Whether you have a small garden, balcony, or roof terrace there are some great ways you can maximise the space and create an oasis of calm in which to enjoy the beautiful weather we have been having recently.

Clever layout

If you have a small garden or outside space, consider some design tricks that you may have already used inside your home.

Horizontal lines on walls lead the eye and will make a space feel bigger – and this is a trick you can also apply to your garden. Consider using a horizontal slatted fence rather than a vertical one, helping to create interest and draw the eye around the perimeter.

Cosy curves

Curves and never-ending lines are also a great way to draw the eye around the garden. Sometimes hard lines can make the garden seem too structured and modular. Instead, consider using circular terraced areas, grass or gravel which can make the space seem cosy and interesting.

Using levels

Layers can help to add interest and colour to your garden as you’ll be able to plant more flowers and shrubs.

Layers can help to add interest and colour to your garden as you’ll be able to plant more flowers and shrubs. Raised, staggered beds enable you to fit in plenty of bright foliage, grasses and flowers, adding interest and lifting the eye from the ground level.

Balcony plants

When adding plants to a balcony or terrace, consider adding hanging baskets or create a living wall using wall planters or climbing plants on a trellis – this will add colour and life to a small space.

Creating distinctive areas

However small your space, it can still be divided up into dedicated areas for seating, planting or a lawn. If you want a more ‘zen’ garden choose just three or four varieties of flowers to keep it simple and consider carefully placed pots instead of flowerbeds to enhance the space.

If your area is small then you could also make it an extension of the inside space to help it to flow – bring elements of the garden inside and vice versa. Perhaps keep the same flooring, plants and colours. Another simple way to add interest is to have steps with another level for depth and character.