Pocket Gardens, Tiny Patios & Mesmerising City Balconies
A compact outdoor space can be a beautiful garden room with the right mix of plantings, furniture and creativity
Laura Gaskill
17 October 2018
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
Whether you have a sliver of a side yard, a petite patio or a compact urban lot, limited size does not have to mean missing out on lush plantings or cool features – as these 15 creative spaces attest. Creating an outdoor space you love takes careful planning, but it starts with the spark of inspiration. See which of these outdoor spaces captures your imagination, and start planning your garden makeover now.
1. Modern and mirrored
Horizontal wood panels can camouflage a neighbour’s siding mishmash while bringing a warm, modern look to the patio. A large mirror hung along one wall enhances the light and creates the impression that the garden continues into the distance.
Horizontal wood panels can camouflage a neighbour’s siding mishmash while bringing a warm, modern look to the patio. A large mirror hung along one wall enhances the light and creates the impression that the garden continues into the distance.
2. Urban jungle
Deep, wide planters of bamboo placed along the back wall have transformed this formerly bland urban backyard into a lush oasis. Layering plants with appealing foliage behind the seating area, as was done here, will make it feel like you’re sitting in a jungle.
Deep, wide planters of bamboo placed along the back wall have transformed this formerly bland urban backyard into a lush oasis. Layering plants with appealing foliage behind the seating area, as was done here, will make it feel like you’re sitting in a jungle.
3. Pint-size party patio
This sliver of a yard could easily have been a forgotten space sandwiched between two tall buildings. But with the addition of a few well-placed climbing plants, a picnic table and string lights overhead, it is now a vibrant place to gather with friends.
Learn how to make your outdoors into a super comfy lounge
This sliver of a yard could easily have been a forgotten space sandwiched between two tall buildings. But with the addition of a few well-placed climbing plants, a picnic table and string lights overhead, it is now a vibrant place to gather with friends.
Learn how to make your outdoors into a super comfy lounge
4. Mini destinations
As part of a flower show installation, this garden designer created a space with several small, connected seating areas. Built-in benches flow into a short staircase to a raised dining platform. Planting beds tucked between and behind the seating areas help the compact garden feel surprisingly roomy.
As part of a flower show installation, this garden designer created a space with several small, connected seating areas. Built-in benches flow into a short staircase to a raised dining platform. Planting beds tucked between and behind the seating areas help the compact garden feel surprisingly roomy.
5. City balcony
Every square foot has been put to good use on this New York balcony, with built-in planters and benches wrapping around the tight corner. A restrained palette of weathered wood and green is simple and elegant.
Every square foot has been put to good use on this New York balcony, with built-in planters and benches wrapping around the tight corner. A restrained palette of weathered wood and green is simple and elegant.
6. A bit of green
Long to stretch out on the grass with a good book, but have only a tiny square of yard to call your own? Take a cue from this innovative space and build in a mini terrace with room for a cafe table and soft green grass.
Here’s how to have a lush, green terrace
Long to stretch out on the grass with a good book, but have only a tiny square of yard to call your own? Take a cue from this innovative space and build in a mini terrace with room for a cafe table and soft green grass.
Here’s how to have a lush, green terrace
7. Eclectic chill zone
Embrace the shade beneath a mature tree with a platform deck where you can lounge away the afternoon. Mirrors and platters hung on the wall, and birdcages and lanterns suspended from tree branches create a whimsical, creative mood here.
Embrace the shade beneath a mature tree with a platform deck where you can lounge away the afternoon. Mirrors and platters hung on the wall, and birdcages and lanterns suspended from tree branches create a whimsical, creative mood here.
8. Cook’s backyard
This patio is packed with details an avid cook would love, from the wood-fired pizza oven and pocket-size kitchen garden to the overhead rack made to hold pots and pans. Ornamental flowers and flowering herbs mixed with the edibles make the garden as beautiful as it is useful.
This patio is packed with details an avid cook would love, from the wood-fired pizza oven and pocket-size kitchen garden to the overhead rack made to hold pots and pans. Ornamental flowers and flowering herbs mixed with the edibles make the garden as beautiful as it is useful.
9. Personal cafe
A gravel-covered floor, rustic log seats and a simple cafe table make a charming spot to have a morning coffee or an afternoon croissant. Even if there is no ground to plant in, you can use a few large planters to bring in much-needed green.
