Want to make your tiny garden more welcoming? These small garden layout ideas will be sure to come in handy. Even the most compact spaces can be arranged in a way that makes them both functional and more enjoyable to be in. In fact, it’s easier than you might think to create your own mini paradise, extend your living area, and improve your quality of life. Let’s take a look at some nice layouts for small gardens, perhaps you will find a good idea for your own garden here.
Small Walled Courtyard
Courtyards are commonplace in urban dwellings and can feel shady, overlooked, and uninspiring. However, with a few design tricks, you can turn a small, walled plot into a stylish setting. Here the sun should be a key consideration – especially in small plots with built-up surroundings. Some courtyards may only get a glimpse of sunlight during the day, or an hour or two in the evening. So, if you like sitting in the sun, then make sure your seating is positioned to make the most of it. On the other hand, if you prefer sitting in the shade, then position your seating to match.
A small backyard with mini flower beds with different types of plants and gravel and tiles around is pure modern elegance.
A small and dreamy backyard with living walls, a large tree, grass, a hammock and a swing, with a wooden deck.
A small walled backyard turned into a kids' entertainment zone with a kid house, some cars and other stuff and covered with artificial turf.
A gorgeous small backyard with a plunge pool, a living tree and some loungers, grass and stone tiles is welcoming and refreshing.
A small and zen-like backyard with tiles on the ground, a tiny pond, some growing plants and cool garden furniture with blue upholstery.
A contemporary walled backyard with a planked screen, with a tiled floor, potted grasses and greenery, a small dining set with pillows and a woven chair.
A small and cozy backyard with a deck, a simple wooden outdoor furniture set, potted greenery and climbing plants is very cozy.
A small contemporary backyard with a wooden deck, a built-in daybed and a cool chair, some growing plants and a large living tree.
A contemporary townhouse garden with stone tiles, minimalist furniture of wood and metal, lush textural greenery and a tree growing.
A minimalist townhouse garden with white flower beds with greenery, a tiny pond, a manicured lawn, a sectional sofa and a hot tub.
A small walled garden with a grene lawn, some flower beds, greenery and shrubs plus a couple of trees.
A small walled modern garden with a lawn, a tree, some blooms and greenery and a white dining set is very simple and cute.
A small modern garden with lush grasses, some shrubs and some climbing greenery plus a whole living wall.
Narrow And Tapered Plot
Some plots are narrow with a tapered shape – almost like a triangle. This one shown above is exactly that, but as Chris Harrington explains, ‘careful planting and structures were used to balance out the shape and square it up with the house.’
This included the addition of garden fence ideas, which cut into the plot in straight lines, adding a feeling of space and making it more practical as well as stylish. And on that note, for contemporary gardens, Chris advises against using curves. Straight lines can always be softened with planting to create a more welcoming vibe.
A long and narrow backyard featuring a grene lawn, some shrubs and trees, garden furniture and a stepped deck.
A long and narrow backyard with a gravel path, raised garden beds with greenery and blooms, a deck with a dining space.
A small and narrow garden with a green lawn, greenery and shrubs, potted plants and a chair with a side table.
A long and narrow garden clad with stone, with raised garden beds with bold blooms and greenery is a lovely space.
A cute narrow garden with a tile pathway, greenery and blooms is a dreamy space with a dining set.
A long and narrow garden with a tile pathway, greenery, grasses and blooms, a rattan bench with pillows and some lights.
A small narrow garden with a brick fence, bright blooms and plants and a stone pathway is a fresh way to make your outdoors bolder.
Multi-Zonal Space
Whatever the shape of your garden, zoning is a great way to add visual interest and functionality, to give a greater sense of depth and installing a real sense of intrigue. Use planting, screens, walling, or changes in materials to create different areas. Hide a seating area with plant-covered screens or use different sized paving to give the impression of space. Use different paving materials and patterns to create a sense of transition from each area.
A small multi-zonal garden with a terrace and steps, with greenery and shrubs and a fire bowl, some chairs and stools.
A small and welcoming backyard with a fire pit zone and tree stumps with growing plants and trees, with a raised sitting zone with a sofa.
A small backyard with pebbles and a sitting zone with a built-in bench, lots of potted plants, a living wall and modern garden furniture.
A small modern backyard with a raised platform with grass and a lounger, with potted trees, a ladder and a wooden deck with some wooden furniture.
A small and cozy garden with a flower bed, some bright blooms in pots and not only, a lawn and some garden furniture.
A small backyard that comprises and living room zone and a fireplace zone done in different styles and contrasting colors.
A very cozy small backyard with lots of greenery and blooms, lights, paper lamps and some comfy furniture.
An ultra-modern backyard with a wooden deck with furniture, concrete planters, tree stumps and a fire pit.
