Design and Layout Ideas to Enhance a Small Garden

If the pandemic taught us anything it’s that optimising our home space to make the very best of what we have is crucial – from the creation of a home office and workspace, to breathing life back into our garden. It also taught us that the excuse “but my garden is only small” is no longer applicable – with viral videos and blogs showing how even the smallest outdoor spaces can be transformed into home cinemas, bars, dining areas, and a haven of peace and quiet. 

In this blog post we will be sharing some of our top design and layout ideas to help you enhance even the smallest of gardens, and – spoiler alert – you don’t even need any grass for some of them!

Use the sunlight to plan your layout

Before you get stuck into designing your garden, first consider how the sun reflects into your garden and which areas get the most sunlight at which times. You might find that you need to adjust the height of your trees or change the location of potted plants to make the most of your sunlight – all things that you should do before committing to a redesign project. 

Break up the space into cohesive zones

The best way to create different zones within a small garden is to make sure that they all blend cohesively even while remaining separate. This means complimentary materials and furniture styles, an obvious path from one space to another, and a consistency in the way the garden has been used.

Make sure there’s a purpose behind every piece of furniture

Don’t buy a large dining table and 6 chairs if you will regularly only have 2 or 3 diners – it’s a waste of space and money. Instead, consider the purpose and value behind every item of furniture, and if it makes more sense within your lifestyle to have comfy chairs in your garden, opt for comfort over a dining table. You can always bring a few indoor chairs outside when you have guests over! It’s also worth considering the option of bespoke garden furniture to ensure that all your unique needs are met, something that often can’t be achieved from ‘off the shelf’ solutions.

Consider neutrals as well as colour

It’s easy to throw colour at an outdoor space, but often it’s the neutrals and lighter tones which open a space out and make it appear larger and brighter. When you’re selecting furniture and soft furnishings, choose neutral colours with different textures to add an extra layer of detail. 

Use height

From a trellis to hanging baskets, tall plant pots and smaller flower beds, using and optimising the way you use height in your garden space will make the entire garden feel more alive. We have also seen a wide selection of living plant walls available which not only make great use of a vertical plain wall but can also be a great way of creating extra privacy for your garden. 

Use tree trunks

From wraparound benches to swings and children’s play equipment, using the natural features in your garden is a great way of optimising what you have and really making the most of your space. 

Use see-through rather than solid fencing

Large wooden panel fencing might be great for laying out your boundary and creating privacy, but it’s not very aesthetically attractive and it’s a real blockade against natural light. If you have some space around and aren’t directly backed onto someone else’s garden, consider wire fencing and rustic wood stakes instead to add more charm to your garden – and use bushes for added privacy. 

Soften the edges

A flower bed border is the epitome of a country garden and can soften the edges to make the space seem larger and less angular. Consider using the flowerbeds for your favourite buds and then create a small herb garden by your access point to the garden to create a practical and beautiful space. 

Embrace inside-outside living

This is as much about your garden access point as it is about your garden, encouraging homeowners to create a seamless flow from the garden into the home through complimentary décor and light and bright windows and doors to invite the outside in. This will increase the number of ways you use your garden and really make the most of it all year round. 

Make a fire pit the focal seating point

Every garden needs a focal point – why not a fire pit? Functional and fun as well as great to look at, a fire pit elevates the appearance of a garden and turns it into a space that you genuinely look forward to spending time in… making all of the above tips and tricks completely worth it!