Create the illusion of space
Use themes, screens, mirrors and recessive colours
Having a clear overall design will help your small garden look more cohesive. Choosing a theme can help: at Chelsea Flower Show, the designers plump for a single style such as ‘woodland’, ‘cottage’, ‘Japanese’, ‘meadow’ etc. At home, we can do the same. Every element should feel as though it links with the others; in a small space if something jars it will stand out much more than in a larger garden. In all but the smallest gardens it pays to create a little mystery too: try to design the layout so you can’t see it all in one go. Just because the area is modest in size doesn’t mean you can’t divide it or create secret hidden corners using strategically-placed plants. Another oft-used technique to trick the eye is to fix a mirror to a wall or fence so it reflects a view of foliage and flowers. It will help to bounce light around the garden, too. Be mindful of the scale of your design. Don’t be afraid to be bold and think big! Large paving slabs help to create a clean, uncluttered look with fewer lines to draw the eye than smaller ones. This also applies to containers: it’s better to avoid lots of small pots and instead go for a couple of the biggest you can afford. (They’re much easier to look after because they won’t dry out as quickly.) Colour can be used to create the illusion of a bigger space too. Restrict your colour scheme for a cohesive feel and remember that pale colours (soothing blues and greens) are visually recessive, while bright colours (fiery reds and oranges) leap out at you, making them feel much closer. Bear this in mind when choosing paint for fences and buildings – black, dark green or grey will make those boundaries ‘disappear’. You can apply the same principle to your choice of plants.