There are several ways you can maximise the functionality of your backyard garden area – even if it is a small space.
Building a small garden can often take more effort than a large garden. Why?
Because it requires clever and thoughtful planning to get the most out of compact spaces.
While creating a small backyard garden, the important thing is to ensure that your garden doesn’t feel cramped or cluttered.
In this blog post, we’ll give you ideas, tips, and techniques to build a functional outdoor space that looks breathtaking all year round.
5 Best Small Garden Ideas For Your Outdoor Space
1. Create a plan
A well-designed garden provides beauty and a functional space that can improve your lifestyle. To get the most out of your small garden, in-depth research and planning are the key to a successful project.
There are a plethora of small garden design ideas on Pinterest that you can use as an inspiration to find your preferred garden style.
First, spend some time understanding what you need from your space and what you will use your backyard for – entertaining, kids/pets play area, relaxing, etc – and define your budget and then create your plan around these two key factors.
Visualise your garden plan on paper first if possible -t’s easier and much less expensive to correct a mistake on paper.
Measure your backyard and take note of problems that you may need to resolve. Does your drainage system need to be revamped? Does your garden not include a shaded area large enough for you to build your sitting space?
Survey the area that receives the most sunlight and plan your planting areas accordingly.
If you want more from less space and don’t want to dedicate your small backyard garden entirely to plants and flowers, make it multi-purpose.
You can have your standard dining area and create a romantic setting with a swing chair and string lights.
And, of course, you have your garden, too.
2. Keep Plants Vertical, Not Horizontal
In small spaces, less is always more. So instead of trying to cram plants on the garden floor, spruce up your wall, maybe use some climbing plants.
Vertical gardens are extremely practical, especially in small spaces.
This gives an excellent illusion of being surrounded by greenery every time you’re in your garden, and it doesn’t take up the much-needed space.
Try adding one big pot instead of several small potted plants, this helps with reducing visual clutter and makes your small garden landscape look more spacious and elegant.
3. Create a Backyard Focal Point
Creating a sitting space at the end of a narrow garden will create an illusion of a larger area.
Position your furniture at the back of a paved area and build a pathway leading to this sitting space to draw attention to this space.
This is a great alternative to a common method of creating your focal point in the centre of your garden. Use the rule of thirds; plan your focal point on the left-third or right-third of your garden (typically away from the entrance).
One tip to make your garden look bigger is by taking advantage of optical illusions with a contemporary garden mirror panel.
4. Choose the Right Plants
Take advantage of foliage and the texture of tropical plants. Plants with large leaves like the Elephant Ear plant will change the scale of your small backyard space.
You can create a sense of depth in your small garden with your plant selection. You can do this by simply playing with the heights of different plants to create a layered look.
You can try layering colour, too – you can either include gradations (reds, oranges, and yellows) or go for a classic combination like red and purple.
If you want, you can even stick to one variety when it comes to your flowering plants, for example. It gives your small backyard garden a consistent aesthetic and reduces the work you have to do to maintain your plants.
5. Choose the Right Furniture
Get functional furniture for your outdoor space that helps you save space by doubling as a storage unit for things like your gardening tools.
Use portable furniture that you can effortlessly bring out, put away, and roll around (coffee table on wheels) as and when you need them. Choose flexible pieces of furniture like collapsible tables and foldable chairs that can be easily stored.
Hang furniture to create an illusion of more floor space. All you need is a nook of your garden to mount a hanging chair and make it your own cozy reading corner.
You can even hang a relaxing hammock under shade for a lazy afternoon nap. When not in use, you can simply hang both ends from the same hook and make use of the additional space.
If you don’t have a shaded area in your garden, you can easily create it with a large patio umbrella.
You can also use perspective to add different levels to your garden.
Raised garden beds, sunken fire pits, and a raised platform will open up more creative ways for you to optimise your small backyard garden area.
You can even stack container plants on multiple levels to add dimension. You can integrate large terracotta with slender and tall glazed pots.
Outdoor fireplaces are even more suited for small backyard gardens than large ones because they bring in an element of coziness and intimacy.
And that’s it!
Those are our 5 best small garden ideas to help you get inspired and create a perfect backyard!
Want more? Here for some simple front garden landscaping ideas.
If you want someone to help you install your new garden, get in touch with us, and we can supply and install your new plants, garden beds and mulching, etc. Together, we’ll create a yard that’ll amaze your entire neighbourhood.