23 Amazing Small Garden Decor Ideas We Love

Turn your ordinary garden into a fun and unique garden with some decorative ideas! By using small garden decor, you can transform your garden into a beautiful oasis! From antique garden benches to seasonal garden decor, you can easily spruce up your small garden space to make it feel like like an extension of your home.

As the owner of a small garden, I am here to share with you our gardening tips, garden decor ideas, and our favorite tricks to keep the garden looking beautiful and inviting all year long. We know that gardening is not always the easiest part of home ownership and decorating the garden can seem like a daunting task too. However, by adding some decorative pieces in your garden area it can make the space truly feel inviting and unique to your style.

In this blog post, we’ll explore 23 small garden decor ideas that will breathe new life into your space. Just because your garden is small, that doesn’t mean it can’t pack a punch in terms of style and personality. With some creativity and inspiration, you can transform your outdoor oasis into a charming haven that reflects your unique taste.

This blog is all about small garden decor.

Best Small Garden Decor

1. Seasonal Small Garden Decor

The easiest way to get decorate your small garden is to incorporate seasonal decor items into it. Often times we fail to decorate the garden area outside of our home and focus on decorating the front door and the inside of our home. It is important to recognize that the outdoor area of your home is an extension of your home and is equally as important to care for.

You can easily decorate your small garden by adding seasonal flowers, pots, garden flags and garden sculptures to match the upcoming holiday. For example, in the Fall we add a cute Fall themed garden flag and replace any of our annual flowers with vibrant mums.

2. Fill Your Planters

Fill up your planters and pots with vibrant flowers and an array of greenery. The key to creating a full and beautiful arrangement is adding plants of different heights, colors and textures. Keep in mind how much sun the planter will receive in the location you will be placing it in. This is crucial when deciding what plants you should put in each specific planter or pot.

CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO FOR 3 EASY PLANTER IDEAS

3. Hang String Lights

Add a warm glow to your small garden by hanging string lights over it. String lights are a great way to showcase your garden at night and create an inviting glow. Not only will the string lights help decorate your garden area, but they will create a cozy atmosphere that will make you never want to leave your garden area.

CLICK HERE TO BUY STRING LIGHTS FROM AMAZON

4. Start A Decorative Vertical Garden

If you are very limited on space and want to create a small garden, try starting a vertical garden. You can create a vertical garden against your fence, shed, or even your home. A vertical garden is perfect if you want to start a garden and live in an apartment, townhouse or condo.

TIP: If you love to cook or create natural remedies consider starting a vertical garden filled with herbs. Herbs do well in vertical gardens because many of them can grow in tiny spaces.

BEST PLANTS FOR A VERTICAL GARDEN

THYME
CILANTRO
CHIVES
BASIL
ROSEMARY
SUCCULENTS
MINT
FERNS
VINES

5. Add a Unique Garden Bench

Add charm to your garden with this cute and practical small garden idea. A garden bench is a great way to admire your garden during the day and also create an additional seating opportunity for guests. Paint your bench a unique color or find an antique garden seating option to bring a unique touch to your garden area.

6. Hang Wind Chimes

Wind chimes are the perfect way to add decor into your small garden while allowing the wind to create a calming tune at the same time. We love wind chimes in the garden because they bring peace and joy to your garden in a different way than any other decorative piece can.

7. Add an Outdoor Rug

Style your small backyard patio with an outdoor area rug to bring life to your outdoor space. Choose a bold color for a unique and vibrant touch or go with a subtle neutral theme.

TIP: Place your rug in an area of the patio that may be damaged or cracked to hide any imperfections.

8. Pot a Decorative Tree

Add height to your small garden by potting small trees. From citrus trees to flowering trees, the possibilities are endless. Arrange the trees in your garden or on the patio area near your home.

BEST TREES TO POT:

APPLE TREE
FLOWERING DOGWOOD
ITALIAN CYPRESS
OLIVE TREE
JAPANESE MAPLE
MAGNOLIA
CREPE MYRTLE

9. Garden Arch

Define your garden space by adding a garden arch to welcome everyone into your small garden. Lay stepping stones that lead up to your arch or use the arch to create division in your small garden. Plant climbing plants that will grow up the side of your arch to create a lived in garden feel.

10. Hang A Birdhouse

Impress everyone with this DIY small garden decor idea! Create a birdhouse that all the birds will gather around with the simple and affordable birdhouse DIY.

WHAT YOU NEED:

TAPE MEASURE
HAMMER
NAILS 1 INCH LONG
PENCIL
SAW
DRILL
CLAMP
SQUARE
CEDAR PICKET FENCE PLANK

WATCH HOW TO CREATE THIS DIY BIRDHOUSE

11. Hanging Plants

A beautiful garden is one that has an assortment of plants of different heights. You can easily create height in your garden by hanging flower baskets in your garden to showcase your favorite seasonal flowers.

