15 Tricks to Make Tiny Outdoor Spaces Look Bigger

15.0OK BIGGER TRICKS TO MAKE TINY OUTDOOR SPACES Does your small garden feel too cluttered? Not sure what to have on your balcony? Having a small outdoor space can be a challenge if you're not sure how to tackle it. The good news is your garden can feel spacious if you design it the right way. HOW TO DESIGN A SMALL SPACE THAT FEELS BIGGER These easy space-expanding tricks will help you maximize any small outdoor space. 1 Place tall items in the corners Tall plants or outdoor lamps in the corners will draw the eye right to the edges of the space, making it feel bigger.' 2 Choose soft, pale paint colours for walls or fences Pale colours recede; they appear to move away from you.? A garden will feel less enclosed if you visually push out the walls by painting them with pale colours. Pale colours that recede: Pale green, pale blue and pale violet. 3 – Add furniture that's the same colour as the background This will make furniture seem smaller, appearing to take up less of the space. Pro tip: Add a green table and chair set to your lawned garden. 4 Add a large focal point at the front or towards the side Strategically placed focal points lead the eye across the space instead of allowing it to travel straight to the end. Focal point ideas: • Statue • Birdbath • Bench/seating area • Large plant such as a Cimicifuga • Vibrant coloured plant such as an orange canna - 5 Place large objects closer and small further ones away This technique creates the illusion of depth as the distance between the items appears longer than it actually is.6 Pro tip: Position large plants, boulders or pots in the foreground, with smaller ones in the background. 5 TRICKS FOR EXPANDING YOUR SMALL GARDEN Whether you live in the city or in a small house, garden space is often limited. But a small garden doesn't have to feel cramped. Try these tips to make the most of the outside space you have. 2 Lay out tall planters to draw the eye upwards Choose oval or rectangular shapes to make the area look longer When designing garden zones, combine an oval lawn area with a rectangular patio area. Try breaking up the zones using narrow curving paths." Create your own tall planters by stacking pots from big to small filled with perennials or succulents. Eating area Seating area Herb garden Wildflower patch Hang string lights to give the garden depth at night Add multiple strings of loosely hung outdoor lights to one point at the end of the garden. 5 Add small shrubs in the Hide walls and fences to draw attention away from the boundaries background and bold plants in the foreground Fill boundary areas with free-climbers, and add extra light to the space with pale, bright-coloured plants. Fine-textured plants fade into the background whereas bold-leaved plants draw the eye. 5 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR TINY BALCONY LOOK BIGGER A small balcony can feel cramped if filled with friends having a summer dinner. Try these simple tricks to make your balcony feel more spacious. 2 Cover one wall with a large mirror Choose rattan or wicker for the furniture A mirror reflects light, making the space feel more open and spacious. It can visually double the size of a small space.20 Light flows through them, creating a sense of more space. Pick small furniture; it takes up less floor space and will make the space feel bigger." Pro tip: Group a few smaller mirrors together; it can have the same space-enlarging effect. Pro tip: Place furniture 3-4 inches from the wall; the space creates the illusion that the wall is further away than it really is. 12 3. Add an outdoor floor finish 4 Create a lighting triangle One light will only cast a single pool of light on the floor. A lighting triangle ensures that there is adequate light in three key areas of the space, opening it up and making it feel bigger.24 Outdoor flooring creates a sense of the great outdoors, making the area feel more like a garden and more spacious.13 Fake lawn Pro Tip: Use outdoor wall lights to enhance and expose corners and recesses. 15 Wooden decking Add high shelves Higher shelves will draw the eyes upwards, giving the illusion of more space. This also creates additional floor space by utilising the wall space.16 Flagstones Pro tip: Use old railway sleepers or other natural wood style to create shelves. Place pots, hanging plants and ornaments to attract the eye.16 Tiles Any small space can feel spacious with the right design. So whether it be a tiny balcony, patio area or garden, try these simple tips to make the most of your limited outdoor spaces. Sources 1. Colleen, B. (2015). 23 clever tips to make your tiny living room look bigger. experthometips.com 2. BBC Homes. (2018). Tricks with colour. bbc.co.uk 3. Amanda Celeste. (2018). Colour Theory: The Colour Wheel and its Use in Interior Design. amandaceleste.com 4.Home Depot. (2018). Tricks to Make a Small Space Look Bigger. gardenclub.homedepot.com 5. lannotti, M. (2018). Garden Design - Creating Focal Points in a Small Garden. thespruce.com 6. Marder, L. (2017). Creating the Illusion of Depth and Space. thoughtco.com 7. Mathews, R. (2013). Wide garden design – Case study. successfulgardendesign.com 8. String Lights: A Pattern of Perfection. yardenvy.com 9. Real Homes. (2018). 16 top tips for making small gardens feel bigger (and better). realhomes.com 10. Mihai. (2007). 5 Tips for Fooling the Eye and Making a Room Look Bigger. freshome.com 11. Hand, J. (2017). 14 Ideas to Make a Small Garden Look Bigger. gardenista.com 12. Mallon, B. (2015). 14 Furniture arranging tricks to make your home feel bigger. elledecor.com 13. Torrente-Brammall, C. (2018). 6 Quick Fixes To Make Your Small Balcony Look Big. realliving.com 14. Maxwell, R. (2015). 10 Tips To Make Any Small Space (Feel) Bigger. apartmenttherapy.com 15. Pooky. (2018). interior design: how to use lighting to make a room look bigger. pooky.com 16. Ideal Home. (2018). Small garden ideas to make the most of a tiny space. idealhome.co.uk Onward This image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License - www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 FIND YOUR STRIDE 15