Less Can Be More -- 4 Tips For Embracing Your Small Yard
If you have a very small yard, you may wonder what can be done to turn it into a usable and beautiful space. But, tiny can be beautiful if you know how to work with your small square footage in the best way possible. Here are a few ideas for any tiny yard budget.
Make Zones. Give your yard a purpose and definition by creating small "zones" within its confines. These zones could include an entertaining space, a garden, a fire pit, or a relaxation nook. You can easily and simply separate zones by using small, trimmed hedges, a flower bed, or a low retaining wall. By making your yard multi-functional and more useful, it's likely to be enjoyed more... all of which will make it feel like a bigger space.
Fool the Eye. Some tricks can help you make guests think the yard is larger than it really is. Perspective, for example, makes things look like they're receding in the distance. In a landscape, you can accomplish this by angling pavers or walkway lines toward each other at the far end. Placing a scaled-down focal point at the far end of the yard can also trick the eye into thinking it's farther away than it is. Walkways leading away from the visitor into the yard make great "leading lines". Patterns -- such as diagonally-placed pavers -- may also elongate the design.
Go Vertical. Adding height to landscape elements rather than using more square footage helps you fit more into less. A vertical or wall garden is a good way to plant an herb garden or grow colorful flowers by hanging them suspended on a vertical frame. Tiered planters or clusters of different size pots from All American Landscape Design Inc.can also help bring color to a small space in a big way. Have a slope in the way? Make it useful by cutting steppes into the side.
Keep it Simple. Don't try to cram everything into a postage stamp of a backyard. Instead, remove unnecessary clutter and add some fun and functional hardscaping instead. A well-designed patio with containers of plants for color is simple and clean and will make the space feel bigger. Scale down your outdoor entertaining accessories and choose furniture than can do double-duty: such as benches that feature storage underneath or a rolling cart that can function as a bar or a serving cart during dinner. How about a fabulous fire table rather than trying to squeeze a dining table and a fire pit outside?
No matter which of these easy tricks you can apply to your yard, you'll be able to create a fun space that everyone loves... even if it's not quite as big as your dreams are.