Big Ideas For Small Spaces

Conrad McCormick focuses on getting the most out of smaller garden spaces.

- Conrad McCormick

Over the past year the importance of having outdoor space has never been more important as we’ve had to retreat from the world. It’s a precious and valuable commodity that we’ve perhaps taken for granted in the past.

Whether you have a large country garden with rolling lawns and deep borders or a small balcony where everything must be grown in pots, it’s important to think about how you use the space to make the most of its assets.

Certainly, as many of our gardens diminish in size, getting the right look becomes all the more important, they require a bit more thought to design as any mistakes can be glaringly obvious.

GETTING STARTED

Tackling a new garden or making over an existing outside space can be intimidating, especially if you have never gardened before. Look for inspiration in magazines and online, do you want contemporary or tropical, loose and flower-filled or lush foliage-filled haven? Cut out pictures from magazines and print out images of gardens and planting schemes that appeal to you and create a mood board of ideas. You’ll likely find that the gardens you are drawn to are broadly similar in style.

Think about how you will use the garden, will it be an adults-only space for entertaining, will it be a retreat for yourself or do you have to provide room for children to play?

Be realistic about how much time you have to tend to a garden, there is no point in choosing a high maintenance style if you do not have the time to maintain it.

Observe the garden throughout the day, where does the sunlight fall as the hours pass? While having a dining area right next to the house may seem like the most obvious position, if it’s in the deep cold shade after work when you want to sit out, then your layout may require a rethink.