3 Small Gardens Featuring Recycled Tiles in the Garden Design

Nothing is as inspiring as looking at someone else’s garden. Here are three completely different garden designs by Lianne van Vergroenster—all three of which were entirely paved with stones before the garden renovation. You can cleverly reuse those stones.

Another characteristic of these gardens is that they take into account, as much as possible, the bees, butterflies, and birds found in the area. Research was conducted to determine which species could use some help and what they need. A number of species were then selected that are easy to support in a small garden—for example, because they don’t need a large tree but rather a small plant.

Sunny city garden (40 m²)


The canopy and fence were already there, but the space still didn’t invite you to go outside. In this warm, south-facing garden, you can really see how greenery helps keep things cool. The tree is a dwarf variety (“Watereri”) of the native Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). Because the tree provides shade in this border, we chose a beautiful combination of leaf shapes and various shades of green.

The existing light gray tiles were reused and combined with secondhand clay pavers purchased on Marktplaats. Clay pavers are great for creating winding patterns, and they last a very long time. A horizontal bar or rings for the kids take up much less space than a trampoline.

Front yard with winding paths and a retaining wall (30 m²)


You’ll never get tired of looking at this front yard with its winding shapes. You’ll almost forget to ring the doorbell. It’s serene, yet playful thanks to the gravel and the rounded shapes. Hidden behind a hedge, it’s truly a gem for anyone lucky enough to visit…

This front yard was definitely not a showpiece because of the many stones, which were also scattered haphazardly. After the makeover, it’s truly a showpiece for the house. The residents even made a bench out of the old tiles themselves. They love enjoying a cup of coffee while keeping an eye on the kids playing in the adjacent playground.

Modern garden full of greenery (80 m²)

This multi-trunked tree is a real eye-catcher. It’s a seven-sons tree (Heptacodium miconioides). It’s great for bees and other insects. The foliage and trunk structure are already beautiful, but the summer blooms are truly fantastic. Under the canopy, the residents can relax wonderfully. Well, relax—they hardly ever sit still because they’re constantly spotting an interesting insect and want to take a closer look.

The old 60 x 60 tiles have been reused in three ways. First, for the patios with flowing lines. Second, they’ve been almost completely embedded in the semi-paved area, so that only the tips are visible as decoration (this makes them function as a sort of narrow stepping stones). And third, they’ve been installed upright, protruding about 30 cm above the ground, with ornamental grass growing between them.

The sturdy metal pergola with its graceful climbing plant adds some extra flair to this backyard and will eventually form a natural green canopy over the seating area in the morning sun. The stack of logs is made from an old, dead tree—a great home for all kinds of small creatures.

The semi-paved surface looks like gravel, but it’s “Achterhoeks padvast.” You don’t need weed barrier fabric for this, so it uses less plastic. Over time, it will form a single, cohesive surface, making it harder for weeds to grow in the future.

Get inspired

What these gardens have in common is that they feature many light and warm tones. This really brightens up a small garden and pairs beautifully with all the green plants. You’ll also see that it’s very easy to reuse materials from your old garden. That’s sustainable AND easy on your wallet!