Large garden, small house or small garden, big house?

5 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

If you had to pick one option, would you prefer a small house that had a large garden, or a large house that had a small garden?

Get opinionated in the comments section!

Large garden, small house

Small garden, large house

Featured Answer

Florence Simpson

5 years ago

No contest at all, I would rather have a larger house. Let's face it, in England it's either cold, rainy or cloudy for a large part of the year so when I'm home it's where I predominantly choose to spend most of my spare time. I have a fairly large garden that's quite high maintenance as I'm not very green fingered and I don't enjoy gardening at all! I keep the grass low for my children to play on but If it's a nice day we prefer to go to one of our beautiful local parks or go for a peaceful river walk.

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Comments (74)

PRO
Damson Consultancy Ltd
4 years ago
lots of family space
PRO
NV Interiors
4 years ago
In London, large house and small garden every time, in my native Australia the opposite. Totally associated to climate.
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I need to resurrect this thread! So 2 years on we've completed all of the downstairs internal work, and knocked down the garage. We spread some grass seed, and there is now a garden space where once sat the garage. We did have a builder booked in for rebuilding the garage to the side of the house, and planned to add some decking where the patio doors are along the back of the house!/wall maybe, but now the builder has cancelled and is returning our cash, we're therefore reallocating funds to a much needed upstairs bathroom instead. I wonder if there are any budget friendly suggestions and ideas to make an area that will hold gardening tools/provide cover for my partner to do his hobbies by the side of the house? It's a wall then huge hedge beyond that which is directly parallel with a footpath and road on the other side. I thought about a shed but would the hedge not be impossible to cut and would it rot quicker, plus would the roots die off? We need to keep the hedge or have some privacy from the road, but equally need a place to store and use the space at the side. Thoughts?
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PRO
Willow Garden Estates
4 years ago
As a gardener I would prefer a large garden for different planting spaces.
PRO
Christopher Brummitt Architect
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
It boils down to what you can afford- so my advice is buy the space you need now and adapt it as your family grows, so look carefully at the plot when you're buying and imagine how you could live there and how you'd want to adapt it in future when you're circumstances allow you to change it to suit.

So, get the position, the orientation for sunlight, and the garden space you want and allow the house to adapt when you can afford it.

Times, needs and fashions change but space is the key!
PRO
GARDEN
4 years ago
Small gardens can have just as much impact as a big garden
PRO
Andrea Newill Garden Design
4 years ago
The garden takes priority!
PRO
Branwhite Properties Ltd
4 years ago
No brainer. Small house with large garden and then build out. You'll end up with a large and average/large garden. It's a win win!
PRO
Landscaping Solutions
4 years ago
Prefer gardening to house cleaning. Love my garden
PRO
Fiore landscaping and gardening
4 years ago
Prefer big garden as it is live around.
PRO
All Garden Designs
4 years ago
Garden always wins for me.
PRO
Interiors By Laura D
4 years ago
As long as the house size is appropriate for the persons living in it, the garden can follow. The priority is the living area and garden is secondary. In any case, there should balance between both making sure the house meets the family needs.
PRO
Aura Landscapes Ltd
4 years ago
As a landscaper, this is an easy question for us! Gardens to relax in all the way!
PRO
JPM Planning & Drawing
4 years ago
Gardens are a real escape from the home and can be an extension of the home of any size.
PRO
Botanica Garden Design
4 years ago
We voted for the large garden option
PRO
Parker Building Supplies
4 years ago
A garden that has been landscaped can add value and a wow factor to a house
PRO
Legendary Landscapes Ltd
4 years ago
Although we love working in large gardens, one of our favourite things to do is to turn small, compact gardens into really smart useable spaces that our clients can get the most out of...
PRO
Honor Bates Landscape Design
4 years ago
Large garden always wins.
PRO
John Stark and Crickmay Partnership Ltd
4 years ago
Small house less wasteful...but not too small!
PRO
Mark Mckie
4 years ago
Less restrictions in a garden.
PRO
Edit Landscape Design
4 years ago
Outdoor living for increased well-being
PRO
W.Coombes & Sons (Contractors) Ltd
4 years ago
Less Restrictions in a larger garden
PRO
Terra Firma Gardens
4 years ago
We voted for a small garden and big house
PRO
Plan Eden Garden Design & Forest Wild Treehouses
4 years ago
large garden, small house
PRO
Jo Delo Garden Design
4 years ago
You can make any garden big or small look good, with strong design elements and planting.
PRO
Ron Leemans Architect
4 years ago
Large garden no problems with neighbours
PRO
Louise Hooper Landscape Architect
4 years ago
A large garden is more fun!!
Wendy White
4 years ago
I'd rather have a small private garden than a large one that's overlooked by neighbours so it depends on the setting.
PRO
Isidora Markovic
4 years ago
As you tend to spend more time inside, it's bigger house/smaller garden for me hands down! You also have to get really creative with smaller spaces.
PRO
Urban Creations Gardens LTD
4 years ago
As a garden designer and lover of plants, a garden is always filled and can never be too big,
PRO
Ron Leemans Architect
4 years ago
It has to be fairly big not too big, and have a small stream at the end or to the side of the garden.
PRO
Butler Landscapes Ltd
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago

