Does size really matter?

Duh! Of course it does. If it didn't they wouldn't have bothered building the Eiffel Tower so high and we'd all be happy playing Putt-Putt than strolling around 18 holes.

So when it comes to our gardens the last thing we want to show people is how small it is. Somehow we want to project our postage stamp plot of land to resemble the Kew Botanical Gardens - without the maintenance. It's not that we're embarrassed, it's just that we would rather accentuate our better features.

So, how do you go about creating this illusion that your garden is bigger than it really is? Stick around, here's a few tips;

1. Small Furniture

   Nothing says BIG more than scaling down items in a normal sized space. The picture above is a classic example of the opposite situation. A large chair makes the room look incredibly small therefore small furniture would have made the room look large.

   The same applies in the garden. Try finding (or even making) some furniture that is smaller than normal but is scaled against similar pieces of furniture. Then place them in a typical setting within your garden where a visitor will see them at a distance. (Note: the distance doesn't have to be too far).

2. Paving

   
   A similar thought needs to happen with your paving. While most gardens have paths 80cm-1m wide try reducing yours down to 50-70cm in breadth. If they're not used as heavy access ways and are primarily for show this shouldn't be too inconvenient and in a small garden it's more likely that paths are for moving around the garden than being heavily trafficked.

   Another option may be to reduce the diminishing width of your pathways. As the path gets further away from you, or you starting point, start to gently bring the width inwards. This works especially well on straight paths.

3. Long Ponds

   
   If a pond is likely to feature in your landscape then it will be more beneficial to create a long pond that extends away from the focal point. It will entice your vision far beyond the limit of the pool in much the same way as the ideas for the diminishing path. Square or circular ponds will just highlight how small and lacking in space your garden really is.

4. Borrowed Landscapes

   
   If the neighbours have got something 'going on' already over the back fence then try and incorporate their style into your garden - or at least the part of the garden that butts up to their fence. Borrowed landscapes are the easiest way to increase the visual size of your garden because it creates a sense that your garden continues past your boundaries.

5. Mirrors

   
   'Mirror...Mirror...On the Wall...Who's Garden is Largest of All?" Take a leaf out of Hollywood's book and add some large mirrors against some of your walls. They will help continue the illusion that your garden is twice the size.

   If you do decide to add some mirrors make sure they don't reflect obvious items such as furniture or a focal plant. This will just make the image look contrived and won't work at all.

6. Doors and Facades

   
   Doors and facades have the opposite effect to mirrors. While a mirror will reflect what's before it, doors and facades highlight what might lay behind it. Sticking a door to the side of a fence will create the illusion that the garden somehow extends through that opening.

   Using a facade, especially like this example, can make a garden look much bigger than it truly is. The facade will always trick they eye to think that the building continues beyond the front dimension.

7. Plant gradation

   
   Well, whaddya know...plants can even be used to visually increase the size of your garden. Growing all your plants at one level will instantly shout the smallness of your garden. Instead, grade the height of your plantings so that they take your eye on a journey and give extra dimension to your garden.

8. Split levels

   
   One technique we've employed in our garden is the use of split levels. When we first started, our backyard was just a formless plot of dirt so we hired a bobcat and moved most of it around. We ended up with two different levels that are separated through steps and decreasing inclines but actually looks like we have more than two.

   The use of height changes makes the garden look much bigger than if we had just left it in its original state.

9. Fence Colour

   
   Dark colours, especially dark-green, can almost remove the visual presence of a fence altogether. While dark colours are a 'no-no' indoors, light coloured fences are a major faux pas in your garden. They instantly attract your eye and state the boundaries.

   Even better than just painting your fence with a dark colour is to start growing climbers and creepers over them. With a little vegetation, the fence can be hidden altogether an no obvious boundaries will visually exist.

10. Columnar Trees

    
    Planting columnar trees (Pencil Pines, Poplars and Birches) add a dimension of height to your garden which draws the eye upwards increasing its visual dimensions. These are especially good along a fenceline as the eye will be drawn up, and over, the fence altogether.

11. Explore Lust

    
    Creating some Explore Lust in your garden is a valid technique to enhance the illusion that your garden goes on forever. It involves using pathways that continue out of view, gates and doorways that are left ajar and entice the eye to explore where they might lead and using statues that appear to look further afield.

12. Grow Small Plants/ Bonsai

    
    Stick with miniature plants or shape them to resemble bonsais. This obviously takes more ongoing effort than all the other ideas but if that's the way you like to garden it may be quite feasible to keep your plants small.

If you have other ideas or decide to give some a try please share them below in the comments. It would be great to hear how they work out.