How to Create Different Zones in Your Garden
Whether for different activities or varied vistas, add interest to your outdoor space by breaking it into separate areas
An effective way to turn your garden into an interesting space for entertaining and relaxing is by creating a few different zones. Take a look at these ideas to see how you could break up your plot with materials, planting, screens and more.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Build a room
Another way to differentiate areas is by building an outdoor room. A covered zone will add interest and enable you to have a space you can use in all weathers.
If you’re worried a covered area next to the house will block out light, why not consider locating it elsewhere in the garden? The owners of this space can step straight out onto their sunny decked terrace, or follow a straight path to the covered area at the back.
The outdoor room features a barbecue area and seating spot for comfortable, sheltered dining without impeding the view from the house.
Take a tour of this outdoor space fit for lounging and entertaining.
Another way to differentiate areas is by building an outdoor room. A covered zone will add interest and enable you to have a space you can use in all weathers.
If you’re worried a covered area next to the house will block out light, why not consider locating it elsewhere in the garden? The owners of this space can step straight out onto their sunny decked terrace, or follow a straight path to the covered area at the back.
The outdoor room features a barbecue area and seating spot for comfortable, sheltered dining without impeding the view from the house.
Take a tour of this outdoor space fit for lounging and entertaining.
Create contrasts
Zone your garden by adding interesting contrasts. Try using different materials for each section, or varying the planting in each area.
Here, for example, the landscape designer has used more natural materials further away from the house. A York stone path leads from a porcelain tiled patio to a timber decked dining area. The stone and wood are softer than the porcelain and blend more with the planting.
Find out how this shady spot was transformed with lush planting.
Zone your garden by adding interesting contrasts. Try using different materials for each section, or varying the planting in each area.
Here, for example, the landscape designer has used more natural materials further away from the house. A York stone path leads from a porcelain tiled patio to a timber decked dining area. The stone and wood are softer than the porcelain and blend more with the planting.
Find out how this shady spot was transformed with lush planting.
Screen for privacy
Give each of the areas in your plot even more of a separate feel by zoning them with a screen. In this garden, the designer has framed the dining area with an smart slatted fence.
The linear design creates a gentle screen that lets in light while adding privacy. The screen gives the area a calm, secluded feel while being less intrusive than a solid wall.
Take a peek around this London retreat with a restaurant terrace feel.
Give each of the areas in your plot even more of a separate feel by zoning them with a screen. In this garden, the designer has framed the dining area with an smart slatted fence.
The linear design creates a gentle screen that lets in light while adding privacy. The screen gives the area a calm, secluded feel while being less intrusive than a solid wall.
Take a peek around this London retreat with a restaurant terrace feel.
Add a pause
When zoning your garden, think about where you could add an extra space to relax. Perhaps you could break up some flowerbeds, as the designer has done here, for example?
A pathway leads to a bench and shed at the back of the garden, and is interrupted by a decked area along the way. The shaded spot provides a place to pause and rest, while adding a touch of character to the design as a whole.
Ready to renovate? Find a local garden designer to help with your outdoor makeover.
When zoning your garden, think about where you could add an extra space to relax. Perhaps you could break up some flowerbeds, as the designer has done here, for example?
A pathway leads to a bench and shed at the back of the garden, and is interrupted by a decked area along the way. The shaded spot provides a place to pause and rest, while adding a touch of character to the design as a whole.
Ready to renovate? Find a local garden designer to help with your outdoor makeover.
Slow your journey
This small garden has been broken up into subtle zones to make the area look slightly bigger.
The designer’s aim was to create a journey through the space, which is helped by the incorporation of a pond. The stepping stones encourage you to walk slowly across the water, while the variation of materials in each zone creates different atmospheres as you move through the garden.
Discover how a small London backyard became a beautiful oasis.
This small garden has been broken up into subtle zones to make the area look slightly bigger.
The designer’s aim was to create a journey through the space, which is helped by the incorporation of a pond. The stepping stones encourage you to walk slowly across the water, while the variation of materials in each zone creates different atmospheres as you move through the garden.
Discover how a small London backyard became a beautiful oasis.
Design secret spots
Create secluded zones in your garden by building pathways and including dense planting. In this garden, for example, diagonal paths lead out from a central circle to hidden areas.
A mix of cobbles and slabs adds character, while plants conceal the space behind, giving the plot a secret garden ambience.
Take a tour of this magical small garden behind a 1930s terrace.
Create secluded zones in your garden by building pathways and including dense planting. In this garden, for example, diagonal paths lead out from a central circle to hidden areas.
A mix of cobbles and slabs adds character, while plants conceal the space behind, giving the plot a secret garden ambience.
Take a tour of this magical small garden behind a 1930s terrace.
Play with levels
To maximise space in your garden, try creating different levels. The owners of this 40 sq m courtyard garden were keen to include a few different zones, so the designer lowered one side to create a sunken seating area. The other half was built at a slightly higher level and is now an informal eating spot.
This beautiful project was quite complex, but a simpler idea would be to build a raised decking area alongside your patio. By bringing in different levels, you can instantly create separate spaces.
To see more from any of the designers featured in this article, click on the image, then on Learn More if you’re in the app, and follow the links to the professional’s profile.
Tell us…
Would you like to create different zones in your garden? Have you been inspired by any of these projects? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
To maximise space in your garden, try creating different levels. The owners of this 40 sq m courtyard garden were keen to include a few different zones, so the designer lowered one side to create a sunken seating area. The other half was built at a slightly higher level and is now an informal eating spot.
This beautiful project was quite complex, but a simpler idea would be to build a raised decking area alongside your patio. By bringing in different levels, you can instantly create separate spaces.
To see more from any of the designers featured in this article, click on the image, then on Learn More if you’re in the app, and follow the links to the professional’s profile.
Tell us…
Would you like to create different zones in your garden? Have you been inspired by any of these projects? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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This garden has been broken up with a series of curved lawns. A sandstone pathway meanders through the flowerbeds to reach a seating zone at the back of the plot.
The garden tapers at the end, which creates a slightly awkward, narrow shape. The circle motifs help to disguise this, and instead the owners can take a slow journey along the path to reach the separate parts of the space.
See more of this modest outdoor space made beautiful by clever curves.