With the right tips, a small garden is easier to design than you might think. Look forward to lovely summer days in your own little garden with friends and family. Find out how, with the right planning and approach, you can turn your small garden into a feel-good oasis.
Designing a small garden – here's how:
- Plan your garden and divide it into zones
- Set up a lounge area
- Create a dining area
- Set up a barbecue corner
- Create special areas
1. Plan your small garden and divide it into zones
Divide your garden into clear areas. A visible structure makes a small garden look bigger, and a garden seems larger when visitors can't take in every area at first glance. Think in advance about which areas you need. Would you like a dining area and a lounge area to relax in? Do you need a play area where your children can let off steam? Would you like to grow fruit and vegetables in a dedicated area? Or a barbecue corner where you can cook for the whole family?
Once you've decided, start planning your small garden. Sketch the areas you want to create. Different ground materials, such as wood, lawn, stone or gravel, are a good way to mark them out. The different zones make your small garden feel more interesting and spacious.
Use tall grasses or small hedges to separate the areas further. Avoid hedges and privacy screens that are too high – once you can no longer see over them, they make the space feel cramped.
Plan a covered area so you can use your small garden even when the weather is changeable.
2. Lounge area
If you love relaxing in your garden, a lounge corner is the place for you. A lounge area with benches and armchairs invites you to linger during the summer months. Matching seat pads, cushions and blankets make it cosy.
If you're looking for somewhere to sunbathe, choose sun loungers. They quickly turn your small garden into a place to soak up the sun. Don't forget a parasol, so you can stay outside in the warm midday sun.
3. Dining area
In summer, there's nothing better than eating outdoors. Make your terrace feel like an extension of your living room. Create generous surfaces with plenty of room for furniture – connecting them makes your small garden look bigger.
When choosing a table, make sure it's big enough for the whole family, and allow for friends who drop by spontaneously.
As a rule of thumb, allow 60 centimetres per person and one metre in depth, so two people can sit opposite each other comfortably. Make sure the table and chairs are made from weatherproof materials. In small gardens, stackable chairs are a good idea, so you can free up extra space when needed.
4. Barbecue corner
Take your kitchen outdoors and make your barbecue area a fully fledged kitchen, just like the one inside. Set up a modern barbecue station. Alongside a large grill, it makes sense to include a surface for preparing food and putting things down. A small serving trolley gives you space for extra cooking utensils.
Herbs next to the barbecue in a window box or planted straight into a bed give your food that special something.
Want to find out more about planning and fitting out an outdoor kitchen? Read our detailed guide: Planning an outdoor kitchen.
5. Create special areas
Unconventional spots in your garden offer great potential. Whether you'd like a retreat, want to build a playhouse for your child or set up a creative or exercise corner – it all works in a small garden. Plan the size in advance so this area is neither too big nor too small, and decide how important it is to you.
A garden party in the green: if your terrace is too small to seat lots of guests, simply use the full length of your garden for a long summer table. Do you have a beautiful tree that provides shade during the day? Hang paper lanterns in it to create a cosy atmosphere. You'll find lots more tips on this topic in our "Garden lighting" guide.
Have fun designing your own garden.
Photo credit: Kerstin Kröger
