Whether you have a roof terrace, balcony, or lush cityscape, gaining any green space in an urban jungle requires inspiration and ingenuity.
Thinking of your small space as an extension to your home can help you to re-imagine the outside rather than struggled to incorporate traditional garden designs that will make the space feel cluttered and out of touch.
Get clever with what you’d like to achieve from your outside space, and with a little creativity, you can harness the great outdoors lifestyle even in a buzzing city environment.
Comfort is Key
During the long hot summer months, we demand as much of our gardens as we do of our homes, as a comfortable space outside is essential for entertaining guests with midsummer night’s parties and the customary BBQ.
Take inspiration from your home interior, and find the outdoor equivalent in furniture. There are now a number of stylish ranges that have been designed by celebrity gardeners and chefs, such as the popular Jamie Oliver collection.
Not only will this make the house and garden space flow, but it will give you a more natural starting point for your design ideas, which you can later elaborate upon if you wish.
Make the space as comfortable as possible as it will encourage your guests to stay longer, and for you to use this space for yourself more often.
Incorporate Levels
Adding height to your garden can increase the feeling of space, as you’re able to add a level and potentially double up on what you already have available.
It’s a popular ploy that can enable you to have a shelter nook for cosy days lounging with a book, and then a clever roof terrace above for you to be able to bathe in the sunshine when it appears.
This structural element to your garden may require planning permission but the alternative garden design will add value to your property, and give you the opportunity to use your outdoor space no matter the weather.
Grow Your Own
As many of us become more conscious of the food that we put into our bodies, a growing trend of self-sufficiency is increasing in gardening, as we all look to get a little more green fingered.
The beauty of gardening is the fact that you don’t need acres of land to be able to grow fresh fruits and vegetables, as many common edibles such as salad leaves, tomatoes, strawberries, carrots and onions, can all be grown with the right light.
With the vast array of beginners gardening guides available on the internet, you don’t have to be an expert to start your own patch.
Whether you opt for raised beds to avoid the backache of gardening, or potted plants on a southern facing roof terrace or balcony. There is no limitation to where you can grow your own.
Keep it Minimalist
If you don’t have the budget to adapt your small space, or simply don’t have the time to spend on renovating your urban space, then opt for a minimalist approach that will require less maintenance.
Grass can be swapped for decking or paving blocks, and plants can be potted rather than planted. Or if you’re truly no natural gardener you could bypass the greenery and purchase the false kind that look good all year round.
A lick of white paint on brick walls can increase the light that is trapped and enhance the sense of space, even if it is a little small, and just adding mirrored or glass furniture will reduce the clutter.
