Small Gardens Aren’t a Problem — They’re a Design Superpower

Most people think a small or awkward garden is a liability.

But here’s the truth: some of the most stunning, intimate, and functional outdoor spaces I’ve ever designed start with constraints.

Why?

Because limitations force clarity.

They make every design decision intentional.

At Urban Plot, we see small urban gardens — especially shady or oddly shaped ones — as a creative playground, not a compromise. Here’s how we turn challenges into standout spaces:

1️⃣ Zone With Purpose

Don't over do it with the zoning. Really focus on how you would like to use your garden. No one can have everything

In a small garden, every square metre needs a role.

We focus our service around two core features; zoning and planting for a reason: getting these right have by far the biggest impact on your garden. We always start with zoning and defining a purpose for each area of your garden: a morning coffee corner, a compact dining space, a border bursting with layered planting.

Even tiny courtyards can fit multiple functions if you control the flow — using materials, levels, or planting to signal each zone without clutter.

Action: Start with your garden and pick two or three functions/purposes from the below list that you want in the garden:

• Cook & Dine

• Sunbathe

• Play

• Evening Fire

• Wildlife

• Grow Veg

• Morning coffee

Now, allocate a section of your garden to that purpose. Picking a spot that best lends itself to that purpose. So, if you picked sunbathing, you need a part of your garden that gets the sun at the time you think you'd like to sunbathe. If you picked cook and dine then you need a spot that's big enough for a dining table and maybe a BBQ etc.

2️⃣ Work With Shade, Not Against It

Lush planting will thrive in dark gardens and will be less susceptible to frost

Shade doesn’t have to mean a bare, damp space.

We love transforming shady gardens with plants that thrive in low light — think ferns, Miscanthus, Hellebores, Geraniums, Hakonechloa and Hydrangeas.

Instead of fighting the shade, we highlight leaf texture & shape, subtle colour that create atmosphere and calm. There are so many plants that love these conditions, so even if you have a 3x3m courtyard you can create a cosy nook to relax in.

Action: Check out our Jungle planting plan for ideas of the sorts of plants that will love your shaded plot. Create a single border that sits around one of your zones. Use the RHS Plant Finder wit two of the filters selected 'Shade' and 'Award of Garden Merit' to select plants that work in shade and have been proven to thrive in the UK (we've done this for you in the link above).

Plant selection tip: In a small space leaves are going to play a big role, so select plants with three different leaf shapes and two different colours to create interest and texture. For example,

• 1 x plant with large flat dark green leaves

• 1x plant with grass like dark green leaves leaves

• 1x plant with small oval leaves in purple or maroon

• = 3 leaf types & 2x leaf colours

3️⃣ Blur Boundaries to Expand Space

Tall plants draw the eye up and hide boundaries

Small gardens feel bigger when the eye keeps moving.

We use mirrors, vertical planting, and carefully framed views to create depth.

Clever lighting, borrowed views, and planting that softens hard edges can transform a closed-in space into something that feels layered and expansive.

Action: Walk into your garden and stand at the entrance or back door.

Notice where your eye naturally stops — is there a blank wall, a sharp boundary, or a cluttered corner blocking the view?

Pick one of these:

• Add a tall planter or trellis to draw the eye upward.

• Place a small mirror or reflective surface on a wall or fence to bounce light and create the illusion of more space.

• Shift a pot or plant to frame a distant view (even a borrowed glimpse of a neighbour’s tree or rooftop).

Small adjustments like these can immediately change how your space feels — making it more layered, open, and inviting without major redesign.

The best part? A well-designed small space beats a large, sprawling garden every time!

Designing small gardens is about thinking carefully about how you would like to use the space and focusing on maximising it for these purposes. Sure details matter but the biggest impact comes from how you zone and plant your space. Adding details and personal touches to both these things in the plants you pick, the materials you use and finishes. Getting this right, in my opinion, you create far better spaces that have far more appeal than you ever can in large sprawling garden. Embrace the size

If you’re struggling with a small or challenging garden, you don’t need “more space” — you need smarter design.

What’s the most frustrating part of your garden right now? Curious to hear your take.