Create an Enchanted Garden: Ideas for Fairytale Landscaping | Garden Patch (2024)

Create an Enchanted Garden: Ideas for Fairytale Landscaping | Garden Patch (1) By Kirsteen Mackay | Last Updated : September 15, 2020 | Filed In : Garden Style Ideas

Create an Enchanted Garden: Ideas for Fairytale Landscaping | Garden Patch (2)

Page Contents Hide

I Enchanted Garden Ideas: Creating a Magical Space

I.I 1. Choose a style that speaks to you

I.II 2. Be inspired by the earth

I.III 3. Play with scale

II Mystical Garden Ideas: Creating a Focal Point

II.I 4. Pergolas and archways, climbing arches

II.II 5. Enchanted garden water features

II.III 6. Seating as a focal point

II.IV 7. Garden bridges

II.V 8. Intricate patio

III Fantasy Garden Ideas: Flowers and Plants

III.I 9. Sumptuous shrubs

III.II 10. Ethereal climbing plants

III.III 11. Romantic roses

III.IV 12. Eccentric pot plants

III.V 13. Ground cover

IV Magical Enchanted Garden Ideas: Whimsical, Rustic Decorations

IV.I 14. Tiny houses

IV.II 15. Toadstools and mushrooms

IV.III 16. Moss-covered statues

IV.IV 17. Gazing globes

IV.V 18. Mirrors

IV.VI 19. Windchimes

IV.VII 20. Be a friend of the animals

V Fairytale Garden Ideas: Ethereal Garden Lighting

V.I 21. Sun magic

V.II 22. Fairy strings

VI Enjoying Your Enchanted Garden

Do you wish upon a star for a fantasy fairy-tale garden?

Enchanted gardens are bursting with personality, whimsy and folklore, often feeling like a gateway between the human world and a more magical plane.

The roots of this enchanting style can be found in English cottage gardens, which embrace a carefree and natural aesthetic compared to the structure and symmetry of traditional gardens, based on French garden designs.

If you’re ready to create a tranquil escape from the real world, here are some of the best enchanted garden ideas to inspire you.

Enchanted Garden Ideas: Creating a Magical Space

Start with the key elements of a cottage garden; a loose layout, informal flower beds, a stunning focal point and an overall connection to all the textures, scents and colours of mother nature. When incorporating ethereal elements, here is our advice:

1. Choose a style that speaks to you

Some people like hiding mischievous gnomes between the hedges, or dainty fairies among the flowers. Perhaps you’re more inspired by medieval wizardry, Tolkien’s elven kingdoms, or Alice’s wonderland. Whichever world draws you in, focus on keeping the theme of your enchanted garden ideas consistent and curated.

Create an Enchanted Garden: Ideas for Fairytale Landscaping | Garden Patch (3)

2. Be inspired by the earth

The cottage garden style and enchanted garden ideas are all about having a connection to the planet, so look for hand-shaped and weather-hewn materials. Rugged stones, slate and pebbles look wonderful in all conditions, while wood provides visual warmth.

For fabric elements like parasols, cushions and rugs, look for hemp, canvas and cotton. Metal can be used sparingly, but avoid anything that looks too modern or industrial. Choose delicate archways or pergolas, or intricate cast-iron furniture and sculptures.

3. Play with scale

Of course, otherworldly artefacts have no need to be human-sized… allowing you to play with scale in a way that fits your garden. Sweeping lawns are ideal for giant chess sets, flowerbed mazes or immaculate rose gardens, while cosy courtyards and bijoux balconies can hide miniature fairy gardens between the pots and planters.

Create an Enchanted Garden: Ideas for Fairytale Landscaping | Garden Patch (5)

Mystical Garden Ideas: Creating a Focal Point

The secret to any enchanted garden is creating a journey that ends with a picturesque focal point, enticing people to explore. Weave winding paths through the trees, giving glimpses of a secret destination between layers of foliage. Pave the way with cobblestones, logs or mismatched tiles, curving through the space to help your cottage garden feel a lot bigger than it actually is.

4. Pergolas and archways, climbing arches

Pergolas are wonderful for adding height, structure and visual variety among your flowerbeds. You can lace them with vines and climbers so that, eventually, the pergola looks as if it’s being absorbed into the garden itself. Arches also do a wonderful job of separating sections of your garden as guests wander through.

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5. Enchanted garden water features

The echoes of running water creates a soothing atmosphere for your enchanted garden – and may even attract a magical creature or two. A fountain or pond is the perfect garden feature for a magical escape.

6. Seating as a focal point

A decorative bench makes for a perfect (and practical) focal point for any fairy-tale garden. Use it for dining al fresco or as a secret reading spot, whisking you away into a fantasy world. Moss-covered stone benches look the part, but wood is more comfortable if you plan to sit outside often – but cushions, swinging seats and hammocks are even cosier. Take a look at our list of garden furniture ideas for more inspiration!

