skip to main content

landscape design Gardens

Small gravel garden - how to decorate?

Lyndsey Longson

4 years ago

We have just bought a house and have a kitchen/diner which opens out to a small gravel area at the back of the house.
This is the only garden we have and it’s a bit of a sun trap so we’d like the make the most of it when the weather allows.
I have never done this before so would be grateful for any advice on how to approach this!

The area is 11ft (3.3m) x 20ft (6m) wide.
The sun shines into the dining room at lunchtime until early evening. So the area right next to the wall is in shade.

We’d like a small but cosy seating area to eat meals and maybe some additional stacking chairs for if we have people to visit that can stay in the garage until needed. I was thinking maybe some plants along the back wall to hide it and some lights strung on the fence.

Let me know what you think! Thank you.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

Daisy England
4 years ago
I’d swap the gravel for AstroTurf. Gravel is noisy and difficult to balance table and chairs on. An artificial lawn would look nicer and be quieter too. Children could sit on it. Add some planters around the edge for colour injection.
Sonia
4 years ago
If budget allows, I would remove the gravel and pave the area either with sandstone for a rustic look, or outdoor grade porcelain for a modern look. Leave a clear area all round for planting pockets. Then you can string or hang outdoor solar lights to create some prettiness. You can dress a courtyard garden with outdoor mirrors or art too.

Depending on your tastes, modern or cottagey, plant some bamboo, Trachelospernum star jasmine or Clematis on the walls (they will need tying in) on the sunny side. Roses love sunshine too. Fatsia japonica is a great exotic looking evergreen shrub that is very easy to grow. On the shady side try Japanese maples, ferns and anemones. You can have some pots grouped together of, say, summer geraniums which are so easy to grow and will flower all summer long. Buy the biggest pots you can afford as they won’t dry out so quickly so easier to maintain. Then finish with either a nice outdoor sofa or a table and chairs. A small water feature is always nice if you like the sound of water. www.primrose.co.uk sell loads. They usually come with a pump and a very long lead (32 feet) so you can plug it in. Here’s a little inspiration.

Dulwich§ · More Info
Related Discussions
Small garden
Q
Comments (113)
Both, one for our bedroom and one for the outside. In the bedroom, I had the chimney breast 'destroyed' to make space for a long, slim one (should've been like under the painting). Then the carpenter made a mess with the drawers unit and we fired him and left it unfinished, looked for another carpenter (long story) - however, in the meanwhile, Andrew's changed his mind and doesn't want the bio-ethanol fireplace at all. Outside, I wanted it where the star and birdie is... would've looked fab...
...See More
New build home , small garden
Q
Comments (10)
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.
...See More
Advice needed re. decorating small lounge connected to dining room
Q
Comments (12)
hi Carolina, I really appreciate you taking the time to help me and love your ideas. I should have added more detail but you managed to visualize the layout quite closely. Actually, no door in dining area , only access thru sitting room. Love the area rug and have Macys one which will work perfectly - might pull a greyish -blue color from rug for walls maybe similar to the example you provided. Also have two mid-century style floor lamps which I can use. I really like the idea of a mural as the Wow - only concern is that radiator is on that wall. Do you think I could work around that somehow? Shelving will work perfectly - I was thinking something from Ikea or JLewis. Agree that blind is better and like curtains on patio door side. I am really hooked on the mural suggestion . Thanks and I will post a updated photo to show you the final result when we get everything done -hopefully by Dec. -especially now that I have something to show 'the main man'. I am really excited about getting this going!!!Regards eithne
...See More
Maximising small(ish) garden space
Q
Comments (7)
Thank you for your sketches! Sorry I'm just replying, had a lot going on at work! Yes, keeping the grass and having a slabbed patio sounds good. Would it work to have the patio along the fence opposite the garage? Just enough tiles to fit furniture on and a few plant pots maybe.
...See More
rachelmidlands
4 years ago
Hi Lyndsey. Congrats on your new home. I think I’d start with a few small things at first. Some planters or pots with seasonal bedding plants or lavender are good to start with (it’s what got me into gardening🙂) and group pots together rather than spreading them out. Some simple furniture and lights will be great, perhaps a bench and table in a set position, like daisy said it can be difficult to pull chairs in and out on gravel. Long term you could think about paving or other surfaces but I think it looks fine for now. One thing I would do however is screen off the oil tank. Loads of ways you could do this, perhaps a willow fence or trellis with a climbing plant. I like the idea below of using old doors as a screen plus ideas for unusual planters 😊.

Sponsored

More Discussions

Skylight over kitchen island??

22

Glass room or conservatory?

42

No common toilet…deal breaker?

5

Inspiration needed for bathroom remodel, please! Before picture below.

6

Which layout do you think would look best for our renovation project?

1

United Kingdom

Tailor my experience with cookies

Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.