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Cottage gardens are charming, quaint, and lush with greenery. They are dominated by flowers and foliage, and—unlike their formal English garden cousins—cottage gardens are meant to be a compact, casual, and somewhat chaotic mixture of flowers, herbs, vegetables, trees, and other plants.
Want to design a whimsy cottage garden but not sure where to begin? We’ve rounded up 35 beautiful cottage garden ideas to get you started.
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01
of 35Plant Edible and Ornamental Plants
Cottage gardens should be both beautiful and functional. One way to do that is to plant both edible and ornamental plants. Garden designer Tim Pilgrim achieves this by packing vegetables, herbs, roses and other flowers into small yet abundant spaces.
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02
of 35Maximize All the Garden Space
When it comes to cottage gardens, maximalism is the name of the game. Gardener Libby Webb has planted nearly every square inch of her backyard cottage garden with plants and flowers of different heights, shapes, and colors.
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03
of 35Install a Greenhouse to Work In
While they shouldn’t require much upkeep, even low-maintenance cottage gardens need tending to every now and then. Add a cozy greenhouse to work in—rain or shine.
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04
of 35Build Stone Raised Garden Beds
Gardening blogger Sarah Stiller prefers the look of raised beds made with stones. In addition to adding structure and charm to your garden, the sun warms the natural stones, creating a little microclimate that plants of all kinds thrive in.
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05
of 35Fence in a Vegetable Garden
Fences are practical, but they can also add personality and charm to your cottage garden. Enclose your garden’s vegetable section to keep out unwanted animals while dressing up its visual appeal.
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06
of 35Create a Private Dining Area
Create a private dining area in your cottage garden, and enjoy conversations, afternoon tea, and dinners surrounded by beauty.
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07
of 35Design a Paver Walkway
Elevate your cottage garden with a paver walkway that winds through lush beds planted with lavender, roses, peonies, foxgloves, alliums, and other common garden plants.
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08
of 35Lay a Pea Gravel Path
Pea gravel is an inexpensive, easy-to-maintain material to use for creating paths and patios. It adds a graceful, homely look to any cottage garden.
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09
of 35Install a Garden Fountain
This abundant garden, designed by Emily Henderson, features a fountain that’s as peaceful as it is decorative.
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10
of 35Place a Beautiful Bird Bath
Invite birds to your backyard with a refreshing bird bath, which not only attracts feathered friends but adds height to your garden.
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11
of 35Install Trellises for Plants to Climb
Take your cottage garden to new heights with vertical climbing plants like spring peas and roses, which rely on trellises to really thrive.
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12
of 35Build a Multi-Level Garden
Break up your backyard landscape with multiple levels planted with flowers, shrubs, and trees. This will add elegant structure to your cottage garden’s look and feel.
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13
of 35Plant Rows of Tulips
Colorful and cheerful tulips are a great addition to any low-maintenance cottage garden. Many are perennials, meaning they will flower for many years if left undisturbed in the ground.
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14
of 35Incorporate Ornamental Grasses
The informal nature of cottage gardens invites a mixture of plants of all shapes, sizes, and textures. In addition to flowering annuals, perennials, and shrubs, consider adding ornamental grasses to the landscape.
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15
of 35Plant a Bed of Roses
Roses are a quintessential garden flower for good reason. They produce beautiful blossoms, are perennials that live for years, and thrive in many different climates. In a cottage garden, especially, roses add charm and grace.
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16
of 35Hang Wisteria
A classic in any cottage garden, wisteria is beloved for its beautiful, cascading late-spring blooms. Train it to grow up a pergola or wall for natural decor.
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17
of 35Cozy Up on a Chic Bench With Pillows
Bask in the sweet, musky scent of hanging wisteria on a cozy, chic bench in your cottage garden.
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18
of 35Add an Elegant White Greenhouse
Brighten up your lush backyard landscape with a chic white greenhouse, as artist Lauren Knight did in her cottage garden. Use it for gardening chores, lounging, or to host garden parties in.
