If perception is reality, then even the smallest of gardens can be tweaked to make the impression of space seem more real. That is all it takes, a little illusion, the kind that Harry Houdini would have been proud of.
It doesn’t matter whether you live in an urban area with outdoor space that is boxy, small and made up of irregular shapes, or whether you live in the countryside with a generous backyard that requires a ride-on lawnmower to keep on top of things; we all wish we had that little bit more space to enjoy.
That is where we have some great news because we have come up with a list tips, tricks and tested pieces of advice that will make your garden feel much, much larger than it actually is.
Read on for our niftiest of tricks:
Get The Proportions Right
We all wish we could enjoy big features, but if you are surviving with a garden that leans more toward the smaller end of the spectrum then it is going to be in your best interest to keep your proportions in check.
Let’s use a fountain as an example. While having a big fountain in the centre of your space may be dreamy, it would make much more sense to go with a more humble option, such as a water display that mounts onto the wall. That way you will be creating a much more proportioned look.
The same goes for your garden furniture. A garden table with ten chairs may be more luxurious, but a dining set made up of a [amazon_textlink asin=’B06W2JYW1Q’ text=’square table and four chairs’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’mygardening411-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’7dd4b3e9-8812-11e7-8b0e-03fd275b6026′] will offer a much better aesthetic.
Change The Perspectives
Like we said, perception is reality, which is why altering the perspectives of your garden can have a huge influence over your space. A great way to do this is to use larger plant pots at the forefront of your garden and smaller ones at the back. That way you will create an illusion of distance, making your garden look a lot longer than it actually is.
Another hotly celebrated piece of trickery is to use smaller stones or tiles when it comes to your patio area. Small gravel always works well, as does a mosaic floor.
The reason to go down this route is simple: bigger patio slabs will give off the wrong perspective and make your patio area seem much smaller because the slabs will drown the place.
Don’t Let It Get Too Crowded
There are plenty of ways a garden can start to feel overcrowded and each of these will make your space feel much smaller. It could be that you have trees lining the border of your garden, in which case make sure you use some pruning services to help you keep on top of them and prevent them from spilling out over your garden because this will close the space off.
Focus too on your plant pots. Instead of having potted plants everywhere, create a sense of exclusivity by just having them in a couple of areas. That way you will have more floor space that you can maximise in whatever way you fancy. If you want to add a little sense of wonder to your potted visuals, then try stacking your pots a little bit.
Layering works wonders when it comes to creating space, as does going down the vertical garden route.
Choose Your Colours Carefully
Colours that are known to create the illusion of space are light, cool-coloured shades, something that can be applied to every area of your garden that is going to adopt colour, from the paint you use on your garden walls to the colour of the flowers you choose to plant.
Your best bet is to use pinks, lavenders, blues, and yellows on the border of your garden as a way of boosting the impression of depth. Then make this work to your advantage even more by using bold colours in the center of your garden as they will catch the eye. This means bold colours as well as warm colours and, believe it or not, white too, so make sure you are planting white flowers with this in mind.
Mirror Mirror On The Wall
There is something magical about having an old mirror or two in your garden. It just creates a sense of mystery and allure that can make a garden pop. But it also creates that feeling of there being more space, especially if you manage to reflect some of the greenery. In fact, it is one of the most buzzed about tricks in the landscaping world because it can seriously enlarge the size of an irregularly shaped garden.
Like we said, just make sure it is reflecting the right parts of your garden and not something that is going to close off the feeling, such as your house or your bins, which can be done with a clever bit of angling. The other thing you will want to make sure you consider is the sun. After all, you don’t want this gorgeous addition to reflect the sun and become a fire hazard.
Separate Your Space A Bit More
Every garden can be divided up, regardless of its shape. It is all about how you use your planting, walls, bushes, freestanding walls, textures, and lighting.
Simply adding a patio or decked area with some bold garden furniture can make a real statement when it comes to space, as can the use of a wooden trellis to obscure the eye line and create a sense of curiosity as to what is on the other side.
Obscuring the space a little is a great way to increase the sense of space, making it feel much-much bigger than it actually is. Even the smallest garden can be made that much bigger if it isn’t revealed all at once, but has a hidden gem around a corner, somewhere with a couple of seats and fairy lights dangling overhead.
Like we have said throughout, perception is reality.