As a landscaper I would much prefer a large garden so I can fit in all the ideas I love.
PRO
Tony Benger Landscaping Ltd
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
After a hard day in the office what better way to unwind than in a beautifully designed and planted garden
PRO
BLYTHE BROOK GARDEN DESIGN LTD
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
A large garden gives the opportunity for more planting
PRO
Catia Interiors
4 years ago
To decide on this, I would have in consideration: amount of people on the house hold, if there are children and/ or pets. Green space is a great add on if there are children and pets in the house and also fantastic if you are an entertainer and often receive friends and family around. In another hand if you have a lot of members in the family, space indoors are always a plus and considering we are in Uk and we spend more hours inside due to the long winter period.

It is a matter of practicality and what works for everyone using the space .If you had to go for a smaller garden, there are many ways to make a tiny garden very charming and cosy. Hope this helped :)
PRO
C J Gardens Ltd
4 years ago
I love a court yard garden so for me it would be a large house small garden. i love how creative you can be creating a functional private space.
Allister Parr
4 years ago
We have lots of lovely parks in our local area, so I would prefer a larger house with a smaller garden.
PRO
Frederic Whyte
4 years ago
Gardens essential to wellbeing
annadalyart
4 years ago
Love a big outside space
PRO
Alice Meacham Gardens
4 years ago
Large garden or small garden - all lovely in their own way1
PRO
Floyd landscapes
4 years ago
Love a big outdoor space
PRO
greenleaf garden services
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
either - imaginative design and creativity can result in a beautiful looking and functional garden regardless of size
PRO
Jonathon Charles Garden Design
4 years ago
A small but perfectly formed courtyard garden, all day long! Larger gardens have their charm but the cost, both financial and in terms of time, are often quite significant.
PRO
The Garden Goddess Ltd
4 years ago
Large garden gives you the opportunity to create different rooms within the space and if you wanted to you could extend the house....
PRO
Onik Build Ltd
4 years ago
Definitely large house and small garden :)
PRO
Eazy Garden Limited
4 years ago
Large garden gives more opportunities to have different rooms within the garden
PRO
Alan Browne Landscaping since 1978
4 years ago
We agree ! Large gardens! Great for pets, children and further outdoor rooms such as man caves! Appreciate that they are not for the feint hearted but a large garden is for life and not just for Christmas and return such a lot of pleasure :)
Olga Mackness
4 years ago
in our view large garden gives you greater privacy which is very important
Jess
2 years ago
I am really surprised by the votes. Having a large garden leads to endless possibilities. I would think having a large house would be hard to keep clean, maintain and heat. Whereas the garden, you could really make it as high or low maintenance as you like
PRO
The Garden Goddess Ltd
2 years ago
Oh it has to be a large garden and small house - endless possibilities and remember the garden is an extention of your house so view them together!
Ribena Drinker
2 years ago
Large gardens are all well and good if have the energy & ability and you can afford the time (or money) for maintenance, but it's not always ideal. The size of garden should be appropriate to the size of house and appropriate for the lifestyle of the owners.

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Large garden, small house or small garden, big house?

Comments (74)

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