{"id":298276,"date":"2025-06-17T03:03:01","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T03:03:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/how-to-make-small-outdoor-areas-look-bigger-through-smart-design\/"},"modified":"2025-06-17T03:03:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T03:03:01","slug":"how-to-make-small-outdoor-areas-look-bigger-through-smart-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=298276","title":{"rendered":"How to make small outdoor areas look bigger through smart design"},"content":{"rendered":"


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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.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI think a lot of people are making a choice about where they\u2019d like to live \u2013 and if they can\u2019t afford the traditional family home in that postcode, they\u2019d rather compromise and go smaller on their dwelling than move out of premium areas in search of the big backyard.\u00a0 These people are however still wanting to create a beautiful green space in their homes, just on a smaller scale,\u201d says,\u00a0Founder and Creative Director of\u00a0Land Art<\/a>\u00a0Matt Leacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere 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 \u2013 whether it be lounging, eating, entertaining or barbequing. We all love to entertain outdoors, and it\u2019s all about smart design and working creatively to maximise and visually expand the space,\u201d explains Matt.<\/p>\n

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  1. Design is key<\/u><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u201cThe first key step is to get the design of the space right,\u201d says Matt. \u201cThere are several things you can do from a design perspective to expand the look and feel of a space.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cIf, for example, you\u2019re working with a long thin courtyard, I\u2019d recommend breaking up the visuals leading out into the space so that everything isn\u2019t revealed as soon as you open the door,\u201d adds Matt. \u201cYou can achieve this by angling the decking or changing up the paving patterns to draw your eye to a different spot in the space.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cYou can also partition off areas and use retaining walls to become storage or bench seating.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cBelieve 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cFor instance, you could introduce a small outdoor kitchen, a raised or sunken garden bed or a little hidden garden nook with seating.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cPlaying with scale and size is also important,\u201d says Matt. \u201cBig things in small spaces can create the illusion that the space is bigger, as well as bringing a sense of drama to the space.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cIf you\u2019re working with limited space, it\u2019s sometimes best to have a select few large feature plants or design elements, rather than overcrowding the space with lots of smaller elements,\u201d advises Matt. \u201cA big potted plant, a sunken lounge or a large-scale water feature can do wonders.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe positioning of plants is also critical in terms opening up the space,\u201d Matt adds. \u201cKeep the finer textures and smaller leaf plants at the back and bring the bolder textures and large leaf plants to the front.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cIt is also important to consider how you can maximise all of your potential garden spaces if you live in a smaller home,\u201d says Matt. \u201cThis means considering alternative options like vertical gardens, balcony gardens and even rooftop gardens.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cVertical gardens will give you height without encroaching on space,\u201d Matt says. \u201cThere are numerous ways to create a vertical garden \u2013 from hanging pots and baskets, through to\u00a0planters and trellis planter holders.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cIf you\u2019re a renter considering a balcony garden, I\u2019d 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,\u201d Matt cautions.<\/p>\n

    \u201cYou\u2019ll also need to consider factors like sunlight and wind when determining what\u00a0planting structures and varieties to introduce into the balcony garden,\u201d adds Matt.<\/p>\n

    \u201cIf 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\u2019t blow over, and you\u2019ll need to regularly water to prevent the plants from drying out.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMost balconies also get light from one specific direction, so you\u2019ll need to figure out the aspect prior to planting,\u201d says Matt. \u201cIdeally, you\u2019d 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cIf you\u2019re 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\u201d Matt says.<\/p>\n

    \u201cThen you\u2019ll need your basics \u2013 a good-quality potting mix, a proper drainage system and regular watering either by irrigation or hand watering.\u201d<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Plant varieties<\/u><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \u201cWhen it comes to planting for small spaces, you ideally want to maximise texture in the space \u2013 the more depth you can creating via plantings, the more expansive the space is going to look and feel,\u201d says Matt.<\/p>\n

      \u201cUltimately, however, the size of the area will be the major factor that determines the plants you choose to use.\u201d<\/p>\n

      \u201cIn terms of smaller varieties, you might consider the likes of\u00a0Sansevaria<\/em>\u00a0or plants\u00a0that grow a little more upright like your cactuses,\u201d says Matt. \u201cCactuses 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

      \u201cDracaena dracos<\/em>\u00a0are another super hardy option that are also slow growing, so they keep their form for a long time,\u201d adds Matt.<\/p>\n

      \u201cIf you\u2019ve got very limited space and you want to create impact, get an\u00a0oversized pot that creates the drama, then plant a\u00a0Dracaena draco with some underplanting like kalanchoe or prostrate rosemary , and you\u2019ll have a statement look that lasts for a long period of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

      \u201cI\u2019d also suggest looking at dwarf versions of plants,\u201d says Matt. \u201cFor example, dwarf bougainvillea or dwarf lime trees are perfect for balconies.\u201d<\/p>\n

      \u201cGoing for dwarf versions of plants can be great because you can still maximise impact in a small space, but you won\u2019t have time spend a lot of time trimming and cutting back to keep the plant compact.\u201d<\/p>\n

      \u201cDepending on the size of the pot and the actual plant, succulents can also stay pretty contained in a smaller pot with minimal maintenance,\u201d Matt adds.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Colour choices<\/u><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        \u201cLighter colours are always the way to go if you want to enlarge the look of a space,\u201d says Matt. \u201cThink 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\u201d<\/p>\n

        \u201cIntroduce lighter colours not only into your planting scheme, but also outdoor furniture and features, tiling and the overall outdoor paint palette.\u201d<\/p>\n

        \u201cDarker colours should be used towards the back of the space and can be a great option for making boundary fences or walls disappear,\u201d says Matt.<\/p>\n

        \u201cAnd don\u2019t forget about outdoor lighting,\u201d says Matt. \u201cYou\u2019ll 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        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. \u201cI think a lot […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[112580,12363],"tags":[11482,14677,1185,401,709,576],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-298276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guide","category-outdoor","tag-areas","tag-bigger","tag-design","tag-outdoor","tag-small","tag-smart"],"yoast_head":"\nHow to make small outdoor areas look bigger through smart design - Som2ny Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=298276\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to make small outdoor areas look bigger through smart design - Som2ny Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"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. 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