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Landscaping 101: Small Spaces, Big Ideas

When it comes to landscaping outdoors, smaller spaces often restrict ideas. These expert tips from Landart Landscapes’ Matt Leacy can help you maximise what you have.

Size can often restrict ideas for a smaller space, whether it’s a compact courtyard, balcony or yard. However Matt Leacy, co-founder of Landart Landscapes and President of the LNA Landscape Association, believes that even a small outdoor space can cater to multiple purposes – whether it is a chill out space for an afternoon siesta, a cocktail party or hosting a barbeque with family and friends. Matt provides the following tips to transform compact outdoor space into a dynamic, multi-use extension of a home’s indoor living space.

Matt

PLANNING
Matt emphasises the importance of thinking about your outdoor space and how you would like to use it, especially when the footprint is compact. Whether you’re transforming a small outdoor space into a dynamic dining area, a casual lounge setting or a direct extension of the indoors, planning is the first step towards maximising every precious square foot.

Clever design can make the most of even the smallest outdoor spaces.

Clever design can make the most of even the smallest outdoor spaces.

MULTIFUNCTION FURNITURE & SERVERIES
Casual lounge area by day, barbeque and cocktail parties by night. Consider using a table that can be stored and easily brought in and out for dining purposes rather than being a permanent fixture that takes up floor space.  Matt also recommends looking at where a servery can be installed for extra bench space when entertaining – whether it’s under a kitchen window, something on a wall that is on hinges and can be folded up or down as needed, or a narrow bench that clips on over a balcony railing.

Space may be limited but choosing the right furniture allows you to get the most out of your outdoor setting.   “If you are going to get an outdoor dining setting that isn’t fold away options with bench seats that create clean lines and ensure seats push right in out of the way.  Also look at circular tables, or built in seating that can be wrapped around the perimeter of a garden, perhaps in front of a garden bed, to save space. It’s all about creating the illusion of space,” said Matt Leacy.

Utilise oversized furniture to create the illusion of space and maximise what you have.

Utilise oversized furniture to create the illusion of space and maximise what you have.

PLAY WITH SIZE AND SPACE
“Big things in small spaces give the illusion that the space is bigger.” Matt suggests making a small space look bigger than it actually is with oversized furniture and other special features like a large potted plant, or a large-scale water feature.

While this may sound impossible and contradictory, even the use of plants with oversized leaves like Giant elephant ears, fiddle leaf fig, travellers palm or giant bird of paradise can add to the sense of space in a small space.

Simple DIY improvements to a small space like painting fences in dark colours to make them recede to showcase foliage and make the greens pop, and the addition of outdoor mirrors also adds to the illusion of creating greater space.

“Outdoor mirrors help provide depth and create the illusion of a bigger space,” says Matt Leacy.

CLEAR LINES
Overgrown gardens will crowd a yard or small courtyard. Having clear lines is a striking feature in a small outdoor space. Matt says this creates a border that defines and keeps your plants away from walking paths, all of which works in favour to make a small space look and feel spacious.

Matt also highlights the importance of keeping things simple in a small outdoor space. Whether you decide to choose oversized furniture or special features, avoid overcrowding the space by creating a focal point. Keep the space clear and simple, that way the space will feel much bigger than it is.

Building in storage, that can also double as bench seating, to hold any clutter, fold away furniture or kid’s toys will also help ensure a smaller outdoor space remains looking sleeker and bigger.

Landscapes 101-2

Clean lines are crucial to space conscious outdoor designs.

For more information please visit the Landart Landscapes website.
All photography courtesy of Landart Landscapes

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