How to Add Romance to the Cottage Garden: Ideas You'll Love

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You know a romantic cottage garden when you see it, but how can you recreate one for you and the ones you love?

Splashing in some romance in your garden may not be as difficult as you think.

Just a few ideas incorporated into your space can fill your garden with the romance you dream about.

What is a romantic cottage garden?

A romantic cottage garden evokes feelings of love and wistfulness. It appeals to the soul. This is achieved with abundant flowers, secret outdoor spaces, meandering paths, and a design that looks as though all rules have been abandoned. 

A romantic cottage garden often encourages a quietness of spirit and deep thought. The chaos of life is left behind. It is a place of peace, calm... and a stolen kiss or two.

This sounds like a tall order to create but can be as simple as implementing a few ideas.

The Best Flowers for Adding Romance to the Cottage Garden

Roses are the most romantic flower in the cottage garden, especially under the glow of a setting sun.

The romance is ninety percent in the flowers. That's good news because I can tell you which flowers to plant for the ultimate romance.

The best flowers for a romantic cottage garden will activate the senses by delivering abundant blooms, bringing movement, or offering an enticing aroma.

These include roses, hollyhocks, sage, lavender, gaura, and dianthus.

Or add shrubs like hydrangeas, butterfly bushes, lilacs, or peonies.

The rose is hands-down the most romantic flower in the cottage garden. It can be aromatic and simply stunning as a bud and also fully open.

Plant a climber or a shrub, or both, because roses are instant romance.

Hollyhocks are SO BEAUTIFUL that they can't be ignored in the romantic garden.

Sage will reward you with color all summer and even a bit of movement, depending on the variety.

Lavender will give you a wave of blue in your cottage garden and a lovely scent so it's an ideal border plant.

Gaura offers movement and color. Tall, wispy flowers are a win for romance.

Dianthus has the sweetest bloom that whispers romance.

Although a shrub, hydrangeas have huge blooms that usher in romance all summer.

If roses are the most romantic flower, hydrangeas are the most romantic plant in the cottage garden.

Butterfly bushes have lovely relentless blooms but also bring in the romance of butterflies en masse.

Lilacs and peonies fill the cottage garden with a sweet scent that smells like romance.

Let's face it. Romantic flower choices are abundant.

Meandering Pathways in the Cottage Garden Add Romance

This meandering stone path in my cottage garden creates romance immediately.

The meandering stone path adds romance to the cottage garden.

Curves in the pathway encourage meandering and strolling.

You are not wanting to add the most efficient way to get from point A to point B.

You are creating an experience that encourages a slower pace and deep breathing.

This doesn't mean a straight path won't work, but curves immediately slow you down. They make it easier to achieve that romantic feel.

I love a stepping stone pathway and can show you how I laid mine in this blog I shared here.

The stones add so much warmth and earthiness. I also love the unclear borders of the stones.

Your path can be easier though. Just try a gravel path or a mulched path.

For more ideas, you can check out another blog I wrote here about paths in the cottage garden.

Line it with romantic border plants and the romance will be thick.

Benches in the Cottage Garden Give Opportunity for Romance

A bench surrounded with flowers adds romance to the garden.

In your romantic cottage garden, you could allow your meandering path to lead to a romantic destination.

This could be a little space entrenched with flowers and a garden bench tucked between them.

It encourages a pause.

It creates an opportunity for a romantic interlude or just a moment to gather one's thoughts.

The bench could also be along the pathway.

It would offer a moment to suspend the journey.

It begs the traveler to meditate or maybe gaze into the eyes of another.

Adding a bench is an easy way to sprinkle romance into the cottage garden.

Arches on the Cottage Garden Path are Heavily Romantic

Adding a series of arches covered in blooming vines along a garden path is the epitome of romance. If you have the space to accomplish that, stop reading and get busy.

If you have a quainter garden space, you can still utilize an arch covered in blooming vines.

Add one to the entrance of your path and set the mood immediately.

It is like walking from one world to another.

It adds mystery and anticipation.

Or perhaps, place the arch at the end of the path where it opens up a bit to a bench or other destination.

You can use it to frame a view or lead from one space to another.

A small arbor can achieve the same amount of romance and can be placed in any of the spots mentioned above.

The simple addition of an arch or an arbor in the cottage garden can have a big romantic impact.

Twinkling Lights Create Romance in the Cottage Garden

Installing twinkling lights is such an easy way to add romance to the cottage garden.

Most often this means string lights.

They can be strung from arches or arbors. Or add them to 4'x4's or poles just for this purpose.

They don't have to be everywhere. Sometimes less is more.

Choose one area to add them. Perhaps where the bench is placed.

You can also add lights in the garden along the path.

Your cottage garden suddenly becomes available, even at night. How romantic.

Water Fountains Add a Romantic Touch to a Cottage Garden

What is it about water? It can still the soul in even the most anxious of times.

It also gives a dreamy, romantic feel to any space.

A romantic garden activates the senses.

A water fountain will sound as though love is whispering in your ear.

A large concrete fountain is gorgeous and should be considered. Place it as a focal point, surround it with flowers, and place a bench so that it faces the fountain.

Or create a large fountain up against a vacant wall of your home or maybe against a stone barrier. This would be dramatic and breathtaking.

However, if your space and budget are limited, try a more simple fountain.

These can be bought and set up easily.

You still get the benefit of the sound of water dancing and the beauty of the fountain itself.

Either way, you have added romance to your cottage garden.

A Secret Hidden Room in the Cottage Garden is Romance 101

The romantic punch of a secret hidden room is HUGE.

The idea is for your path to lead to a destination that is yet to be revealed.

You may walk from one arch to the other. Or perhaps through a gate. Or maybe the path ahead is hidden by trees or plantings.

When you round the last bend of the path, or walk through the last arch, or step through a hedge of evergreens, you find yourself in this magical open-aired romantic hidden room.

Perhaps there is a carpet of grass or a floor of stones or pavers. A pergola could be overhead or maybe just the stars.

It is surrounded by poles or maybe trees that hold up draping twinkling lights.

A water fountain could be at the center.

Around the water fountain is the most romantic seating that draws you in.

You both are hidden and alone. A secret room.

Ahhh. Romance.

This sounds like it could take years and a lot of money and planning to create.

The truth is, you could create a path (ideas are above) from your back door that winds its way to a corner in your backyard.

Line the path with the flowers we have already talked about above.

Then hide the designated secret room with 'Thin Man's' arborvitae or laurel.

Next, hang lights in the trees.

Place an affordable water feature or maybe a fire pit made of stones in the center.

Place your romantic bench right there.

Add an arch when you have the money saved up.

You can make this outdoor room as elaborate or as simple as you want. Regardless, it will be romantic.

Cheers to you and to romance in the cottage garden!