2 Outdoor Areas Short on Space... and How They Did It
Don't have the luxury of a sprawling backyard? No problem – be inspired by these two tiny but mighty outdoor spaces
Don’t let a compact outdoor area defeat you – smart zoning, vertical planting and compact furniture are just some of the ways you can make the most of what you’ve got. See how these garden design experts did it in these two small but stunning alfresco areas.
The outdoor plan after works
Brief
Brief
- Establish easy access from the car space to the house.
- Create different entertaining zones.
- Provide shade solutions for western sun.
- Refurbish the carport so it could be used as an extra entertaining area when the car isn’t parked there.
- Create storage.
- Include a play area for the children.
What were the client’s must-haves?
- Shade.
- A built-in barbecue.
- Storage.
- Maximise the use of every bit of space.
How did they plan to use the space?
To entertain with family and friends, to have an area for the kids to play and to use a car parking space if needed.
What was the space like when you came on board?
A garden on two very separate levels with no connection between them, and a lower lawn that just wasn’t working.
What were the main challenges?
Dealing with the level changes.
To entertain with family and friends, to have an area for the kids to play and to use a car parking space if needed.
What was the space like when you came on board?
A garden on two very separate levels with no connection between them, and a lower lawn that just wasn’t working.
What were the main challenges?
Dealing with the level changes.
What exactly did you do?
- Changed the garden from two levels to three in order to make the change in levels less severe and provide easier access from the house to the carport.
- Modified the retaining walls and built wider wrap-around stairs.
- Added a deck over the existing lawn on the lower level to provide a more functional entertaining space outside the house and to create flow from inside to out.
- Added built-in bench seats at the lower and middle levels, creating an outdoor dining area on the middle level with a new automated steel-framed retractable shade sail off the carport and built-in barbecue.
- Added a new folding-arm awning over the doors of the main house to provide shade from the western sun.
- Refurbished the existing carport by lining the concrete roof with a charcoal-coloured epoxy resin.
- Added sliding-door cupboards down one side to turn the carport area into a multipurpose undercover outdoor area.
The existing kids’ cubby was repainted to blend in with the house and landscaping
Where did most of the budget go?
Refurbishing the existing carport and the retaining structures.
Key plants used
Where did most of the budget go?
Refurbishing the existing carport and the retaining structures.
Key plants used
- Snow pear (Pyrus nivalis).
- Renga renga lily (Arthropodium cirratum).
- Saucer magnolia (Magnolia soulangeana).
- Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla).
- Baby Sunrose (Aptenia cordifolia).
- Lilly pilly (Syzygium luehmannii).
2. A Skinny Garden Solution
Landscape designer and commentator: Tim Hills, design manager at Tim Davies Landscaping
Location: Subiaco, WA
Description: A long, north-facing outdoor area running alongside the internal living space of a house.
Who lives here: A couple and their dog
Size of outdoor area: Approximately 80 square metres
Landscape designer and commentator: Tim Hills, design manager at Tim Davies Landscaping
Location: Subiaco, WA
Description: A long, north-facing outdoor area running alongside the internal living space of a house.
Who lives here: A couple and their dog
Size of outdoor area: Approximately 80 square metres
The outdoor plan after works
Brief
To create a more inviting space and an eye-pleasing backdrop that didn’t encroach on the valuable useable space. The client had recently moved into the house and wanted the landscape to be more in keeping with the home. The landscape also needed to cater to the dog.
How did they plan to use the area?
The client wanted multiple areas where they could entertain and lounge about in the pool area under shade.
Brief
To create a more inviting space and an eye-pleasing backdrop that didn’t encroach on the valuable useable space. The client had recently moved into the house and wanted the landscape to be more in keeping with the home. The landscape also needed to cater to the dog.
How did they plan to use the area?
The client wanted multiple areas where they could entertain and lounge about in the pool area under shade.
What was it like originally?
