20 Whimsical Fairy Garden Ideas: A Magical Guide to Enchanting Your Outdoor Space

Whimsical fairy garden ideas can be as simple as a little outdoor space that encourages kids to explore or as intricate and magical as you want. These gardens are tiny and perfect for small spaces, but they can also be as large as you can imagine.

Your fairy garden can be made from found items and natural materials, or you can buy all the pieces you need to create a magical space. You can even use a container to make a small fairy garden that you can move around your yard or inside your home.

You can create a fairy garden with your kids, or you can make one as a retreat for yourself. You can even make a fairy garden as a gift for a friend. There are so many possibilities when it comes to creating your fairy garden.

If you love the idea of a fairy garden, I have some amazing ideas to share with you. These ideas can help you create a garden that is as unique as you are.

1. A Fairy Garden in a Broken Pot

If you have an old pot that’s seen better days, don’t throw it away! Instead, you can repurpose it as a whimsical fairy garden. This idea is perfect if you’re short on space but still want to add a magical touch to your garden.

Start by breaking the pot into a few pieces, and create a miniature landscape inside. Add a tiny house, some moss, and a few small plants to complete your fairy garden. You can even add a ladder for your fairies to climb up and down from the garden!

If you don’t have a broken pot, you can create a similar effect with a shallow dish or tray. The possibilities are endless with this whimsical idea!

2. A Fairy Garden in a Tree Stump

If you have an old tree stump in your yard that you don’t know what to do with, consider turning it into a whimsical fairy garden! You can use the stump as a planter, or create an entire miniature landscape on top of it.

This fairy garden in a tree stump features a tiny house, a little bridge, and a stream made from blue glass stones. The whole scene is surrounded by lush green plants and colorful flowers, creating a magical oasis in the middle of the yard.

3. A Fairy Garden in a Wheelbarrow

If you’re looking for a whimsical gardening project and have an old wheelbarrow lying around, then this is the idea for you. The wheelbarrow acts as the fairy garden’s base, and you can fill it with soil and plants and decorate it with rocks, moss, and fairy garden accessories.

This cute wheelbarrow fairy garden features a little fence and a tiny birdhouse, and it’s filled with colorful flowers and a few hanging plants. You can also add a few potted plants, like the ones pictured here, to give your wheelbarrow garden some extra height.

4. A Fairy Garden in a Wagon

Wagons are a great way to create a portable garden. This is a great option if you want to protect your plants from the elements or if you need to move the garden around to make room for other activities.

This one is a great example of using a variety of plants and accessories to create a whimsical scene.

5. A Fairy Garden in a Lantern

Create a tiny world in a glass lantern to make a whimsical fairy garden that you can pick up and move around your yard. This is a great idea if you don’t have a lot of space and want to keep your mini garden protected from the elements.

You can make a fairy garden in a lantern with real plants, like in the example above, or create a faux garden with silk flowers and plastic figurines if you want to avoid the hassle of watering and pruning.

6. A Fairy Garden in a Bird Bath

If you have an old bird bath that’s seen better days, consider transforming it into a fairy garden. This idea is perfect if you want to create a small, contained garden in the middle of your larger garden.

You can add just about anything you want to your bird bath garden, but we love the idea of adding a small house and a few tiny plants. You can even add a small pond or a few fairy lights to make it even more magical.

7. A Fairy Garden in a Basket

If you don’t have a lot of outdoor space, you can still create a magical fairy garden. This whimsical arrangement is potted in a wire basket, making it a perfect project for apartment dwellers and homeowners alike.

The secret to this enchanting display is to use a variety of plants and flowers. We love how the ivy spills out of the basket and the purple petunias add a pop of color. The fairy house is made from a tree stump, and the stone pathway and mini bench add a charming touch.

8. A Fairy Garden in a Suitcase

Transform an old suitcase into a whimsical fairy garden. Start by adding a layer of small stones, then top with potting soil. Arrange your plants and add moss and small figurines to create a scene. Use the top of the suitcase to build up your hills and the bottom to create valleys.

This fairy garden by Our Crafty Mom features a path made from small stones, a tiny bench, and an adorable gazebo. The best part about this project is that you can close the suitcase when you’re done and keep it protected from the elements.

9. A Fairy Garden in a Drawer

If you’re short on space, you can still create a whimsical fairy garden by using a small drawer as a base. This design is from the book, Gardening in Miniature Prop Shop by Janit Calvo. The book is a treasure trove of projects and ideas for creating fairy gardens and other miniaturescapes.

