Many of us are challenged to contain our belongings and live our garden lives, in spaces that an estate agent might imaginatively describe as ‘compact & bijou’.
It can be a challenge, but I like to concentrate on positive ideas of ‘jewel-like’ and also on the opportunities for ingenuity that ‘compact’ might conjure.
The first step, for designing any small garden, is to be really clear about what your priorities are: What is this space for? How do you want to use it? Clearly not for a swimming pool, but is there room to eat outside around a table, or will it be just a couple of chairs? At its smallest, a garden, may be suitable just for creating a beautiful view from inside. I say, ‘just’ but that’s important, what you look out at, every-day, from your home, should be as beautiful, interesting, uplifting and relaxing as possible. It is crucial to be clear about whether your garden is to be an inhabited space, or an uninhabited picture.
This decision, will enable you to be disciplined about what things you have in the garden. Try not to clutter it. Smart storage solutions will pay dividends. If you need storage, will you disguise it, or make a feature of it? There are loads of really clever sheds and cupboards available now and beautiful trellis and screening designs. Double-function is often key: a storage seat; a planted roof; a decorative display shelf; a mirrored door.
In style, be bold. Think what you like and go for it! This small garden is your private world, and it needs to sustain your interest and enthusiasm through all the months of the year. Because the space is ‘bijou’ your funds will go further, so hopefully you will be able to treat yourself to little luxuries: interesting materials; ornaments; unique pots; specimen plants.
With plants, the temptation may be to think too small. Again, be bold; one or two big specimens will give a sense of space and avoid a busy congestion of lots of little things. And remember to look up; the space of your garden extends above eye level. Can you use climbers, trellis, walls and wires, to make use of all three of the dimensions of your space?
One crucial question will be: lawn or no lawn? Grass needs sunlight, air circulation and not too much foot-traffic to grow well. If your lawn area is going to be over-shadowed and constantly trampled, it may become a muddy eyesore and permanent bane. Arguably, the space might be better used as paving, planting or a mix of the two. And that brings you back to the issue what your priorities are for the use of your garden. If your garden is a ‘picture’ to be viewed from inside, it may not need any open space it all, but if it is mainly for the children to run around, then a soft, fall-downable surface may be imperative.
You may like to explore some ‘different’ alternatives; things rarely seen in the outdoor arena. Low-growing flowering lawn seed mixes or rubber play surfaces…..even the controversial artificial lawn may be the right solution for you.
This is your garden and with some forward planning, you’ll be amazed at what can be made of a compact and bijou space.
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Categorised in: Learn with us
This post was written by Juliet Sargeant