It was a difficult space to utilise as it’s long and narrow and located alongside the house. The pool was well-positioned against a wall of glass adjacent to the internal living space. Beyond that, the view was bleak synthetic turf and a stepped masonry retaining wall with top-heavy planting above it.
Where did most of the budget go?
On custom features such as the poolside wall, the retractable awning, the barbecue alcove and fencing.
See more stunning small-space gardens on Houzz
It was a difficult space to utilise as it’s long and narrow and located alongside the house. The pool was well-positioned against a wall of glass adjacent to the internal living space. Beyond that, the view was bleak synthetic turf and a stepped masonry retaining wall with top-heavy planting above it.
Where did most of the budget go?
On custom features such as the poolside wall, the retractable awning, the barbecue alcove and fencing.
See more stunning small-space gardens on Houzz
What was your thinking behind the new design?
We sought to create a space that was inviting, functional and provided a stunning backdrop to the interior when the outdoor area was not in use.
We did this by introducing:
We sought to create a space that was inviting, functional and provided a stunning backdrop to the interior when the outdoor area was not in use.
We did this by introducing:
- A modular shading system above a paved platform.
- A vertical stainless trellis to create a curtain of greenery to define the poolside hangout area.
- A more architectural finish to the existing masonry wall with the use of fibre-cement Equitone cladding and a cascading planter window box.
- Upgrading the existing barbecue area.
Key plants used
- Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) was used for its glossy foliage and ability to grow on the trellis to soften the backdrop.
- Pink frangipani was used as an easy-to-maintain feature tree that will provide some shade in the hotter months and let the sun stream in during winter.
- Silver falls (Dichondra argentea) – a beautiful soft plant to drape from the planter and spill down the poolside wall, while providing contrasting colour to the Equitone cladding.
- Bay laurel (Laurus Nobilis) to provide a layered planting palette and screening to block out the neighbouring property.
Tell us about the climber
Climbing star jasmine was incorporated as an evergreen partition between a timber screen that the pool equipment is stored behind. It provides a soft and elegant backdrop.
Climbing star jasmine was incorporated as an evergreen partition between a timber screen that the pool equipment is stored behind. It provides a soft and elegant backdrop.
Why did you include different flooring types and heights in this backyard?
For contrast, texture and colour. The paving in the poolside hangout area adds depth and interest and distinguishes the different zone. It also makes the entire space feel larger.
For contrast, texture and colour. The paving in the poolside hangout area adds depth and interest and distinguishes the different zone. It also makes the entire space feel larger.
Tell us about the wall
An exquisitely detailed pre-finished Equitone-clad wall is a feature of this design. It extends the length of the space, creating a rational clean horizontal line that mirrors the crisp architecture of the dwelling. This element draws the eye along the length of the space.
It cleverly integrates the pool and alfresco areas, and contains an integrated barbecue nook at the end adjacent to the outdoor dining area.
Your turn
Which idea would you steal from these compact outdoor areas? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more on greenery? Take a look at this story: 3 Hottest Indoor Plants for 2021… And How to Make Them Thrive
An exquisitely detailed pre-finished Equitone-clad wall is a feature of this design. It extends the length of the space, creating a rational clean horizontal line that mirrors the crisp architecture of the dwelling. This element draws the eye along the length of the space.
It cleverly integrates the pool and alfresco areas, and contains an integrated barbecue nook at the end adjacent to the outdoor dining area.
Your turn
Which idea would you steal from these compact outdoor areas? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more on greenery? Take a look at this story: 3 Hottest Indoor Plants for 2021… And How to Make Them Thrive
Landscape architect and commentator: Sophie Greive at Think Outside Gardens
Location: Rozelle, NSW
Description: A compact south-west facing garden on multiple levels with rear lane access.
Who lives here: A family with young children
Size of outdoor area: 100 square metres in total (including a 24-square-metre deck at the lower level)
Landscape construction:Think Outside Gardens