting benches and be used for storing tools during the colder months.

12. Line planters along a wall

Often, simple is best for budget small garden ideas, and placing pots and planters along the top of your wall can have a great effect. Not only will it add interest, but colour and texture, too.

Do check with your neighbours first, but if they're keen gardeners, they might welcome the extra height and floral colour, too.

13. Paint your garden chairs in an accent colour

Take your garden paint ideas beyond the fence and give your outdoor furniture a revamp.

'Just one colourful piece of garden furniture can liven up your garden — and it’s the perfect excuse to upcycle that old garden chair,' says Justyna Korczynska, senior designer at Crown Paints.

Although greens and blues are synonymous with gardens, why not think out of the box and opt for a bright red? This is a smart way to transform your best garden furniture for under £50.

Justyna Korczynska

Justyna has been bringing her expertise in colour trends and showstopping interior design skills to Crown Paints for over a decade. She has a wealth of experience in colour phycology and has an eye for helping customers to create beautiful living spaces.

14. Sow your own flowers

There's nothing more satisfying than sowing your own flower seeds and watching them grow. Plus, you'll see returns on these budget small garden ideas if you start a cut flower garden for home-grown bouquets. We asked Nick Hamilton, owner of Barnsdale Gardens for his expert advice.

'Many varieties of vegetables and flowers are now bred specifically for container growing,' he said. 'Keep an eye out for those that are perfect for pots but still give a successful harvest.'

You can even recycle things you'll find around the house to save you buying new pots.

'Use old newspaper to make your own pots,' suggests Nick. 'These are the perfect sustainable choice as they will simply rot away in the ground after planting.'

Nick Hamilton

The son of renowned gardener Geoff Hamilton, Nick is a respected horticultural expert in his own right. After Geoff passed away, Nick took over ownership of Barnsdale Gardens, which his father established in 1989. These idea-filled gardens continue to provide inspiration for home gardeners today.

15. Make the most of every inch

When space is tight, we need to think creatively about how to utilise what's available.

'Opt for furniture that is a real space-saver, like a beautiful bench which fits around a tree trunk,' says Simon Glanville, founder of A Place For Everything.

'This semi-circle bench is perfect for creating a focal point in the garden as well as providing a comfortable shaded area,' says Simon Glanville, founder of A Place For Everything.

Simon Glanville

Simon Glanville is the founder and managing director of storage and organisational retailer A Place For Everything. Living and breathing storage for over 20 years, Simon’s APfE retail brand now has one of the largest selections of stylish storage solutions in UK.

16. Go tall with your planting

Cheat your way to making your small garden look bigger — whilst on a budget — by planting tall varieties in your garden border. It will zone a patio area and separate it from the lawn, creating the illusion of more space.

Choose foxgloves, grasses, snapdragons and alliums to create height. The wildlife will love them, too.

17. Think vertically

Your outdoor space might be lacking a large footprint, but you can always make the most of a vertical space instead. Living walls are big business for both residential and commercial properties across the country and look super-smart, too.

For budget small garden ideas, use an old wooden pallet and make a simple, rectangular box planter. Fill it with soil and then plant up a mixture of trailing plants, grasses and hardy succulents. Attach it to a wall or fence, or lean it on a ledge in a vertical position.

18. Create a lush look for a balcony

Traditionally, balcony gardeners would plant up pots and troughs to make their space look appealing from the outside. But instead of hanging planters to face away from you, turn your balcony garden ideas towards you and plant up with trailing plants that will cascade down your balcony rails.

Potted plants look fab arranged in small huddles of three, five or seven, and playing with their heights and sizes will create a jungle feel.

19. Make your own private bar

Having a garden bar area outside will create your own little entertaining zone, and this clever example of budget small garden ideas is made from just a couple of pallets. Cut the top section from the pallet to use as the flip-down section and attach using two strong hinges and lengths of chain.

Finish with a piece of wood to act as your serving board. Attach it to the wall and enjoy sundowners with friends whenever the mood takes you.

20. Cheat more space with a mirror

A well-placed garden mirror idea can do wonders to enhance any outdoor space.

It will make your garden look bigger than it really is by tricking the eye into thinking it goes on and on. Create your own by using an old gate or some painted trellis mounted onto a piece of mirrored board and hang it on the wall or prop it up by a shed.

21. Double up on window boxes

If you're lacking space for flower beds, a great way to introduce more colour and greenery is with window boxes.

Traditionally, they would hang below a window, or sit along a sill, but throw tradition out of the door and go for two hung on top of each other for maximum impact.

Try filling the top box with pretty, colourful flowers, while the bottom one would be reserved for larger, lusher plants, and even a few trailing plants.

Make the boxes from leftover wood planks or pallet boards to make this perfect for budget small garden ideas.

22. Build ladder shelving for herbs

Make the most of the space along your fence by building some simple ladder shelving. Use pieces of leftover wood from a previous project, or an old pallet board cut up into lengths. Attach it to your fencing and paint it the same colour so it seamlessly blends into the background.

Terracotta pots are inexpensive and can be picked up for very little at charity shops, car boot sales and second-hand websites.

23. Upcycle old tins and jars as planters

Just about any vessel can be used to plant up flowers, herbs and succulents, so think outside the box.

Old tin cans, glass jars, jugs, tea cups and even pots and pans can all be used — they just need a couple of drainage holes punched in the bottom. With glass jars, line the bottom with gravel or small stones and fill the sides with moss to hide them.

Arrange your planted vessels in trios around your outside space and watch them grow into an oasis.

FAQs

How do you make a small garden look nice on a budget?

There are plenty of ways to make a small garden look great on a budget — it's just about thinking smartly!

First and foremost, utilise what you already have to avoid having to part with your cash. Walls and fences can benefit from a lick of paint, furniture given a good clean and a varnish and dead leaves can be cleared to reveal a tidier space. Pulling up weeds and removing moss from pathways will help make any garden space look nicer.

Bark and wood chippings are cheap and will fill a space much more cost-effectively than expensive plants will. Gravel is also a cheaper way to line the edge of a lawn, and old bricks can be used to create a winding pathway.

Outdoor rugs are great for hiding tired patios and decking areas, while cushions dragged from the house can be piled up high for a relaxing sunbathing spot.

Which budget small garden ideas will you be trying this year?