Design isn’t just for big gardens

Why good design matters even more when space is tight

There’s a quiet myth that floats around garden design, that it’s only for people with land… the country homes, the big lawns, the plots with views and room to spread out.

But some of the most satisfying, transformational spaces I’ve worked on have been small. City gardens, awkward courtyards, thin strips of outdoor space that felt more like afterthoughts than assets.

And when you’re working with limited space, design isn’t a luxury, it’s the thing that makes it work.

The smaller the space, the bigger the impact of good design

When there’s less room to play with, every decision matters more.

One misplaced path, one clumsy feature, or a bit of thoughtless planting, and suddenly the space feels cramped, cut off, or confusing.

But when it’s done well?

Even the smallest garden can feel expansive, layered, and full of purpose.

Here’s what thoughtful design can do, even in tight spaces:

• Create flow where there was only clutter

• Make space feel bigger without adding a single square metre

• Balance openness and privacy without blocking light

• Introduce softness, calm and structure, without fuss or constant upkeep

• Turn “the bit we never use” into “the best bit of the house”

One of my smallest projects had the biggest change

I once worked on a slim, sloping courtyard behind a town terrace. Before the redesign, it was a dumping ground, awkwardly paved, full of shade, and completely disconnected from the house.

By shifting the levels, simplifying the layout, and introducing some simple structure, we gave it a purpose, a seat, a moment of quiet, a reason to open the back door.

It’s not the biggest space I’ve worked on, but the difference it made to how the owners lived… massive.

This isn’t about show gardens or square footage

Design isn’t for “other people with bigger gardens.” It’s for you if your space doesn’t quite work, or never really has, it’s for the tricky corners, the leftover strips, the places you want to love but don’t know how.

If you’re ready to make sense of the space you already have, that’s enough to start.