19 Ideas For Making Use of Side Gardens
There’s something so charming about side gardens — they’re like little secret worlds tucked beside your home, bursting with personality and charm. I’ve always loved how these tiny outdoor spaces can transform a boring corner into a lush, inviting retreat.
From cozy nooks filled with colorful blooms to sleek, modern retreats, side gardens are the perfect way to add beauty and functionality to any outdoor area. I’ve gathered 19 inspiring ideas to help you turn your side space into something truly special.
Whether you want a peaceful hideaway, a vibrant flower bed, or a practical vegetable patch, there’s a side garden style for everyone. Let’s dive into these creative ideas that will spark your outdoor makeover dreams!
My Top 19 Side Gardens
I’ve pulled together an extensive collection of ideas for you to take a look at below. If you see one you love, make sure you save it to Pinterest:
1) Serene Mediterranean Herb Garden Retreat
This garden features a harmonious blend of soft greens and muted whites, creating a tranquil retreat with textured plantings and rustic stone accents. Incorporate a wooden bench and gravel pathways for a cozy, inviting atmosphere while choosing drought-tolerant herbs and flowers for easy maintenance.
Lavender, rosemary, and white anemones create a soothing color palette, while their varied heights and foliage textures enhance visual interest and attract pollinators. Pairing these plants not only complements the aesthetic but also offers culinary delights right from your garden.
2) Herb-Focused Raised Bed Garden
This garden features rustic wooden raised beds filled with a lush assortment of herbs, creating a vibrant tapestry of greens and soft whites. To replicate this look, incorporate a mix of textured plants and a gravel pathway for a clean, organized feel.
Key plants include lavender, rosemary, and various culinary herbs, which together provide visual interest and fragrant aromas, enhancing both beauty and functionality. The combination of these herbs thrives in well-drained soil, making them perfect companions in a sunny garden space.
3) Serene Stone Pathway with Foliage
The harmonious blend of lush foliage and natural stone creates a serene retreat, inviting tranquility through a gentle color palette of greens and soft whites. Incorporate varied textures and heights in your planting to achieve a layered effect, enhancing visual interest while ensuring a cohesive look.
The design features hostas, ferns, and creeping thyme, which complement each other beautifully, offering a mix of bold leaves and delicate flowers. Together, these plants create a vibrant tapestry, thriving in partial shade and providing year-round appeal.
4) Allium and Gravel Pathway Garden
The harmonious blend of alliums and soft, textured foliage creates a serene retreat, while the gravel pathway adds both practicality and aesthetic appeal. Incorporate and gravel to maintain low maintenance and enhance natural beauty in your own garden.
The design features alliums for striking vertical interest, complemented by delicate ground covers like geraniums and soft, silvery foliage for texture and color balance. Together, these plants create a cohesive look that thrives in various conditions, making it visually stunning and practical.
5) Hydrangea and Cobblestone Pathway Garden
The harmonious blend of lush hydrangeas and a textured cobblestone pathway creates a serene retreat, inviting relaxation among nature’s beauty. Incorporate soft cushions and greenery to enhance comfort and style in your own garden space.
Hydrangeas in various shades of blue and white contrast beautifully with verdant ferns and trailing vines, creating depth and visual interest. This combination thrives in partially shaded areas, ensuring a vibrant display throughout the seasons.
6) Minimalist Side Garden with Planters
This side garden beautifully blends minimalist design with natural elements, featuring sleek concrete pathways and textured planters that enhance a serene ambiance. To achieve a similar look, incorporate a mix of architectural plants and soft grasses for contrast, ensuring a cohesive color palette of greens and neutral tones.
The design showcases elegant snake plants, lush peace lilies, and delicate ornamental grasses, harmonizing their varying heights and textures for visual interest. Combining these plants creates a tranquil yet vibrant atmosphere, perfect for a calming outdoor retreat.
7) Hydrangea and Fern Side Garden
The harmonious blend of lush hydrangeas and delicate ferns creates a tranquil retreat, inviting relaxation with its soft greens and subtle floral hues. Incorporate natural stone pathways and rustic seating to evoke a charming, timeless atmosphere in your own garden.
Key plants include hydrangeas, ferns, and ground covers like creeping thyme, which work together to provide layered textures and a soothing color palette, enhancing the garden’s serene vibe.
8) Lavender and Iron Furniture Retreat
A serene retreat comes alive with rich purple lavender contrasting beautifully against the textured white walls and rustic iron furniture, inviting relaxation. To achieve this aesthetic, incorporate gravel pathways and soft greenery, creating a tranquil oasis in your own garden.
The design features lavender and silver foliage plants, such as sage, which harmonize in color and texture, enhancing the calming atmosphere. Together, they create a lush backdrop that draws the eye and soothes the senses.
9) Lush Green Side Garden Retreat
This side garden retreat beautifully combines lush greenery with sleek concrete pathways, creating a serene escape enhanced by soft lighting and comfortable seating. To replicate this look, choose a mix of tropical plants and ornamental grasses, ensuring varied heights and textures for visual interest.
The design features ferns, philodendrons, and low-maintenance grasses that harmonize with each other, providing a vibrant, layered effect while thriving in similar light conditions.
10) Modern Side Garden with Water Feature
This serene garden features a harmonious blend of soft textures and vibrant colors, creating a tranquil retreat with natural stone paths and a calming water feature. Incorporate tall grasses and lively flowers for visual balance, while using minimalistic furniture to maintain a spacious feel.
The design includes ornamental grasses, black-eyed Susans, and coneflowers, which together provide a striking contrast in color and texture, enhancing the garden’s inviting atmosphere. These plants thrive in sunny spots and complement each other well, ensuring a lively yet cohesive look throughout the seasons.
