We’re going to let you into a little secret. You don’t need lots of money to create a statement garden. You can do so many amazing things with a little bit of money, some spare time, and creative tips from us. In this post, we’re going to share some garden ideas on a budget.
Recycle and Transform
With so many green initiatives in the UK, it’s easy to see why recycling is so important. You don’t even need to throw your plastic bottles and cardboard boxes away because you can use them to decorate your garden.
Make Pallet Furniture
If you have access to wooden pallets, you make garden furniture out of them. This idea saves you a lot of money, and when done correctly, it looks incredible.
In some cases, you might be able to reach out to local businesses and see if they have any spare pallets, but eBay and Freecycle are great places to find deals.
You can make garden seats out of your pallets by stacking and arranging them. The best thing about using this technique is to sand and paint your pallets to give them an attractive design. Then, all you need to do is add some cushions, and you’ve got garden furniture for a fraction of the price.
Old wheelbarrows make unique garden seats, especially if you’ve got young children. You can include them by letting your little ones paint the wheelbarrow themselves.
Use Your Plastic Bottles
Plastic is destroying our oceans at an alarming rate. According to statistics from Condor Ferries, there are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waste in the world’s oceans, which shows the severity of the situation.
By using your plastic bottles for other purposes, you can contribute towards recycling efforts and save money. You can cut holes into the bottle, fill them with soil and use them as planters.
Use Old Furniture
There’s always a time when you have old furniture that you want to update. Instead of throwing it away, use your old desks, and drawers as a plant stand. There are so many things you can do, so use your imagination and don’t be afraid to experiment.
If you prefer quirky decor, you can use an old bathtub or even a toilet as plant pots. Not only does this make a unique statement, but it’s also very sustainable.
DIY Garden Ideas
Whether you’re a DIY guru or rarely pick up a paintbrush, we have some fabulous DIY ideas that won’t break the bank.
DIY Fire Pit
Fire pits are ideal for getting your friends and family together around a warm fire in the middle of winter, but they can also be costly. Luckily, you can build a fire pit using bricks or concrete.
Make sure you leave some small gaps between the building materials you use and use sand in the centre of the pit as a base.
Get Your Paintbrush
People often think they need to spend a fortune on their garden, but a tin of paint can change the look altogether. If you have a fence, then choose suitable colour and get creative.
If you want to brighten up your garden and make it look bigger, then choose white or cream paint. But if you feel like adding a statement to your garden, then go for warm Moroccan tones or a deep blue.
Remember to use exterior paint, because it lasts longer and you’ll save a lot of money on paying for touch-ups.
Practical Ideas
Planning your garden design is a fun job, and in some cases, you might be able to use specialist garden plans to bring your vision to life. Luckily, these plans can incorporate all of your ideas, and you can implement them using cost-effective methods.
String Lights
String lights can brighten up your garden and are perfect when paired with a fire pit. There are so many varieties of bulb size and colour available, so you can create a traditional lighting design or combine it with coloured bulbs.
If you buy LED lights, you’ll save money on energy costs and contribute towards the environment.
Quirky Stepping Stones
Stepping stones are excellent for both practical and aesthetic reasons. They create an outdoor path and can add character to your garden. You can buy cheap slabs of concrete and build a unified path, or get creative and find materials to turn into stepping stones.
Gravel Path
A gravel path is a cost-effective way of adding a practical element to your garden. All you need to do is mark out the area for your path, then scrape away the soil and grass. Then you can fill the depth with the gravel of your choice.
There are plenty of gravel colours to choose between slate, chippings, and sandstone. The costs will vary, but all are great options to complete your path.
Borders
If you’d like to create a polished look for your garden but can’t afford professional landscaping services, you can get creative with some large stones to create borders. This is an ideal way to split your plant area from the lawn, and it looks incredible when done right.
You don’t have to use large stones; you can purchase border boxes, or use recycled plastic barriers.
Build a Pond
Attracting wildlife to your garden is a wonderful way to liven it up. While many people think it’s expensive to build a pond, all you need are a few rocks and a little imagination. Decide how big you’d like your pond to be, and use your garden tools to dig a hole.
Protect the bottom of the hole with a pond liner and add rocks on the bottom. You can place attractive stones and rocks around the edges, then sit back and wait for the animals to move in.
Hopefully, this post has given you some great ideas to get started. If you have a small garden, then there’s still a lot you can do. Check out our guide on how to plan a small garden layout here.
