Combine your decorations
The most important rule with garden decoration is to place it together with planting. Choose wisely, as decorations or water features (although great for wildlife) don’t look good placed in the middle of a space. If it is too small, it will look lost, and something too big will occupy the space; The latter is also known to lower the value of your home, so it’s something to keep in mind when it comes time to sell.
If you like the idea of hearing water flow in your garden but don’t want a fountain, try Wakefield’s Garden Butter Wheel Ribbon Water Pipe and Water Pipe (below). An antique corner is created with wall panels hanging above, incorporating an antique mirror to reflect the garden behind and painted dark gray to highlight the greenery of the surrounding vegetation.
Prepare a garden room
A garden room is an excellent option to expand your space, whether you want a home office or a yoga studio, and planning approval is often not needed. Whether it’s a huge shed or a summer home, it may be the ideal spot to entertain visitors during the summer and can even serve as extra lodging for guests. Consider ideas to transform your garden into more than simply an outside dining, drinking, and sunbathing area.
living wall
Living walls are gaining popularity in garden design because they provide a fantastic chance to include vertical plants while producing maximum drama in your outdoor space. You can place a living wall anywhere, just like with a border, just make sure you choose the right plants for that part of the garden. There are also many green wall kits and living wall planters, so find the one that best suits your space.
You can also invest in a high-impact living wall system, the cost of which varies depending on how elaborate the wall you want to fill a large area.
John Davies designed hydroponic walls for the roof and subterranean garden of this London office building. A variety of flowering shrubs and perennials, such as buddleia and fuschia, completes the evergreen planting structure and adds seasonal color throughout the year.
Alternatively, you may create an immediate living wall by planting, trellising, or placing containers on your garden wall. Climbing plants and wall shrubs like clematis, roses, honeysuckle, and wisteria will lend verticality to your outdoor area.
Don’t forget the lights
When it comes to lighting, don’t overlook how important it is to create atmosphere in your garden. In the same way you layer your indoor lighting, do the same with your garden lighting and choose from a variety of sources (Lights4Fun has a wide variety), including fairy lights, spotlights, lanterns, freestanding lights and sconces. and others. “Outdoor lights and fire pits mean you can continue to enjoy your space even when the sun goes down or the weather isn’t what you expected,” says John Holloway.
Whether it’s fairy lights or string lights scattered along garden paths (Lights4Fun has a huge range), the lights you choose will add character, mood and atmosphere to your space and are essential for alfresco dining.
A solution for small spaces
Vertical planting is essential. Use fences and overturned walls to create more space, and invest in hanging baskets (which are also ideal for front gardens). Change from pavement to gravel; it is significantly more economical. The most essential thing to remember is that just because you have a little garden does not mean you can’t appreciate and maximize its potential. A foldable or collapsible table and chair set is ideal for small areas; consider a garden bistro set for design and functionality, as well as sun loungers for comfy, immediate sitting.
Don’t forget about the wildlife
Always consider how your garden design may affect animals. For example, do what you can to help bees by planting bee-friendly plants, talking to your neighbors about creating hedgehog paths, and buying bird feeders to hang on fences or tree branches. Bee hotels, wildlife ponds, wood piles, pollinator plants and compost piles will continue to be popular.
Family garden
Be smart with landscaping to use the space in the family garden so that it works for everyone. For example, Adolfo Harrison created a hidden playground in an east London park, weaving elements of play throughout the design so that children and adults alike could enjoy the space.
Monkey bars form a pergola where swings and slides can be installed, stone steps are placed for children to jump from each other across the garden, and two benches create a comfortable place for them to sit. Place it inside a living wall to create an attractive face. Mirrors are used to make the space appear larger, and the “ceiling” created by umbrellas made of tall bamboo draws attention to the space and creates a more intimate atmosphere.
Children love to go out to the garden to play, but zoning is important as a small family garden can often be dominated by play equipment, leaving little room for other things. Even if you need a large yard to set up a slide or playhouse, for more limited space, a corner sand table or mud kitchen set works well and will keep the kids entertained for hours.
Refer to creepers
Garden with pink and white flowering plants, wooden fence and potted plants.
Use garden walls to add color and greenery. Climbing plants and trellises are great solutions for small gardens because they raise flowers and leaves off the ground.
“Climbing plants are a great way to add appeal and dimension without taking up too much space,” says Dobbies’ director of horticulture, Marcus Eyles. “Varieties such as Clematis montana and Sweet Pea blend well with most hedges and walls and enhance your garden with stunning flowers and fragrance.”
Choose flexible furniture
Garden furniture in a small garden with four chairs and a dining table.
You need to spend some time finding the best garden furniture for your outdoor space, especially if space is at a premium.
“Avoid filling a small yard with furniture that isn’t used year-round,” advises Francesca de Bridgman. “Think smart with flexible, stylish and space-saving furniture.”
“Chairs, bar stools and even sun loungers that can be stacked and stored when not in use are ideal ideas for a small garden. By combining it with a folding table, you can easily move to the side at any time.’
Make fencing more difficult
Lattice fence with attached patio rack
Take inspiration from living wall elements, using vertical wall space for clever planting. This allows even the smallest garden space to flourish and is especially useful if you are looking for decorative ideas for a garden without grass.
The simple but clever addition of horizontal trellis panels works as a small garden idea to transform the side of a shed, a bare fence or the side of a balcony into an accent wall. Each of these small outdoor spaces can be transformed into a vertical garden containing smaller pots and baskets.
“The way gardens are used is changing and we are now seeing greater use of space, with sections dedicated to growing, entertaining and relaxing,” says Forest garden timber producer Jenny Davis of the Garden Company.
Priced at £99.99 each, our woodland garden is the perfect accessory. Not only do they allow you to isolate areas, but in smaller gardens they are great for creating living plant walls and adding plants to exterior walls.
“In 2023, I hope we’ll see people getting really creative in using every inch of their garden.”
Be interesting with ex
Potted plants and trees along a wall in a small gravel garden
You may not have space for a flower bed or lawn, but an easy garden idea is to introduce small plants and trees into your garden through pots, planters and containers.
“If you don’t have space for beds and borders, you can still achieve a great look with containers,” advises Marcus Dobbies.
Early season primroses, violas and pansies are ideal in pots for beautiful spring colour, and you can group them together for maximum effect. Hanging baskets and window boxes can be filled with seasonal plants for another great space saver and cheerful display.
Turn a tree trunk into a table.
A wooden bench in front of the garden wall, with potted plants around the table
If your space is too small for a traditional garden table and chairs, add a small side table as a place to enjoy your tea outside (or better yet, the sunset).
If you want to make space by felling the tree, or by cutting the trunk into pieces, remove the bark and place the wheel at the base, process the wood. Alternatively, check neighborhood portals or local newspapers to see if anyone is removing tree stumps. Be sure to use locking wheels for safety to prevent the table from sliding.
To give this small garden idea a twist, paint the table top with outdoor paint to add color to the table surface.