7. Garden bridges

A garden bridge is a beautiful way to lead guests along your garden journey, and can be tailored to fit any space. A miniature footbridge feels just as whimsical as a full-sized arch, and it could traverse a pond, water feature or even a flowerbed.

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8. Intricate patio

Paved areas can be pretty and practical, showcasing pots and sculptures as well as somewhere to sit and relax. Create one from cobbles, pebbles or crazy paving for a natural feel, arranged in a beautiful pattern. We’ve got a whole post about patio ideas if you need some creative tips!

Fantasy Garden Ideas: Flowers and Plants

Fantasy gardens are full of bright colours, a variety of textures and a blend of perennial and annual plants to create year-round interest. Arrange your flowers close together in drifts of three to five, and resist the urge to keep them in neat rows – your flower beds should spill into each other! A layered, flourishing garden creates a forest-like landscape that’s high-impact and very low maintenance. Look at our romantic garden ideas and cottage garden ideas for more inspiration.

9. Sumptuous shrubs

Perennial shrubs like hydrangeas, lilac, and rhododendron add magnificent bursts of pastel colours to a fairy garden. Their soft shapes keep the landscape looking lush and inviting.

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10. Ethereal climbing plants

Climbing plants like honeysuckle, jasmine and wisteria look utterly enchanting, and perfume the air with their delicate scent. These plants look best when they’re twisting around a trellis or pergola in full bloom.

11. Romantic roses

Roses are a classic, romantic addition to a cottage garden, climbing to adorn a wall or planted amongst perennials.

12. Eccentric pot plants

If you don’t have a large outdoor space, don’t worry. You can create a miniature fairy garden by using potted plants and fairy statuettes. This idea works great for a terrace or balcony.

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13. Ground cover

Softness is key to your enchanted landscape. Plants like creeping thyme, Scotch Moss, and low shrubs tend to blur hard lines and create the look of an enchanted forest floor. Not only are they lovely to look at, but they protect your garden’s topsoil from erosion. Take a look at these ground cover plant ideas for inspiration.

Create an Enchanted Garden: Ideas for Fairytale Landscaping | Garden Patch (14)

Magical Enchanted Garden Ideas: Whimsical, Rustic Decorations

The best enchanted gardens are filled with hidden ornaments and decorative touches that create a little bit of magic wherever your eyes settle. Whether you want to include tiny homes for fairy folk or to create an outdoor elven wonderland for yourself, here are some ideas for beautiful, folklore-inspired garden decor:

14. Tiny houses

Welcome the fae with miniature homes and doorways tucked between your plants. These tiny homes look idyllic hanging from branches or peeking out through potted flowers. Look for hand-crafted designs from independent artists to keep your collection totally unique, and gradually create an entire fairy village outside your home.

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15. Toadstools and mushrooms

Make a more subtle nod to folklore by scattering quirky toadstool statuettes under bushes and at the edge of flowerbeds. You could even create your own fairy ring – just be careful not to step inside!

16. Moss-covered statues

Do you love the mystery of a forgotten garden? Visit salvage yards to find weathered stone ornaments, bird baths, planters and statuettes for that old-world vintage style. Worn-looking architectural pieces like columns, vases, sundials or window frames create the sense of a forgotten world, and whimsical characters like gargoyles, dragons or fairy figurines add a touch of the otherworldly.

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17. Gazing globes

Made from steel or glass, these unusual spheres add a delightful dimension to a mystical enchanted garden. Reflecting the world around them, gazing globes look like magical bubbles between your flower beds. Choose a large orb as a statement piece, or cluster a handful of differently-sized spheres together.

18. Mirrors

Like gazing globes, mirrors will catch the eye to reflect your fairy-tale flower beds and can create a disorienting illusion of space, especially in a small garden. Experiment with interesting and ornate frames, or even a faux window.

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19. Windchimes

Sound is essential in cultivating the magical atmosphere of your enchanted fairy garden. From full-bodied brass to tinkling porcelain or glass, each set of chimes inspires a different mood.

20. Be a friend of the animals

Feel like one of the fae by creating lots of areas that invite friendly wildlife into your garden. Look for bird feeders, baths and boxes, but also bee homes, or shelters for frogs or hedgehogs. When choosing your flowers, look for plants that are popular with bees and butterflies to encourage happy little bugs into your fairy tale.

Create an Enchanted Garden: Ideas for Fairytale Landscaping | Garden Patch (19)

Fairytale Garden Ideas: Ethereal Garden Lighting

With the right outdoor lighting, the magic of your garden can continue when the sun sets. The secret to an otherworldly ambience is soft, subtle lighting that emphasises the natural beauty of your enchanted garden, yet still leaves plenty to the imagination.

21. Sun magic

Try tucking solar-powered lawn lights into your flower beds and along pathways, or using vintage lanterns to cast interesting patterns across pathways and fences. Hanging lights are perfect for entertaining guests under a canopy or pergola, evoking a mystical cavern.

