There are many small gardens that harbour incredible potential. That's why it's all the more important to consider a few points when designing them to increase their visual impact. Here we reveal seven tricks to help you get more out of your garden.
Trick 1: Interior design
Especially in smaller gardens, it is necessary to plan thoroughly in order to utilise the full potential of the limited space. This is not only about the utilisation of the garden, but also about aesthetic aspects. As with any remodelling project, the first step is to clarify your needs. Should the garden be used as an oasis of calm or would you rather have barbecues with friends and family? Will the lawn be used often by the children or can the area be redesigned? These considerations form the basis for the new garden.
The garden can then be restructured. A clear structure provides a visual enlargement. This can create different zones, for example for relaxation or play. The different areas can be separated from each other by perennials, shrubs or half-height walls.
With this visual separation, care must be taken not to place any elements that are too high in the centre of the garden. These can otherwise have the opposite effect and make the garden appear smaller. It is therefore important to seek advice from a competent partner and choose the right location for solitary shrubs.
Trick 2: Visual axes
The garden space can be visually enlarged with the help of a visual axis. This makes the outdoor living room appear much more spacious. It is important to ensure that the axis has a clear destination. For example, the view from the terraced area can extend over a small path to the seating area. This helps the garden to appear calmer and skilfully conceals its true size.
Trick 3: Different levels
Different levels help to create space. A sunken garden can be created or a raised area can be built using a wooden deck. The differences in height make the open-air living room appear a little larger. Playful elements can also be incorporated, such as a small staircase.
The uneven levels give the garden more depth and different styles can be combined with each other. The planting levels can therefore be alternated and help to divide the garden into different areas.
The planting also offers an opportunity to add colour to the garden. Lavender and panicle hydrangeas are very popular. Both plants are eye-catching and easy to care for.
Trick 4: Floor coverings and materials
Even in small gardens, you can play with a wide variety of materials. The different coverings help to divide up the space. For smaller gardens, it is advisable to use light-coloured materials. Care should also be taken not to use slabs that are too small. These fragment the garden and make it appear smaller.
Playful paths can be created with the help of large, scattered stepping stones. It is also worth creating a curved gravel path in small gardens. The sweeping lines make your outdoor living room appear more open.
Trick 5: Emphasise height
Although the open-air living room is limited in its length and width, the height can still be utilised. Individual solitary trees at the outer edge of the garden magically draw the eye in their direction and allow the eyes to wander upwards. At the same time, they can also serve as a splash of colour, like the Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Garnet’). Its leaves glow a fiery red, especially at sunset in autumn.
Individual spotlights for lighting can emphasise the height of the trees at night. The illuminated branches and leaves make them appear like sculptures and allow the rest of the surroundings to fade into oblivion.
Trick 6: Let the water flow in
It doesn't always have to be a pool. Depending on the garden, it may be possible to incorporate a swimming pool into the design, but the element of water can also be incorporated into the design in other ways.
Smaller fountains or water features can be integrated into almost any outdoor living space. The splashing of the water creates both an acoustic and visual eye-catcher in the garden. The surroundings of the garden are reflected on the surface and invite you to linger.
Trick 7: Set accents
The smaller the garden area, the more prominent the design elements. For this reason, the equipment and furnishings are just as important as the previous points. Whether patterned garden lights, fire bowls or sculptures is irrelevant. Used in a targeted manner, the accents inevitably draw the eye and create a highlight in any garden.
What happens next?
The tricks described above can be used to get the best out of any garden. Some of these points can be implemented by yourself, but for others it pays to have a competent partner.
Our maintenance team has been successfully looking after gardens of all sizes for many years. Should you wish to remodel your garden, contact us nowt. We look forward to hearing all about your personal project and helping you create a wonderful retreat.
You can download free guides here, if you would like to find out more about the different garden styles.
