Creating a Luxury Garden Jungle Paradise in a Small Space

Welcome to our garden jungle project. A labour of love and a desire to create a functional growing space that’s filled with exotic plants, seating areas and even a space to cook. This project is great for those who enjoy the outdoors, love to grow their own food and love to host for friends and family. All of these projects were achieved by ourselves and represent what is possible with a little imagination and hard work. If you’re handy with access to a few basic tools there is no reason why you can’t create something similar. It can get quite expensive but as I talk through each stage of the project I’ll mention cheaper alternatives that can achieve similar results.

Here is a quick before and after of the garden.

Garden Overview

The garden area measures a modest 10m x 14m. This provided enough space to create everything we wanted. This includes:

• Decking area
• Veranda with corner sofa seating area
• Outdoor kitchen
• Mini greenhouse
• Pizza oven and BBQ kitchen area
• 9 large planters
• Two composters
• Sleeper pathway and steps
• Second decking area with hammock
• Garden office
• Three storage sheds
• Bamboo privacy planters
• Small pond
• Wood store
• Large hot tub
• Three water storage containers

Let me start by talking about each of these DIY garden makeover projects. I’ll give a brief description of each and talk about how you can DIY these yourself.

Decking Area (Back Door)

This decking area was already installed when we purchased the house. It is however a simple concept. With a basic frame and decking secured with small spacing, it provides a functional space in which to enjoy the outdoors. Decking is available as a treated spruce, like ours, our you could opt for a composite decking that will last much longer. Composite decking is more expensive and less eco-friendly but is a great long-term solution.

Wooden decking like ours needs to be treated or painted yearly to ensure longevity. We decided to paint our grey which you will see in more examples below.

Veranda & Corner Sofa Seating Area

Two of my favourite projects were this veranda with solid polycarbonate roofing and corner sofa. You can read the full step-by-step build guides on my other site Wood Create.

DIY Veranda

The veranda uses a basic wooden structure and is finished with solid polycarbonate sheets which gives a glass-like finish. These can be quite expensive. About £60 per square meter. A cheaper alternative would be to buy corrugated polycarbonate sheets or dual-wall poly sheets. These are generally a fifth of the price.

DIY Corner Sofa and Coffee Table

The seating area was a self-designed custom size to fit this space perfectly. It was made using 40mm Iroko wood and finished with some basic cushions from eBay. The wood was all pre-cut and planed to my specifications which saved me time to complete the project in one day. Opt for scaffold boards to reduce the overall cost.

Outdoor Kitchen Sink

We tend to wash and pre a lot of our vegetables and fruits before they go into the house so this kitchen sink area was a perfect addition. I simply extended the existing pipework from the indoor kitchen sink and plumbed in this one. Waste water is directed into the same waste pipe and the kitchen.

All we needed was a sink, tap, some pipework and wood for the frame and cupboard. I even decided to tile the splash back for a neat finish.

DIY Pizza Oven and BBQ Kitchen

Another relatively simple design and execution of this amazing pizza oven with room for a BBQ and underneath storage. Designed and built from a basic timber frame and a cleverly designed heatproof top this is ideal for outdoor cooking throughout the year.

You can read the full guide on my other website Wood Create. This is another of my favourite projects for this luxury garden makeover. The pizza oven comes as a kit and is very easy to assemble. Just be sure to add a heatproof worktop to prevent damage to the timber cupboards beneath.

Mini Greenhouse

We considered the greenhouse and all different sizes for some time before settling on this one. It’s small enough that it doesn’t intrude on the space and gives us enough growing space to get our veggies started throughout the year.

It was a simple wooden frame built with some dual-wall polycarbonate sheets. Visit Wood Create for the full build guide.

Planters for Veggies and Fruits

We’ve gone all out this season and created four additional large planters to grow more fruits and vegetables. We purchased these modular raised metal beds which can be configured to different sizes and shapes. They’re galvanised and painted and come with a 10 year guarantee which is perfect for this type of gardening.

We’ve been busy this spring and summer planting, growing and cultivating all sorts of vegetables and fruits. We’ve got spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, courgette, beetroot, corn, mini corn, peppers, cabbage, broccoli and potatoes. We’ve also got strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and a great big banana tree which you can see in the middle of the garden.

These planters are easy to install but will set you back about £100 each. For a cheaper and simple DIY approach, you could make some planters out of 150x22mm treated timber. Just be sure to protect the wood on the inner edges to keep the rot at bay.

Compost Bins

We’ve now installed two composters in the garden to make the most of our kitchen food waste and general garden tidying. We have one 200l hot composter bin and one standard 600l compost bin. The hot composter bin is great for turning around high-quality compost within 4 months whereas the other bin is large enough for general garden waste.

You can make your own compost bins out of wooden pallets or some basic treated timber. Just be aware of rodents and other pests that could take it upon themselves to ransack the bins and take up accommodation nearby. Sealed compost bins are normally better in urban environments.

Railway Sleeper Path and Steps

I love a bit of landscape gardening and this was no exception. We wanted a path up to the garden office and a seating platform for our evening drinks. As our garden was sloped we decided to incorporate some steps into and platform area and fill these with gravel. The sleepers act as a great levelling border and create defined walking areas around the small garden.

