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

3 years ago

last modified: 2 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

Comments (74)

PRO
Damson Consultancy Ltd
lots of family space
3 years ago
PRO
NV Interiors
In London, large house and small garden every time, in my native Australia the opposite. Totally associated to climate.
3 years ago
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to do a quick, cheap job, which will tide you over until you have a better budget and more ideas, put down shingle over the landscaping, and limit planting to pots. to get a cohesive look to your planting, you can paint all sorts of pots, from cheap terracotta to even cheaper plastic, with household emulsion. i have done this, and blatantly copied the colours from this wonderful garden in Marrakech. http://jardinmajorelle.com/ang/ to keep painted pots looking pristine you will need to repaint every year. but i rather like the more distressed look mine are taking on. i bought a large tin of blue and smaller sample-sizes for the yellow and orange. you could even paint the shed and fence if you want. with all that colour, a few evergreens will give you interest even in winter. i bought two 'six-packs' for about £6.00 each, of miniature or slow-growing conifers. lavender grows well in pots, but it likes sandy soil, not clay. herbs are also good, growing quickly and adding scent.
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I wouldn't have put a lawn in. You can see how it goes, but they require a lot of mowing and it sounds like you don't get a lot of sun so it may well end up very mossy and wet most of the time. See how it goes but maybe you need the deck to be sited on the left, so it is in the sun in the middle of the day/evening if possible, so not near the house if it faces east. Evergreen climbers are essential for small gardens with fences. Trachelospermum jasminoides, has lovely scented flowers in the summer and Hydrangea seemannii and Pileostegia Viburnoides are good in shade. I would put in a lot of planting on the shady side of the garden, a good evergreen grass for clay is Carex pendula. I would also plant an Amelanchier or Acer at the far end to screen the neighbours windows and autumn colour. You could look up evergreen ground covers for shade. Good luck!
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Hi. Could you please give some more information. What size is your garden? Which way does it face? Do you know the type of tree in your neighbour's garden or at least whether it is evergreen or deciduous? (By the way you are entitled to cut off and return to your neighbour any branches that overhang your garden but having said that think before you take any action because you do not want to make it into more of an eyesore). Are there any other established trees or shrubs in the garden? How big is the lawn area? Is it boggy throughout the whole year? With regard to the shed, without seeing it, my gut feeling is to keep it as storage, especially with a toddler is essential. I would try to make it 'disappear' by training climbing plants over it having initially painted it a 'leaf-like' green. Can you please post photos of the garden from all angles. I am sure there is much you can do with it. It is lovely to have an outdoor area especially with a toddler. Best wishes :)
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How many will live in this house: ... how many bedrooms do you actually need now and in the immediate future; ... how many people do you need to have sit at your dining table for each family meal. If you are living alone and/or with a spouse or significant other and have no children at this time, seriously consider just focusing your budget on remodeling the downstairs only. Consider beginning the remaking the conservatory so that it could be used as either the master bedroom or as a formal dining room later. Is the glass roof level or vaulted? Could you add a wall of patio doors instead of a single door that opens inward so that even if later you changed the roof or added a glass ceiling for warmth it could still give you plenty of light and a view of the garden. What is that odd exterior space between the conservatory and bathroom -- is there anything in that space (such as heat/ac or utility connections) or could that space be enclosed and become a part of the interior of the house. Is it wide enough to become a back stoop so you could have an exterior door from the kitchen to the back with a covered walkway there rather than needing to go through what is now the conservatory? Is the wall between the lounge/living room and the kitchen a weight bearing wall? Could you remove it and replace it with some version of a room divider cabinet and then use the part of the lounge/living room on the other side as a dining space, creating a modest sized "L" shaped great room with living, dining and kitchen? You should have at least a toilet and sink both upstairs and down. Logically, you could take a part of the back of the larger bedroom for a bath between the two bedrooms (and, perhaps, put a walk in closet on the other side). Until you do build an addition to your home, you might not need a tub/shower both upstairs and down so you could put it where it is most convenient for how you want to use it -- such as: if prefer your tub/shower near your washer and dryer and they are downstairs, you'd want your tub/shower there. For storage, go vertical. Tall chests of drawers and cabinets are going to give you more storage per square foot of floor space used than low wide ones. Choose smaller furnishings and appliances as they will make your space visually appear larger. Make what furnishings you buy do double duty: ... A two drawer filing cabinet can provide storage and serve as a living room end table or a bedside table. ... A storage ottoman with a reversible lid to enable it to serve as a coffee table can serve three purposes. Keep us updated; pics please. Good luck on your project.
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PRO
Willow Garden Estates
As a gardener I would prefer a large garden for different planting spaces.
3 years ago
PRO
Christopher Brummitt Architect
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!
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
PRO
GARDEN
Small gardens can have just as much impact as a big garden
3 years ago
PRO
Andrea Newill Garden Design
The garden takes priority!
3 years ago
PRO
Branwhite Properties Ltd
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!
3 years ago
PRO
Landscaping Solutions
Prefer gardening to house cleaning. Love my garden
3 years ago
PRO
Fiore landscaping and gardening
Prefer big garden as it is live around.
3 years ago
PRO
All Garden Designs
Garden always wins for me.
3 years ago
PRO
Interiors By Laura D
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.
3 years ago
PRO
Aura Landscapes Ltd
As a landscaper, this is an easy question for us! Gardens to relax in all the way!
3 years ago
PRO
JPM Planning & Drawing
Gardens are a real escape from the home and can be an extension of the home of any size.
3 years ago
PRO
Botanica Garden Design
We voted for the large garden option
3 years ago
PRO
Parker Building Supplies
A garden that has been landscaped can add value and a wow factor to a house
3 years ago
PRO
Legendary Landscapes Ltd
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...
3 years ago
PRO
Honor Bates Landscape Design
Large garden always wins.
3 years ago
PRO
John Stark and Crickmay Partnership Ltd
Small house less wasteful...but not too small!
3 years ago
PRO
Mark Mckie
Less restrictions in a garden.
3 years ago
PRO
Edit Landscape Design
Outdoor living for increased well-being
3 years ago
PRO
W.Coombes & Sons (Contractors) Ltd
Less Restrictions in a larger garden
3 years ago
PRO
Terra Firma Gardens
We voted for a small garden and big house
3 years ago
PRO
Plan Eden Garden Design & Forest Wild Treehouses
large garden, small house
3 years ago
PRO
Jo Delo Garden Design
You can make any garden big or small look good, with strong design elements and planting.
3 years ago
PRO
Ron Leemans Architect
Large garden no problems with neighbours
3 years ago
PRO
Louise Hooper Landscape Architect
A large garden is more fun!!
3 years ago
Wendy White
I'd rather have a small private garden than a large one that's overlooked by neighbours so it depends on the setting.
3 years ago
PRO
Isidora Markovic
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.
3 years ago
PRO
Urban Creations Gardens LTD
As a garden designer and lover of plants, a garden is always filled and can never be too big,
3 years ago
PRO
Ron Leemans Architect
It has to be fairly big not too big, and have a small stream at the end or to the side of the garden.
3 years ago
PRO
Butler Landscapes Ltd

