If your garden feels smaller than it should, the layout could be to blame. From oversized seating arrangements to cluttered accessories, a few common design mistakes can make even the most charming outdoor space feel cramped.
When it comes to making your garden look bigger, good design is everything. The type of furniture you use, the number of accessories you have, and the way you use colour could all be influencing how big (or small) your outdoor space feels.
'The perception of space is actually more important than the physical dimensions of a garden,' Laura Rich, garden designer at Furniturebox, explains. 'Solid fencing and walls can be overpowering; furniture when it's oversized, overcluttered ornaments competing for attention can overwhelm the space.'
To avoid this feeling of overwhelm in your garden, we asked experts what common features could be making your space look smaller at home. They told us the biggest space-stealing culprits range from badly-painted fences to over-stuffed corners.
1. Too many accessories
Accessories are a great way to add charm and personality to your garden, but if you have too many, you could make your garden look smaller.
'When space is limited, it's tempting to try and make every corner work hard. The problem is that too many planters, ornaments, accessories or different design features can make a garden feel busy and cluttered,' says Magdalena Gierasinska, Head of Product and Displays at Barker and Stonehouse. Now might be the time to put away a few of these items.
2. Overly large furniture
'One of the most common mistakes we see in smaller gardens is choosing furniture that's simply too big for the space. It's easy to focus on fitting in as much seating or dining space as possible, but oversized furniture can quickly make a garden feel cramped and crowded,' says Magdalena.
'In a smaller garden, it's important to leave enough room to move around comfortably. Furniture should work with the space, not take it over. Often, a smaller seating area or a compact dining set will make the garden feel more open, balanced and enjoyable to spend time in.'
3. Dark fences
When it comes to making your garden feel smaller, the very fences enclosing it could be part of the problem. Lucy Steele, senior brand manager and resident colour expert at Valspar Paint, says that light shades 'are the ideal choices for creating the illusion of a larger garden.'
'Their desaturated tones work well to reflect the natural light and cause boundaries to visually recede. I see many gravitate towards deeper colours like dark browns or blacks, not knowing that their stark contrast to the sunlight makes the fence look closer to the eye,' she says.
4. Jam-packed corners
Sometimes the best way to make a space feel bigger is to give it proper room to breathe. Filling every corner with items and plants can make it feel much more cramped.
'It's also important not to feel like every corner needs to be filled. Leaving some areas open helps create balance and gives the garden room to breathe. Quite often, what you leave out is just as important as what you put in,' says Magdalena.
5. A layout without proper zones
Creating zones in your garden is an easy way to make a space feel bigger. Whether it's an eating zone, resting zone, or planting zone, the more you can do in your garden, the bigger it tends to feel. The opposite can be true for a garden without zones.
'Consider zoning off sections of the garden to help it feel bigger. You’ll also want to make sure you incorporate some vertical elements. If you have a smaller garden, this will help you make the most of the space,' adds Nick Wood, garden expert at GardeningExpress.
Follow House Beautiful on Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest
The Garden Edit
Folding Bistro Set, 3 Pieces
