Small Garden Ideas - Making the Most of Your Space

Gardens are a blessing, no matter their size. Any small patch of outdoor space we can call our own has huge potential to help boost our mental health and provide a place to wind down and enjoy some fresh air.

However, when you have very little room to work with, you may think there isn’t much you can do with it. Think again! There are thousands of great ways you can transform your garden using clever tricks and compact features.

In this guide, we’ll be giving you some of our top tips for making the most of your smaller garden.

Use the Height Around You

In our homes, we use walls to hand photographs, mirrors and shelves, so why treat our gardens any differently?

Fences, walls and garages are all excellent spaces for you to use to grow creepers such as Trachelospermum (star jasmine) and trailers like the vibrant Phlox subulata ‘McDaniel’s Cushion’.

Garden Trellis is a great way to grow plants up the side of your walls without taking up much floor space. You can install your garden trellis on walls, drainpipes and even on planters.

The great thing about this tip is how affordable it is! You can purchase garden trellises for as little as £7 for basic lattice designs, or you will be looking at round £65 for more premium and luxurious looking ones.

This allows you to introduce some greenery and beautifully coloured plants into your garden without taking up too much room.

Create Small Areas of Privacy

One problem many people with smaller gardens tend to complain about is the lack of privacy with having neighbours that overlook their garden from surrounding homes.

A solution to this problem is to create a small secluded seating area by using arches and pergolas and covering them with easy-to-maintain climbers, such as Lonicera honeysuckle), Clematis or climbing roses.

We would recommend avoiding species such as Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) and Wisteria as these are fast growing and require regular upkeep.

One you have created your small area of privacy, you can turn it into a peaceful seating area with fantastic benches and other seating options.

At Mr Teak, we sell a wide variety of premium grade sustainable plantation teak outdoor furniture, designed to withstand the harsh UK weather conditions without becoming damaged. Our Lutyens and Banana teak benches make a fantastic addition to any small space. 

To ensure you can make use of this space all year round, you may want to consider using a veranda instead of plants for shelter. You might also want to add an outdoor heater to the space to keep your warm during the cooler summer evenings and chilly winter months.

You can also string fairy lights around the pergola to give the area an extra cosy feel in the evenings.

Al Fresco Dining Area

If you’re looking to make the most of your garden all year round, creating a fantastic al fresco dining area is the way to go.

At Mr Teak, we sell a number of beautiful teak dining sets, from smaller 4 seaters to large 10 seaters to suit families and gardens of all sizes. 

These high quality table and chair sets allow you to enjoy your meals outside and make the most of your space. Your seats can also be made extra comfortable with our weather guard all season cushions.

In order to utilise this area all year round, it’s important to consider the UK weather and prepare accordingly. For example, to provide shelter from the rain, you may wish to install a canopy, or purchase one of our large Tissington parasols to keep you covered in the sun and rain.

Additionally, you may want to add a small outdoor heater to keep the area toasty and keep your food from getting cold too quickly during the colder months.

Use Potted Plants

Potted plants can be used in a variety of ways to enhance the look of your smaller garden area. Their versatility means they can easily be moved around however you like, without having to commit in the same way you would with flower patches.

Tiered Herb Gardens

If you’re somewhat of a chef and like to use home grown ingredients as part of your cooking, a tiered DIY herb garden could be perfect for you. These can be created easily and affordably with old wooden crates. 

Simply pick a spot in your garden and use different sized crates drilled on top of one another to create a tiered herb garden. Alternatively, if your handiwork skills aren’t quite up to scratch, you can purchase tiered herb gardens online or at most garden and DIY shops.

The reason these work so well in smaller gardens is because they don’t take up a lot of floor space, yet provide lots of room for growing your own herbs.

For more garden and outdoor furniture tips and advice, check out our handy guides here.