It’s practically a requisite of your late teens and early twenties (and, in this day and age, way past that) to have an apartment at some point. Whether you’re living in New York City and pretty much obligated to live in a large closet, in Portland renting a small room above somebody’s garage or have a dorm in any college in America, you are likely to live in a small space at some point.

But having a limited-sized place does not mean you need to sacrifice the luxuries of the average-sized house. Check out these lovely apartment gardens that took every advantage of their spaces to make beautiful greenery a part of their environment, as well as some tips for trying to make your own. 

  1. Research what plants grow best in your area. Climate is a huge factor for any garden, so if you’re living in southern California, your mini-garden could look drastically different that somebody in Maine’s. Which ones grow best indoors? Which grow best on fire escapes with limited sun?
  2. Get equipment suitable to your lifestyle. Are you the type of person to leave for the weekend or on business trips regularly? If so, perhaps investing in (or even creating your own) self-watering container would be a good choice for you.
  3. Where will you be growing your garden? Perhaps you live in an apartment building and your landlord is a-okay with you having an herb or vegetable garden on the roof. If so, getting a larger box to keep several plants in order would work well for that space. If all you have is a balcony or simply next to your windows, then research potted plants that will work best for those spaces and light availabilities.
  4. Think about its purpose. Are you looking to cut down on bills by growing your own food and spices? Or do you just desire some fresh scents about your apartment? Or, if you’re choosing flowers, what are your favorite colors and textures? All of these will influence your decisions on which seeds to get, which equipment to purchase, and which plants will work best together.

Check out the gallery for examples and ideas. Here’s my personal favorite:

Do any of you lovelies have a green thumb and some tips to share? If so, post ‘em as well as any pictures you may love of gardens!

Image Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7