Small space gardening tips from RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 designers
The Balcony and Container gardens curve their way down Serpentine Walk at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and are the perfect place to pick up design tips for smaller, but vitally important spaces – for many of us who live in towns and cities, these are the only outside areas we have at home
Not only do Show Gardens demonstrate the latest design trends, showcase beautiful planting combinations and explore themes and issues of everyday life, they also provide inspiration and ideas to take home and apply to your own garden.
At the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025, ten smaller space gardens demonstrate design hacks to make the most of challenging areas to create a place to relax among nature. Space is no limitation to the possibilities of these ingenious gardens, which include water features and seating areas as well as some less conventional aspects, such as a bath and a bookshelf. Browse the gardens at the Show and find out the designers’ top take-home tips for small spaces.
The C6 garden promotes three ways to sequester carbon in gardens large or small. The first is the use of bio char, which not only improves the soil but takes carbon out of the carbon cycle for up to 1000 years. The second is the use of charred oak as the material used to make planters – this locks a further 500kg of carbon dioxide up for the lifespan of the planter. Finally, the planting – choosing fast growing trees and herbaceous
I think what’s interesting with a small space is that looking at the outline it seems there is only a handful of ways you could carve the space up, but then when you visit the Show you see how different minds approach the same problem and find different solutions.
Joshua’s tips
- Don’t be afraid of larger specimens
- Even in a small space, you can make a difference environmentally – store carbon, save water, feed the wildlife
- Plan in some seating
The theme of the design is Komorebi, a Japanese word for when light pierces through a tree canopy and the gently swaying branches make shadows dance on the ground. Komorebi Garden is inspired by the designer’s childhood memories of visiting forests in Nagano, Japan. Key components of the garden include a series of Betula trees and the use of contrasting materials such as charcoal and bamboo.
By using made to measure planters in different heights, including on the floor, you can maximise the planting space. A raised platform and stepping stones will give a sense of journey in the small space. The overhead trees improve the sense of seclusion.
Masa’s tips
- Understand the
aspect - Choose a bigger container than you think you need so that plants have space to grow
- In a small space, create interest by using contrasting leaf sizes and textures
The MS Amlin Peace of Mind Garden explores colour therapy and the impact of colour on human perception. Planting is laid out to reference a colour wheel, but in a 3D space, with contrasting leaf textures, shapes and flower colours for maximum impact. The aim of the garden is to be grounded in the moment, to mindfully observe plants and colour which can enhance mood and benefit mental wellbeing.
Less is more. Try not to overfill the space with unnecessary items. I overcame this by paring back the design with a simple layout which does not feel too constricted yet feels spacious.
Hamzah’s tips
- In a big space avoid having all your planters around the perimeter, if space allows add a few in the centre to create a sense of journey
- Use different container heights as this will instantly create a layered effect to the planting which will add depth to the space
- Better to have a few large statement pots than lots of small ones
The Navium Marine: Blue Mind Garden explores our deep connection to water as humans and the positive impact it brings to our wellbeing. Inspired by the ‘blue mind’ – a sense of calm from being close to water. It reimagines how the aspects of water can be thoughtfully integrated into small spaces to create a sense of serenity in an urban environment.
Moveable pots as well as fixed planters increase the versatility of the garden, as they can be moved aside to create more space for larger gatherings.
Ashleigh’s tips
- Create depth and visual interest by arranging plants in layers. Place taller plants towards the back and shorter ones nearer such as Thymus vulgaris for fragrance or Artemisia schmidtiana ‘Nana’ for texture. This makes your garden look fuller and more dynamic
- A balcony garden doesn’t have to be without water. Even a small feature like a water bowl can attract a variety of urban wildlife and offer the calming effect of the ‘blue mind’ – just make sure to check your weight limits first
- Get creative with your container choices. Anything can work as a planter, as long as it has drainage. That way even in the heart of winter, you'll have something beautiful to admire from inside
Secret Base – The Another Green Room is designed to be used as an additional room, where one can feel the breeze through the greenery. It allows you to be immersed in nature, through the placement of plants overhead, the sound of flowing water from a carefully crafted waterfall and a design that conceals the artificial shapes of the containers.
Having a beautiful garden visible from the house can enhance creativity when working from home, and taking a break in the garden allows for a refreshing change of mindset.
