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32 Flower Bed Ideas to Spruce up Your Garden

By Axis Fuksman-Kumpa November 21, 2022

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perennial flower bed along the side of a house
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One of the easiest and most effective ways to beautify your outdoor space is to add flowers!

White roses, orange canna lilies, deep purple bellflowers, colorful zinnias — beautiful flowers come in all shapes and sizes and can truly transform an outdoor area.

Whether you have a small yard or a large one, garden beds full of your favorite flowers are a nice touch. The flower bed ideas we’re about to share are easy to incorporate and make your own to fit your space.

But before we share our pretty flower bed ideas, let’s cover some useful tips that’ll help you plant a successful flower bed.

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Tips for a Successful Flower Bed

Before you start planting a garden bed, there are a few things you should do to set yourself (and your garden) up for success:

  1. First, turn over the soil to ensure it’s in the best possible condition! To do this, dig and shake up the top few inches of soil. Then, add fertilizer to it. This will aerate the soil, clear it of weeds, improve the drainage while adding nutrients.
  2. Next up, it’s time to start planning! A little bit of preparation can go a long way when it comes to creating the perfect flower bed. Before you start planting, research what will thrive in your conditions. Find out what is native to your location, what plants need direct sunlight versus some shade and think about what colors you’d like to incorporate.
  3. Now onto the fun stuff! It’s time to think about the flower bed design. Our top tip is to remember to layer! Put tall plants in the back, mid-height plants in the middle and low ground cover in the front to create a full look.
  4. You also need to remember to take seaonality into consideration. Think about the bloom times for the flowers you are planting so you can have visual interest all year round. Incorporate a mix of perennial plants as well as annuals. And your evergreens are important for some green in the deep winter.
  5. Once your flower beds are planted, regular maintenance will ensure they thrive. Use mulch, which will help plant roots retain water and deter weeds, weed your garden and water as needed.

Now that we’ve shared our top tips, here are some flower bed ideas to consider.

#1 // Pollinator Flower Bed

Wildlife lovers should consider a pollinator flower bed. What's more fun than creating a beautiful flower bed that will attract wildlife?

Before you get started, think about what you want fauna you want to attract, such as butterflies, bees or songbirds, and then do some research on what plants attract these critters and what is native to your area.

If you want to attract butterflies, for example, try planting cornflower. Hummingbirds, on the other hand, love salvia.

flower beds ideas, plant a pollinator garden

#2 // Low Maintenance Flower Bed

Want a gorgeous outdoor space with minimal effort? Create a garden bed with low-maintenance flowers that are native to your area.

The flower bed will look great — and since native plants are designed to thrive in their local environments, it’ll be easy to maintain!

Flower bed ideas, create a low maintenance garden

#3 // Layered Flower Bed

Create a layered flower bed by planting flowers in rows. Use contrasting colors for a bold look, or try various shades of a single color to create an ombre effect.

colorful flowers in a perennial flower bed garden layed on top of each other

#4 // Line a Fence

There's no better spot for a flower bed than along your fence line. Use some taller plants or ornamental grasses in the back if you want some additional privacy and then add shorter colorful flowers in front.

You can even create a vertical flower bed that grows up your fence.

flowers along a fence line

#5 // Flower Bed with Unique Edging

At Tilly, we love a clean edge because it creates order within your space and distinguishes your flower bed from the rest of your yard.

You can have fun with your edging and make it reflect your style by using materials like bricks, wood or stones.

a yard flower bed with brick edging for this colorful garden

#6 // Add a Retaining Wall

Similar to the unique edging mentioned above, adding a more substantial retaining wall (or a few levels of walls) to your lawn can create more usable space if you have a sloped yard. The yard beyond the wall is a great place to hold flowers. You can use a wide range of materials to create your retaining wall, such as limestone or concrete and feature any flowers native to your area.

On the other hand, if you already have a retaining wall in your yard, beautify the grassy area above it by growing flowers there and creating a bed.

a round flower bed in a front yard

#7 // Flower Bed with No Edging

While we love the definition edging creates, your garden area can look just as lovely without using materials to edge. Instead, you can create the appearance of a clean edge with flowers neatly planted in a row and using a spade to create a crisp line between the soil and grass, as seen in the photo below.

no edging around a perennial flower bed

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#8 // Tree Base Flower Bed

Here’s a fun flower bed idea: Arrange flowers around the base of a tree trunk. This will add a nice pop of color to your yard without taking up too much space.

