Get Creative with Your Small Space Landscape

December 27, 2016 | By webadmin

Have you recently downsized your home or landscape space? While it might seem challenging to make a big statement in a small space, small doesn’t have to mean boring. Along with the right sized plants, there are other elements you can use to create a cozy outdoor living area that is as comfortable and beautiful to live in as a large backyard, and with the bonus of less maintenance.

Small scale plant varieties, minimal pieces of furniture and a neutral color palette will keep this patio relaxing and functional without feeling crowded. Photo by Living Magazine.

It’s All an Illusion!

Diagonal lines, small scale plants, less clutter and a minimal color palette helps smaller landscapes appear bigger. Despite the size, your yard could be cleverly divided into various functional areas using the proper scale of plants and furniture, neutral colors and thoughtful accessories. A small faux lawn for the dog, a stone patio for seating and a mini-grill can all work together without feeling crowded.

Go UP!

Vertical shelving or cabinets along fences and outdoors walls hold potted plants, personal keepsakes, and garden tools without taking up groundspace. Upright, narrow trees and shrubs pull the eye upward and add green in compact spaces. Get creative by adding an espaliered fruit tree on a fence as living art.

An espaliered tree takes up little space and can be featured as living art.

A Proper Palette

Less is more when designing for a smaller landscape, especially when choosing color. A foundation of evergreen shrubs valued for their foliage create a neutral background for pockets of bright seasonal blooms planted through the space. Choosing only one or two colors, or a monochromatic palette, will give the space a sense of order.  Repeat the bloom colors in your accessories, furniture, or painted areas throughout.

This selection of woodland plants will grow no larger than will fit the scale of this cozy backyard. The diagonal walkway gives the illusion of a larger space.

Reduce the Clutter

Create a sense of order by reducing garden art and furniture. Instead of trying to fit in chairs, a dining table with added chairs, plants, a fountain and other useful or loved features, edit the pieces to what you’ll really use. Less furniture and decorations will increase the spaces in between creating an airy feel. Using the same plant varieties repeated through the area, less accessories and only one bold color or a monochromatic color scheme will streamline the design.

River rock running through this patio garden doubles as a design element and also helps with drainage.

Maintenance

With less plants and little to no lawn, you’ll have minimal maintenance requirements. However, the minimal care you do give will go a long way when it comes to healthy plants and a clean living space. Properly watered plants, well amended soil, mowing and routine checks for pests and diseases are key to healthy, beautiful landscapes - big and small.