There’s something timeless and enchanting about a cottage garden, especially in the summer. Overflowing with colorful blooms, buzzing with bees and butterflies, and brimming with charm, a beautiful cottage garden feels oh-so-welcoming. The best part? You don’t need a massive estate or years of gardening experience to create your very own slice of paradise. With a little planning, a mix of plants, textures, and some whimsical details, you can easily design a garden that feels straight out of a fairy tale.
The beauty of the cottage garden is its relaxed style. Unlike formal gardens that demand perfect symmetry and precision (think knot gardens or formal French gardens like Versailles), cottage gardens invite you to mix flowers, herbs, and even vegetables in a slightly haphazard, chaotic way. Ultimately, it’s more about creating a space that makes you feel happy, rather than following any strict design rules.
Choose easy care flowers
Start by choosing easy-care summer flowers like impatiens, petunias, zinnias, or sunflowers. These bloom reliably and are perfect for beginners (just be sure to water often, especially in the current heat wave). For wonderfully old-fashioned charm, you can also add classic perennials like coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, daylilies, and (my personal fave) lush peonies. Cottage gardens look their best when banks of plants are packed closely together, creating a dense, overflowing effect.
When planting, think about creating layers of color and height. Place taller plants like hollyhocks and foxgloves in the back, medium-sized blooms like daisies or bee balm fill in the middle, and low-growing plants like creeping thyme along the front (make sure to read the maximum height on plants labels – I’ve had a few surprises over the years assuming a middle range growth-wise!). And, you may want to consider adding a trellis or an arbor draped with climbing roses, morning glories, clematis, or sweet peas. Vertical elements give your garden instant cottagecore appeal and help break up the space visually.
You can even incorporate containers for more variety. Clay pots or repurposed buckets brimming with colorful flowers can be placed throughout the garden or near seating areas (Bonus! They can be easily moved should they fail to thrive where you initially place them.).
Add structural elements
One of the easiest ways to bring personality to your summer garden is to add a charming garden path. Whether you choose stepping stones, gravel, or old bricks, a meandering path invites you to explore and makes your garden feel like a magical retreat. A path also helps define your planting areas (or “garden rooms”) and makes maintenance a bit easier. (Click here for an in-depth article on a variety of garden path ideas.)
Of course, you’ll want to spend time enjoying your garden, so create a cozy seating area. A weathered wooden bench with cozy cushions, a pair of painted metal chairs, or even a hammock tucked under a tree (love mine!) will invite you to linger with a good book or a glass of icy cold lemonade.
For a touch of romance, add fairy lights or lanterns to your seating area or weave them through low branches. Soft lighting transforms your garden into a magical escape when the sun goes down.
Don’t forget a dash of whimsy
Cottage gardens are meant to feel personal, so add pretty garden ornaments like vintage watering cans, rustic trellises, or garden stakes with colorful glass accents. Tucking these details among your flowers adds unexpected whimsy. Other suggestions include:
- Decorative Birdhouses – Attract some feathered friends! (Click here to see a selection of inspirational birdhouses made from found objects.)
- Fairy Houses – Tuck them beneath plants or under trees for a magical touch.
- Rustic Wreaths – Hang on fences, garden gates, windows, doors, and even tree trunks for welcoming charm.
- Vintage Garden Stakes – These are both functional and decorative for supporting flowers or marking herbs (an old curtain rod with a fun finial is one of my favorite tricks for a cost-effective option).
- Antique Watering Cans – Use as planters or simply as display pieces (your local thrift store will have a good selection of these).
- Iron Trellises or Obelisks – Perfect for climbing roses or clematis (newer PVC options are less expensive and can be “weathered” to create a more rustic feel).
- Repurposed Window Frames or Shutters – Lean against fences for visual interest, or use them to create a small greenhouse or garden structure.
- Galvanized Wash Tubs – Fill with annuals or trailing vines for rustic planters (I keep my hose coiled in one I found at a tag sale!).
- Teacup Bird Feeders – These easy-to-make birdfeeders are cute, creative, and a great upcycling idea!
- Hanging Lanterns– Add glow and romance in the evenings (I like solar lights, since they can be used even if it’s a bit windy).
- Garden Arch or Garden Gate – Welcoming and perfect for climbing roses or vines.
- Decorative Wind Chimes – Add the sound of summer with every gentle breeze.
- Gazing Ball or Garden Orb – Nestle among plants for a bit of sparkle.
- Bee Hotels or Insect Houses – Encourage pollinators!
- Decorative Garden Mirrors – Reflect light and create the illusion of more space (especially nice in a small space, but be prepared to clean … often).
The best part about creating a summer cottage garden is making it your own. Whether you love bright colors, soothing pastels, or a mix of both, there are no hard and fast rules. The goal is to create a space that feels joyful, relaxed, and maybe even a little bit magical. Happy gardening!
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Named one of the Top 50 Beauty Blogs in the World by RebateZone, Susan Said… WHAT?! is your guide to a life filled with style. From must-have fashion, handbags, jewelry and accessories, to gorgeous gardens and gardening tips, stunning interior design, plus the latest products and ideas for chic parties, weddings and events, you’ll find it here. Susan Conforte McNeill is an author and entrepreneur, as well as the co-founder of the Delaware based literacy organization Success Won’t Wait!
