Small Garden Design Ideas to Transform Outside Spaces

17/08/2017

Just because you don’t have an abundance of outside space, it doesn’t mean your garden can’t be fabulous. Small gardens are inherently low maintenance and, with a few simple touches, some cleverly positioned features and a bit of creative thinking, you can really make the most of even the tiniest area. Here are a few small garden design ideas to help you on your way.

Use fencing and retaining wall design to your advantage

Use your fencing and walls to your advantage by making them a feature of your small garden design. Paint your walls a light colour to reflect the sun’s warmth and natural light, which will give the illusion of a larger space. Bare fences can impose on a small garden, but they are easy to dress up with flowers and foliage. Decorative fencing, like our elite St. Esprit fence panel from Grange offers privacy and strength, with horizontal grooved slats and a square top for a stunning, contemporary look.

Inject light and colour with screens and trellis

Trellis is a great garden design idea where space is limited, as you can enjoy the beauty of colour and greenery without taking up valuable floor space with pots. Use trellis with glorious trailing flowers and climbing plants to really brighten up a small garden. We have a wide range of trellis in wonderful styles. including lightweight wall-mounted trellis, to help you inject marvellous colour.

Garden screens can give you the feeling of being enclosed without too much shade, which can be a problem in small gardens. With slatted screens you can enjoy privacy, without blocking out the light. Our Adjustable Slat Garden Screens, allow you to adjust the slats to let the sunlight reflect around your garden, as you wish.

Be clever with garden path ideas

You can use sleepers to make an interesting path or edging. We have a range of reclaimed sleepers, new softwood and French oak sleepers, to perfectly match any small garden design. Stepping stones are another simple way to bring intrigue to your garden, as well as lots of fun for kids, jumping from one to another. We have a selection of fabulous stepping stones, including the Stonemarket Log, which has the magnificent weathered appearance of real timber, but is made from concrete, so is extremely hard wearing and not susceptible to rotting, warping or splintering.

Make zones or an interesting patio area

Strong landscaped lines can give a fantastic contemporary look, and by using different materials you can create interlocking zones in even the smallest of spaces. Decking alongside pale patio slabs and decorative chippings can create a gorgeous effect. With our range of natural, concrete and porcelain paving, your small garden can be instantly transformed. Or, you can create a chic, rustic patio using chunky wood, like reclaimed sleepers, which can even be used to create a raised area. Bizarre as it may seem, dividing a small garden actually has the effect of making it seem larger.

Get creative with a decking area

If space allows, a small area of decking can become an innovative feature in your garden. Use light boards to enhance the sense of space, like our grooved decking boards, which come ready treated and are currently on offer at 25% off. We have everything you need to create a fabulous decking area, including timber joists, hand and base rails, decking rope and spindles. We’re also suppliers of the innovative Millboard Composite decking – an alternative to real timber that offers all the beauty of hardwood, with less maintenance. Use contemporary furniture on your decking area to transform your garden into an outdoor living room.

Waterless water features

Make clever ‘water features’, without actually having to install pumps or liners. Use decorative stone to create a dry stream bed, with a paving stone laid across it to give a bridge effect and access to the garden. We have a wide range of decorative gravel, cobbles and pebbles in a wonderful selection of colours, to help bring a creative twist to a dry stream. We also have a gorgeous selection of rockery stone, to beautifully enhance any small garden design.

Quirky seating areas

You don’t need to clutter up a small space with lots of garden furniture. Utilise existing walls as seats for visitors or create a beautiful wall using attractive stone – you can have an abundance of seating at your fingertips, when you need it. We have an extensive range of walling stone for traditional gardens and modern ones alike. The Bradstone Madoc walling is a fabulous choice for an authentic rustic-looking wall, while the Pavestone Moodul walling block offers a sleek, contemporary look, in stunning grey or black.