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11) Lush Hydrangea and Fern Pathway
The serene pathway, framed by lush ferns and vibrant hydrangeas, creates a tranquil retreat that invites relaxation and contemplation. To achieve this look, layer different textures and shades of green, and incorporate natural stone for a rustic touch.
Plants like hydrangeas and ferns work harmoniously, with the white blooms contrasting beautifully against the rich greenery, while ground cover like moss adds softness underfoot.
12) Brick Pathway with Hydrangeas and Bench
The charming blend of textured brick pathways and lush hydrangeas creates a serene retreat, perfect for relaxation. Incorporate a vintage bench and soft greenery to enhance the inviting atmosphere of your garden space.
Hydrangeas and climbing harmonize beautifully, offering a palette of soft whites and delicate pinks that evoke tranquility. Ferns add a lush layer, providing contrast and depth to the overall design.
13) Contemporary Minimalistic Side Garden Sanctuary
This serene side garden retreat features clean lines and a harmonious blend of soft greens and earthy tones, creating a peaceful atmosphere perfect for relaxation. Incorporate concrete planters, minimalist seating, and ambient lighting to achieve a similar inviting and modern aesthetic.
The design includes ferns, ornamental grasses, and lush succulents, which together provide varied textures and colors, enhancing the tranquil vibe while requiring minimal maintenance. Planting these species in layered arrangements adds depth and visual interest to the space.
14) Modern Minimalist Side Garden Design
This side garden beautifully combines clean lines and natural textures, using a palette of greens and muted earth tones to create a serene retreat. Incorporate varied heights with potted plants and ground cover, while adding simple furniture for functionality and style.
The design features striking alliums, sleek sansevierias, and lush ferns, harmonizing to provide visual interest and depth. Together, these plants thrive in harmony, showcasing contrasting textures and colors that elevate the garden’s minimalist aesthetic.
15) Sleek And Simple Side Garden Hideaway
This serene side garden retreat features a minimalist design with clean lines, lush greenery, and soft textures, creating a peaceful atmosphere perfect for relaxation. Incorporate low-maintenance plants like ferns and ornamental grasses alongside sleek furniture to achieve a similar tranquil aesthetic.
The garden showcases vibrant ferns, resilient succulents, and delicate ornamental grasses, harmonizing to create an inviting and refreshing environment. These plants thrive together, offering a lush backdrop while requiring minimal upkeep.
16) Serene Gravel and Perennial Garden
The harmonious blend of soft greens and subtle purples creates a tranquil retreat, while the gravel path offers a practical, low-maintenance solution for any garden. Incorporate sculptural elements like rounded stones and wooden seating to enhance the serene atmosphere and invite relaxation.
The design features striking alliums and lush silver lamb’s ear, which complement each other beautifully, providing both texture and color contrast. Pairing these with ensures a vibrant, enduring display throughout the seasons.
17) Lush Cottage Garden with Seating
The charming side garden features a harmonious blend of lush greens and vibrant blooms, creating a serene retreat perfect for relaxation. Incorporate layered plantings of foxgloves, lavender, and white alyssum to achieve a similar enchanting atmosphere in your own garden.
To complete the look, combine flowering plants like delphiniums and dahlias with trailing greenery for added texture and depth. This diverse mix not only provides visual interest but also supports local pollinators.
18) Lavender and Wooden Seating Area
This serene side garden beautifully integrates warm wooden seating with lush lavender, creating a soothing palette that invites relaxation. To replicate this look, combine low-maintenance plants with natural materials and incorporate comfortable seating for a cozy atmosphere.
The prominent lavender contrasts with soft green foliage, while potted herbs like rosemary add texture and fragrance, enhancing the overall sensory experience. Together, these plants create a harmonious blend, perfect for a tranquil retreat.
19) Lush Floral Side Garden Pathway
This garden pathway combines warm earth tones with vibrant blooms, creating a welcoming and tranquil atmosphere ideal for relaxation. Incorporate terracotta pots and a mix of perennial and annual flowers to achieve a lush, layered look in your own space.
The planting features include cheerful zinnias, delicate cosmos, and trailing vines, harmonizing beautifully for a dynamic display. These plants offer varied heights and textures, ensuring continuous blooms throughout the growing season.
Tips and Tricks for Side Gardens
You’ve seen my top Side Gardens, but here are some tips and tricks you’ll want to follow to achieve these looks:
- Maximize vertical space: Utilize trellises or climbing plants to draw the eye upwards and create an illusion of height, making your side garden feel more spacious.
- Choose appropriate plants: Select plants that thrive in the specific light conditions of your side garden, whether that’s full sun, partial shade, or full shade, to ensure a vibrant garden year-round.
- Incorporate hardscaping elements: Use pathways, stones, or decorative borders to create structure and define the garden’s layout, making it easier to navigate and more visually appealing.
- Add layers: Arrange plants in layers, with taller plants at the back and shorter ones at the front, to create depth and visual interest in the garden design.
- Use color strategically: Select plants with complementary colors to create a harmonious look, or use bold colors to create focal points and draw attention to specific areas.
- Include seating options: Consider adding a small bench or chairs to provide a cozy spot for relaxation, allowing you to enjoy your side garden’s beauty.
- Plan for maintenance: Choose plants that require similar levels of care and maintenance, making it easier to keep your side garden looking tidy throughout the seasons.
- Add lighting: Install outdoor lighting to highlight features and plants at night, creating a magical ambiance and allowing you to enjoy your garden after dark.
- Create diverse textures: Mix plants with varying leaf shapes and sizes to add visual interest and richness to your landscape design.
- Consider seasonal changes: Choose plants that provide year-round interest with seasonal blooms, fall foliage, or winter structure to keep your garden dynamic throughout the year.