In new development areas, building land is limited, so there are only a few square meters of space available for the garden. Now we need garden ideas that visually enlarge the small area. This guide is packed with tips and tricks on how to create a beautiful and spacious small garden.
How can I make a small garden look bigger?
In order to visually enlarge a small garden, measures such as reduction, clever routing, asymmetrical lawn shapes, clever plant selection and decorative accents are suitable. Deceptive maneuvers with water and mirrors create additional spatial depth.
Reduction creates spaciousness - this is how it works
Careful planning is particularly worthwhile for a small garden. Every detail is important here in order to make the most of the limited space available. The motto for the floor plan is: Size comes from reduction. If you create decentralized garden rooms, the viewer will not be able to see the garden at first glance. This trick creates tension and makes the area appear more open. These garden ideas show how it works:
- Divide the garden into plots with different themes, such as a seat, swing or vegetable patch
- Suitable room dividers: half-height gabions, perennial beds, low hedges, tall ornamental grasses
- Create level differences with raised beds, small dry stone walls made of natural stone
The aim of this garden design is to keep the viewer guessing about what happens behind the boundary. These garden ideas invite visitors to embark on an exciting journey of discovery. The actual size of the garden takes a back seat.
Visual axes suggest depth of the room - this is how it works
Symmetrical viewing axes and diagonals are nice for garden design in small areas. The focus is on planning the paths. The top priority is that you create all garden paths with a clear goal in mind. For example, if a paved path leads the view from the terrace to a pavilion at the other end of the garden, this path creates visual spaciousness.
The principle of the 'Golden Ratio' has proven its worth for symmetrical garden design. The division ratio of paths and areas depends on the shape of the garden. In the narrow, long garden, curved paths create a visual depth effect. In the wide, short garden, this effect is achieved with dead straight paths.
Lawn in a small garden – the shape is important
All efforts to create visual spaciousness become less effective if you create a rectangular or square lawn. With oval and circular lawns, however, you can visibly open up the small property. This ingenious trick looks beautiful and exciting at the same time when the green areas are framed by loose, varied planting. With such garden ideas you can create harmonious islands in the overall picture, which create perspective expansion in a small garden.
Skillful plant selection – tips for floral arrangements
One of the key functions in successful garden design planning is the selection of plants. Please act according to the premise: Less is more. Be aware that every single plant in a small garden catches the eye. The following garden ideas would like to serve as inspiration:
- A small house tree acts as the center, such as the globe trumpet tree 'Nana' (Catalpa bignonioides) or crabapple (Malus)
- Ideal for dark garden corners: Shrubs with light green or yellow foliage, such as Japanese golden maple (Acer shirasawanum)
- Tone-on-tone arrangements underline a harmonious appearance
- House walls and pergola covered with espaliered fruit or climbing plants
Another recipe for success for imaginative garden design in a small garden: plant perennials with blue flowers or dark-colored leaves in the background. In front of the floral space openers, plan lower plants with small, light green leaves and pastel-colored flowers. This gardening trick makes any bed appear longer than it actually is.
Garden ideas for decorative accents
Sculptures, small fountains, a babbling water feature or boulders made of local natural stone in the small garden serve as unique eye-catchers at any time of the year. If you include lighting in your planning, a small garden can be transformed into a romantic retreat at night. By illuminating individual plants or garden figures from below with floor spotlights, additional spatial depth is created in the garden at night.
Water and mirrors – garden ideas for permitted deceptive maneuvers
Where space is at a premium, the creative gardener uses his bag of garden design tricks when planning. Here he makes use of the phenomenon that reflective surfaces suggest spaciousness. This can be done outdoors primarily with water and mirrors. Both garden ideas are examined in more detail below.
Large ponds and streams are reserved for parks and large gardens. This does not mean that idyllic water worlds have to be avoided in a small garden. On the contrary, water areas are particularly popular here because the sky, sunlight and the surrounding area are reflected in them. There is room in the smallest garden for a mini pond in a wooden tub (€89.00 on Amazon), wine barrel or a ceramic bowl.
The 'trompe l'oeil' method was copied from French garden designers. Translated, the term means 'to deceive the eye'. This is achieved with mirrors that are cleverly integrated into the planning and create the impression of spatial spaciousness. Wall paintings aim in a similar direction, suggesting a view of an endless landscape.
Tip
Beneficial insects are also welcome in small gardens as powerful help in the fight against voracious pests. If the garden design planning includes small mixed hedges, birds, insects and small animals will find a much sought-after place to retreat and a valuable source of food for the cold season.