One of the biggest disadvantages of apartment living for many people is not having a garden. This is especially a problem for people who love gardening, as they do not have the opportunity to practice their hobby. Apartment living has many advantages, but can present challenges for people who love to garden, or who are interested in learning to garden.
That said, there are several options for even the smallest city apartment space to bring a (small) garden into your home and enjoy the benefits. This article is intended for beginners looking to add some greenery or fresh vegetables to your living space. We will be discussing ideas for creating a small garden in your apartment. So without further ado, let’s get growing!
Apartment Garden Ideas for Beginners
Idea 1: Start with Fancy Pots
When you select plants from your local nursery, you’ll typically receive them in the plain plastic pots they were grown in. Yawn.
When picking them out, consider also selecting colorful and bright pots to repot your plants in once you bring them home.. Match the pots to the colors and style interior of your home. You will get a double benefit your apartment looking sleek, stylish, and cohesive.
If you are on a tight budget and fancy pots are out of the question, get creative with the plastic pots. Wrap them in foil, or paint them, perhaps using a textured paint. Give them some visual pop.
You can also consider some some other containers and systems, and begin designing.
Idea 2: Hang Your Plants From the Ceiling
Space is often at a premium in an apartment. One space-saving and visually appealing way to add plants to your living space is to hang the from the ceiling.
At your nursery, you can often find hanging pots pre-planted with flowers, ferns or other plants.
If you want to hang pots you already have, you’ll need to pick out some hangers as well as ceiling hooks on your next trip to the hardware store. Rope and cord hangers come in a variety of textures and colors. Pick something that accents the decor of your apartment.
Be sure the ceiling hooks you get are rated for the weight of your pots. This usually won’t be an issue with small pots, but for larger pots it could be. Once you’ve put the hooks installed, simply place your pot in the hanger and hang it from the hook. in ..
Hanging plants from the ceiling is a simple and sleek design approach. Many apartment owners take advantage of this technique because of how simple it is to do, the space it saves and how amazing it looks.
Idea 3: Fill Your Balcony or Patio with Plants
If you are lucky enough to have a balcony or terrace as a part of your apartment, don’t be shy about filling it with plants.
One of the best things about having an outdoor living space frequently make it possible for you to grow larger plants on it than possible indoors. Depending on your climate, you may be able to have them outdoor all year. In colder climates however, you’ll need to have a plan to bring them indoors. Plant with that in mind and have an idea for where you can put a large pot if you have to bring it inside. Then fill them with small trees and perennial flowers and herbs, such as lavender, or rosemary.
You can also use some of the same tricks you might use inside to create more space. Try hanging small potted plants from the ceiling or setting up a vertical garden on one of your walls. You can end up with your balcony or patio looking look like a green oasis or miniature forest.
For more tips on a great balcony garden see our article Best Containers for Balcony Gardens.
Idea 4: Put Your Windows to Work
Windows are a go-to space for any indoor garden. But you’ll need to take into consideration their sun exposure when considering your plants.
A southern or western facing window may get very hot in the summer and be too much for some varieties, but perfect for a mix of cacti and succulents. Winter light in a north facing window may not be enough for some plants. But ferns and other shade loving plants can do well.
With a little planning you can bring the outside world indoors, add color to your living space and add another dimension to your apartment.
You’ll want to make sure you have a stable and water-resistant surface for your pots. If setting them directly on the window sill, make sure you have a water tray underneath the pot so you don’t leave a stain on the sill Then pick a few varieties that will work well in your window, plant them in fancy pots complement to your décor, and voila!
Idea 5: Create a Green Wall
Vertical surfaces can be adapted well for garden space whether inside or outside. Indoors you can start simple just by adding a few floating shelves to a wall. Or if you have an old bookcase or shelf lying around your apartment, you can clear it out and use it as a dedicated plant wall. Consider adding some extra color to your space that contrasts with your plants and paint the shelves a bright and bold shade.
Don’t be shy about filling shelves with plants. Line them with pots of different shapes, sizes, and colors. Throw in a few other decorative items or keepsakes to add dimension to the plant wall.
You can also consider a vertical garden system for an indoor wall. We discuss a couple of vertical systems in our article on Best Containers for Balcony Gardens. The Watex Mobile Green Wall system is very versatile. It is set up on wheels so it can be easily moved around inside or outdoors.
Idea 6: Harvest Herbs and Vegetables in Your Kitchen
If you have a sunny window in your kitchen your are in luck. What better place to grow your herbs or different types of vegetable plants indoors than your kitchen?
Some people grow their herbs in the window sills of their kitchen. Depending on your kitchen configuration, you could also a wall garden such as discussed above. This will give you a sort of a “living” herb rack.
If you don’t have any windows in your kitchen you aren’t out of options. Consider an AeroGarden Bounty or other lighted system and you can raised your crop of fresh herbs, salad greens and more and have them right where you need the when you are ready to cook.
Growing herbs and vegetable plants in your kitchen will not only be a good design decision, but it will also be very practical. You’ll have your salad ingredients and fresh herbs for your favorite dishes right at your fingertips.
Final Thoughts
For people who live in apartments, bringing the benefits and beauty of plants indoors can present some challenges. However, there are many easy and practical ways in which you can use indoor plants to enhance your indoor environment.
We hope these ideas have given a start to your thinking. The benefits of adding pants to your indoor environment are well documented. Not only do plants add beauty and enhance your décor, they also help clean the air and provide oxygen.
And if you decide to grow herbs and vegetables, you get the added benefit of fresh and savory additions to your diet!