Hoping to have your very own Grand Designs makeover without the budget to match? Good news: there are plenty of ways to transform your outdoor space without emptying your wallet!
From upcycling furniture to adding lighting features and growing your own plants, we’ve rounded up our favourite ways to makeover your garden for less. Plant, paint, and landscape your way to perfection with these affordable ideas. Plus, discover top tips from an expert on how to save money whilst revamping.
Keep reading as we reveal our 17 garden ideas for a tight budget! We cover:
Expert tips for transforming your garden on a budget
Choose JustFix for a helping hand
17 garden ideas on a budget
Planting
Growing your own plants, herbs, flowers, and vegetables from seeds is one of the cheapest ways to transform your garden. Although it can take time, attention, and patience, the payoff of a bountiful, blooming garden makes it well worth the effort.
Here are some creative ways to display your planting projects:
1. Start a wildflower patch
If you love the overgrown cottage garden aesthetic, why not dedicate a section of your space to nature? A wildflower patch is the perfect beginner gardening project.
During mid-spring or early autumn, cultivate a patch of soil and scatter a mix of wildflower seeds. Then let nature work its magic! Soon enough, you’ll have a colourful space teeming with bees and butterflies.
2. Make tyre planters
Old tyres can be repurposed to make budget-friendly planters. They can be stacked to create raised beds or painted in bright colours to create fun focal points. Fill them with soil and plant herbs or strawberries for a space that tastes as good as it looks.
3. Plant climbing plants on trellises and fences
Climbing plants like clematis, honeysuckle, and ivy can add vertical interest to any space. Whether you’re covering up an unsightly fence or trying to incorporate greenery without cluttering your floor space, these climbers are an excellent choice.
4. Invest in hanging baskets
Hanging baskets are an affordable way to create a lush display on a budget. Available in various colours, styles, and sizes, they make an excellent home for your seeds. Plant cascading flowers like petunias or lobelia for a dramatic look, and add bright begonias, pansies, and pansies for a bountiful show of colour.
5. Display plants on an old ladder
Repurpose an old wooden ladder into a unique display stand for potted flowers and plants. This creates a lovely vertical display, perfect for small gardens and spots with limited space.
Painting
A fresh coat of paint can transform anything, from painting a wall to redecorating shelves. But why stop with the inside of your home? You can give your garden a budget-friendly makeover with only a tin of paint; here’s how!
6. Repaint fences
Whether your fences are looking a little worse for wear or you’re feeling like trying something new, painting them is the perfect way to spruce up your space.
Choose a classic shade like forest green, chestnut brown, or slate grey for a natural look. Or make a statement with pastel pink or creamy white. Use weatherproof fence paint to guarantee a lasting look, even through a British winter.
Doubting your DIY abilities? No problem! Our professional painters and decorators are on hand to help with both interior and exterior jobs.
7. Paint furniture
Garden furniture can be expensive, so instead of splurging on a new table and chairs, why not breathe new life into your existing pieces?
Choose muted pastel tones for a Scandinavian-inspired look, or use chalk paint for a matte, vintage-style finish.
8. Paint and decorate with rocks
Handpainted rocks add a unique pop of colour to your garden, and making them is a fun DIY project that’s especially great for kids.
Gather some rocks and stones, then paint them with acrylic paint to create personalised designs and messages. Seal with weatherproof varnish before releasing your creations back into the garden.
Lighting
Don’t underestimate the power of light! Clever lighting features can transform your garden into an ambient hideaway when the sun goes down. Best of all? They don’t have to cost a fortune.
9. Add fairy lights to jars and wine bottles
Fairy lights aren’t just for Christmas! They can make any space feel cosy all year round. Bundle battery-powered fairy lights into old wine bottles and empty mason jars to create magical lanterns.
Line pathways with them, sit them on outdoor tables, or hang them on branches for a warming glow.
10. Line fences and trees with fairy lights
Weave outdoor string lights through trees or attach them to fences for an enchanting atmosphere that makes your garden feel warm and welcoming when the sun goes down.
Choose bulb lights for a vintage look, novelty lights for a fun twist, or cascading lights for a fairy-esque feel.
11. Buy or make lanterns
Lanterns add a cosy glow to your space after dark, but they look just as adorable hanging from trees or placed on tables and paths during the day.
Candlelit and solar lanterns are affordable accessories you can find at most garden centres or home stores. Or, if you’re feeling crafty, make your own from old tin cans or pickle jars.
