Amp Up Your Compact Outdoor Space
Let these ideas guide and inspire you to take your tight-squeeze of a deck, patio or balcony to new (design) heights of space use
Laura Gaskill
14 October 2016
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
If your outdoor space is smaller than average, it’s still possible to create a stylish, welcoming outdoor room you’ll love to spend time in. From creating privacy and adding mood lighting to choosing furniture you love, we hope you will find an idea among these to inspire your own compact outdoor room.
Zen retreat
A planter of bamboo and a petite Japanese maple, along with a simple wood-slat trellis and minimalist furniture, create a peaceful space in which to unwind. A palette of white, natural wood, stone and lush greenery helps boost feelings of relaxation. Choose smooth river stones as mulch, and just one meaningful sculpture or icon.
A planter of bamboo and a petite Japanese maple, along with a simple wood-slat trellis and minimalist furniture, create a peaceful space in which to unwind. A palette of white, natural wood, stone and lush greenery helps boost feelings of relaxation. Choose smooth river stones as mulch, and just one meaningful sculpture or icon.
Mod eclectic
If you can fit in just a chair or two, make sure they make an impact. Here a pair of mod white chairs mingles with ceramic garden stools and potted succulents for a fresh, fun look. Soften the edges of a tiny patio with curvaceous pots and greenery.
If you can fit in just a chair or two, make sure they make an impact. Here a pair of mod white chairs mingles with ceramic garden stools and potted succulents for a fresh, fun look. Soften the edges of a tiny patio with curvaceous pots and greenery.
Up, up and away
Have a rooftop patio? Take advantage of vertical space by planting tall trees in large planters. The visual lift will make your rooftop feel like a real destination. Also, adding trees to a city roof is beneficial for the environment – just be sure to check on weight limits before adding any very heavy planters.
No-fail plants for a balcony garden
Have a rooftop patio? Take advantage of vertical space by planting tall trees in large planters. The visual lift will make your rooftop feel like a real destination. Also, adding trees to a city roof is beneficial for the environment – just be sure to check on weight limits before adding any very heavy planters.
No-fail plants for a balcony garden
Light up the night
If you have a narrow patio squeezed between tall buildings, use the vertical space to hang string lights high, transforming what would be a flaw into a charming feature.
Just as with a small interior room, an outdoor space feels bigger and more welcoming when it’s well lit. Try adding landscape lighting to the plantings in the corners of your patio to draw the eye all the way to the edges of the space.
If you have a narrow patio squeezed between tall buildings, use the vertical space to hang string lights high, transforming what would be a flaw into a charming feature.
Just as with a small interior room, an outdoor space feels bigger and more welcoming when it’s well lit. Try adding landscape lighting to the plantings in the corners of your patio to draw the eye all the way to the edges of the space.
Build overhead privacy
An arched trellis can provide privacy, even if you live in a city with tall buildings all around. Sitting beneath the trellis with the sunlight filtering down and green vines twining, you’ll hardly remember you have any neighbours.
Shade your outdoor areas in style
An arched trellis can provide privacy, even if you live in a city with tall buildings all around. Sitting beneath the trellis with the sunlight filtering down and green vines twining, you’ll hardly remember you have any neighbours.
Shade your outdoor areas in style
Lounge for one
Forget sharing; if you want total and complete relaxation, make your patio all about you. Place one perfect lounge chair lengthwise, plump it up with comfy pillows, roll out a simple mat beside it and finish the area with a few potted plants.
Forget sharing; if you want total and complete relaxation, make your patio all about you. Place one perfect lounge chair lengthwise, plump it up with comfy pillows, roll out a simple mat beside it and finish the area with a few potted plants.
Try a wall planting
Wall-mounted planters are great for adding extra green when floor space is at a premium. A slender console table is another smart addition to this patio, providing space for candles, watering supplies and extra seating tucked underneath.
Wall-mounted planters are great for adding extra green when floor space is at a premium. A slender console table is another smart addition to this patio, providing space for candles, watering supplies and extra seating tucked underneath.
Update old floors with removable deck tiles
These easy-to-install wooden tiles can be snapped into place quickly and taken up when you move, making them an especially good solution for renters. You don’t need to live with a crummy patio floor anymore.
These easy-to-install wooden tiles can be snapped into place quickly and taken up when you move, making them an especially good solution for renters. You don’t need to live with a crummy patio floor anymore.
Create a living privacy fence
Cable wires mounted between fence posts create a sturdy support for climbing plants. Over time the plants can completely fill in the area, providing privacy for the patio.
Cable wires mounted between fence posts create a sturdy support for climbing plants. Over time the plants can completely fill in the area, providing privacy for the patio.
Engage the senses with a water feature
The quiet burble of a wall fountain will help mask street noise and chatter from neighbours, while providing a beautiful focal point you can enjoy from indoors or out.
10 great ideas to dress up your rental apartment’s small balcony
The quiet burble of a wall fountain will help mask street noise and chatter from neighbours, while providing a beautiful focal point you can enjoy from indoors or out.
10 great ideas to dress up your rental apartment’s small balcony
Plan your space to the square centimetre
Map out your patio space on paper before making any changes – if you measure and plan well, you may realise you can actually fit in more than you thought. In this small space, the designer squeezed in a grill, a dining area, and built-in planters.
Map out your patio space on paper before making any changes – if you measure and plan well, you may realise you can actually fit in more than you thought. In this small space, the designer squeezed in a grill, a dining area, and built-in planters.
TELL US
Do you have a beautiful small outdoor room? We’d love to see a photo in the comments section below.
Do you have a beautiful small outdoor room? We’d love to see a photo in the comments section below.
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Thought I would post an update of our little checkerboard patio. It has aged very well, although this spring we did need to trim the edges to get the square look back since the grass had grown over the pavers.