16 Creative Garden Gate Ideas

If you want to make a fabulous entrance, you need a great garden gate. Whether they’re functional or decorative, garden gates can make a big artistic statement.

For more, also see Idea Gallery of Arbors, Trellis, Obelisks and More.

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Garden Gate Ideas

I photograph garden gates everywhere I go. I’m sure it’s connected to the fact that I’m a complete garden geek and I get this wave of excitement passing through any garden gate to see what’s on the other side.

I’ll share a few photos here and below you find the gateway to a whole bunch more ideas.

Old Metal Garden Gates

This first gate is from my garden. I got it dirt cheap at a junk shop. It was a lucky find.

It started out free-style in the garden with a Fresh Flowers sign and flower pots.

In its next life I placed it as garden art on the front of the garden shed along with some other junk art treasures.

I am so fond of it I wish I had several, but no such luck (yet).

This next gate is used as free-standing garden art in a front garden bed:

This next gate is part of an arbor. The morning glory steals the show.

Lovely vintage gate in a garden with red poppies growing nearby.

This wall planter is made to look like an old metal garden gate:

In the next photo an old gate is used as a trellis for a climbing clematis.

This next vintage gate has its own custom made arbor for roses.

This next gate leads to trails through some woods. The allium garden art brightens it up.

Wooden Garden Gates

If you want a bold choice, red is your color.

This next one was the gate at my old garden. The three types of clematis didn’t seem to mind the shade.

These next ones are all snapshots from gardens I have visited.

The first is a classic white picket fence with matching gate and arbor overhead.

This old gate is propped up against a chainlink fence. It’s a gorgeous old piece and helps distract from the ugly fence behind it.

This next one is a fresh twist on the classic Z design. See how the 2×4 boards are placed to hold the long boards in place? Looks nice with the metal inset.

I built this gate to fit an odd-sized opening in our garden. I took the photo before adding the lock hardware.

Here it is years later viewed from the other side:

This next garden makes a bold statement with black fencing and arbors. You can see them in the arbor gallery here.

A veggie garden fence can keep a lot of munching rabbits out. I love the welcome sign and aged patina of the wood.

Some garden art including a Garden Street sign dress up this next wooden gate:

Hanging Door Gates

With the addition of barn door hardware (Amazon.com), old doors become garden gates.

A lovely, custom arbor with one-of-a-kind dual gates or doors.

Optical Illusion Garden Gate

This final idea is not a gate, but it could be. While it looks like there is a door into the fence, it’s an optical illusion. 

The free tutorial for this DIY optical illusion garden mirror is here.

More Garden Idea Galleries

I’ve got lots of idea galleries for you to explore including arbors, planters, sheds, garden art, and more!

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛

Next

• Turn a Real Bed into a Garden Bed
• Fence Garden Art Ideas
• 50 Creative Garden Sheds