Smaller gardens take a special kind of skill to polish, but with the right accents and techniques they can wow as well as their more spacious counterparts.
Having a skyline cluttered with over-sized trees and bulky towering objects is a great way to make a space feel more cramped than it is. While it isn’t the first thing to come to mind when we talk about space, area right above our heads has a big effect on how we perceive our surroundings and a little tweaking can change our outlook. Trim up trees with overhanging branches and remove any other unnecessary coverings which diminish your head space. A neat trick is to have a water feature which captures a piece of the sky in its reflection. It really does make a difference!
Using pathways, tasteful accents and structures to segment your space can actually make the space seem more expansive as each new feature demands attentions and inspection. With enough to draw the eyes, your guests will spend more time being interested in what the garden is (unique, whimsical,fun etc.) instead of what it isn’t (large).
The sweet aroma of fragrant flowers, the eclectic melody of wind chimes, the thrill of excitement watching songbirds splashing in birdbaths; all of these elements help create the rich garden experience we crave and it doesn’t take a lot of space to invoke it! As with the previous
tip,creating an environment abundant with sensory accents will gives your garden plenty to do so there’s no time to dwell on space or lack thereof.
Choosing the right plants for the right space is the easiest way to give your garden a professional and put-together look. This is why it’s so important to choose dwarf plants that suit your situation. Compact shrubs, mini-trees and petite perennials that draw attention with their colors and fragrance give you all the feeling of a full-sized garden without the vast dimensions. Plus it gives a chance to show off your collection of eye-catching planters as a bonus.
Whether elegant, slender iron workings or clean and simple wooden slats, outdoor furniture should be less chunky and more revealing. That is to say, while bulkier furniture can make a small space seem even smaller, more airy furnishings help maintain a full, uninterrupted view of the garden. Choose glass topped tables and open backed seating whenever possible. Also, make sure that furniture works with the garden and not against it. Set backless chairs and benches against large trees so that your guests have something to lean on but they also get to fully engage with the nature around them without subtracting any additional space.
6. Baskets, Trellises, and MirrorsUsing vertical accents is a no-brainer when it comes to saving space. Elevated structures such as trellises and arbors allow you to showcase your plants at eye level while largely sparing that precious horizontal space. Using hanging baskets is also a classic way to maximize vertical space. Mirrors are an old trick for making small rooms look bigger and, when used correctly, can work the same magic in your garden!
Changes in elevation in the landscape can create the illusion of a greater area and should therefore be embraced and emphasized whenever possible. Add shallow steps and walkways to encourage walking up and down small hills or use decorative bridges to draw attention to slight dips in the terrain.
Necessity is the mother of invention and when you need to maximize your space it pays to use accents that can play multiple roles in the garden. Choose benches that double as planters, low stone walls extra as seating, and dress up trees with decorations that are actually bird feeders. Get creative and make your everyday items work harder so you don’t have to.
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