Your yard might be small. It is still possible to turn it into something great while giving the illusion that it is much bigger than it really is. Several designers tackled the issue and created absolutely lovely retreats. Here are a few examples. Learn from them and follow our design tips!

• Grow vertically. Vertical planting increases the scale of a space

Contemporary Landscape design by Melbourne Landscape Designer C.O.S Design

• Break the space up into rooms and create different levels of interest.

Modern Landscape design by San Francisco Landscape Architect Envision Landscape Studio

• Creating a view along the diagonal of the yard gives the illusion that the space is bigger than it looks. The 'design-on-the-diagonal' principle works on this tiny courtyard patio, where the tile pattern appears to elongate the dimensions

Contemporary Landscape design by Vancouver Landscape Designer Thomas Kyle

• Design to scale. Use built-in seating, and just enough plants to make a statement. Here, this fun and cozy, small garden enjoys a stucco built-in bench and has been planted with dwarf and well-behaved plants that will not overwhelm the yard.

Contemporary Landscape design by San Diego Landscape Designer Debora Carl

• Remember the rules of perspective and use focal points. Here, the perfectly shaped urn sitting at the center of the yard is smartly complemented by a small, cute accessory on the gate. This creates a line, which is reinforced by the neatly aligned pavers in the gravel path, and which seems to converge to a 'vanishing point', the gate's accessory, which in the distance appears smaller. This illusion is accentuated by having purposely selected a small object.

Mediterranean Landscape design by San Diego Landscape Designer Debora Carl