Ideas for wasted garden space please!

8 years ago

I have a garden which wraps around the side & back of my bungalow & I don't know what to do with the side section. The back is grass, a pond & an apple tree however the side is paving (which has the patio table & chairs-the green thing-on it) & then pebbles (where the garage used to be but has been removed). I would love some ideas as to what to do with the space as it is wasted at the moment! The sun shines on that section during the afternoon & evening so it is a sun trap :-) I have attached photos to make up for my appalling description! Thanks Claire

Featured Answer

minnie101

8 years ago

I'd just make it into a seating area for reading or drinks. Have a look at rattan sofas or whichever style you like and consider adding a coffee table and an outdoor rug, they have some great ones. If you don't want a rug think about a fire pit or self contained water feature. I would add climbers on the fence and then dot around a few plants and trees of different heights. If in budget add some lighting and a patio heater to make the most of the space.

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Comments (12)

Jonathan
8 years ago
Couple of huge planters at the gate end with ornamental trees in -so that your eye sees the greenery not the telegraph pole and you benefit from some dappled shade
clairet25 thanked Jonathan
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Subject to your needs for using the space as Freshscaped Ltd. pointed out there 2 major pointers which are important in such as small space. Firstly a small space tends to be dominated by the boundaries so improving or hiding them is essential to a really good result. Climbing plants on trellis are a fairly quick way of covering them but the faster plants grow the more chance there is that they will get out of control. That's why I very often create bespoke trelliswork as an attractive feature whilst more controllable plants get established. Secondly you really need to have some vertical features, such as sculpture, obelisks, multi-stem trees or quite open (or transparent as designers will say) planting. Without vertical accents your eye will always be drawn straight to the boundaries without registering depth and so the space continues to feel small. The more can include verticals which allow you to look on, through and past them, the more you will perceive depth. There are many ways to make a small space feel bigger but these two are probably the strongest and most universally applicable to a typical size of garden.
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When you said outhouse I'm going to assume you don't mean errm an outdoor toilet kind of outhouse lol :-) Iooking at your little corner I really like all your trees and shrubs and I envision incorprating water. I've attached a few pics for inspiration. As for plants why not have a combination of produce and flowers.
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Fabulous view! I think you are right to prioritise your children (and dog!) as they do need to let off steam. Your idea of moving all the bins etc over to one side is a good idea. You can then put up some fencing to screen it out of view, but leave access of course. The concrete area is a bit of an eye sore (hope I’m not offending you!). If you have the budget, I would get the concrete broken up and then lay attractive slabs, using the broken concrete as a hardcore base. Sandstone is most attractive and creates a lovely natural effect and it’s not too pricey. Porcelain is becoming very popular for patios and gives a more modern look. You may need a landscaper if you want it done well. That would be a great place to sit out. What aspect does the garden face? This will determine where you place seating areas and planting. if it is sunny where your planters are, then herbs and lavender will do very well. Peonies are not keen on being moved, but I’ve done it and as long as they are watered in well they should be fine. A pergola is a great idea. Choose a sunny spot ( you will use it more). Wisteria are big strong heavy plants so a pergola would be a good sturdy support. Some plants cope better with children and dogs than others, and of course aspect is crucial. Some plants need a good burst of sun, whilst others would wilt and need shadier spots. I am no designer, but I think if, to start, you created planting beds all around your perimeters, say 1m wide, remove the grass, dig in several bags of compost, there you need the right plants in the right place to succeed. That way the middle of the garden can be used by the children and dog. Below are some ideas, and I am happy to suggest plants once I know which parts of the garden are sunny or shady.
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Andrew Millar
8 years ago
great space for a gravel garden.look it up on the tinternet. a small cafe table and a couple of chairs and its a wee oasis.
clairet25 thanked Andrew Millar
Catherine Hounslow
8 years ago
I would add lots of plants in various sized pots .Climbers in pots near the wall or plant climbers directly into the ground . Perhaps a mirror on the wall to give width . A wooden sun lounger with small table .
clairet25 thanked Catherine Hounslow
alyper
8 years ago
I would put wires across from the fence and fixed to the wall, and plant a vine to grow over. Lovely dappled effect in summer, beautiful outline of stems in winter. If wire doesn't take your fancy, use trellis instead. Then plant up a number of pots, and remember they don't have to be up against the wall - at least one in the middle where the gravel and paving meet would look better. These could be veg? Courgettes, tomatoes, tall beans (lovely red flowers!).
clairet25 thanked alyper
Rusty Lee
8 years ago
I would emphasis the length with solar lighting. long tall thin flower beds going down the length of fencing too. maybe depending on wind effect add a patio awning to split and get fire pit relax area. the awning can be rolled back as and when. With that way you keep the length,functioning area and depth of space.
clairet25 thanked Rusty Lee
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Pat Oliver Interior Design
8 years ago
You don't mention why you have the double gates. Is this where your car stands at night? If so, think about a divider between the 2 areas, perhaps raised beds with an opening between them. On the drive sides, plant climbers to give you continuing colour, including evergreens, such as evergreen clematis or honeysuckle. Keep the climbers tight to the walls.

