How to Create a Small Moroccan Inspired Garden

Dreaming of creating your own Moroccan-inspired garden or balcony? Gardens in Morocco are usually designed to be an oasis to retreat to in the heat of the day. Several elements, including water, tiles and lighting, come together to form one of the most popular garden styles for a small space. By following these key elements, you can easily create your own serene oasis in your mini garden space.

How do you make a Moroccan style garden?

There are several characteristics that define a traditional Moroccan garden. By incorporating each of the following elements, you’ll be able to create your own small space that glows with the tranquil essence of a serene Moroccan courtyard. You’ll soon have a garden that looks like it’s been plucked from a riad at the heart of Marrakesh.

1. A tropical plant oasis

Large palm leaves and dense olive trees are a popular choice as they create shade from the harsh Moroccan heat. To create your Moroccan-style garden, choose a mixture of tropical plants with unique, architectural leaves.

Leafy plants like banana palm or citrus trees can be kept in a pot which allows you to rearrange them and keep them at a manageable size. Lemons are one of the most popular fruit trees that you grow in containers.

Other semi-arid and Mediterranean plants will work well here too, like rosemary, cacti, and succulents. If you live in a cooler climate make sure you choose more hardy tropical plants like cannas or dwarf fan palms.

2. Add vibrant colors

Warm terracotta orange, turquoise, golden yellow, and striking blues often come together in Moroccan-style gardens. A bold, cobalt blue was made popular by designer Jacques Majorelle who created the World famous Majorelle garden which contains walls of vibrant blues.

The hue has even been officially named Majorelle Blue. To bring these colors into your space you could use terracotta pots, a painted wall, colorful tiles, and bold cushions.

3. Use tiles

Moroccan gardens often incorporate tiled designs in the creation of the space. Whether an entire wall, a tiled pool, or a tiled tabletop. They look gorgeous, but they also have a function too, as their glazed surface helps to keep an area cool.

They even have their own traditional Moroccan tiling style known as Zellige. Tiles are usually created with local clay and are laid in striking geometric prints and radiating star patterns.

If you’re feeling creative you could tile a wall or walkway and recreate the famous Zellige style. Or, for a simpler and more cost-effective solution, you could use stencils or even choose pots or cushions with these patterns.

Whether you choose a subtle or striking geometric design, it’s definitely one of the best ways to bring elements of Moroccan architecture into your small space — and some symmetry too!

4. Symmetry

Moroccan gardens use symmetry in a number of ways. From matching planters, symmetrical layouts or arranging the garden around a central, rectangular pool. To add symmetry to your small Moroccon-inspired space you could place two lemon trees in terracotta pots next to your garden door. Or create a symmetrical, radiating pattern of tiles with Moroccan Zellige tiling. 

5. Lanterns and fire pits

For chilly nights, fire pits are often a common feature in Moroccan courtyards to keep visitors and guests warm and to fill the space with a golden glow. Moroccan gardens also frequently feature ornate lanterns as another light source. After the heat of the day, you could enjoy the cooler evening surrounded by the twinkling flicker of lanterns.

Lanterns are a perfect place to light a citronella candle to keep mosquitos at bay. You could attach lanterns along a wall or create an arrangement on a garden table.

6. Focal point

As Moroccan gardens are typically surrounded by walls on all 4 sides, many typically feature a central focal point to draw the eye. Shallow pools, small trees in containers, and decorative sculptures are all common features. Depending on your space you could choose a small fountain, large lantern, terracotta pot with a lime tree, or simply an ornate rattan chair to curl up in.

7. Water feature

A popular feature in many traditional Moroccan courtyards is a shallow, tiled pool with fountains. It recreates the typical vision of a botanical oasis in a climate that is usually dry and arid.

However, if you don’t have the space for a pool, you could add a mini water fountain or even create a small garden pond to draw the eye. In the hot climate of Morocco, water is an essential feature that helps to cool the courtyard.

8. Relaxed seating

When creating your Moroccan-inspired garden opt for low-level, relaxed furniture. Floor cushions and even rugs help to create the illusion that your garden is simply another room to enjoy and relax in.

In the heat of the day, wide sofas and rattan furniture with soft cotton cushions allow air to move around the body. To curate your perfect space, choose cushions in a variety of vibrant colors and geometric prints. Relaxed seating lets you enjoy the ambiance of your perfectly styled Moroccan garden in ultimate comfort.

Featured Image: Photo by Emma Van Sant on Unsplash