Reusing
We’re always looking for more ways to live more sustainably. Upcycling and reusing secondhand items is one of our favourite budget garden ideas. It helps you save money while also saving the environment!
12. Repurpose pallets as furniture
With a bit of DIY magic, wooden palettes can be turned into anything from benches and tables to plant stands. You can often find them for free on sites like Gumtree and Facebook marketplace.
After some sanding, painting, and a few hours of hard work, you’ll have stylish upcycled pieces for a fraction of the price.
13. Buy cheap secondhand furniture and ornaments
Charity shops, car boot sales, and online marketplaces are great places to find bargain garden furniture and decor.
A little cleaning or a coat of paint can bring old pieces back to life, saving you a fortune. You could even find a new home for old indoor furniture like dining tables and stools; just make sure to add a weatherproof varnish.
14. Use mirrors to expand the space
Getting rid of an old mirror? Why not rehome it instead? Strategically placing mirrors in your garden can make it feel bigger and brighter. Try mounting an old mirror on a border to create the illusion of a larger space and cover up worse-for-wear fences or walls. Just be careful not to place it in direct sunlight.
Landscaping
With supply, installation, and maintenance costs, hard landscaping can quickly become expensive. Transform your garden while saving money and time with these cheap landscaping solutions.
15. Create a rock garden
A rock garden is a low-maintenance, budget-friendly way to add depth and interest to a mundane outdoor space. Use stones and pebbles to create pathways or small rockery sections. Then, hardy succulents or alpine plants can be placed between rocks for a natural look with a variety of textures.
16. Use bark chippings
Bark chippings are an affordable way to add different textures to your garden without investing in hard landscaping. Create colour contrasts by creating a bark pathway or decorative planting zone.
Plus, bark chippings make a safer alternative to a patio or decking area for families with young children.
17. Opt for gravel instead of tiles and slabs
Paving slabs and outdoor tiles look great, but they’re expensive solutions. Instead, lay gravel to create pathways and seating or dining areas. It’s much cheaper, easier to install, and can give your garden a charming, rustic aesthetic.
Need a hand with the heavy lifting? Our pre-vetted handypeople can take care of that!
Expert tips for transforming your garden on a budget
Now you’ve got the inspiration from our garden ideas on a budget, here are some top tips for creating big changes for a small price:
1. Prioritise high-impact changes
A fresh coat of paint on fences, sheds, or planters can instantly refresh your garden, and creating new zones with bark chippings or gravel can make the space look brand new. Then, you can add finishing touches like lanterns and planters later.
2. Keep an eye out for off-season sales
Garden centres often have their best sales during the winter, when fewer people are thinking about gardening. November to February will likely be the best time to bag a bargain on plants, soil, and garden ornaments at your local store.
3. Divide and conquer plants
Instead of buying lots of new plants or growing flowers from seeds, replant cuttings from existing plants. Perennials like hostas, lavender, and ornamental grasses can thrive when divided, allowing you to fill out your garden for free.
4. DIY your hardscaping
Creating pathways, patios, and edging with hard landscaping products can be expensive. Repurpose old stones, reclaimed bricks, and broken slabs to makeover and add character to your garden without the extra cost.
5. Be patient and plan ahead
Growing your herbs, flowers, and other plants from seeds instead of buying them fully grown can save you a lot of money. However, you won’t have a thriving garden straight away, so patience is. Make sure to plant each seed at the recommended time of year for the best results.
6. Make the most of free resources
If you know where to look, there are plenty of ways to source free items and materials. From soil and seeds to unwanted ornaments and furniture, you never know what you might find. Check sites like:
- Facebook Marketplace
- Gumtree
- Freecycle
- Local council websites
- Gardening groups on Facebook
Choose JustFix for a helping hand
With these ideas and tips, creating a stunning garden on a budget is simple. However, a little extra help can go a long way!
Whether you need assistance assembling garden furniture, painting fences, or laying down gravel, JustFix has you covered. With our network of skilled handypeople, finding a trusted local Fixer to handle the tricky tasks is a piece of cake.
Got a bigger job on the cards? Don’t hesitate to book a service for something else. From tree surgeons to painting and decorating, we’ve got you covered.
Simply visit our website or download the JustFix app; tell us what you need, and we’ll match you with the right professional at a fixed hourly rate. It’s that easy!
