| While designing small area gardens does | | | | depth. When used behind planting |
| have some of its own special challenges, | | | | schemes, they blend and help make the |
| the opportunity for creativity is | | | | boundary seem invisible. Overall, darker |
| multiplied within these small spaces. It | | | | color elements help create more depth in |
| is possible to create more atmosphere | | | | confined areas. |
| and impact with less. | | | | Adding curves to your walkways, flower |
| And while most people do a great job of | | | | beds, walls, etc. can give the illusion |
| creating beautiful gardens within | | | | of more distance and travel. The human |
| confined areas, balconies, rooftops, and | | | | eye can detect that there actually is |
| courtyards, the greatest challenge is | | | | more distance involved and so the mind |
| still in making small gardens feel | | | | interprets the actual occupied space as |
| larger than they really are. | | | | being greater. |
| Because most small gardens are | | | | If you have unused hard corners, make |
| surrounded by boundaries, vertical | | | | good use of them. An arch or entryway |
| surfaces, and can generally be viewed in | | | | into a corner that otherwise goes |
| a single glance, they have a tendency to | | | | nowhere is a nice element and |
| feel confined, boxed in, and...small. So | | | | opportunity to frame a focal point in |
| some designers use a few techniques and | | | | the corner. It also creates the illusion |
| "tricks" to create an illusion of more | | | | of something more beyond. |
| space. Try one or more of these ideas if | | | | Creating levels can give the illusion of |
| you're challenged by a confined area. | | | | more space. It creates vertical surface |
| Screen unsightly boundaries and hard | | | | and appears to create even more |
| vertical surfaces with plants or | | | | horizontal surface. If your floor area |
| structures. Not only does this hide the | | | | is limited, otherwise unused hard |
| element, but can also create the | | | | corners are a great place to add a |
| illusion that there's more beyond and | | | | second level flower bed or element. |
| not just your neighbors wall or yard. | | | | A little creativity might even enlist |
| Try to hide obvious boundaries. | | | | the use of mirrors. Think about it. A |
| If your garden is confined by walls, the | | | | mirror or two placed in the right spots |
| color of your walls can actually have | | | | could actually make a garden seem twice |
| some impact on how spacious your garden | | | | as large as it really is. |
| feels. Darker colors alone have more | | | | I hope this helps. |