The seating area could have potted plants in colourful pots and cushions to repeat those colours. What about an awning attached to the side of the house, so the patio could be used even when it showers. And don't forget some interesting lighting.

The levels of paving should be made all one level to minimize the risk of tripping and to enlarge the useable seating space.
clairet25 thanked Pat Oliver Interior Design
ejs25
8 years ago
I'd like to see a photo of how this side connects to the rest of the garden..... to see it becoming a part of the whole rather than an add-on.

Then more questions for you rather than solutions..... Where would you want the furniture to be to make the most of the sun? What would be your view from this location? (Ideally towards the rest of the garden rather than the double gates I imagine). Is there any disguising to do? (lots of ideas for this above). How can you use your strategies for storage indoors benefit your outdoor scheme? If the slabs were relaid (patrice1484) could they be done in a quirky manner leaving planting spaces and leading on into the rest of the garden?

Good luck!
clairet25 thanked ejs25
Krzysztof Leoniewski
8 years ago
Hello. You can find a lot of inspirations on our website or in our gallery on Houzz
clairet25 thanked Krzysztof Leoniewski
Sam Hill
8 years ago
Which way does it face?
PRO
Mark Lane Designs
8 years ago
The aspect is very important for a thin section of a garden. Like Pat Oliver I too would ask whether or not you use the gravel section for parking a car and agree that you also need to think about how it joins the rest of the garden. I understand that you get the sun in this area late afternoon/early evening and is a "sun trap". If you want to add some shelter you could add a pergola along a section of the site and grow some evergreen climbers, scented roses, jasmine and clematis. You could then add some seating or a dining set under the pergola for a late night meal with friends. If you plan to keep the paving slabs then think about furniture and pots that are of a similar tone to tie the area together and then use some white ones as accents to tie the area again to the house. If you remove the slabs then a gravel garden is a great idea, but you could also use composite decking boards and raise the area so that you come out of the door at the same level, and then have some steps down to the rest of the garden. Also think about setting the garden at an angle across the site, as this helps from a design point of view and results in you getting more items in to the area. Draw the area on to a piece of paper and have fun with shapes. If it is such a sun trap think about sun loving plants that are suited to arid conditions, that is why a gravel garden is such a good idea.

I hope this helps.

If you have any questions please get in touch.

All the best and enjoy your garden.

Mark
clairet25
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thanks for all of your suggestions. I have the patio evened up to prevent tripping in the first instance & I'm having a 'posh shed' build there as an office. I'll post the final pics when completed :-)

Ideas for wasted garden space please!

minnie101

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Jonathan

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Ideas for wasted garden space please!

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