How to Create a Big Impression With a Small Garden


Let’s face it, most of us aren’t lucky enough to live in a palatial mansion, or any even closely resembling one for that matter, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be able to get the best from our homes, and indeed gardens.

garden-with-bridge
More than you could ever aspire to? Maybe, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be inspired!

Whilst it isn’t possible to physically make a space any bigger than it already is, it is possible to create the illusion of a vast and grand expanse, worthy of any aristocrat worth his or her salt. For many people reaching retirement age, downsizing is for one reason or another the order of the day, so if you fall into this category and want to know how to make the best of your reduced plot, check out the following top tips.

1. Circles Are Your Friend

One of the best ways to give the impression of space is to make the main focal point of the garden circular in form, be a it a lawn or paved area, this makes the garden look wider, as though it were quite literally expanding from the centre outwards.

2. Paint Fences With Light Colours

Picture the horizon at sea and you probably imagine sky that goes on as far as the eye can see, try to replicate the same effect in your garden by keeping your fences light and therefore your borders undefined. By not ‘boxing in’ the garden too much you can again give the illusion of a bigger, airier space than you would do otherwise.

3. Cut the Clutter

Whether it’s the kids (or grandkids) toys, or a wheelbarrow full of junk that you’ve been meaning to shift for the last month, it always pays to keep your garden as de-cluttered as possible. It makes you feel better about it when you look out of the window, and a de-cluttered space is a more spacious space

4. Add Interest With Split Levels and Clearly Defined Features

Remember that scene from ‘Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ where the late Gene Wilder’s Willie Wonka character leads his guests into the main part of his factory, complete with rolling grass hills and a chocolate river? No? Well anyway, my point is that you can create your own magical, awe inspiring scene, with interestingly shaped flower beds, split levels, water features and whatever else your imagination can think of (without going too overboard of course!). You’d be surprised just how interesting and labyrinth like you can make a small garden with a bit of thought and experimentation.

5. Compact Furniture

Unless you’re planning on making a real feature out of something like a stone bench for example, we’d recommend sticking to compact and light metal furniture. Not only does this take up less space, and can in many cases be folded up, but the thin framework won’t appear too overpowering or take up too much visual real estate in the garden.

 

Recent Posts

x