You would think that a large garden bed would make for better curb appeal, yet a small garden bed can be just as appealing. Many of us lack the space needed to create a large garden bed. If you have a compact yard, determine where to place your garden bed and how to style it so that you can achieve the same wow factor as a larger garden.
If you have no idea where to add a small garden to your lawn, we have some creative solutions. It could be as simple as planting a garden bed around a tree, which will not only be eye-catching but also provide shade to your plants. You can also take a spare piece of land in your front yard, next to your front porch or driveway, and transform it into a stunning garden bed.
You could plant a small corner garden on your property or add one along the wall of your house. Small garden beds can be used as a personal kitchen garden, such as a DIY spiral herb garden. You can also line garden beds along a pathway for visual interest. A salvaged wheelbarrow can be transformed into a garden bed, which can easily be placed anywhere in your yard. Continue below to see our fabulous collection of small garden bed ideas that offer a significant impact.
Tell Us: Which one of these small garden bed ideas do you like most and why in the Comments below!
1. Curved Garden Beds.
This beautifully landscaped garden bed showcases a harmonious blend of color, texture, and shape. Curving garden edging stones help to define the garden beds, which feature vibrant blooms, evergreen shrubs, and mulch to keep the soil moist and provide an attractive aesthetic. Landscape lighting provides the finishing touch, illuminating the garden at night. (via Antonio’s Landscaping)
2. Garden Bed Under a Tree.
Use the base of a mature tree for a circular garden bed. Select plants that grow in the shade, such as Begonias, Columbine, Coral Bells, Hostas, Ferns, Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart, Lungwort, Touch-Me-Not, Bunglewee, Astilbe, Lily of the Valley, Lesser Periwinkle, Foxglove, Ajuga, Hydrangeas, Helleborus orientalis, Heuchera, Foamflower, Japanese pachysandra, Coleus, Boxwood, and Siberian bugloss. Be sure to check your gardening zone on the USDA Plant Hardiness site to see which plants will best grow in your region. (via Tim Disalvo & Co.)
3. Color-Themed Garden Bed.
This beautiful and tranquil garden bed features blooms of the same color in varying shades, providing visual interest while maintaining a cohesive look. The lavender plant is a Foxglove, specifically the Camelot type, which blooms annually. The light purple hues of Alliums and Delphiniums create an eye-catching array of purple shades, perfect for transitioning from late spring to summer. In the foreground, the light pink flowers are Peonies. These spring-blooming flowers will undoubtedly be the stars of your garden with their large, showy blooms, delightful aromas, and vibrant personalities. (via @thepsychgarden / Instagram)
4. Raised Wood Planters.
Raised beds made of wood or composite are perfect for vegetables, herbs, or perennials. They’re easy to maintain and ideal for small, defined spaces. The flowers in the raised bed include Pink Tulips, Creamy Yellow and White Daffodils (Narcissus), Boxwood Shrubs (Buxus), and Erysimum ‘ Wallflower’ (the purple flowers). The beautiful mix of evergreen shrubs and seasonal blooms creates a balanced and colorful display that blends structure with softness. (via @clayrescountrygarden / Instagram)
5. Edible Garden Bed.
This front yard is the ideal place to unwind after a long day at work. Steppers were used to gently navigate through the herbs and soft plantings. Corten steel edging gives it a modern feel. (via @outscape_dc / Instagram)
6. Front Yard Border Garden Bed.
This front yard garden bed creates an inviting focal point. This bed showcases a unique style, incorporating a variety of spring and fall colors, including Korean lilac and pink mums. The garden bed is edged with flat stones to help define the space and keep the grass from growing into the bed. (via Gorski Landscaping)
