The Chelsea Flower Show is of course a showcase of the best in garden design, and the expertise and big budgets on display can leave gardeners wondering how on earth they can translate the ideas at the show into their own smaller spaces.
You may also like:
- Plant of the Year announced at Chelsea
- Tickets, information and what to expect at Chelsea
- Discover all our up-to-the-minute Chelsea news
- Chelsea Flower Show Gardens 2025: discover the full list
- How to design a garden at Chelsea
- Sign up to our Chelsea newsletter
We've picked out some features that would work beautifully in a smaller garden, without breaking the bank.
Nine design ideas from Chelsea Flower Show
Green tiles
These covetable emerald green tiles on the raised beds of the Me+Em Balcony and container garden designed by Viriditas caught the eye of many. They're the Medina Moss Green Bejmat tiles from Bert & May, inspired by the artistry found in Morocco and wider North Africa. Their slight imperfections and irregular surfaces give them bags of character but you could shop around for cheaper versions online.
Upturned plant supports
The willow plant supports on the Garden for the Future garden were created especially for the garden by willow weaver Jay Davey. The funnel-like supports are wider at the top than the bottom and look like gramophone speakers. Providing you can get the ergonomics right on your own plant supports, this would be an eye-catching way to grow sweet peas or runner beans, which would appreciate the extra light and room at the top.
Pink walls
Sarah Price-esque peachy and pale pink walls (along with terracotta and peachy-toned paving and hoggin) were very much in evidence at the show this year. The lime plaster walls on the Me+Em Garden were made by Natural Earth Plasters, but there is nothing to stop you painting a rendered outside wall (or the walls of a garden room) a beautiful shade of pale pink or peach; the warm tones work surprisingly well under grey British skies. Try Pink Ground by Farrow & Ball.
Log wall
This log wall was a beautiful edge to the SongBird Survival garden. We particulary loved how smaller sticks were inserted into the hollows of larger logs. A wall like this provides a habitat for many garden visitors, from fungi and frogs to insects and small mammals and could be fitted into even a small garden - see designer Nigel Dunnett's own garden for inspiration.
'Rusting'
There was plenty of the designer favourite, Corten steel, at the show, and you'd be forgiven for thinking that the 'fins' in Nigel Dunnett's Hospitalfield Arts Garden were made from it. However they are actually Medite Smartply, painted with a formula that contains iron filings. This was then activated with an activator that starts to create a rusted effect in 24 hours. Rust-effect paints and sprays are widely available to buy if you want to add this contemporary look to your own garden.
Dead hedge
This dead hedge formed the back of the Birdhouse in the SongBird Survival Garden. A dead hedge is an excellent habitat for wildlife and can look beautiful, too - when you have finally cut down the winter seedheads of your garden, this is an excellent alternative to putting them in the compost bin.
Cool copper stake light
This copper stake light in Killik & Co's Save for a Rainy Day Garden caught our eye - it was not too obtrusive and an attractive feature in its own right. We think it may be the Luxr Modux One Wayfinder Pole Light which is not cheap at around £235, but there are plenty of similar and cheaper solar versions available online.
Bench with bird bath
Not all of us can enjoy a bespoke carved stone bench and bird bath combined like this one, in the Tackle HIV Challenging Stigma Garden by Manoj Malde. But the principle of this is lovely - any indentation in a lump of stone or paving will gather rainwater for birds to bathe and drink in.
Seedhead bird feeder
You may think that these pretty and eyecatching hanging feeders / insect habitats on the SongBird Survival Garden were made bespoke by an artist - but in fact they were made by nature. They are simply sunflower seedheads, hung from string. Now you now what to do with yours at the end of the summer.