A gravel-covered floor, rustic log seats and a simple cafe table make a charming spot to have a morning coffee or an afternoon croissant. Even if there is no ground to plant in, you can use a few large planters to bring in much-needed green.
10. Narrow garden room
A long, skinny yard in the Park Slope neighbourhood of Brooklyn, New York, got a redesign that emphasises livability. At the foot of the stairs, a planter brings a spot of lush greenery to the ipe decking. The decking extends to a point surrounded by green grass – just right for an alfresco dining area.
A long, skinny yard in the Park Slope neighbourhood of Brooklyn, New York, got a redesign that emphasises livability. At the foot of the stairs, a planter brings a spot of lush greenery to the ipe decking. The decking extends to a point surrounded by green grass – just right for an alfresco dining area.
11. Shaded lounge
A courtyard garden with just a hint of grass makes for a relaxed and inviting space for chatting, reading or napping beneath the shade of a mature tree. The low wall doubles as a backrest for the built-in bench and ties the courtyard in with the design of the house.
See these pretty courtyards and walled gardens
A courtyard garden with just a hint of grass makes for a relaxed and inviting space for chatting, reading or napping beneath the shade of a mature tree. The low wall doubles as a backrest for the built-in bench and ties the courtyard in with the design of the house.
See these pretty courtyards and walled gardens
12. Brick courtyard garden
Even on a larger property, there is sometimes a small space that begs for a special treatment. Case in point: This gracious home and garden. Away from the sprawling lawns, a path between formal hedges leads to a secluded garden bench beneath a wall of climbing roses.
Even on a larger property, there is sometimes a small space that begs for a special treatment. Case in point: This gracious home and garden. Away from the sprawling lawns, a path between formal hedges leads to a secluded garden bench beneath a wall of climbing roses.
13. Serene path
Rather than being a purely utilitarian pass-through space, this side yard is an invitation to slow down and breathe a bit more deeply. Rich green ferns and other shade plants line the gravel path, while unique round “stepping stones” are ringed with Mexican black pebbles and filled with low-growing plants in shades of green from chartreuse to moss.
Rather than being a purely utilitarian pass-through space, this side yard is an invitation to slow down and breathe a bit more deeply. Rich green ferns and other shade plants line the gravel path, while unique round “stepping stones” are ringed with Mexican black pebbles and filled with low-growing plants in shades of green from chartreuse to moss.
14. Side yard with a stop
Whether your side yard is the only outdoor space you have, or you just want to carve out a more intimate spot as an addition to a larger backyard, adding a seating area can make the space feel more purposeful. Here, a gently curved path of concrete pavers widens just enough in the centre to allow for two chairs. The tree on the street side helps provide privacy – and offers a lovely view.
Whether your side yard is the only outdoor space you have, or you just want to carve out a more intimate spot as an addition to a larger backyard, adding a seating area can make the space feel more purposeful. Here, a gently curved path of concrete pavers widens just enough in the centre to allow for two chairs. The tree on the street side helps provide privacy – and offers a lovely view.
15. Rooftop hideaway
Between the built-in planters and benches, climbing plants and rich exterior wall colour, this rooftop feels more like a fancy hotel bar than a makeshift city garden. Including a few large planters – big enough to hold something substantial – is key to making a bare rooftop feel like a destination.
Read more:
How To Make Your Small Garden Look Bigger
Tell us:
Do you have a small outdoor space? Share a photo in the Comments below.
Between the built-in planters and benches, climbing plants and rich exterior wall colour, this rooftop feels more like a fancy hotel bar than a makeshift city garden. Including a few large planters – big enough to hold something substantial – is key to making a bare rooftop feel like a destination.
Read more:
How To Make Your Small Garden Look Bigger
Tell us:
Do you have a small outdoor space? Share a photo in the Comments below.
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i hung a mirror in a garden several years ago. I found four dead hummingbirds on the ground below it. This was 20 years ago and the guilt is still with me. I would never hang a mirror in an outdoor garden where urban wildlife is present. It reflects the greenery and plants in your garden, and yes it's beautiful but it's a deadly trap for birds.
My urban roof deck and patio in the middle of DC. The patio Includes a large mirror (I've never had a problem with birds except one curious cardinal who visits everyday). I actually think that he's more attracted to "red"".