7. Window Box Garden Bed.
If you have a small yard with limited space for a garden bed, consider creating a container garden instead. You can cheer up your entryway by mounting window boxes filled with flowers or herbs for an instant curb appeal. This sunny container is a combination of mixed bulbs, pink primroses, and lavender violas. Additionally, you can add potted daffodils, crocuses, tulips, and grape hyacinths for your spring containers. For an inviting summer flower display, try Petunias, Geraniums (Pelargonium), Calibrachoa (Million Bells), Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas), and Lobelia. (via KMS Gardens and Design)
8. Succulent Garden Bed.
Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, a small bed of succulents offers a striking focal point in the front yard. This small garden bed showcases succulent plantings and large Mexican Beach Pebbles, 12 inches. (via Lush Gardens Inc)
9. Grow A Habitat Garden.
The front yard of a home in Portland, Oregon, features a low-maintenance rain garden surrounded by pollinator-attracting flowers, including sedges, rushes, and natural basalt boulders. Flowering perennials also encircle it. Echinacea provides a long season of blooms to support local pollinators and provide cut flowers. This beautiful garden supports local biodiversity, offering food, shelter, and habitat connectivity for wildlife. (via Northwest Native Landscapes)
10. All Seasons Garden Bed.
Colorful coleus is the perfect plant for shady and partially shaded areas. Add a birdbath to your garden bed for both aesthetic appeal and the benefits it offers to wildlife. (via Artistry Landscape Design)
11. Create A Whimsical Garden.
If you have a small yard, your garden bed can be as simple as a groundcover, such as Hostas and Ferns, surrounding a tree stump filled with flowers. The pink flowers are Petunias, a lovely annual flower that produces trailing vines of blooms in an array of colors. This hardy plant can produce loads of flowers all summer long. (via Parklane Landscapes)
12. Raised Flower Bed.
Create a raised flower bed featuring perennials and Zinnias that will bring a burst of natural beauty to your yard space. Zinnias are easy-going annual flowers that bloom with vibrant hues throughout the summer. (via Art of Stone Gardening)
13. Shade-Loving Garden Bed.
Create a shade-loving garden bed around a tree on your property. Add mulch to keep the weeds at bay and help the soil retain moisture. Add stones around your bed for the edging. Edging this bed are Caladium (large, pink and red blend, heart-shaped leaves). These plants thrive in a shade garden and prefer well-draining soil. The red and white flowers are Impatiens—layer in some ferns and boulders for the finishing touch. Additional shade-loving plants for your small garden bed can include begonias and coleus. (via Austin Landscaping)
14. English Garden Bed.
This backyard garden bed is inspired by the look of an English garden, full and loose, with a relaxed, unstructured feel. English gardens mimic nature and are characterized by their elegance and freedom of growth. This garden features a mix of plants, including white roses that climb the walls and hang above the home’s windows. This arrangement creates a romantic atmosphere enhanced by pops of pink and purple. (via My 100 Year Old Home)
15. Bird Bath Focal Bed.
Positioning a stone birdbath at the center of your garden bed enhances its aesthetic appeal and attracts a variety of wildlife. The yellow flowers are Fernleaf Yarrow (Achillea filipendulina), which produces striking herbaceous perennials with a profusion of impressive, mustard-yellow, long-lasting clusters that can grow up to 6 inches wide, blooming from early to late summer. Two large logs and a stone slab serve as a bench to enjoy this idyllic garden. (via Plan-it Earth Design)
16. Use Containers To Add Color.
Don’t just rely on plants for color; instead, incorporate planters to add even more vibrant pops into your garden beds. These Longshadow limestone planters add spring color with tulips, ranunculus, pansies, and bacopa. Container planters offer excellent design flexibility, allowing plants to be relocated for improved sunlight exposure or protection from adverse weather conditions. (via Greenhaven Landscapes Inc.)
