10 Ways to Make Your Small Garden Feel Bigger
Use landscaping tricks to turn your small yard into a green and inviting oasis
Small, shaded, lacking in privacy, surrounded by high walls – if that sounds like your garden, don’t despair. Try some of these tricks landscape designers use to make small spaces feel much larger and more welcoming.
2. Soften the boundaries
High walls can feel overpowering in a small space, but in this courtyard garden climbers beautify the walls with their green leafy texture. They also reduce the perception of height as they visually connect to the lower level planting. The tall urn at the centre of the garden trains the eye to the garden itself and away from the tall buildings outside.
High walls can feel overpowering in a small space, but in this courtyard garden climbers beautify the walls with their green leafy texture. They also reduce the perception of height as they visually connect to the lower level planting. The tall urn at the centre of the garden trains the eye to the garden itself and away from the tall buildings outside.
3. Keep it simple
Reducing the number of materials and plants in a small garden makes it feel spacious and uncluttered. The decking timber above is also used for seating for a clean, minimalist look that works well with the architecture. Block planting of agaves and a low green hedge continue that idea. The organic form of the frangipani tree in the foreground is a clever contrast to all the straight lines and also lets in winter sun.
Reducing the number of materials and plants in a small garden makes it feel spacious and uncluttered. The decking timber above is also used for seating for a clean, minimalist look that works well with the architecture. Block planting of agaves and a low green hedge continue that idea. The organic form of the frangipani tree in the foreground is a clever contrast to all the straight lines and also lets in winter sun.
4. Try similar shapes
Repetition of shape is one of the best design devices for creating continuity in a garden. In this relatively small space it works very well with the curved form of the paving echoed in the fire pit, bench seat and water feature. Surrounding these features with simple planting only, strengthens the drama.
More: Light Up the Night: The Essential Guide to Fire Pits
Repetition of shape is one of the best design devices for creating continuity in a garden. In this relatively small space it works very well with the curved form of the paving echoed in the fire pit, bench seat and water feature. Surrounding these features with simple planting only, strengthens the drama.
More: Light Up the Night: The Essential Guide to Fire Pits
5. Dress up plain walls
A line of three beautiful pots planted with bromeliads in this Brisbane garden is a great way to design an interesting focal point in a small garden, reducing the impact of the high walls. The timber panels add further interest, enlivening what would otherwise be a plain background.
A line of three beautiful pots planted with bromeliads in this Brisbane garden is a great way to design an interesting focal point in a small garden, reducing the impact of the high walls. The timber panels add further interest, enlivening what would otherwise be a plain background.
6. Balance architecture and garden
The simplicity of this small Queensland entrance garden is the perfect foil for enhancing the grandeur of the house. Timber decks float in a sea of pebbles taking you on a leisurely journey to the front door, with sculptural cycads softening the hard materials. The pebbles also create a visual connection to the stone walls of the house, intensifying the link between house and garden.
The simplicity of this small Queensland entrance garden is the perfect foil for enhancing the grandeur of the house. Timber decks float in a sea of pebbles taking you on a leisurely journey to the front door, with sculptural cycads softening the hard materials. The pebbles also create a visual connection to the stone walls of the house, intensifying the link between house and garden.
7. Create illusions with materials.
Taking the timber ‘floor’ of the garden in a vertical direction to morph into walls is a clever way to make a small space feel more unified and, therefore, appear larger. The inset bluestone water feature continues the lovely curve of the wall, completing this beautiful illusion.
Taking the timber ‘floor’ of the garden in a vertical direction to morph into walls is a clever way to make a small space feel more unified and, therefore, appear larger. The inset bluestone water feature continues the lovely curve of the wall, completing this beautiful illusion.
8. Use pleached trees or tall, thin plants
Pleached trees (where the foliage is trimmed to form a hedge) are ideal for small gardens as they let in light above and allow space for planting below. The pleached trees used here are the lush and dense Ficus microcarpa ‘Hillii‘. To their right is a planting of bamboo, ideal for narrow areas due to its tall, thin form. See how the lovely light grey trunks of the ficus echo the straight culms of the bamboo.
Pleached trees (where the foliage is trimmed to form a hedge) are ideal for small gardens as they let in light above and allow space for planting below. The pleached trees used here are the lush and dense Ficus microcarpa ‘Hillii‘. To their right is a planting of bamboo, ideal for narrow areas due to its tall, thin form. See how the lovely light grey trunks of the ficus echo the straight culms of the bamboo.
9. Unify house and garden.
It’s all about making connections in small outdoor spaces so that house and garden read as one large area. In this Sydney garden the house opens up to a timber deck with the same timber also used further into the garden. When the doors are open, the area becomes one lovely big space. Tropical plants around the edges give this garden a resort vibe, the lushness of the planting balanced by the small patch of simple emerald green lawn.
It’s all about making connections in small outdoor spaces so that house and garden read as one large area. In this Sydney garden the house opens up to a timber deck with the same timber also used further into the garden. When the doors are open, the area becomes one lovely big space. Tropical plants around the edges give this garden a resort vibe, the lushness of the planting balanced by the small patch of simple emerald green lawn.
10. Don’t waste side gardens.
Narrow side gardens are an often neglected area of landscape design. Informal paving and planting work to counterbalance the rectilinear walls and tall fence, creating a soft and welcoming pathway. The largely green planting palette of hostas, grasses, ferns and maples dramatically contrasts with the tall orange lilies to make the journey from the front gate one of surprise and delight.
Discover more ways to make the most of your side garden
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Narrow side gardens are an often neglected area of landscape design. Informal paving and planting work to counterbalance the rectilinear walls and tall fence, creating a soft and welcoming pathway. The largely green planting palette of hostas, grasses, ferns and maples dramatically contrasts with the tall orange lilies to make the journey from the front gate one of surprise and delight.
Discover more ways to make the most of your side garden
MORE
How to Choose the Best Plants for Your Small Garden
11 Ways to Max the Benefits of a Small Outdoor Space
10 Big Ideas for Small Urban Balconies
To make a small garden feel wider, use the same paving material right across the space. Here, light-coloured gravel edged with cream pavers makes this entry courtyard feel light and spacious, with the clipped box hedging providing a crisp green border. The stainless-steel globe opposite the front door is a beautiful device to direct visitors to the entrance.