How to make small outdoor areas look bigger through smart design

As property values in major metro centres continue to rise despite cost of living pressures, there are a growing number of Australians embracing apartment and smaller property living.

This means that courtyard spaces, balconies and micro gardens are on the rise, requiring careful design considerations to create the illusion of space.

“I think a lot of people are making a choice about where they’d like to live – and if they can’t afford the traditional family home in that postcode, they’d rather compromise and go smaller on their dwelling than move out of premium areas in search of the big backyard.  These people are however still wanting to create a beautiful green space in their homes, just on a smaller scale,” says, Founder and Creative Director of Land Art Matt Leacy.

“There are ways to work with small spaces to make them not only feel bigger, but to also ensure you get everything you want out of the spaces – whether it be lounging, eating, entertaining or barbequing. We all love to entertain outdoors, and it’s all about smart design and working creatively to maximise and visually expand the space,” explains Matt.

1. Design is key

“The first key step is to get the design of the space right,” says Matt. “There are several things you can do from a design perspective to expand the look and feel of a space.”

“If, for example, you’re working with a long thin courtyard, I’d recommend breaking up the visuals leading out into the space so that everything isn’t revealed as soon as you open the door,” adds Matt. “You can achieve this by angling the decking or changing up the paving patterns to draw your eye to a different spot in the space.”

“You can also partition off areas and use retaining walls to become storage or bench seating.”

“Believe it or not a level space does not always feel larger than one with a well designed level change. Depending on the property, you can play with levelling and break the space up into different zones, which will help to make the space feel more expansive and multi-purposeful.”

“For instance, you could introduce a small outdoor kitchen, a raised or sunken garden bed or a little hidden garden nook with seating.”

“Playing with scale and size is also important,” says Matt. “Big things in small spaces can create the illusion that the space is bigger, as well as bringing a sense of drama to the space.”

“If you’re working with limited space, it’s sometimes best to have a select few large feature plants or design elements, rather than overcrowding the space with lots of smaller elements,” advises Matt. “A big potted plant, a sunken lounge or a large-scale water feature can do wonders.”

“The positioning of plants is also critical in terms opening up the space,” Matt adds. “Keep the finer textures and smaller leaf plants at the back and bring the bolder textures and large leaf plants to the front.”

“It is also important to consider how you can maximise all of your potential garden spaces if you live in a smaller home,” says Matt. “This means considering alternative options like vertical gardens, balcony gardens and even rooftop gardens.”

“Vertical gardens will give you height without encroaching on space,” Matt says. “There are numerous ways to create a vertical garden – from hanging pots and baskets, through to planters and trellis planter holders.”

“If you’re a renter considering a balcony garden, I’d always recommend checking with your strata committee, body corporate and property manager or landlord before starting the process as there may be weight and/or lease restrictions you need to factor in,” Matt cautions.

“You’ll also need to consider factors like sunlight and wind when determining what planting structures and varieties to introduce into the balcony garden,” adds Matt.

“If your balcony is naturally very windy, you might consider installing a trellis with a tough climber to create a windbreak. It would also be wise to plant using wider based pots or heavier pots so that the plants don’t blow over, and you’ll need to regularly water to prevent the plants from drying out.”

“Most balconies also get light from one specific direction, so you’ll need to figure out the aspect prior to planting,” says Matt. “Ideally, you’d want a north or north-east facing aspect as most plants will grow relatively easily in this type of light. East and south-facing balconies will need plants that are more shade-tolerant, and west-facing balconies with need hardy sun-tolerant plants.”

“If you’re working with a vertical garden, position the plants that need the most sun at the top and the plants that need the most shade at the bottom, depending on aspect” Matt says.

“Then you’ll need your basics – a good-quality potting mix, a proper drainage system and regular watering either by irrigation or hand watering.”

2. Plant varieties

“When it comes to planting for small spaces, you ideally want to maximise texture in the space – the more depth you can creating via plantings, the more expansive the space is going to look and feel,” says Matt.

“Ultimately, however, the size of the area will be the major factor that determines the plants you choose to use.”

“In terms of smaller varieties, you might consider the likes of Sansevaria or plants that grow a little more upright like your cactuses,” says Matt. “Cactuses are very popular at the moment and can grow very large, so they can work perfectly as a bold feature plant is a small space.”

“Dracaena dracos are another super hardy option that are also slow growing, so they keep their form for a long time,” adds Matt.

“If you’ve got very limited space and you want to create impact, get an oversized pot that creates the drama, then plant a Dracaena draco with some underplanting like kalanchoe or prostrate rosemary , and you’ll have a statement look that lasts for a long period of time.”

“I’d also suggest looking at dwarf versions of plants,” says Matt. “For example, dwarf bougainvillea or dwarf lime trees are perfect for balconies.”

“Going for dwarf versions of plants can be great because you can still maximise impact in a small space, but you won’t have time spend a lot of time trimming and cutting back to keep the plant compact.”

“Depending on the size of the pot and the actual plant, succulents can also stay pretty contained in a smaller pot with minimal maintenance,” Matt adds.

3. Colour choices

“Lighter colours are always the way to go if you want to enlarge the look of a space,” says Matt. “Think whites, creams, cool greys and light pinks and blues. Keep in mind deep greens are sooting so if you can fit a combination of light and dark then create the mix”

“Introduce lighter colours not only into your planting scheme, but also outdoor furniture and features, tiling and the overall outdoor paint palette.”

“Darker colours should be used towards the back of the space and can be a great option for making boundary fences or walls disappear,” says Matt.

“And don’t forget about outdoor lighting,” says Matt. “You’ll need task lighting if you have a small outdoor kitchen and more relaxed lighting for the conversation areas. Candlelight or fairy or festoon lights can also add that little bit of magic to make a small balcony, courtyard or rooftop a truly inviting space.”