17. Lattice-Backed Bed.
Install a small trellis behind your garden bed and grow climbers, such as sweet peas, clematis, or roses, to create a vertical focal point. This romantic, fantastically fragrant, old-fashioned Rose called ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ is one of the most popular climbing roses. It provides blooms throughout the season, peaking in spring and fall. The flowers are loose, semi-double blossoms of vivid cerise-carmine that deliver an outstanding mass effect. This classic, time-tested climbing rose is the ideal choice to train over a trellis or porch, or to shape into a formal hedge. Plant in moist, well-drained, loamy soil. (via Jackson & Perkins)
18. Curb Appeal.
Tuck a curved garden bed into the corner of your yard to create an inviting focal point. Add layered plants of different heights for depth. The tall flowers in the back are Cleome (nickname spider flower), and the flowers below them are Lantana, then begonias. A water feature in the center adds visual interest and a refreshing spot for birds and pollinators alike. (via Crescent Hill Home Staging & Design)
19. Water Feature Focal Point.
A Denver home’s front yard features a self-contained water element as its focal point among the plantings. It’s a wonderful way to add the aspects of both sound and movement to your outdoor space. A bubbling water feature is a low-maintenance option that works well in small spaces. (via Accent Landscapes)
20. Honeycomb-Shaped Raised Beds.
These raised honeycomb wood planters are a DIY project designed for an herb garden. Fill the planters with soil and top them with mulch to keep the soil moist. Mulch acts as a natural insulator, minimizing the need for frequent watering. (via Joanne Germaine / Pinterest)
21. Herb Spiral Garden.
Construct a spiral-shaped bed using bricks or stones and fill it with edible herbs for cooking, such as thyme, oregano, rosemary, parsley, chives, and mint. (via Femina)
21. Circular Flower Bed.
Create a small circular bed using bricks or stones, then fill it with seasonal flowers, your favorite herbs, or vegetables for those who enjoy cooking. These raised beds will assist with drainage, keep weeds at bay, prevent soil erosion, facilitate a longer growing season, and make gardening easier on your back. The circular shape adds structure to your garden bed, while the bricks or stones provide durability and an attractive aesthetic. (via Lori Nessel / Pinterest)
23. Stone Path Border Bed.
This downtown front yard was brought to life by removing the lawn and installing a path of granite steppers and a connected patio niche. To complete the space, drought-tolerant plants were layered in, lining the garden path for a pop of color. (via Minglewood)
24. Stone-Edged Garden Bed.
Outline your small garden bed with natural stones or river rocks to elevate and define the space while adding texture and a beautiful aesthetic. They also help to add structure to your garden. A raised bed is more ‘back-friendly’. When the sun heats up, the stones will provide an idyllic microclimate to help your plants thrive. (via @mycottagegarden_com / Instagram)
25. Wheelbarrow Planter Display.
Repurpose an old wheelbarrow and fill it with seasonal flowers. You can move it around your garden to any spot where you want a focal point and a pop of color. This idea is perfect for small gardens and can be adjusted to accommodate more sun or shade. The fuchsia, maroon, and green foliage plant is a Coleus ColorBlaze Torchlight, an annual plant. This plant does well in both landscapes and containers. The red flowers (foreground) are Impatiens, while the background flowers are Red Salvia Splendens. (via @bartlettsblooms / Instagram)
26. Front Yard Garden Bed.
This simple front garden bed is filled with hostas, a shade-loving perennial that is known for its attractive, broad leaves that come in an array of greens, blues, and variegated patterns. Not only is their leafy appearance desirable, but they also produce tall flower stalks with lavender or white blooms during the summer season. These low-maintenance plants require well-drained soil, partial to full shade, and consistent moisture, which can be achieved through deep watering once or twice a week. (via Better Homes & Gardens)
27. Cottage-Style Garden Bed.
Create a dreamy garden bed filled with classic cottage flowers like foxglove, delphinium, and daisies. Cottage garden plants bloom abundantly, provide a paradise for insects, and thrive in dry conditions. This style feels both wild and romantic. (via @mycottagegarden_com / Instagram)
28. Tiered Bed Design.
Stack planters or raised beds in a tiered formation to add vertical interest and maximize your small garden. This tiered raised bed is planted with an assortment of herbs, creating a striking look and simple access for your edible kitchen garden. (via Sunset)
