Backyards
Front Yards
Seven Ideas for Small Garden Design
A collection of Australian gardens that demonstrate how to make the most of limited spaceWith over 4.5 million residents, Sydney is the most populous city in Australia. For the past 19 years, Secret Gardens has been helping Sydneysiders transform their outdoor spaces into stylish and functional retreats for entertaining and recreation. Matthew Cantwell, the director of Secret Gardens specializes in small garden design, below are his tips.
TREAT OUTDOOR SPACES AS IF THEY WERE INDOORS
Cantwell is all too familiar with addressing the challenge of limited space. He suggests treating your outdoor space as you would an indoor room. “Ensure that everything is planned out and that some items are customized rather than clumsily built as you go. Avoid buying items without understanding if they will actually fit into the area in question,” he advises. In-the-end, it all comes down to attention to detail and good planning.
Secret Gardens
Sydney, Australia
EMPLOY COLOR & VARIATION IN A COURTYARD
Color choices are powerful in a small courtyard. “They can completely change the space; the red on this wall was chosen for warmth. It transforms the garden into a dynamic space,” says Cantwell.
If not addressed properly, a courtyard can have a boxed-in feeling because of the walls on all sides. “Here we created variation on each of the walls using color, texture and different planting styles. By making them all unique you do not feel closed in,” he explains.
Learn more about landscape design color theory
DIVIDE INTO MULTIPLE LEVELS & INSTALL BUILT-IN FURNITURE
Secret Gardens chose to divide this small outdoor space into multiple levels. According to Cantwell, this creates a series of garden rooms and lessens the impact of the elevation change from the back living area to the lowest level in the garden.
Another important space-saving aspect of this design is built-in seating. “For this property, we needed something compact, built-in furniture offers the perfect solution because it negates the need for free-standing pieces that are always being dislodged,” he says.
See more built-in outdoor seating
SELECT PROPER PLANTS FOR A ROOFTOP ENVIRONMENT
As councils encourage new developments in Sydney to have a dedicated green space, rooftop gardens are on the rise. Plants must be more carefully selected for these projects than a typical small garden at ground level. “They need be able to take high winds, full sun and restricted soil volume, while providing a robust plant that is tidy so it won’t drop leaves on your neighbours,” states Cantwell.
INSTALL A RAISED LAP POOL ALONG THE SIDE OF YOUR HOME
This project demonstrates creative use of a narrow area along the side of a home. Cantwell points out that the owners had requested a lap pool despite their lack of space. Secret Gardens installed a large wall and planter to provide a lush backdrop for the pool. The pool itself is a raised design made of concrete and timber, with up-lighting creating a dramatic effect.
Learn more about side yard landscaping
ADD PERSONALITY WITH OUTDOOR ARTWORK
Often homeowners are afraid to add something unique and artistic to a small garden because they fear that it will overwhelm the space. However, this is often precisely what the design needs. “Our clients painted this patterned artwork on the wall. We love that they added this personal touch. It is what transforms this garden into their space,” says Cantwell.
Check out other types of garden art
CREATE PRIVACY WITH PLANTS
Another common challenge for small gardens in Sydney is privacy. “When you’re in this garden, you don’t feel like you’re sitting in the middle of the city,” Cantwell states. A border planting row of Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ and a pergola structure enclose the space like walls. The planting beneath the border creates the feeling of being surrounded with plants.
See more ways to landscape for privacy
