Even if you have a small garden there’s a lot you can do to improve it. You can have gorgeous garden furniture, a patio and even lush landscaping. You simply need to know how to design and layout the different aspects of the garden and make the most of the usable space. Here are some tips to help you make the most out of your garden area. For more ideas check out this great post on Martha Stewart Living.
1. Clean Out the Rubbish
One of the best places to start is by cleaning out all of the rubbish. This includes dead foliage, wood, stone and anything thing else that is unnecessarily cluttering the space. When you are able to get the rubbish out, you will notice your garden is much larger first anticipated. Now that you have a clean slate, you will be able to start the planning and design.
2. Plan Your Design Well
The key to designing a small garden is to plan well and keep it simple – ‘less is more’. Choosing to plant extremely lush or large plants, for instance, will only overpower the space and make the garden look smaller than it is. The use of simple plants and furnishings will give a more spacious feel and will make you garden appear larger than it actually is. One great way to maximise your space when planning the design is to plan up instead of out. Using raised flower beds, trellises and climbers will give you the lush surroundings without taking up too much room.
3. Use the Power of Optical Illusion
Another trick that resourceful garden designers use is optical illusion. There are many ways to do this, but the easiest is through careful choice of colours. When designing your garden, choosing lighter coloured plants, flowers and accessories will make your garden look larger. Dark red roses may be beautiful, but give your garden a more airy feel with white or pink roses. The same applies to furniture, if you are looking for a rattan garden sofa for example, choosing a white or champagne sofa made of rattan will make your space look larger than having a brown or black rattan garden sofa.
4. Choose Smaller Accessories
Although this ‘tip’ sounds obvious we see the problem time and time again. When laying out your patio or garden design, choose furniture and accessories that are suitable for the area in which they will be situated. Although you may think you have space for an 8 seater table and chair set you do not want to overcrowd the area unnecessarily. Consider furniture that stacks or folds away, at least then you can store it easily when not in use. With such a great variety of patio furniture available you are sure to find the perfect match for your garden. You should also consider flower containers that stack, hanging baskets or ‘vertical gardens’. They free up valuable floor space and allow you to maximise the beauty whilst still being conscious of space.
5. Water Features
We carried out a recent study that found a water feature is the 4th most desirable thing to have in a garden. Even when designing a small garden you can find room for a water feature. They instantly add serenity and have a calming effect, making them the ideal addition to help you unwind. A large waterfall or pond isn’t necessary, you can get the same effect from a small fountain and it won’t take up half as much room. Alternatively, if you don’t want to install a water feature, consider a table top model that will sit nicely on top of your garden table or in a raised flower bed.
Designing a small garden comes down to compromise. Write out a list of necessities and desirables and carefully plan how they are going to fit into your design. The trick is to not over complicate the design and most of all – have fun!
Author Bio: Author Bio: Robert is a garden design writer for Bridgman outdoor furniture, he also regularly writes about home improvements and furniture design.
