This is a simple starter guide to garden design where space is limited. We asked some of the garden designers on Design for Me for their top tips on how to make a small garden look bigger.
1. Avoid large expanses of grass, paving or decking
It may seem counter-intuitive but large lawns will emphasise the limits of the space.
2. Keep it simple
Keep the layout and planting bold and striking. This will prevent the garden feeling cluttered.
3. Let your garden unfold
In line with the point above, it’s best that your garden doesn’t reveal itself all at once, highlighting exactly how small it is. Instead, think of your garden as a journey, revealing different moments as you move through and around it. This will create the illusion of space.
Design by Adam, garden designer from Islington, London. Click on the image to see more and shortlist them for your home project.
4. Create Zones
When creating these moments or zones, think about how each one can be used and enjoyed in a different way for different activities, e.g. playing, sunbathing, eating, growing vegetables etc. This will allow you to make the most of every inch of your garden.
Design by Lewis, garden designer from Bradford, Yorkshire and The Humber. Click on the image to see more and shortlist them for your home project.
5. Use mirrors
This trick to give the illusion of extra space is well known and used internally; it is just as effective in your garden. Explore these garden mirror ideas to gain some inspiration and knowledge on utilising mirrors outdoors.
6. Use the walls for planting
Not only is it helpful to draw the eye upwards to make a small space look bigger, planting on the walls frees up the floor space for other purposes. You could also use hanging baskets at different levels to add colour and depth.
Design by Adam, garden designer from Islington, London. Click on the image to see more and shortlist them for your home project.
7. Avoid bulky shrubs and bushes
Try to replace bushes, particularly at the edges of a garden.
8. Take decking full width and lay boards widthways
This will exaggerate the width of the garden. However, avoid making the decking area too expansive – instead think of it as a zone within the garden (see above).
Design by Simon, garden designer from East Hampshire, South East. Click on the image to see more and shortlist them for your home project.
9. Add a new level
Introducing a new level into your garden will add interest to the design and break up the space, making the garden as a whole feel bigger.
Design by Christine, garden designer from Wycombe, South East. Click on the image to see more and shortlist them for your home project.
10. Go big
Big pots, large format paving and even plants with large leaves will avoid the garden feeling fussy or busy, and it will therefore appear bigger as a whole.
11. Get expert advice
If you find yourself feeling a little lost about the best solution for your garden, speaking to a garden designer could help crystallise your thoughts and get your project off the ground. You don’t have to hire someone to design and manage the whole process – you may even benefit from just a two hour design consultation.
A good garden designer will work with you to make the most of your budget, advising on where it’s worth investing in a quality product and where savings could be made. They will have a detailed knowledge of products and materials to help you make your selections. They can advise on durability, how quickly materials will weather, as well as having a keen sense of the overall aesthetic. They’ll work with you to decide on the best design solution for you, considering how you would like to use your garden and how long you are prepared to spend on maintaining it in the future.
Finding the right person for your garden project
The key to a successful project is good research and planning and it’s wise to get a garden design professional involved as early as possible. Finding the right one can be a bit of a minefield, which is why we created Design for Me in the first place. You can register your project with us for free and we’ll find the right garden designer/landscaper for your project in no time!
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