Garden Ideas for Small Spaces that Won’t Cost the Earth
Considering giving your small garden space a makeover? Sometimes even in smaller spaces it can be tricky to know where to begin. That’s why we’ve put together some of our favourite inexpensive small garden ideas so you can spruce up your outdoor space on a budget.
Read on to discover some small garden ideas and top tips for creating a space that’s as functional as it is beautiful.
Embrace the shape of your garden
A small rectangular or square garden can offer more opportunities to add your individual stamp than you may think. These simple small garden ideas can help it look bigger or give it a more unique look, including:
- Adding circular paving to break up the straight lines within your garden. You can even use reclaimed paving stones to keep it budget-friendly.
- Dividing your garden into functional spaces using plant borders or handmade screens.
- Planting curved borders to soften straight lines and focus your eye away from the boundary edges.
You can also cover your fence or garden wall in climbing plants such as clematis, jasmine or climbing hydrangea to hide the edges of your garden and create a blooming oasis.
Identify areas of sun and shade
Before rushing to fill your garden with new plants, take note of how much sun your garden has. Not all plants like being in direct sunlight all day, so if your garden is in a shady spot you still have plenty of plants to choose from.
Hardy cyclamen, hellebores, foxgloves can inject splashes of colour while ferns and dwarf bamboo can provide lush greens.
Combine your seating area with storage space
By building seating that can double up as storage space, you have the opportunity to upcycle materials you already have to hand, while also creating a versatile piece of garden furniture.
Make sure you measure the largest items you need to store before going ahead with your building project. Otherwise you might not be able to tidy away everything that you need to.
Build upwards with raised beds for flowers and veg
Building wooden raised beds and planters is a great idea for small gardens on a budget. You can use reclaimed timber, pallets or old wooden containers to create an attractive and sturdy addition to your garden. A wooden planter can be built to suit your space and create a focal point to help break up a wall or fence.
What if you don’t have the room for raised beds?
If you don’t have space for raised beds, planting vegetables that can grow upwards or on a trellis can be an ideal option. Beans, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers and more can all be trained to grow upwards, providing a lot of variety while also not needing much ground space for planting.
Repurpose an old coffee table for a mini herb garden
You don’t need to have a dedicated vegetable patch to grow a wide range of herbs. In fact, you can repurpose an old coffee table to create a charming mini planting area that is ideal for growing herbs.
By having plants higher up you’ll save your back from a lot of strain, plus you’ll have the added benefit of extra planting or storage space underneath your new herb garden.
Choose the right lighting for your small garden design
Solar-powered spotlights can be added to your garden to help create a cosy ambiance without having to rely on mains power. You can also use fairy lights or lanterns as an easy option to give your garden a glow.
It’s worth bearing in mind that it’s best to go for more yellow lights than bright white outdoor lights as they will be kinder to wildlife.
Create new garden design ideas with inspiration from Beyond the Grid
Giving your outdoor space a makeover doesn’t have to break the bank. Enjoy breathing new life into your small garden space and transform it into a unique retreat from everyday life.
For more ways to become sustainable at home, and in the garden, visit our Beyond the Grid hub. Here, you’ll find helpful tips and ideas that will help you live a little better every day.
