It can sometimes feel as though you can’t create the outdoor oasis of your dreams when you only have a small backyard, a narrow patio, or a compact balcony. You may feel as though you can’t get creative when you barely have enough space for a dining set, let alone your favorite plants and accessories. However, transforming your small outdoor space into a personal sanctuary that’s both functional and inviting is easier than you think. It can simply require this approach:
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Assess Your Space
Whether you’re choosing to involve landscaping experts like M&S Architectural LTD or travel down the DIY path, evaluating your outdoor area is a crucial first step. It involves measuring it, taking note of the layout, and highlighting the entrances, walls, railings, and existing features that must remain in place.
Essentially, you’re creating a floor plan so you can establish how much usable floor space you have and the existing structures that you can use creatively. During this process, you’ll also learn about the challenges you’ll need to address as you transform your outdoor space, like a lack of privacy or tight corners.
Be Selective with Furniture and Accessories
The unfortunate reality is that you won’t always be able to purchase your ‘first choice’ when you have a small outdoor area. For example, you might dream of having a large dining suite for lying down on and relaxing, but your patio’s dimensions limit you to folding chairs.
In a small space, make sure that the furniture you choose serves a purpose, is compact, and, where possible, multi-functional. Some smart choices include storage benches that function as seating, stackable and foldable furniture, and wall-mounted or railing tables.
Incorporate Greenery
You may not have enough space for an expansive vegetable garden, but you can at least have some greenery. Depending on your small outdoor area’s footprint, you may even have more space for growing plants than you think.
When you can’t grow outwards, grow upwards. Use vertical gardening systems and wall planters. You can also hang pot plants from ceilings or railings and introduce tiered plant stands. Balance function with aesthetics by mixing different shades and textures of green to add visual interest.
Create Privacy
Privacy can be hard to achieve in a small space, but it’s certainly not impossible. You just have to get strategic. Purchase tall plants or hedges in planters that can grow tall and be modified to suit your unique space.
If you need something that offers more instant privacy, install outdoor curtains or fabric panels. Alternatively, invest in lattice dividers or bamboo screens that you can attach to a structure or boundary of your outdoor area.
Add Your Own Personality
Once you have the fundamentals of a quaint patio area, such as privacy, the right furniture, and plants, it’s time to inject your own personality so that you authentically enjoy using the space. Decorative cushions, outdoor-friendly art, and small water features or sculptures are a great place to start.
It doesn’t matter how large or small your outdoor area is; you deserve to use it as your own private sanctuary. By following the advice above, it’s only a matter of time before you have a transformed patio area that you enjoy spending time in.