You could also plant some flowers around a tree stump and place a flower pot on top! Or, use a hollow log from an old tree and fill it up with soil and flowering plants.

Think outside the box and use what you have within your outdoor space.

a plant bed around a tree trunk

#9 // Side Yard Flower Bed

You probably put a lot of thought into the landscaping of your back and front yard, but don’t forget about your side yard!

This often overlooked area is still an important part of your overall yard space and deserves some attention too. Planting flower beds is an easy and effective way to spruce up your side yard.

peerennial flower bed along the side of a house

#10 // Single Species Modern Flower Bed

Here's another fun flower bed idea: If you love a particular type of flower, dedicate an entire plant bed to it!

If roses are your favorite flower, for example, fill your garden with them and nothing but. For a little variation and visual interest, plant roses in various colors, such as white, pink and red.

Peonies are also showy enough that they look great on their own.

a plant bed with one color flower

#11 // Shade Lovers Flower Bed

If you have an area that is shaded and maybe not used as often as you’d like, consider turning it into a shade-loving flower bed area. Impatients and begonias are just some of the many different types of flowers that love shade.

flower bed ideas, create a garden for shade loving plants where it may be hard to grow grass or other plants

#12 // Create a Flower Bed-Like Space with Flower Pots

Create the appearance of a flower bed with flower pots. This is an excellent way to spruce up your space, and you can easily change it up as you go.

Have some fun with this as there are SO many different options of pots - clay pots, textured, every color - mix and match for a fun, eclectic look. Just remember to select flower pots that have drainage holes at the bottom so you don't get water logged.

A fun idea for the eclectic gardener, plant flowers in an old wheelbarrow to create a wheelbarrow planter. You can grow flowers around the wheelbarrow, too, so it feels like a thoughtful, well-incorporated part of your overall design. This look isn't for everyone, but can pull off a great cottage charm in the right space.

small flowers in a variety of differeent containers

#13 // Line a Walkway

Make your walkway a focal point in your yard by lining it with flowers! This is a fun way to create interest and add color to your yard.

stepping stones through a garden

#14 // Add Style to Your Steps

If you have steps between a higher and lower elevation area in your yard, line the sides with a flower bed similar to how you would a walkway.

flowers along stone stairs

#15 // Capture Your Style Flower Bed

Have fun with your gardening and create a space that reflects your personal style.

Whether you prefer bright, colorful flowers or white flowers, you can incorporate whatever you love most into your garden.

Maybe you want a dynamic rock garden or a zen garden with room for a yoga mat. Or perhaps you’re interested in a rain garden. Prefer succulents over pretty pink begonias? No problem! At the end of the day, gardening should be fun and personal.

a cacti garden with wood edging

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#16 // Improve Your View

Who doesn’t love a room with a view? Create a garden bed you can see from a picture window or a window you spend a lot of time at! This way, you can enjoy your garden inside and outside.

a colorful garden outside a paned window

#17 // Unique Shaped Flower Beds

Don't feel like you have to stick to square or rounded flower beds — have fun with the layout of your space!

Incorporating a curved or round flower bed can make a space feel extra intimate. As we mentioned earlier, try a flower bed with no edging for a unique look.

a curved flower bed

#18 // Fill in a Slope

Flower beds can come in handy if you have an awkward part of your lawn, such as a sloped area, that you aren't sure how to use. Fill it with flowers!

This is also true for small spaces that don’t get much use. It's amazing how a simple flower bed can transform a space and bring any area of your yard to life.

flowers on a sloped lawn

#19 // Go Natural

If you want your flower beds to feel more natural and less planned, stick to natural landscaping. Try using smaller stones, river rocks or mulch.

a natural garden with rocks and cacti

#20 // Embrace the Wild Side

If a wild-style garden is what you're after, try planting wildflowers for a fun and carefree look. No one said your flower beds have to be neat and tidy!

bright flowers mixed together

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#21 // Monotone Flower Bed

A garden bed that uses one color can be just as striking as one that features many colorful blooms! Just make sure you have many different plants with contrasting textures and shapes.

a lush green garden

#22 // Spruce up an ADU

If you have an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) in your yard, make sure it is incorporated into your overall landscape design so it doesn't feel out of place. Adding flower beds around it is a great way to do this.