BEST FLOWERS FOR HANGING BASKETS:

BEGONIA
PETUNIAS
GERANIUM
VERBENA
BROWALLIA
IMPATIENS
LABELIA

12. Repurpose Crates

Repurpose any old crates and stage them to create a beautiful flower garden display area. Showcase your flower clippings, decorative pots and even add some flameless candles to add a warm glow.

13. Add a Birdbath

Attract birds to your small garden with a birdbath! Plant your favorite flowers around the bird bath to attract pollinators like butterflies, bees and dragon flies. We have a bird bath in the front of our home and the best part of my day is watching the birds going into it for a quick bath.

14. Climbing Trellis

Utilize ever square inch of your garden by creating a climbing garden area filled with vegetables and flowers that grow vertically. When you are faced with a limited amount of gardening space, utilizing the vertical space is your yard is a great way to maximize the area you have.

BEST CLIMBING PLANTS FOR TRELLIS:

CLIMBING HYDRANGEA
CLIMBING ROSES
ENGLISH IVY
CONCORD GRAPES
CLEMATIS
WISTERIA
HONEY SUCKLE
MANDEVILLA

15. DIY Garden Decor Idea

Create a tiered garden area to maximize the space in your small garden. Consider dedicating one tier of your planter for your favorite herbs and the other for small vegetables. This DIY tiered herb garden planter from Jenna Sue Design is ideal if you want to create a small garden but don’t have any room for it in the yard.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

(8) 2x2x8’ (for frame)
(7) 1x6x12’ cedar tongue and groove
(2) 1x4x10’ cedar boards
(1) 4×8’ lattice panel
Exterior screws (we used 3” for the frame and 1⅝” for the cedar/lattice)

CLICK HERE TO READ HOW TO CREATE THIS DIY TIERED GARDEN

16. Add A Garden Flag

Add a custom garden flag in your small garden for the season or to display a cute personalized message on your flag. We love garden flags because they are so affordable and are easily accessible.

17. Use Decorative Baskets

Place your pots in wicker baskets to make your pots look uniform and aesthetically pleasing. We love this small garden idea if you have pots that don’t match one another or if you have any pots that may be damaged from the weather. Consider thrifting wicker baskets for an affordable way to achieve this look.

18. Install a Window Box

Liven up the garden area by your small home by adding window boxes that you can fill with your favorite flowers. One way to make sure your window boxes always look great is to prune any dead leaves off of the plants.

Be sure that your plants are happy in their environment and are thriving in their conditions. If there is a plant that doesn’t like its location in the window box, don’t be afraid to replant it into a different part of the garden. We have done this several times and it works like a charm. Remember that sometimes gardening is about trial and error.

TIP: Jot down what plants thrive best in your home with specific details about the location they prefer. For example, hydrangeas don’t do well in a certain area of my yard, but they love the side of my home, so I always place them in that area from now on.

BEST PLANTS FOR WINDOW BOXES:

ZINNIAS
PETUNIA
MARIGOLD
HOSTAS
TRUMPET VINE
SWEET POTATO VINE
IMPATIENS
COLEUS
CREEPING JENNY
SALVIA

19. Water Feature

Add a water feature in your small garden to create a zen environment. We have a solar powered water fountain in our small garden and love the noise of the water trickling down it. The fountain is so peaceful and also attracts birds that want to cool off on a hot summer’s day.

20. Arrange Decorative Rocks

Add different textures to your small garden by laying down some decorative stones and rocks. Arrange the stones to create a pathway to your garden or to highlight your favorite plants.

TIP: We use decorative stones in our mulch beds to add visual interest around our plants. The easiest way to do this is to arrange the stones in a circle around the base of your plant.

21. Hang Artwork on the Shed

Hang artwork on your shed or on the side of your home for a decorative opportunity. Consider cute garden signs, metal artwork pieces or a cute welcome sign to invite everyone into your small garden.

22. Add Borders to Your Garden

Elevate your small garden by creating borders to define the space. Use pavers or large stones to prevent any mulch, dirt or soil from flowing onto your lawn. Arrange the pavers in a unique pattern to make your garden feel unique and well manicured.

23. Create A Pathway

Create a pathway into your small garden by laying down stepping stones to lead up to it’s entrance. This is an easy way to draw attention to your small garden area and make it feel like an attraction in your backyard.

No matter the size of your garden, these 23 small garden decor ideas prove that with creativity you can create a beautiful garden area. Embrace the opportunity to experiment, mix and match, and most importantly, enjoy the process of curating a garden that feels uniquely yours.

This blog was all about small garden decor.

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