Ideas for small gardens : garden design for snug spots

Australian gardens aren't as big as they used to be, so it's more important than ever to be smart with the space that we have. Here are a few small garden design tricks to make your outdoor space seem bigger than it really is, and gorgeous ideas for small gardens.

With residential blocks in Australia shrinking all the time, creating memorable gardens is becoming a matter of making the most of smaller outdoor spaces. And with a bit of planning and the right advice, you too can turn your small garden into a gorgeous haven for you and your family.

Maximising space in a small garden

For garden designer Steve Hislop, from Design in Green in Curl Curl, making the most of smaller gardens is about using design techniques to give the impression that the space is larger than it is. The best ideas for small gardens also ensure that the garden space fulfils the practical needs of the people who will be using it.

"In other words, utility elements like clothes lines, rubbish bins and storage areas must be taken into account," he says. "We would usually try to screen off these areas from casual sight, and turn the screens into features themselves."

Steve suggests that one of the keys to making the best possible design for a small garden is to take advantage of every dimension in the space. In other words, don't just consider what you can do at ground level; explore ways of creating interest at different levels, and how to use the vertical spaces as well.

"It's like designing a room inside a house," says Steve. "The walls are important as well. One thing we like to do is create green living walls: one-piece, all-inclusive, vertical growing spaces, like artwork on a wall."

Vegetation options for a snug garden

He also suggests growing vegetation on fences and screens to blur the physical boundaries of the garden. He prefers to use broad-leafed plants in smaller spaces, although he advises against having too many different types of plants.

"That can make a small area seem too chaotic and busy," he says. "We prefer to use a smaller selection of plants, choosing ones that look good together, then grouping them and repeating them in small patterns."

Steve's other small garden design ideas include using larger format pavers at ground level to create fewer lines in the space; raising garden beds around the edge of the garden to create clean lines and prevent plants spilling over the floor space; and creating bench seating on the edges of raised planter boxes and taking out the classical central outdoor furniture setting.

Strategically placed mirrors can also give the impression of being glimpses into secret or hidden zones, and give an illusion of more space. And partly hidden water features can create pleasing and soothing sounds that enhance the impression of spaciousness in the garden.

Talk to a garden designer today and discover how you can make the most of your small outdoor space: