Creative Garden Gate Ideas For A Beautiful Backyard
Create a welcoming entrance to your yard with these creative garden gate ideas that will help your garden stand out.
Creative Garden Gate Ideas
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A couple of weeks ago I wrote about how much I love all of the secret gardens in Charleston. Part of creating the feeling of a secret garden is having a great garden gate. One that lets you get a glimpse of what you’re missing but doesn’t let you see the whole yard.
Framing the gate with an arbor is another common theme, since it helps direct your focus through the gate and into the yard.
I really love the feeling you get walking through a gated arbor into a garden. It always seems like you are about to enter somewhere special.
Which is why I decided to find some inspiration for garden gates. Not that I really need any, since I already have more arbors and gates than I need in my yard (like this leading into the backyard on the side of my house).
However, I am still planning to create that Japanese Garden in the back of my yard…and it’ll need an entrance of some kind…
Anyhow, here’s my list of creative garden gate ideas that will help your backyard look beautiful.
The Classic Wrought Iron Gate
These kinds of wrought-iron gates are what you see a lot of in Charleston. And I love them!
Even when they are shorter, I just love the detailed designs.
However, wrought iron gates are very expensive so I haven’t been able to talk myself into getting one. I’m not sure how well it would fit into my builder-grade neighborhood, anyway 🙂
So I bought a couple of these much cheaper black metal arbors with gates* .
They do rust so I have to replace them every few years, but they give you a little bit of the same feel for a lot less money.
The Creative “Wrought Iron” Gate
Other people (like Funky Junk Jennifer) have come up with very creative garden gate ideas for replacing wrought iron…using an old bed frame.
If you happen to have an old metal frame that’s the right size, this would be a really inexpensive way to get that wrought-iron look.
Margaret at A Way To Garden has apparently done this more than once, and has the DIY instructions on her site if you want to do the same.
Install A Peephole
Still another way to get the look of a wrought iron gate without the expense is to install a metal insert (you actually see a lot of these in Charleston, too).
I was surprised to find that inserts like this one* are actually relatively inexpensive. It’s a fairly easy DIY project to install, and it’s made of cast aluminum so it shouldn’t rust. Now this is something I might have to add to my project list!
You can get round ones*, too…but I think those would be a little more complicated to get installed correctly.
Use A Door As A Gate
Old doors used as gates are much more common in other parts of the world than they are in North America.
They are an easy, effective and inexpensive way of creating a garden gate. Just add some hinges and a latch.
If you don’t have a wall or tall fence to add the door to. No problem! Just cut a hole in your hedge. (Of course, you will need to install a post on either side – one for the hinges to attach to, and the other for the latch).
I really love the rounded shape of this door and the slats that still let you see through.
Another benefit of using a door as a gate? You can hang a big planter on the front of it. Of course, those gorgeous climbing roses are pretty awesome, too!
Or Recycle A Screen Door
Screen Door Gate via bobvila.com
If you want to be able to see through the door into the garden, then using a screen door as a gate might be a good option.
Installing the door is just a matter of adding some hinges and a latch if you have high enough posts that are installed the correct distance apart.
If your screen door is sturdy enough, you can still hang some decor on the front of it, like this wreath.
This one isn’t really a screen, but they jazzed up a simple door with bars by attaching pieces of metal to the front of it. I think I would use copper so that it turned that pretty tarnished green color.
Re-purpose Old Garden Tools
Garden tools gate via Montana Wildlife Gardener
This creative gate comes from Montana Wildlife Gardener, and it’s very appropriate for an avid gardener. What a great way to re-purpose some old garden tools!
They also have a trellis made out of garden tools…so be sure to head over to their site if you want more details.
Build (And Paint) A Modern Gate
If you like a more modern style, this gate with open slats on one side would be an interesting way to go.
I like the way the seems are vertical on the right side of the fence and horizontal on the left. And the grey on grey paint scheme adds to the flare.
Construct A Moon Gate
Okay, so this isn’t really a gate at all, although it is called a Moon Gate. But I liked it so much I just had to include it. I think a version of this may become the entrance to my Japanese garden.
As you may have noticed, I have a bit of thing for arbors with circles. And this is the ultimate circle arbor!
I was able to find a metal one* online that really isn’t that expensive, but doesn’t really have the same presence as the original.
So unless I can figure out a way to make it look more substantial, I may have to follow the instructions for building one from DIY Network.
Well that’s it for my list of creative garden gates, and it looks like I have another DIY project to add to my ever-growing list of future projects.
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This post was originally published on September 11, 2018 but was updated with new content on November 20, 2021.
Beautiful indeed, the wrought iron gates look like something that I can install at my garden backyard as well. Recycling an old door looks like an excellent project to work. I loved the way you showed the garden tools as part of the gate. The moon gate is a smart idea if it is between hedges.
I would like them all, but my garden is not big enough to cater for different themes.
Absolutely beautiful and inspirational.
Really Nice Explained how we can improve our garden backyard
very nice post you shared here about gates. Thanks for sharing such a great post with us,
I have a friend with a tiny yard that she made it feel huge. There is little lawn, but plantings arranged next to a sidewalk in such a way you want to stay! A tiny pool she keeps filled with water and plants, a small patio and a small garden. She has lived there for decades and keeps working on it.