Calvo recommends using a shallow drawer for your fairy garden. You can use the bottom as the base, or you can use it as a tray to hold the soil and other elements. This drawer fairy garden is a great way to upcycle an old piece of furniture and create a charming little scene.

10. A Fairy Garden in a Teacup

It’s easy to see why these adorable little teacup gardens are so popular! They’re the perfect size for a small space and can be as simple or as complex as you like.

To make a teacup fairy garden, you’ll need a teacup and saucer, potting soil, small plants, and any miniature accessories you’d like to include. You can buy miniatures online, or get creative and make your own.

11. A Fairy Garden in a Glass Terrarium

If you’re not into the idea of creating a fairy garden right in your yard, then consider making a portable garden you can display anywhere around your home.

A glass terrarium is a great way to create a fairy garden that you can move around depending on where you want to display it.

12. A Fairy Garden in a Glass Vase

If you don’t have a lot of space in your yard, you can still create a beautiful fairy garden. This project uses a large glass vase to create a self-contained fairy garden that can be placed on a tabletop or shelf.

The layers of sand, soil, and plants make this fairy garden look like a real garden that’s been miniaturized. You can add fairy garden accessories like a bench, a fairy, or even some woodland creatures to make it look even more enchanting.

13. A Fairy Garden in a Glass Table

If you want to create a whimsical fairy garden but have limited space, then this fairy garden idea is for you! Turn a glass table into a magical fairy garden with a few miniature fairy garden accessories and plants.

This idea is perfect for someone who doesn’t want to get on their hands and knees to plant a fairy garden. You can create a garden in a glass table in just a few hours!

14. A Fairy Garden in a Glass Ball

If you have a small outdoor space, you may not think you have room for a fairy garden. But this enchanting garden in a glass ball is proof that you do!

You can create an entire fairy garden in a glass ball, and then display it on a table or shelf in your outdoor space. This is a great option if you have young kids who may be tempted to play with the garden.

15. A Fairy Garden in a Glass Jar

You don’t need a lot of space to create a magical fairy garden. This DIY terrarium fairy garden is a perfect example of how you can create a whimsical world in any container.

This fairy garden is made in a glass jar, but you could also use a glass vase or even a fish bowl. Add small plants, a few fairy garden accessories, and a couple of fairy figurines to complete the look.

16. A Fairy Garden in a Glass Box

If you want to create an indoor fairy garden, or if you’d like to protect your fairy garden from the elements, a glass box is a great way to do that. You can create a scene like the one in this garden, complete with a little house, a fairy, and a pond.

If you use a terrarium, you can create a garden that doesn’t require any soil. The only limit to what you can do is the size of the container you choose.

17. A Fairy Garden in a Glass Aquarium

If you don’t have a green thumb, then this fairy garden is perfect for you! This magical scene is planted in a glass aquarium, so you can see all the layers of the garden, which makes it easy to care for because you can see when it needs water.

This fairy garden is planted with succulents, which are low maintenance and drought tolerant. The aquarium is filled with a layer of rocks and sand for drainage, and the succulents are planted in soil. The sand is a fun touch that makes this garden look like a beachy paradise.

18. A Fairy Garden in a Glass Globe

If you don’t have a lot of outdoor space to dedicate to your fairy garden, you can still create a beautiful scene in a glass globe. This mini garden has a small house, a bridge, and some colorful plants. It’s a great way to repurpose an old fishbowl or glass vase and bring a little magic indoors.

You can find fairy garden supplies like the ones in this globe at most craft stores, or you can make your own. That’s one of the best things about fairy gardens: you can get as creative and crafty as you like!

19. A Fairy Garden in a Glass Container

If you’re looking for a simple way to create a fairy garden, look no further than this adorable glass container! You can use a glass container like this one to create a terrarium or a fairy garden, and this simple concept is perfect for beginners.

To create this look, fill a glass container with soil and arrange your fairy garden accessories in the soil. You can add small succulents or other small plants to add some greenery to your garden.

20. A Fairy Garden in a Glass Cabinet

If you don’t have a green thumb, this fairy garden in a glass cabinet is a perfect way to create a magical outdoor space. The cabinet shelves are filled with a variety of tiny plants, moss, and other greenery. A small house and a couple of fairy friends bring the magical scene to life.

We love that the cabinet can be moved around the garden, and when it’s time to water the plants, you can simply open the door and give them a little spritz.

Conclusion

These creative ideas are the perfect way to bring a little magic to your home. Whether you want to add a small DIY fairy garden to your outdoor space or create a grand, whimsical wonderland, there are plenty of fairy garden ideas to go around.