22. Fairy strings

Of course, no enchanted garden is complete without fairy lights. Wrap them around tree branches and hedges to feel like you’re sitting among pretty fireflies, or drape them through the top of a pergola to create the illusion of a star-filled sky.

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Enjoying Your Enchanted Garden

Hopefully this list has given you plenty of inspiration for tuning your outdoor space into a wonderful enchanted garden.

Remember, this wild style looks even better as your flowers grow, so while you look for new magical elements to introduce each season, don’t forget to sit back from time to time and let nature do its work. Are you hoping to create an ethereal outdoor space? What are your favourite enchanted garden ideas?

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By Kirsteen Mackay

Create an Enchanted Garden: Ideas for Fairytale Landscaping | Garden Patch (22)

Kirsteen is a professional writer who traded a tiny garden for an even smaller balcony when she moved to Brighton in 2015. Her interest in gardening stems from a keen desire to turn her simple slab of concrete into a lush urban oasis, complete with cosy-but-practical garden furniture and delicious edible plants.

View All Posts By Kirsteen Mackay»

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Create an Enchanted Garden: Ideas for Fairytale Landscaping | Garden Patch (2024)

FAQs

How do you make an enchanted garden? ›

Essentially, fairy gardens—also called enchanted gardens—are minuscule plots that include live plants, flowers, mushrooms, tiny statues, darling trinkets, and other mini accessories such as furniture, fountains, or swings. They're constructed indoors or out, and you don't need to spend a lot of money to create one.

How do you make a fairy garden pathway? ›

For example, if you want to form a natural stone walkway, fill the edged area with sand, and pat it down (I like to use a small piece of wood for this step.) On top of the sand, place stones to cover the area for the pathway, fill in the spaces with the mini path and patio mix, and pat it down again.

What are the rules for fairy gardens? ›

RULES OF THUMB
  • Don't use iron or nickel in the fairy garden as they will repel your fairies.
  • Fairies appreciate when you recycle, compost and garden organically.
  • Perfect playmates for fairies are fireflies, ladybugs and butterflies.
  • Fairies have an affection for honey, sugar and sweet cakes.

How do you make a whimsical garden? ›

Start by repurposing everyday items into charming garden features. Old teacups become whimsical planters, while vintage ladders serve as enchanting trellises. Embrace your artistic side by painting rocks with vibrant colors or crafting DIY fairy houses to nestle among the greenery.

What are the elements of the enchanted garden? ›

Enchanted gardens are whimsical spaces used to evoke a sense of magic and wonder. A mix of natural elements, the garden gnomes and fairy folk live among gazing balls, unicorns, wind chimes, spinners, and kindness rocks. You can transform any garden into a magical paradise, whether full-scale or in miniature.

What does a fairy garden look like? ›

“The basic elements of a fairy garden are miniature plants, fairies and their friends [like dogs, cats and ducks] and accessories,” says Bawden-Davis. “Accessories run the gamut, from tiny watering pails to little rakes and hoes to birdbaths, benches, gazebos and gazing globes.

How to plant a fairy garden? ›

Planting

Fill your pot/container with potting mix and plant your plants. I prefer to plant the tallest plant (miniature tree) towards the back of the pot, shrubs to the side and ground cover at the front. TIP: You might like to play around with the arrangement of your plants while they are still in their pots.

What is a fantasy garden? ›

The design of a fantasy garden depends on just what fantasy you have in mind. A landscape populated by fairies and angels? Perhaps, other mythical creatures might be included but what about dinosaurs, literary characters and darker supernatural inhabitants?

How to create a special garden? ›

How to Create a Secret Garden – Tips
  1. Pick the right spot. The location is the foundation of your secret garden, so take some time and choose it wisely. ...
  2. Create walls. A secret garden wouldn't be so secret without enclosing structures of some type. ...
  3. Consider the entry. ...
  4. Choose your plants. ...
  5. Create a place to sit.
Feb 27, 2023

What is a fairy garden called? ›

The fairy garden craze is sweeping the nation and for good reason. Fairy gardens, also known as miniature gardens, are popular with people of all ages. Miniature gardening can be enjoyed by anyone, even by apartment dwellers and those without yards.

How do I attract fairies to my fairy garden? ›

Plant a fairy garden
  1. Bluebell—some fairies are summoned by the ringing of bluebells.
  2. Daisy—wearing a daisy chain will protect you from fairy tricks.
  3. Foxglove—fairies use these flowers to make hats and gloves. ...
  4. Jasmine—this sweet-scented flower attracts fairies from all around the world.

What is the purpose of a fairy garden? ›

What is a Fairy Garden? Fairy gardens are hugely popular because they connect us with our sometimes long-lost imaginations and allow us to create a whimsical world of our very own. They're a fun, escapist project—whether or not you have kids! Enter: these best fairy garden ideas.

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