Start Here

Start here

Find the guide for the space you have

Pick the space you are working with. Each path starts with three guides in the order that saves the most time and money.

Small patio or backyardBalcony or rentalMore privacyA cozier feelNew to gardening

Path 01

Small patio or backyard

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Start by deciding what the space has to do every day, then fit furniture around the way you move through it.

Step 1How to measure a patio for furnitureDoors, drains and the 36 inches a chair needs to pull out.Read the guide →Step 2Small patio ideasLayouts that leave room to live, with real sizes.Read the guide →Step 3Small patio ideas on a budgetWhere a few hundred dollars goes furthest.Read the guide →

Path 02

Balcony or rental

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Balconies come with weight limits, wind and lease rules. These guides work with all three.

Step 1Small balcony ideas for apartmentsSeating, storage and plants on a narrow ledge.Read the guide →Step 2No-drill balcony ideasRenter-safe fixes that come down without a trace.Read the guide →Step 3Balcony makeover on a budgetA finished look without a big spend.Read the guide →

Path 03

More privacy

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Screens, planters and plants that block the view you mind without boxing you in.

Step 1Patio privacy ideasScreens, trellis and planting for ground-level spaces.Read the guide →Step 2Balcony privacy without drillingFreestanding and clamp-on options for renters.Read the guide →Step 3Privacy plants in potsFast, dense container plants and the pot sizes they need.Read the guide →

Path 04

A cozier feel

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Lighting, rugs, textiles and color that make a small space feel finished.

Step 1Small patio lighting ideasLayered light that works on one outlet or solar.Read the guide →Step 2Small patio color schemesPalettes that make a tight space feel calm.Read the guide →Step 3Outdoor rugs for small patiosSizes, materials and what survives the rain.Read the guide →

Path 05

New to gardening

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Plain-language plant guides with sun hours, pot sizes and timing tied to your frost dates.

Step 1Basic home gardening tipsThe first habits that keep plants alive.Read the guide →Step 2Container garden designPairing pots, plants and light.Read the guide →Step 3Herb container gardenEasy herbs, pot sizes and harvest timing.Read the guide →

Questions?

Ask anything on the contact page or email hello@inmylittleoasis.com. Real questions from readers shape the next guides.