landscaping for the fun of kidslandscaping for the fun of kids

Modern homeowners often do not have a spacious backyard which they can landscape to their hearts' content. Many have to work with a small yard that may be oddly shaped or feel claustrophobic. But don't despair. Here are 3 ways to make your small yard seem bigger on the inside. 

Create Focal Points

Make a small yard more useful and engaging if you can't make it bigger. Create a few specific-use spaces or "rooms" in the yard, such as a lounge space on the patio and a reading nook under a tree. Give each area its own focal point, like a fire pit or a piece of fantastic yard sculpture. Use bright flowers to add focal points to the outer edges of the yard, adding a few visual surprises for guests to discover hidden among the foliage. 

Think Small and Intimate

Most landscape design is done by measuring out things by the foot or by the yard. However, in your small yard, you should be looking at things in terms of inches. Leave no detail or nook unplanned. From slim outdoor furniture to the size of edging material on your walkway, give attention to the details and the little ways you can make better use of the space. Doing so will mean the difference between being able to add such amenities as a fire pit or a garden and being left with a yard you rarely use. To design on a smaller scale, start by sketching out your yard plans at a ratio of 1/4 inch to 1 foot in your plans rather than the traditionally higher scale for larger yards. 

Go with Quality

Since you won't be planning, decorating, or maintaining a large space, you can probably afford to get better quality items than you otherwise could. Splurge on high quality and trendy stamped concrete, colored glass, or slate materials for your hardscaping. Add a bubbling pond or a fireplace. Whereas you might normally start planning by choosing standard materials to save money, with a small yard you can start by planning for the best and reducing your budget as you go. 

Working with a small yard doesn't mean having to sacrifice everything that you want to be able to do with it. It means adjusting your focus so that you capitalize on space, pay attention to details, and draw the guests to the usefulness of your space. Then you can have your dream backyard even if it once seemed like a nightmare. Contact a landscape design business like Waynesboro Nurseries Inc for further ideas.