Do you like to entertain family and friends?

Outdoor recreation always seems a lot more relaxing, both to the hosts and the guests, but how many people do you need to accommodate? Two for an intimate lunch? Eight for dinner sit? A dozen or more for a casual barbecue?

Versatile items that can fulfill more than one function are essential in maximizing the potential of small spaces.

• The foldable bistro tables and chairs can be easily stored when not in use and are lightweight enough to make setup a breeze.
• Extension patio tables provide versatility when you need to accommodate a varying number of guests.
• Add a cushioned cushion to a sturdy low table to serve as a stool or chair.
• Covered retaining walls and raised beds can pull double duty if they are at seating height (about 17 inches) and cushioned with pillows or a folded blanket.
• Use the bench at a rectangular patio table instead of individual benches – you’ll be able to fit more people – perfect for families with young children.
• Instead of a traditional wood-burning fire pit that can look unattractive when not in use and take up a lot of space, consider a gas-powered table. This serves as a beautiful focal point even when not in use and is perfect to double as a coffee table thanks to the solid edge.

What do you want to grow?

Are you hoping to grow your favorite flowers, herbs, or some vegetables? When space is limited, it is especially important to determine which ones are worth growing yourself, and which are best to buy seasonally from your local farmers market.

Focus on growing flowers and products that are usually expensive, hard to find, have a short shelf life, or use regularly.

Is the cultivation area in the land limited?

Container gardens provide a simple solution to limited farming in the ground; However, its size and shape should be considered.

• Wide, round containers will take up a lot of space on your deck or patio. Find a rectangle. Oval or oval shapes that can be placed near a wall or fence.
• Avoid piling the ground with too many small pots – a tall, large container will have a much greater effect and will be easier to water.
• Adding saucers on wheels under your containers allows you to move them to create room dividers on a tall deck, a secluded reading nook on an open patio, or simply to follow the sun’s pattern during the growing season.

13 design tips for small spaces:

After considering the functionality of your space, here are some tips designed to really help you maximize its potential and create the illusion of a much larger garden.

• Look for compact plants. Choose plants that won’t overwhelm ground level, but don’t be afraid to include medium-sized or columnar trees to achieve the right size.
• Think outside the box. What about vertical gardens? railing planters? Hanging baskets for strawberries? (See an example of a living wall/vertical vegetable garden below.)
• Build a sturdy frame for the foliage. Use interesting plants with colorful leaves before layering with flowering plants.
• Make every square inch count. Focus on high-value trees, shrubs, and perennials that offer multiple seasons of interest with attractive leaves, seasonal flowers, unique textures, and colorful bark and/or gorgeous fall color.
• Create privacy. You may not have room for large trees and evergreen shrubs to create privacy. But, would a row of one of the many types of columns that provide the height – without the width – work? If only seasonal screening is needed, maybe narrow, vertical, deciduous trees or shrubs are suitable? Or perhaps the best solution is to grow well-behaved climbers (such as jasmine or annual vines) on a vertical trellis.
• Do you really need grass? Is your garden visually dividing your space unnecessarily? Does it make sense to expand the yard?

• Choose outdoor furniture carefully. Ditch extra-deep armchairs with wide armrests in favor of sleeker shapes.
• Add a water feature. Water features are always a great addition to the garden. While a pond and waterfall may not be realistic, the answer might be a simple recycle wall fountain or a bubbling tabletop bowl.
• Create a sense of order. Clean lines add an organized feel to the garden. A straightforward, straight design can define spaces, while flowing, organic curves can be used to smooth out tricky corners.
• Use the diagonal axis. A typical suburban garden is often wide but shallow. Looking straight across the back garden emphasizes the shorter dimension. Change the perspective by flipping the yard, planting beds, and sight lines 45 degrees to align with the diagonal axis, creating the illusion of much more space. (See an example of this design strategy below.)

• Keep the color palette simple. Two or three colors of varying shades, along with green, will be less visually cluttered than a jelly-like explosion.
• Borrow views from outside your borders. Frame a distant tree, mountain, or unique architectural detail to give the illusion of greater depth.
• Add exterior lighting. Creating drama and mystery, while extending the use of the garden into the evening hours.