1. Utilize the Side Yard
Often overlooked, the side yard can be a valuable asset for a small garden. Use this narrow space to create a sense of arrival at an outdoor lounge area, making the garden feel more spacious. Position outdoor seating or a dining area in a corner of your yard so that it is visible from the side yard.
2. Create a Hidden Feature
Adding an element of surprise can make a small garden feel larger than it is. Hidden behind a neatly trimmed fern pine (Podocarpus gracilior) hedge, steps in this backyard lead up to a secluded hot tub.
3. Borrow Views
Taking advantage of surrounding views—whether a city skyline or neighboring gardens—can greatly enhance a small space. Keep furnishings and accessories to a minimum to focus on the view. Transparent railings allow visitors to look beyond the deck to trees and the surrounding neighborhood, blurring property lines.
4. Add Levels
A few steps up to a platform can create a sense of journey and make two parts of a small garden feel like distinct areas.
5. Create Multiple Zones
It might seem counterintuitive, but dividing a small garden into defined areas can make it feel larger. The designer of this urban garden made the most of the space by creating two distinct zones: one for outdoor dining and another for relaxing by a fire pit.
6. Add a Focal Point
A typical side yard becomes an inviting destination with the addition of three large corten steel planters, an L-shaped bench, and lushly planted borders. Having multiple attractive areas for the eye to rest makes a space feel larger. Even in winter, the pots and bench provide a focal point and visually anchor the area.
7. Install a Pergola
Pergolas help define a garden area for specific uses, such as relaxing in the shade or enjoying a morning coffee. In a small garden, adding a pergola creates a varied environment and prevents the space from feeling monotonous. A pergola is perfect for creating a cozy retreat where you can enjoy nature and tranquility.
8. Build the Largest Deck You Can
Small platform decks can feel cramped and make a space seem even smaller. Maximize your plot with the largest deck or patio you can fit. Leave space along the edges for planting vines to cover fences, and add large containers with lush foliage.
9. Keep It Simple
Simple lines and a cohesive color palette can make a small space feel more expansive. The horizontal lines of the house siding are echoed in the detached cottage’s window frame and decking. A palette of gray, blue, and mahogany across all materials helps the space feel calm and uncluttered.
10. Double-Duty Storage
These custom wooden benches offer plenty of seating for garden parties and storage space with clever hinged seat designs.
11. Maximize Growing Space
Vines, espaliers, and containers are your best friends when it comes to maximizing a limited area. If a small garden can’t accommodate a full-size fruit tree, use a sunny wall to grow an espalier.
12. Go Dark
Charcoal-colored walls and fences recede, tricking the eye into expanding the boundaries of a space. Here, the dark fences disappear, while the eye is drawn to the vivid green plantings and the inviting flicker of the outdoor fire pit.
Conclusion
Installing a pergola in a small garden helps create a cozy space for relaxation, making your garden even more functional and attractive. For expert assistance with installing pergolas or fences, Globus Gates offers high-quality and professional solutions for your garden.
