17 small and inexpensive garden ideas for your home

Marylebone Courtyard, Fenton Roberts Garden Design Fenton Roberts Garden Design Garden
Loading admin actions …

Whether you have a courtyard, a balcony or a simple slither of concrete that you call your garden, we know we have some inspiration for you here.

If you're not a natural gardener, but you do want to titivate and maximise the potential of a small garden plot without investing huge sums of money, then read on. Think of us as your thrifty godmother! 

Seriously, some of these tips are so simple you'll wonder how you hadn't thought of them before…

1. Try to add a little function to your small garden by including a fold-up cheap bistro dining set. Buy them in autumn or winter and they'll be cheap!

2. Don't be afraid to just choose flowers and plants that you like. This is your home, not the Chelsea Flower Show!

3. Think about the style of your home and look to create something small, beautiful and really in keeping

4. A balcony can become a stunning garden, with a few pots and an accent colour

5. When simple is the key, what about trees? They basically take care of themselves

6. A rockery will be fun to build, can be as small as you like and you'll need to choose hardy little plants that won't drain your time. Perfect!

7. A simple square of blooms will never look out of place or out of style

8. When garden space is lacking, use fences to create a little mini allotment or floral display

9. If maintenance isn't your thing, just plant some climbers and let them do their own thing. Your space may feel even smaller, but it will also be cosy and pretty

10. Living walls are massively impactful and require little ongoing tending. You can even get artificial ones!

11. Planters and shingle are steadfast friends and the best part is that anything can be a planter

12. Create a self-contained bed and focus all your energy on that one area. A Zen garden, such as this, will be simple to recreate

13. A few simple planters, filled with sweet-smelling blooms, can be all the garden you need and are cheap to realise

14. If you love a bit of DIY and fancy a challenge, what about casting your own pots? They'll be the perfect size for your petite space and be all yours

15. Upcycled apple crates are perfect for small gardens that have potential for hanging space

16. A few brightly coloured accessories, some pallets and a couple of plants have made this tiny garden really blossom

17. When all else fails, grab some artificial topiary, pop them in your garden and forget about them. You won't even need to pay for water!

For more garden inspiration, take a look at his Ideabook: 14 Multi-Level Garden Concepts To Step Up Your Home.

Need help with your home project?
Get in touch!

Highlights from our magazine