29. Corten Steel Garden Bed.
This beautiful front yard garden bed is edged with a 12″ tall Corten (or weathering) steel border. Some of the plants were already in the ground, but they were transplanted and their height was raised within their new borders, with a few additional plants added to fill out the space. (via @txearthgroomers / Instagram)
30. Zen-Inspired Rock Garden.
Create a low-maintenance garden bed with strategically placed river rocks to form a unique spiral shape in your garden, complemented by plants and flowers that bring color and texture. Select drought-tolerant perennials and native plants to minimize maintenance while maintaining year-round interest. The rocks not only help define the garden, but also retain moisture and keep weeds at bay. (via Laurie Gross / Pinterest)
31. Wildflower Garden Bed.
Plant a small garden bed with native wildflowers to support pollinators while bringing a burst of natural beauty to your space. This Southern California garden features California Poppy Wilflowers (yellow flowers) and Salvia ‘Indigo Spires’ (purple flowers). (via Professional Outdoor Perspective)
32. Rock Garden Art.
Transform your small garden bed into a visually pleasing work of art by gathering rocks to form a unique shape, such as a dragonfly. This creative DIY will add a touch of whimsy to your garden. (via Lynne Paul / Pinterest)
33. Spiral Kitchen Garden.
This DIY herb spiral features marigolds near the top, a popular and easy-to-grow plant. They are great for companion gardens, as they provide vibrant colors, deter a variety of pests, help to enhance biodiversity, and retain moisture. Pair them with vegetables, culinary herbs, other annual flowers, and perennials. (via Pinterest)
34. Garden Around A Mailbox.
Create a beautiful garden bed around your mailbox for added curb appeal. The purple stems are called Purple Heart (Tradescantia pallida) and they produce the prettiest small flower clusters in the summer, ranging from violet to pink.. The mailbox is made by A & H Iron Works. They are located in Cordova, TN. The material used is Washed Brown Pea Gravel Concrete 3500 PSI. (via Gurley’s Azalea Garden)
35. Recycled Pallet Garden.
Lean a wood pallet vertically against a wall and fill the spaces with soil, and then add trailing plants, succulents, or herbs. This vertical garden bed idea is the perfect solution for small gardens or to put on your patio, balcony, or deck. (via Simon Orchard Garden Design)
36. Cottage Garden Planting.
Delphiniums and snapdragons add sparkle to this mid-summer cottage garden. This Cape Cod garden includes dahlias, daylilies, and a traditional border planting of French yellow marigolds, dusty miller, alyssum, and ageratum. Add a birdhouse to your garden bed to encourage some visitors. (via JuliaGarden Design)
37. Vintage Bicycle Planter.
Take your garden bed on the move! These flowers in the front yard of a home in Los Angeles add beautiful curb appeal. The vintage metal bicycle greets visitors with a welcome pathway of color leading to a cute little mailbox garden that just begs for new packages. (via Alford’s English Gardens)
38. Butterfly Garden Bed.
Attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds to your garden to enhance pollination success. This traditional annual border composed of French marigolds, blue Hawaii ageratum, white alyssum, and dusty miller edges a cottage-style perennial bed. Yellow tree roses in containers and dinner-plate dahlias add summer-long color to this Cape Cod garden. (via JuliaGarden Design)
39. Colorful Container Garden on the Patio.
Arrange a grouping of large pots or containers with coordinating plants. Great for patios and balconies. Bold colorful flowers pop against the backdrop of a crisp white bistro set. The charming metal work in this table and chairs is perfect for the garden and provides a comfortable place for breakfast or afternoon tea. (via Alford’s English Gardens)
40. Mediterranean Style Bed.
A home in San Pedro, California, features a raised brick garden bed filled with drought-tolerant plants, a terra cotta pot, and a water feature that provides soothing sounds and a fabulous focal point. (via Pachamama Inspired)
3 comments