Gardening Ideas For Small Spaces

ANNIE SCHLECHTER

Flowers and plants bring so much beauty to every space they enter, big or small, inside or outside. But beyond aesthetic value, gardening can also be soothing and teach responsibility, while plants themselves purify the air and improve the vibes (seriously—even NASA says so). Given the benefits of gardening, it shouldn't be limited to wide open outdoor spaces and large greenhouses. So read through our creative small garden ideas anyone can try, including bringing the outdoors in if you have no yard or balcony to speak of. Get your green thumbs ready for window-box flowers, hanging plants, tiny veggie gardens, and more.

small garden ideas

Studio Ashby

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Make It Multi-Purpose

If you can't dedicate your entire garden to flowers and only flowers, make it multi-purpose. This terrace is a dining space, a romantic hang out spot (hello, swing chair), and a garden all at once.

small garden ideas on a budget

Fantastic Frank

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Grow Your Own Herbs

Create a fresh herb display with a wooden board, glass jars and pipe clamps from the hardware store. Or grow them outside on the deck or balcony, if your space allows.

diy large planters

House Beautiful

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Beautify Something Old

Don't junk it just yet. Salvage an old dresser to create a multi-level planter. Or use an old bathtub, a wheelbarrow, or even a truck...A smaller side table would also fit nicely on a tiny balcony or patio.

geometric hanging terrarium

Nicole Franzen

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Start With a Terrarium

Big plants can make a bold statement—but tiny terrariums, like this one in a geometric planter, add unique appeal to small spaces. It's also a great example of vertical gardening, if you hang it.

small backyard ideas

ANNIE SCHLECHTER

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Transform Your Steps

Transform every little space that isn't being used on your back patio into a gardening opportunity. It won't take up much space, but it makes a big difference. Case in point? These flower beds on the stair ledges.

small garden ideas without grass

PHOTO: Felix Forest; DESIGN: Arent & Pyke

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Landscape Your Entryway Wisely

Just because your entry isn't large enough for a lavish garden doesn't mean you can't introduce a touch of greenery. With the right landscape design, a few slim trees, a planter, and some small topiaries, it'll feel like a zen garden.

indoor garden ideas

Nicole Franzen

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Take Advantage of Your Sun Room

If you don't have any extra outdoor space for a garden, take advantage of sunny area inside your home. A large succulent will make you feel like you're in a desert oasis. A fig tree is also always a good idea.

balcony garden ideas

Fantastic Frank

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Keep It On the Balcony

Now's the time to let your inner plant parent shine. If you don't have room for a full-blown rooftop garden, your balcony is a great alternative.

very small garden ideas on a budgets

Nicole Franzen

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Use Your Windows

Have a super small balcony? Line it with pots and plants to make the street level view just a little more beautiful.

garden wall ideas design

Nicole Franzen

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Go Vertical

Trade floor space for wall space. This lush vertical garden comes together thanks to a few simple ingredients but it makes the whole space feel like a minimalist jungle (oxymoronic, sure, but it's working).

small garden design pictures gallery

ANNIE SCHLECHTER

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Make It Liveable

A few pots of flowers and rocking chairs for you and yours will make a small patio feel like your very own secret garden.

window box ideas

Nicole Franzen

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Use Your Windows

A window box is a traditional choice—for herbs or flowers. Balcony blooms like these will beautify an entire neighborhood. Besides, they can be even more stunning than a ground-level alternative, as the vertical perspective brings in an interesting, unexpected dimension.

small vegetable garden ideas

Ngoc Minh Ngo

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Grow Fresh Produce

There's no kitchen game-changer like cooking with your own freshly grown produce. If you have a roof, consider creating your very own rooftop veggie garden. Or you could purchase a plot at your local community garden.

garden landscape design

CHARLES MAYER

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Beautify a Pathway

A garden with a plan provides both beauty and elegance, says landscape architect Edmund Hollander. Create a grid of tiles to reinforce property lines, and then introduce colorful lavender to focus the eye. If your space is a lot smaller, use this as inspiration but recreate it in a smaller scale.

mini garden inside the house

Nicole Franzen

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Hang Them High

Talk about eye-catching. Hanging your plants as wall décor will make a definite statement on an apartment balcony or even inside. It's the perfection solution to a garden-less home.

small garden design low maintenance

House Beautiful

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Stick to One Flower

To give your small garden a consistent aesthetic (and to accommodate its tiny size), stick to one type of flower. Limiting yourself to one type of flower saves on yard work in the long run. These English grandifloras are sweet and romantic.

indoor garden designs

Nicole Franzen

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Convert a Garage or Attic

Turn an unused warehouse-like space into a makeshift greenhouse. Who needs an outdoor garden when you can have your very own workshop?

minimalist garde ideas

JASON NORRIS

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Pave the Way

Think of your garden as an organized procession, advises Hollander. Stone steps will give your outdoor space some structure and lead your guests in the right direction, no matter how big or small your garden is.