Jun’s tips
- The garden should continue to be one that the residents find beautiful
- Having a garden and plants should enhance the liveability of the home
- The space design should not make it feel cramped
Fragrant plants, perfect for cut flowers bring the beauty of nature into the home in the ME+EM City Garden. A small, tile-clad seat provides the ideal spot to relax and watch the sunset, with sweeping views of the city lights. From a pergola draped in climbing plants, hangs a striking orb-like light which casts a soft, warm glow, echoing the gentle light of the moon on a clear night. Beneath the pergola, a bespoke daybed offers space to unwind – whether for meditation, a quiet cup of tea, or to escape into the pages of a good book.
It’s important to understand that you simply cannot have everything in a small space. It’s much better to focus on doing a couple of things really well rather than scattering in too many ‘bitty’ features that don’t feel generous in size. Simplicity creates a sense of spaciousness.
Peter and Caroline’s tips
- Look up! Utilise vertical space to double your planting area. Cloaking the walls with climbers adds height and greenery without taking up valuable floor space
- Create an evergreen base layer. Choose tough, evergreen plants that look tidy year-round. In a small space, every plant must earn its spot, so start with reliable evergreen structure and then pepper in seasonal plants for excitement and variety
- Don’t shy away from large plants. As long as you stay within your weight limits, ‘trubs’ (tree-like shrubs) can add height, drama, and wildlife benefits. Prune them into interesting shapes for even more visual impact
Designed specifically as a restorative retreat for parents and caregivers of patients in hospital, the Room to Breathe Hospital Garden offers solace in nature, helping them recharge and face the challenges of caregiving with renewed energy. Inspired by personal experience, the garden highlights the emotional toll of supporting a child with Tuberous Sclerosis. Access to green space while at hospital provides an escape from the stresses of a medical environment.
Layered planting in containers, on walls, and trailing from the pergola expands planting opportunities without sacrificing ground area. A focal point adds interest to the space and incorporating water, no matter how small, promotes calm and tranquillity.
Jen and Catherine’s tips
- Limit your planting palette and include evergreens for year-round interest
- Add height with structures like pergolas or trellises to maximise vertical space
- Use self-watering systems to reduce maintenance and ensure consistent moisture
In the Fettercairn Wilderness Retreat, a striking copper bathtub for a cold-water plunge brings the sound of moving water, and a more sheltered seat provides space to breathe and relax – slowing the mind following a bracing dip. The garden is designed for a busy professional couple who love the outdoors, in particular the Cairngorms in Scotland, and want to recreate the environment for daily health benefits on their high-rise city balcony.
Make the most of an exposed balcony location, by not enclosing it. Make it an extension of your indoor space but by embracing its situation and creating a space that challenges comfort levels, excites and reinvigorates the mind and body.
ssh scapes tips
- Really focus on one aspect that you can use the space for to enhance your life
- Make sure all the elements within your design are connected to that goal
- Make sure the space works practically first, then make it beautiful
An outdoor reading room for passionate gardeners, A Space to Read Balcony Garden is a place to sit and read in between tending to their collection of much-loved plants. Combined with a verdant and harmonious planting scheme, the simple and natural materials help create a tranquil sanctuary. The brick design on the back wall is reminiscent of a well-stocked library with a bookshelf created from a timber inlay, and the garden features two small shelves for pots and storing books.
A small space can be made to feel larger by adopting various design techniques. Such as the positioning of a larger tree which conceals the boundaries that restrict the balcony. When designing small spaces, every inch has to be accounted for and considered in great detail.
Freddie and Ben’s tips
- Go big!
- Create atmosphere
- Embrace different textures
Designed to demonstrate that even the smallest outdoor urban spaces can support bees and biodiversity, the Making Life Better With Bees garden features planters repurposed from honey barrels and beehives, which are filled with vibrant plants to attract pollinators. Blending cultural heritage with contemporary design, a windfallen oak trunk represents a traditional African beehive, while hexagonal ‘honeycomb’ wall displays packed with organic material provide homes for solitary bees.
Humble-Bee Gardeners’ tips
- Create a safe, inviting environment by providing sheltered bee habitats of sticks and straw. A small area of uncut stems over winter can help protect insects in the colder months
- Include safe water sources, such as a shallow dish with pebbles, to ensure pollinators can drink safely
- Think
native
