Does your garden seem small to you and you don’t know how to arrange it to optimize its area? Do you even doubt that this is really possible? Do not panic, there is a multitude of layout possibilities to give it an impression of space. Even with a few square meters of lawn or outdoor courtyard, it is quite possible to make your garden more pleasant and spacious than it seems. Discover all our tips & tricks to develop and enhance your small garden!
Possible layouts for a small garden
The design & layout of a small garden must be thought out carefully because you must enhance every square meter of your exterior.
Before you start, you will have to think about what you want but be careful to stay within the scope of possibilities (draw up your budget as well as your possible technical constraints).
In addition, several criteria will for example be studied to make some of your choices, particularly with regard to plants, for example:
The region;
Sun exposure;
The quality of land;
Wind exposure;
Once you have defined these basics, here are some tips to apply to enhance your small garden!
Opt for vertical plantations
The advantage of a small city garden, for example, is that it is generally delimited by one or more walls which you will be able to take full advantage of.
By opting for climbing plants or completely greening a wall, you will be able to give an impression of depth & openness without encroaching on the ground width of your garden.
So don’t hesitate to let yourself be tempted by hanging pot holders, wall supports, standing planters, multi-level shelves…
A little additional tip to get more out of your vertical plantings: choose plants with colorful flowers (bright colors will help you amplify the impression of grandeur that will emerge from your exterior).
Play on the volumes with different levels
A small garden does not necessarily mean that you will only have to opt for small pots or small plants.
Indeed, to maximize the impression of space in your garden, you will on the contrary have to create perspective by playing on the heights.
However, be careful what you choose to plant again (especially if you are thinking of including small trees in your green space): you must remain in compliance with the urban planning regulations in force and respect, among other things, the legal heights & spaces imposed by law.
Some fruit trees such as orange trees, lemon trees, or even olive trees can grow in pots and are therefore possible if you do not have the possibility of planting a tree in the ground.
In addition, to bring a little “graphics” to your green spaces, do not hesitate to create a small path using flat stones or pebbles for example. In addition, you can also plant some bushes to prune to give relief to your small garden.
Choose modular and space-saving furniture
Do you want to create a cozy and relaxing space in your small garden? It’s entirely possible, but again, think about it in a way that best fits the surface you have.
Once the size of your terrace has been determined, opt for space-saving and modular furniture, which you can move as you wish according to your uses and which will undoubtedly create a cozy corner:
Deckchairs & folding chairs;
Breakfast area with a small side table & two chairs;
A garden chest that you can use as a bench;
Remember to take care of your lighting
Lighting will have a key role in optimizing & enhancing your small garden.
To start, focus on functional lighting. In this sense, you can in particular place small lamps along your paths or on either side of your staircase (you can also opt for solar lighting if you do not have the possibility of pulling electrical cables ).
Once the practical lighting is finalized, you can consider a more decorative look. A light garland can, for example, help you create a friendly & warm atmosphere without breaking the bank too much.
Finally, the last step, think about ambient lighting: from outdoor candles to luminous lanterns, there are many possibilities to enhance your outdoor lighting!
Create a small garden
As we mentioned above, the size of your garden is not an obstacle, you have many possibilities to highlight it, be careful however to avoid certain errors!
Leaving a small garden empty & without landscaping or decoration will not help you maximize the impression of grandeur that could emerge from it, quite the contrary!
It will indeed seem abandoned & will not leave a beautiful view from the living room!
Regularly maintain your small garden as if it were a part of your home in its own right: cleaning the yard or terrace, mowing the lawn, weeding, trimming bushes and other plants…
Mistake n°2: not having a goal when starting the layout of your garden
As with starting any project, you will have to define its objectives before you start. And again, the development of a garden is no exception to this rule.
For example, if you want to make the most of the exposure of your garden for sunbathing, you will favor the installation of a cozy space with deckchairs rather than a lunch area for example.
If, on the other hand, you favor the creation of a beautiful view from your interior, then you can consider the creation of a landscaped green space or even a small raised water point.
Mistake #3: Over-cluttering your small garden with objects
As we have already said, the development of a small garden will lead you to make choices if you expect an optimal rendering.
Also, think before investing too much in objects, furniture and other equipment: do you really have the space to install a swing or a slide? Are you able to create a cozy space in addition to a lunch area in your small garden?
Also keep in mind that, like your interior, the trend of the moment is towards minimalism, ideal for creating a small inexpensive garden.
In conclusion
Laying out a small garden is not necessarily easy, but whatever the size of your garden, you can easily lay out you’re exterior and create a pleasant & optimized green space to enhance your small garden: think about storage to prevent any mess, determine a general style & create synergies between the different materials you use, bet on a few quality elements (sometimes it only takes a little to enhance the whole garden.
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