I take it you mean planting out a small border?, it depends on the size, could you let us know the dimensions this is important as to what type of planting will be required, if its say a very small border say under the window, then a small gravel area would surfice with either small plantings not over done sunk into the gravel or a few pots on the gravel with plantings of your choice, ie, summer bedding, winter bedding,inc foliage effect planting, if using gravel, use a membrane and prepare the soil for plantings, julien.

At the bottom of this page click on letter S and then on the menu choose Small Gardens and you will see lots of pictures that may give you ideas that you like.

I notice that the garden centres have lots of different lavenders at the moment and that is a good plant to start with , either in a line as a small hedge or planted out with other plants intermingled with them. Visitors love to touch it and smell it .....and so do the bees.

How small is it? Measurements would be good, and which way does it face? North, south? Does it have a wall, low or otherwise, onto the street? And where are you in the UK?