With a bit of hard work, these sleepers can be cut and installed to create and define your garden design, layout and walkways. Layering sleepers is also a great way to create planters, borders and other structures. At £30 each they’re a great affordable way to landscape your garden.

Decking Area with Hammock

We wanted a nice cool place to sit and relax out of the midday summer sun. This hammock and seating area was the perfect solution located under our overhanging bamboo forest at the back of the south-facing garden. It’s the kind of outdoor escape that reminds me of the tranquil backyard spaces you might find with Lehi Crossing homes for sale.

The decking is a simple structure with thick 100mm hammock support posts incorporated into the frame. The posts have also been buried a couple of feet into the ground to help support the weight and cantilever effect of the hammock. We now have the perfect secluded spot in the garden to escape the heat and read a book.

Garden Room Office

The garden office was one of the first projects undertaken in this property. It provides a quiet place to work and escape the daily distractions in the house. Constructed from a BillyOh prefabricated log cabin kit, it has been adapted for all year-round use. This garden room office was easy to build and provides that much-needed retreat away from the house.

This is another one of my favourite DIY projects that has provided us with a beautiful place to work and relax. Not only this, but it also adds a reasonable amount to the property value. For as little as £6k, you can build something very similar. Visit Wood Create for more details. (Link below)

Storage Sheds

No garden can be complete without some storage for garden equipment, bikes and other bits and pieces. With such a small garden and so much going on it was tough to fit three sheds in! But we managed it with a prefabricated shed and two custom-built sheds.

We’ve also got storage under the pizza oven and kitchen sink. We can also store some items under the corner sofa and under one of the bamboo privacy planters, although this is mainly for storing logs for our log burning stove.

Bamboo Privacy Planters

One side of our garden was quite open and with there being a slop we wanted to create a privacy screen as our neighbours could see right into our garden.

By building a simple planter we could grow some bamboo and contain it so it didn’t get out of control. Using some basic 4×2″ treated timbers I constructed these DIY planters. A great project for anyone who knows their way around a saw and drill.

Small Pond

Adding a small pond to your garden is a fantastic way to boost biodiversity and support the local ecosystem. The pond will attract insects like dragonflies, frogs, and birds, which help control pests and pollinate plants. The water source provides hydration for wildlife and creates a thriving habitat for aquatic plants.

But during hot summers, ponds can heat up and affect pond fish and other aquatic life. Depending on the size of your pond, you might need aerators or pond pumps to circulate oxygen in the water and cool it down. Providing cool, fresh water is a one good way to ensure your pond fish and aquatic plants and animals remain healthy.  

Even a modest-sized pond can create a ripple effect, encouraging a balanced ecosystem that supports healthy soil and plant growth. With minimal maintenance, your garden can become a sanctuary for wildlife while enhancing the natural beauty of your space.

Wood Storage

A wood store was essential for our garden due to our log-burning stove fuel requirements. A custom-built storage unit was a rewarding project and simple to achieve. If you’re in the same situation then why not try and build your own? You could buy one off the shelf but I tend to find they are flimsy and use brittle materials and construction methods.

Water storage

Watering the garden is an essential part of growing your own food. That’s why we decided to install a number of water butts to help us collect and store enough water during a drought.

We decided to purchase and install a 300l, 200l and 75l water butt to help us collect as much water as possible.

Lay-Z-Spa Hot Tub

A simple addition to the garden to provide a tranquil relaxation space. This hot tub was available on offer for under £600 and is easy to install and use. Running costs can get quite high but when only using on weekends it’s the perfect addition to our jungle paradise.

What’s Next?

We’re pretty much running out of space for any large projects and the garden is in a place where we are very happy in terms of layout and functionality. There are however a few minor tweeks I want to tackle to make this a one-of-a-kind luxury garden paradise. Here’s what I have in mind:

Lighting

Whilst we have some festoon lighting around the veranda I want to increase visibility on the pathways and up to the garden office. The sleeper steps and walkways are ideal for incorporating some kind of lighting, whether it be strip lighting, spotlights, more festoon lighting or pillar lights. I’ve not quite decided on the best lighting setup yet but I’ve also been looking into some neon signs for outdoor decor which could really transform the space and make it unique.

Storage

One thing we continually struggle with is storage and there are a couple of opportunities for small storage units at the rear of the garden. I intend to build a small shed on the side of the garden office that can be used to house gardening tools and equipment. It will be a custom-made storage shed that measures just 3ft by 5ft but it will give that additional space for storing essential items and keeping them dry.

Shade for the Veranda

We do currently have a shade sail for the veranda but it is quite cumbersome to put up and take down. I’ll be looking to install some retractable shades underneath that can easily be pulled back or extended when the sun is beating down. I’ve seen some great manual and electronic shades that can easily be installed.

Roundup

Creating a multifunctional garden like this offers numerous benefits beyond just aesthetics. It allows you to enjoy nature while maximising your outdoor space for relaxation, growing your own food, and entertaining guests. By incorporating features like raised planters, a pond, and compost bins, you can promote sustainability, support local wildlife, and reduce food waste. An outdoor kitchen and seating areas make it a great space for hosting friends and family, while a garden office provides a peaceful workspace. This type of project is perfect for those who want to reconnect with nature and make the most of their garden.

Visit Wood Create for details surrounding each of these amazing projects. Get inspired and hands-on with step-by-step guides and useful hints and tips.

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