5 Smart Landscaping Ideas for Small Spaces

If you live in a home with a small yard or outdoor space, you might feel discouraged because you believe those grand landscaped areas are out of your reach. Fortunately, that’s not altogether true. In fact, there are dozens of landscaping ideas to help give a small outdoor space a facelift and make it an inviting place to kick back and spend some time.

Here are five tips:

1. Divide the Space into Zones

Even if you don’t have a palatial backyard, do what you can to divide the area into zones. For example, even a small backyard can have a fire pit, a deck, and a small space for lounging or reading. Use different furniture, indoor/outdoor rugs, and potted plants to separate these spaces and draw lines between each.

2. Make It Cozy and Full

Few things are more appealing than a full, lush garden with cozy reading nooks arranged throughout. To give your backyard that English country feel, don’t be afraid to go heavy on the greenery. Plant living walls, use pots and containers to corral geraniums and other flowering plants, and opt for vines that cascade down. These touches will lend a sense of richness to the space and invite people to come in and sit down.

3. Avoid Straight Lines

Did you know that straight lines make a space seem smaller than it is? To trick the eye into thinking that your backyard space has acreage to spare, use meandering garden paths from space to space. Keep the edges neat and line the paths themselves with river rock or gravel to further differentiate the space.

4. Go Vertical

If you don’t have a lot of horizontal space to play with, go vertical. Today, it’s easy to find vertical garden designs online, and everything from flowers to herbs can be grown up a wall, in hanging pots or even in a re-purposed shoe organizer. Ideal for the back of a fence or gate, or the bare exterior wall of a home, these unique green spaces can spruce up your landscaping in no time.

5. Play with Textures

To make a space look and feel more interesting, play with textures. A paved walk, for example, could give way to a gravel seating area with a fire pit. Feel free to bring this fluidity to your textiles and plants, as well. The more texture, the richer the space will feel.

Landscaping Ideas for Your Dream Outdoor Space

Whether you’ve got an extensive backyard to play with or just a small little green patch, these landscaping ideas will help it feel comfortable and welcoming. Even the smallest backyard can function as a luxurious retreat when you know how to use everything from furniture to greenery to make it feel luscious and comfortable.