You can also place a white fence — or any fence — around the building and plant flowers around it to make it feel even homier.

a garden around a shed

#23 // Go Vertical

If you're short on space, a vertical flower bed is an excellent option. Grow a garden up a trellis or arbor or build planters onto a wall for height.

Raised beds are another smart way to incorporate plenty of plants and flowers into a vertical space. This can include flowers, an edible garden, vegetable or herb garden.

a vertical garden on a brick wall

#24 // Don't Forget to Decorate

Take your garden beds to the next level with a few strategically placed decorations, such as a garden gnome, an old wheelbarrow, clay pots, a fountain or a bird bath.

a bird feeder in a garden

#25 // Channel English Style

Turn your backyard into an English cottage garden with flower beds full of pastels, and large groupings of your favorite flowers. These gardens are picture-perfect, with flora organized in a way that feels both thoughtful and carefree.

english style garden space

#26 // Enhance Your Entertaining Space

If you have a patio or deck where you like to entertain, try planting flowers around it to add definition and visual interest to the space. The addition of pretty plants and flowers will create a chic, relaxing area your friends and family will love spending time in.

If you have an outdoor dining table, try framing it with flower beds to create a pretty backdrop and add ambiance to your space.

Raised beds are another great option around or near an entertainings space.

a garden around an outdoor patio

#27 // Create a Gravel Yard

Gravel is an inexpensive way to add another patio or entertaining area. Adding flowers around a gravel space is a great way to elevate the area.

a gravel yard with flower beds around it

#28 // Play With Texture

Make your flower bed more interesting by incorporating various textures. Mix ornamental grasses, such as miscanthus grass, with a range of flowers and shrubs.

a space with a variety of textures and colors

#29 // Built-In Flower Bed

If you're thinking of adding a deck to your backyard, try one with built-in planters to create the illusion that the plants are growing right out of your deck. This is a great option if your yard is on the smaller side or for city living.

built in planters and seating on a deck

#30 // Mailbox Flower Bed

A quick and easy way to boost your curb appeal is to plant a flower bed around your mailbox. Stick to shorter flowers that are bright and eye-catching.

colorful groundcover around a mailbox

#31 // Follow Your Own Path

If you have flower beds spread throughout various areas in your yard, connect them all with pathways. Make the pathways out of mulch, stone, gravel or any other material that suits your space.

plantings around a stepping stone walkway

#32 // Create a Romantic Escape

Create a romantic escape right in your backyard. Plant a flower bed full of roses and lavender and add a cozy seating area, such as a bistro table and chairs, a lounge chair or a stone bench.

Add a trellis covered in flowers or a water feature, such as a fountain, for even more charm.

a bistro table amongst a flower garden

We hope this roundup of flower bed ideas has inspired you to start planting and transform your outdoor space.

If you need help designing your dream flower garden or figuring out how to incorporate some of the above flower bed ideas into your yard, you're in luck! Tilly's expert team of designers can assist you in bringing your flower garden ideas to life.

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About Tilly

Tilly’s easy online landscape design process has been embraced by homeowners across the country and in Canada. Tilly breaks packages into the Front Yard, Backyard or your Full Yard. We match you with a professional landscape designer who is familiar with your region to create the perfect custom plan for your outdoor space.

To start our process you’ll fill out a questionnaire about your property that helps our design team understand your goals, needs and existing landscape. You can add 3d renders, lighting plans or side yards to your design package. You’ll then meet with your designer on a video call, show them your space and discuss your priorities. Tilly also offers individual DIY projects, including a DIY Garden Bed if you aren’t ready to tackle your entire yard.

Whether you are just looking to add some curb appeal or transform your entire backyard - we have a team for you!



Wherever you are in your yard journey, we can help.

Read more about: Landscape Design Tips, Gardening Tips