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All of the Best Ways to Make the Most of a Small Garden

Don't skimp on style just because your space is petite.

By Lauren Smith McDonough, Caroline Picard and Monique Valeris

Updated: Sep 26, 2021

Getty Images

Crafting a small outdoor space is never easy, but it's not impossible. Even if you're not lucky enough to call Versailles home, you can still make your tiny patch of green look stunning. With a dose of creativity and a few smart furniture choices, your humble garden can be picture-perfect in no time, thanks to these brilliant space-saving outdoor ideas design ideas.

Not sure where to begin? This roundup has genius garden hacks, stylish decor and unique planters that will give a petite space some grand style. These small garden ideas have more than enough inspiration to bring style to your home, regardless of your design aesthetic.

Lattice Green Wall

Obsessed with lattice? For an unexpected touch to your garden, let the pattern set the foundation for a green wall.

Lisa Romerein

Fold-Out Shelf

You can't go wrong with taking advantage of outdoor wall space. A simple fold-out shelf can serve as the perfect spot to display small plants and outdoor entertaining essentials.

Brian Woodcock

Patterned Hanging Planters

Enhance greenery or statement floral arrangements with a pair of potted hanging planters.

andreusKGetty Images

Hammock

Play up your garden's cozy factor with a stylish hammock, designed for an afternoon nap or getting lost in a good book.

Alex LevineGetty Images

Globe String Lights

Any outdoor gathering would be so much more fun if classic string lights are in the mix, whether you choose to hang them on a fence or under a pergola.

Courtesy of manufacturer

Fence Planters

Window boxes can be used in so many creative ways. Fill one with vibrant blooms—a great match for a white picket fence.

GAP Photos/Clive Nichols

Vibrant Chairs

Outfitting a small space doesn't mean you have to settle for drab furniture. The brighter, the better is the way to go to bring your space to life.

StyleWell

Black and White 3-Piece Steel Wicker Outdoor Bistro Folding Set

$159 AT HOME DEPOT

You might be longing for a trip to Paris, but there's no reason why you can't bring some of that charm to your small garden.

Mistana

Rolf 2-Piece Galvanized Iron Wall Planter Set

$50 AT WAYFAIR

Vertical gardening doesn't get any easier than this. Use one or both planters depending on how green your thumb is.

Sol 72 Outdoor

Aanya Hardwood Dark Red Meranti Potting Bench

Now 57% off

$107 AT WAYFAIR

With a roomy shelf underneath, this wood piece doubles as a mini garden "shed" for storage.

Society6

Floral Still Life Sling Chair

Now 25% off

$131 AT SOCIETY6

When it comes to an impromptu yard game, consider folding furniture, like this floral style, to easily free up space in an instant.

Buy Ecopots Hanging Pot

$35 AT BLOOMSCAPE

Ditch those unsightly plastic hanging pots for a sleek bowl like this waterproof design that's available in four colors: charcoal, stone, clay and slate.

Mike Garten

Flower-Filled Planters

Instantly boost your home’s curb appeal with bright blooms on each side of your front door. Expecting guests? Steal these tricks
from our home team: Add stems from a supermarket bouquet for extra fullness and mint for a fragrant burst.

RazaRaGetty Images

Potted Fruit Trees

SHOP ORANGE TREES

If you've got a tiny patio or balcony, you can grow a fruit tree. Calamondin orange or fig trees especially do well in pots at least 1 foot in diameter and 1 foot deep. Just watch out: Choose a variety that can survive at least two zones colder than where you live, because planters will freeze faster than the ground.

Mike Garten

Fairy Garden

Think small — really small — with this adorable project. Outfitted with a mini birdhouse, rustic stones, and teeny-tiny accessories, this planter is the perfect thing to make with kids.

Get the tutorial »

ArterraGetty Images

Square Foot Gardening

This highly efficient method divides raised beds into a grid. Vegetables then get planted in one or more squares at a density based on plant size (e.g., you’d plant about 16 radish seeds per square, but only one tomato plant).

