Turn your predictable and ordinary garden area into a fun and unique garden with some decorative ideas! By using small garden decor, you can totally transform your garden into a fun area for you to express yourself! From decorative lights to seasonal garden decor, you can easily spice 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 pretty 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 will show you small garden decor ideas that will freshen up your outdoor space. Whether you are looking for small garden decor ideas or some cute small garden decor items, we have got your back with ideas you can copy for your own garden. With just some creativity and inspiration, you can transform your garden area to become your own private sanctuary and escape.
This blog is all about small garden decor.
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Our Favorite Small Garden Decor Items
You can easily personalize your garden by adding this cute mini accessories to your planters, pots, and garden beds!
Best Small Garden Decor
Now, let’s dive into some of the best small garden decor ideas we have found online!
1. Seasonal Small Garden Decor
The easiest way to get decorate your small garden is to incorporate some seasonal decor items into it. Often times we fail to decorate the garden area outside of our home and focus on just decorating the front door and the inside of our home for the holidays. 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.
GET A GARDEN FLAG FOR EVERY SEASON:
2. Fill Your Planters
Fill up your planters and pots with fun and vibrant flowers and some fun greenery. The key to creating a full and beautiful arrangement is adding plants of different heights, colors, and textures for visual interest.
TIP: 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
An easy way to decorate your garden area is to add a warm glow by hanging string lights over your garden. String lights are a great way to show off your garden at night and encourage you and your guests to cozy up in your garden.
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 that can add a decorative element to your outdoor space. You can create a vertical garden against your fence, shed, or even your home’s siding. 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
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5. Add a Unique Garden Bench
Add alittle character 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 some more seating your backyard for entertaining. Paint your bench a fun color or find an antique garden seat to bring a unique touch to your garden area.
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6. Hang Wind Chimes
Wind chimes are the perfect way to add decor into your small garden while also enjoying some calming music. We love wind chimes in the garden because they bring happiness and life to your garden in a different way than any other decorative piece can.
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7. Add an Outdoor Rug
Even though this technically isn’t decor in your garden, styling your small backyard patio with an outdoor area rug can bring some decor to your outdoor space and make it feel like an extension of the home. Choose a bold color to match your garden flowers or try a neutral outdoor rug for a subtle decorative element.
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 and dimension to your small garden by potting small trees. From yummy citrus trees to flowering trees, there are so many options to customize your garden with trees that can also be decorative. Arrange the trees in your garden or on the patio area near your home to freshen up your space.
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. Create a path to the arch by putting some 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 sides of your arch to create that lived in garden vibe.
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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 variety of plants at 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
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12. Repurpose Crates
Repurpose any old crates you have laying around and stage them to create a beautiful flower garden display area. Show off your favorite flowers from the garden in decorative pots and you can even add some flameless candles to add a warm glow.
13. Add a Birdbath
A fun way to decorate and bring life to your garden is adding a birth bath to your garden area! 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
When it comes to owning a small garden, be sure to utilize ever inch of your garden by creating a climbing garden area filled with vegetables and flowers that grow vertically.
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 just display a cute personalized message on your flag. We love garden flags because they are so affordable and are easily accessible.
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17. Use Decorative Baskets
Place your pots in wicker baskets to make your pots in the garden 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.
TIP: Try thrifting wicker baskets for an affordable way to achieve this look.
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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 into your small garden to create a spa like feeling to it. 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 even on the side of your home for an unexpected decorative opportunity. Try searching for some cute garden signs, metal artwork pieces, or a cute welcome sign to invite everyone into your small garden.
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22. Add Borders to Your Garden
Elevate your small garden by creating borders to define the space and decorate it. Use pavers or even some 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.
This blog was all about small garden decor.
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