Whether you have a sliver of a side yard, a petite patio or a compact urban lot, limited size does not have to mean missing out on lush plantings or cool features — as these 15 creative spaces attest. Creating an outdoor space you love takes careful planning, but it starts with the spark of inspiration. See which of these outdoor spaces captures your imagination, and start planning your garden makeover now. Cue & Co of London 1. Modern and mirrored. Horizontal wood panels can camouflage a neighbor’s siding mishmash while bringing a warm, modern look to the patio. A large mirror hung along one wall enhances the light and creates the impression that the garden continues into the distance. C P Landscapes 2. Urban jungle. Deep, wide planters of bamboo placed along the back wall have transformed this formerly bland urban backyard into a lush oasis. Layering plants with appealing foliage behind the seating area, as was done here, will make it feel like you’re sitting in a jungle.

See this project before and after Nanette Wong 3. Pint-size party patio. This sliver of a yard in San Francisco’s Mission District could easily have been a forgotten space sandwiched between two tall buildings. But with the addition of a few well-placed climbing plants, a picnic table and string lights overhead, it is now a vibrant place to gather with friends.

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Helen Williams Garden Design 4. Mini destinations. As part of a flower show installation, this garden designer created a space with several small, connected seating areas. Built-in benches flow into a short staircase to a raised dining platform. Planting beds tucked between and behind the seating areas help the compact garden feel surprisingly roomy. Jeffrey Erb Landscape Design Jeffrey Erb Landscape Design 5. City balcony. Every square foot has been put to good use on this New York balcony, with built-in planters and benches wrapping around the tight corner. A restrained palette of weathered wood and green is simple and elegant. Smart Design Studio 6. A bit of green. Long to stretch out on the grass with a good book, but have only a tiny square of yard to call your own? Take a cue from this innovative space and build in a mini terrace with room for a cafe table and soft green grass. Compagnie D 7. Eclectic chill zone. Embrace the shade beneath a mature tree with a platform deck where you can lounge away the afternoon. Mirrors and platters hung on the wall, and birdcages and lanterns suspended from tree branches create a whimsical, creative mood here. URBANSCAPING LTD URBANSCAPING LTD 8. Cook’s backyard. This patio is packed with details an avid cook would love, from the wood-fired pizza oven and pocket-size kitchen garden to the overhead rack made to hold pots and pans. Ornamental flowers and flowering herbs mixed with the edibles make the garden as beautiful as it is useful. Chris Snook 9. Personal cafe. A gravel-covered floor, rustic log seats and a simple cafe table make a charming spot to have a morning coffee or an afternoon croissant. Even if there is no ground to plant in, you can use a few large planters to bring in much-needed green. Little Miracles Designs Little Miracles Designs 10. Narrow garden room. A long, skinny yard in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, got a redesign that emphasizes livability. At the foot of the stairs, a planter brings a spot of lush greenery to the ipe decking. The decking extends to a point surrounded by green grass — just right for an alfresco dining area. Harrison's Landscaping 11. Shaded lounge. A courtyard garden with just a hint of grass makes for a relaxed and inviting space for chatting, reading or napping beneath the shade of a mature tree. The low wall doubles as a backrest for the built-in bench and ties the courtyard in with the design of the house. Dennis Mayer, Photographer 12. Brick courtyard garden. Even on a larger property, there is sometimes a small space that begs for a special treatment. Case in point: this gracious home and garden in Atherton, California. Away from the sprawling lawns, a path between formal hedges leads to a secluded garden bench beneath a wall of climbing roses.
Visionscapes NW Landscape Design 13. Serene path. Rather than being a purely utilitarian pass-through space, this side yard is an invitation to slow down and breathe a bit more deeply. Rich green ferns and other shade plants line the gravel path, while unique round “stepping stones” are ringed with Mexican black pebbles and filled with low-growing plants in shades of green from chartreuse to moss. Prassas Landscape Studio LLC 14. Side yard with a stop. Whether your side yard is the only outdoor space you have, or you just want to carve out a more intimate spot as an addition to a larger backyard, adding a seating area can make the space feel more purposeful. Here, a gently curved path of concrete pavers widens just enough in the center to allow for two chairs. The tree on the street side helps provide privacy — and offers a lovely view.
London Garden Designer 15. Rooftop hideaway. Between the built-in planters and benches, climbing plants and rich exterior wall color, this rooftop feels more like a fancy hotel bar than a makeshift city garden. Including a few large planters — big enough to hold something substantial — is key to making a bare rooftop feel like a destination.

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