The Backyard Homestead

$19 AT GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

If you have ¼ acre of land (or even less!), you can produce your own vegetables, fruits, grains, eggs, and more — this book shares garden plans, landscaping tips, planting tricks, chicken coop ideas, and more.

Craig McCauslandGetty Images

Dwarf Trees

Averaging about 15 feet tall and wide, many ornamental or dwarf tree varieties can handle tiny spaces. Crowd-pleasers like dogwoods, camellias, crepe myrtle, and crabapples offer both flowers and foliage too.

AMAZON BEST SELLER

Mkono

Mid Century Plant Stands

Now 14% off

$25 AT AMAZON

Amazon shoppers are obsessed with this cute wooden plant stand that can fit just about anywhere. Consider your yard officially Instagrammable. (Note: The plant and pot is not included.)

nicolas_Getty Images

Companion Planting

Placing flowers and veggies together in the same beds doesn't just save space. It'll help boost your yields and keep plants happy by attracting more pollinators.

Habit + Form Rectangle Trough

$48 AT TERRAIN

If your outdoor dining spot could use a little green, try adding one of these long planters to the table. The cold-rolled steel can stand up to the elements, and succulents will adapt to even the shallowest containers.

stocknsharesGetty Images

Trained Trees

You can actually prune certain types of fruit trees to grow against a wall, a process called espalier. Start with a 1- or 2-year-old tree and attach two supple branches to the wire about 18 inches off the ground, advises the Oregon State University Extension Service. Then take time as the seasons go on to prune your tree carefully.

Buff Strickland

Container Gardening

SHOP POTS

Green up your patio or deck with oversized terracotta or plastic planters overflowing with anything from tomatoes to wildflowers. (The lush lineup here creates a pretty privacy wall!)

Inspired By Charm

Raised Beds

SHOP RAISED BEDS

No room for a garden plot? No problem. This blogger's raised garden allows flowers to soak up the sun on top, while storage for tools and accessories can be found down below.

Get the tutorial at Inspired By Charm »

Max Kim-Bee

Porch Plants

If you don't have space on the ground for the garden of your dreams, use porch ceilings to display your plant babies in hanging baskets.

Angela Marie Made

Vertical Planter

Not only does this DIY take up less surface area than multiple pots on the ground would, but it can also serve as a privacy fence for nosy neighbors.

Get the tutorial at Angela Marie Made »

AMAZON BEST SELLER

unho

Wooden Plant Display Stand

$43 AT AMAZON

Not all scaffolding is an eyesore. You'll get six levels of greenery and blooms with this stained pine plant stand. It maxes out at 37 inches long, 10 inches wide, and 37 inches tall, and can hold up to 44 pounds altogether.

Lila B. Design/Sophie de Lignerolles

Repurposed Shutters

SHOP SUCCULENTS

Lean louvers (old or new) against an exterior wall and fill slots with hearty plants such as succulents or mosses. Succulents are nearly indestructible, but can get scorched in direct sunlight, so put them on the shady side of your home.

Beachcrest Home

Lorelei Quatrefoil Garden Stool

$120 AT WAYFAIR

It doubles as a seat or side table depending on what you need at the moment. Bring the stool inside during the winter and use it as a perch in the bathroom, or as an end table in the living room.

Buff Strickland

Pallet Garden

SHOP POTS

Attach clay pots to a pallet with nails and stainless steel cable ties for a living art display that keeps your rosemary and basil at the ready. Space out the pots so your plants have room to grow

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From: Good Housekeeping US

Lauren Smith McDonough Senior Editor Lauren is a senior editor at Hearst.

Caroline Picard Contributing Writer Caroline is a writer and editor with almost a decade of experience.

Monique Valeris Senior Home Editor Monique Valeris is the senior home editor for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital.