Battersea Terrace

5. Capitalise on a cornerIf budget isn’t a problem, use a corner of your garden to create a built-in area for seating. It works very well, especially when you also design planting areas around the sides and back to make you feel like your are nestled into the space. When building your seating make sure you allow enough depth. I have seen too many built-in benches that are far too narrow to sit comfortably on. Choose plants that will add scent to the space. Use grasses for movement and for softening edges of the planters. And if you want to protect yourself from heat and like the idea of using trees, position the seating under some trees trained to grow in an umbrella shape, or site the seating near a tree that casts some dappled shade.

11. Not all terraces offer promising outdoor views. In such cases, building high parapets or screens can be a clever idea. High walls screened by plants not only make the outdoor space feel secluded and cosy, but also create the feeling of a garden in apartments and compact homes. The urban terrace in the picture sports wooden screens and corner seating. Built-in planters and climbing vines warm up the setting and soften hard surfaces. Here are 7 expert tips for a lush, green terrace garden