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19
of 35Repurpose Wood Pallets for a Garden Picnic
You can easily design a cottage garden on a budget, and that includes garden activities, too. Repurpose old wood pallets to make a garden-friendly picnic table.
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20
of 35Use a Vintage Step Ladder to Display Plants
There’s no such thing as too many potted plants in a cottage garden. Keep them off the ground by displaying them on a vintage step ladder.
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21
of 35Embrace Rustic Elements
Accentuate the casual charm of cottage gardens with rustic elements like DIY wooden shelves, sheds, and gates.
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22
of 35Add String Lights
Create a bright and charming ambiance in your cottage garden by hanging string lights.
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23
of 35Set Up a Patio Umbrella
Surrounding by abundant plants, cozy up under an outdoor patio umbrella in a lush, contemporary cottage garden.
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24
of 35Think About the Pollinators
With an array of different edible and ornamental plants, you shouldn’t have a problem attracting pollinators to your cottage garden. But it’s never a bad idea to add pollinator-friendly plants like asters, coneflowers, milkweed, sunflowers, or zinnias.
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25
of 35Let the Vines Climb
Up your gardening game with flowering vines, training them to climb up trellises, archways, and fences for a lush and full look.
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26
of 35Plant Crocuses for Early Spring Blooms
Crocuses are among the first flowers to bloom every spring, and grow well in a variety of different conditions. Plant them in a sunny spot in your cottage garden for a welcome sign of life at the end of winter.
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27
of 35Relax in a Hammock
The only thing more relaxing than spending an evening in a lush, fragrant cottage garden is doing so in a hammock—perhaps with a book in hand.
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28
of 35Woven Edging Around Garden Beds
In place of plastic, rubber, or brick edging, opt for woven willow edging to define your garden bed borders and give them a natural look.
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29
of 35DIY Aged Terracotta Pots
Finding Lovely used a garden lime wash to add an aged look to her terracotta pots, giving them a rustic, springy look.
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30
of 35Don’t Skip the Statues and Sculptures
Accent your space with a cute and whimsical garden statue or sculpture to add a personal touch to your cottage garden.
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31
of 35Create a Cozy Seating Corner
Create a cozy seating area in your cottage garden using a mixture of different decorative elements—stone patio, chaise lounge chairs, fabric patio umbrella—surrounded by lush foliage.
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32
of 35Decorate With the Seasons
Cottage gardens might come alive in the spring and summer months, but they don’t have to be forgotten during other times of the year. Decorate with the seasons, transitioning to fall decor and plants when the temperatures fall.
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33
of 35Plant Privacy Shrubs
If you have nearby neighbors but want to design a cozy, casual feel of a traditional cottage garden, fast-growing privacy shrubs can help your backyard feel more secluded.
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34
of 35Grow a Cutting Garden From Seed
Cutting gardens are both beautiful and purposeful, just like cottage gardens. Build a few raised beds and plant flowers designated for cutting and building bouquets with.
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35
of 35Plant Flowers in an Old Wheelbarrow
If you have a forgotten wheelbarrow hanging out in the back of your garage, or happen to stumble upon a good deal on one, repurpose it as a whimsical planter for bright and cheerful flowers in your cottage garden.
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What vegetables are in a cottage garden?
Cottage gardens are often planted with a mix of edible and ornamental plants, including vegetables such as peas, beans, kale, cabbages, and alliums like onions or leeks. Popular herbs for a cottage garden are thyme, sage, basil, chives, and lavender.
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What are the colors of a cottage garden?
A range of different colors are popularly featured in cottage gardens: purple, pink, white, yellow, and more. No colors are off limits.
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What is the difference between an English garden and a cottage garden?
English gardens are formal and defined by their hedges and crisp, well-defined shapes. While cottage gardens are English in origin, they beloved for being casual, wild and/or unkempt, with an informal look and mixture of vegetables, flowers, and shrubs.
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