Garden design for a small space can be challenging. If not carefully planned, the space can end up cluttered, uninteresting and a poor use of space. The best place to start is to compile a list of your requirements. What do you want featured within the space? How do you plan to use the space? Which materials and colour palette do you like? Your list might include a barbecue or outdoor kitchen, a dining table or somewhere to sit and relax, a water feature, some greenery and garden lighting. After you have established your wish list, the fun part starts – design! For small spaces, the key is not to ‘over design’. Over-designed spaces can look cluttered and make an already small space look even smaller, they can also clash or compete with your home.
Start by positioning cooking facilities ideally near or beneath the alfresco to enable close proximity to your kitchen and dining area. This may mean the incorporation of an extractor fan to service your barbecue. The exception are pizza ovens which are best positioned further from the house for smoke reasons. By doing this, they also create a hub to gather around during the cooler nights- a perfect gathering for cooking not only pizzas but a roast or even toasting marshmallows with the kids. Just ensure the oven is positioned so that smoke doesn’t affect your neighbours! Storage for cooking facilities is also important- even a simple cupboard or drawer setup can create storage for cooking utensils and keep benches or tables uncluttered.
Clients often ask me whether a garden design is required for their project. To accurately answer this question, a few variables must be considered first. We must assess the level of detail required as well as the clients’ budget and the construction scope. When it comes to budget, if the project value is between 10-20k and consists of a simple lawn area with a few ground level gardens and paving, you might not need a design. But if that’s the case, it’s important to make sure everyone is on the same page in terms of layout.