As a landscaper I would much prefer a large garden so I can fit in all the ideas I love.
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
PRO
Tony Benger Landscaping Ltd
After a hard day in the office what better way to unwind than in a beautifully designed and planted garden
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
PRO
BLYTHE BROOK GARDEN DESIGN LTD
A large garden gives the opportunity for more planting
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
PRO
Catia Interiors
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 :)
3 years ago
PRO
C J Gardens Ltd
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.
3 years ago
PRO
A Parr Ltd
We have lots of lovely parks in our local area, so I would prefer a larger house with a smaller garden.
3 years ago
PRO
Frederic Whyte
Gardens essential to wellbeing
3 years ago
annadalyart
Love a big outside space
3 years ago
PRO
Alice Meacham Gardens
Large garden or small garden - all lovely in their own way1
3 years ago
PRO
Floyd landscapes
Love a big outdoor space
3 years ago
PRO
greenleaf garden services
either - imaginative design and creativity can result in a beautiful looking and functional garden regardless of size
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
PRO
Jonathon Charles Garden Design
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.
3 years ago
PRO
The Garden Goddess Ltd
Large garden gives you the opportunity to create different rooms within the space and if you wanted to you could extend the house....
3 years ago
PRO
Onik Build Ltd
Definitely large house and small garden :)
3 years ago
PRO
Eazy Garden Limited
Large garden gives more opportunities to have different rooms within the garden
3 years ago
PRO
Alan Browne Landscaping since 1978
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 :)
3 years ago
Olga Mackness
in our view large garden gives you greater privacy which is very important
2 years ago
Jess
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
last year
PRO
The Garden Goddess Ltd
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!
last year
Ribena Drinker
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.
last year

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