A small garden with a lot of greenery and trees, with stone tiles and brick paths, modern garden furniture is cool.
A cool garden with several levels, with greenery and treesm lights and garden furniture plus a bbq zone in the lower level.
Paved Patio
If you’ve only got a tiny patio to play with, don’t despair. There are plenty of vertical garden ideas you can try, including the addition of a living wall: a clever way to make a small space feel full of greenery. Look out for hanging planters made up of pockets, ready to be filled with herbs, flowers, or even veg, for easy installation. They will instantly soften harsh lines and landscaping materials and up your growing potential. Lining a wall with some of the best trees to grow in pots is also a great approach for either bordering or breaking up the layout of your space and making a statement. They can offer a subtle screen too – ideal for overlooked gardens.
A small and zen-like paved patio with tiles on the ground, a tiny pond, some growing plants and cool garden furniture with blue upholstery.
A modern paved patio with a planked screen, with a tiled floor, potted grasses and greenery, a small dining set with pillows and a woven chair.
A small paved patio turned into an entertainment zone, with a bar, a sitting zone with rattan furniture and string lights is very cozy.
A small minimalist paved patio with a dark stained deck and a tiled floor, with growing bamboo and plants and chic woven chairs and a table.
A stylish contemporary backyard with some potted cacti and succulents, with a neutral sofa, wicker chairs and a small side table.
A simple modern paved backyard with wooden furniture, some candles in large candle lanterns and trees and blooms.
A small and cozy backyard with a brick clad space, some wooden chairs and lots of greenery and a tree around.
A small yet stylish backyard space with a wooden deck, lots of greenery, lights, candles and simple wooden furniture.
A small paved patio with rattan furniture, candles, potted greenery and bright blooms all around.
A tiny chic backyard clad with concrete and bricks, with greenery and lights and candle lanterns looks inviting.
Side Gardens
Stuck with a side garden? Curved features – such as this pathway and fire pit – can help widen the sense of space. In fact, fire pits are the ideal centerpiece for small plots as they provide a focal point that can be enjoyed all year round. In winter, you can gather next to it with friends and family to keep cozy, toasting marshmallows and enjoying its magical glow beneath the stars. In summer, they’re perfect for upping the ambiance of an evening party. Using a pale material for the ground cover is also a good move to brighten the overall scheme.
A small side garden with greenery and a small fountain, with lush florals lining up the wall of the house is a dreamy space.
A small and bright side garden nook with pebbles, greenery and bright blooms, shrubs and a climbing plants on the fence.
A small side garden with greenery, shrubs, flowers, small trees and plants in pots plus an arch with climbing greenery.
A small Japanese-inspired garden with rocks as pavements, greenery, shrubs and a couple of trees is very peaceful.
A small side modern garden nook with greenery, some lush tropical shrubs on both sides of the pavement.
A small side garden space clad with concrete, wiht greenery and plants, with a whitewashed dining set and lights over the space.
A moody side garden clad with stone and brick, with a lot of greenery, vines and some trees looks very elegant and a bit mysterious.
A polished side garden with greenery and shrubs, white blooming wreaths and a concrete tile pathway.
A little and lovely side garden with lots of greenery and blooms, with a stone pathway and a bird bath plus some trees.
A side tropical mini garden with leaves and greenery, with a small dining space and a rough rock path.
Raised Deck Garden
The garden above is a great example of an outdoor extension to the home, complete with a chiminea, a comfy sofa, and even storage. Raising it up slightly onto a deck separates it from the small lawn. It’s the perfect alfresco living space. Clever garden lighting will encourage you to enjoy the space throughout the day and late into the evening. These are all the layout ideas for small gardens that we consider the most working ones, did you like any?
A small modern backyard with a stained fence and deck, with a hot tub, growing plants and loungers, with a dinign table and chairs.
A small backyard done with a desk with steps that allow to get more of a tiny space, with lots of greenery and grass growing is cool.
A small backyard with pebbles and a sitting zone with a built-in bench, lots of potted plants, a living wall and modern garden furniture.
A small contemporary backyard with a wooden deck, a built-in daybed and a cool chair, some growing plants and a large living tree.
A small modern backyard with a wooden deck, navy woven chairs, a living tree and some potted plants is cool and chic.
A minimalist townhouse garden with white flower beds with greenery, a tiny pond, a manicured lawn, a sectional sofa and a hot tub.
A lovely and welcoming garden with a raised wooden deck of several layers, greenery and blooms in raised garden beds.
A welcoming deck with pretty and bold metal outdoor furniture, with some potted plants and a dark green fence.
A lovely outdoor space with a whitewashed wooden deck, potted plants and some rocks is awesome.
A tropical outdoor space with greenery, a rich-stained deck and steps and a small pool with a bench and a pouf.