Design Principles for Turning a Small Outdoor Space Into a Peaceful Retreat

Downsizing is as common as flies at a summer picnic these days. Whether urban sprawl and long commutes have drawn you closer to the city center, or you're an empty nester craving a simpler life, you may find yourself with a diminutive outdoor space that challenges and confounds. The solution? Consider simplicity as both your goal and your muse.

Let's explore design principles and examples to transform your compact terrace, courtyard, or balcony into a sophisticated and peaceful retreat.

Zakrzewski + Hyde Architects

Start from the Ground Up for Indoor-Outdoor Connection

A good first step is to consider your flooring, inside and out. Your terrace or courtyard functions as an outdoor room and should be treated as an extension of your home's living space. In the minimalist terrace shown here, interior wooden flooring extends to the exterior, then continues up the wall, creating a homogenous, nurturing feeling.

In my own home, rich orange-brown Brazilian cherry flooring indoors transitions to a redwood-stained deck with matching tones. Both run in the same direction, strengthening the indoor-outdoor connection.

Charlotte Rowe Garden Design

Interior tile and stone flooring can often continue outside. An existing concrete slab patio can be scored and stained to match interior flooring. If carpet is your interior choice and you plan to keep it long-term, consider patio stone that complements it or stain your concrete slab.

Katharine Webster Inc.

Interplant your substrate with a low ground cover like mazus (Mazus reptans, USDA zones 5–8) or Elfin thyme (Thymus serpyllum 'Elfin', zones 4–8) to bring interest to your outdoor room—much like a patterned rug.

See more ground covers that grow well between pavers

Laara Copley-Smith Garden & Landscape Design

Consider Your Garden Walls

Historically, gardens were walled for protection. Today we're even more protective of our shrinking real estate. Walled gardens remain popular.

I'm a big fan of black garden walls, especially in small spaces. Contrary to the belief that dark walls shrink a space, they can visually expand it by fading into oblivion—look up at the night sky to see this effect. Black walls also bring a crisp, sophisticated, contemporary, or elegant vibe. Dark green and chartreuse foliage, as well as white flowers, look their best against black.

debora carl landscape design

If existing walls can't be changed, build screens and paint them black for the same effect. Screens also conceal eyesores like trash cans and HVAC units.

See more ways to use black outside

John Davies Landscape

Consider fence orientation: vertical fencing pulls the eye upward and reduces perceived scale, making people feel smaller. Horizontal fencing creates a secure feeling of enclosure—like a hug—and keeps the eye moving around the space, discovering new things.

London Garden Designer

Add a Window

Garden windows are portals to the world beyond. Thoughtful placement lets a small part of the outside world in on your terms, or provides a way to look out. If your garden wall is a large, dense hedge, consider cutting a window into it (seek professional help if unsure).

Charlotte Rowe Garden Design

Decide on a Focal Point

Your outdoor space needs a focal point just as much as its interior counterpart—it's the glue holding the composition together. Determine it before adding accessories, which are merely supporting actors.

The focal point should be roughly in scale with your space, like this narrow outdoor fireplace. A case can be made for going slightly larger to command more attention.

Robert Hutchison Architecture

A sculpture, fountain, or specimen tree can serve as focal point. This courtyard garden uses a boulder that brings natural hardscape into the space, providing organic contrast to stone paving. Its color similarity to the paving adds three-dimensional quality. Your choice stamps individuality on the garden.

Jeffrey Erb Landscape Design

Bring in Furniture

In a smaller courtyard, consider a monochromatic scheme you can punctuate if desired. Mixing vibrant colors and bold patterns in tight spaces can make the area feel smaller, busier, and less tranquil.

This terrace reads as large and sophisticated without being stuffy because the designer used a limited color palette, then added fuchsia accents to direct the eye precisely.

Jeffrey Erb Landscape Design

What About Containers?

In a small space, planters in the same hue and material create the illusion of a larger space. People often choose containers with no common thread to spice things up, but this generally leaves the space feeling fragmented. Mix shapes and sizes while maintaining color and material consistency—this brings rhythm, which pulls the eye through the garden and helps the brain process it favorably.

Another common mistake: containers that are too small. When in doubt, go a size or two larger. Your space will appear grander, and plants will thrive with extra room.

Jay Sifford Garden Design

The Illusion of Reflection

An intriguing garden seems to be more than it is. Add intrigue and perceived size by introducing reflection. Certain metals have reflective qualities useful as sublime garden finishes. The stainless steel strip shown here reflects and completes the shape of a stone sphere. (Note: metal can heat rapidly in afternoon sun.)

Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC

Mask Street Noise with Sound

Noise pollution is the urban theme song of our time. A serene urban garden keeps outside noise at bay. Moving water is the most common and easily attained solution.

Before choosing a water feature, understand that water flow volume, fall length, and catch basin depth and shape determine noise-masking effectiveness. That self-contained ceramic pottery unit from the nursery will provide very little positive sound.

Have Your Garden Fountain and Be Water Wise Too

Secret Gardens

Choose Your Plant Palette Wisely

Urban courtyards are frequently shaded by neighboring buildings. Rooftop gardens face harsh sun and may not support heavy soil and trees. Choose plants accordingly. Always consult an engineer for rooftop designs.

This rooftop garden is an unexpected oasis with lush artistic planting of mosses and ground covers. Planter shape and placement forge a relationship with the wall.

Jay Sifford Garden Design

At ground level, you may create planting beds instead of relying solely on containers, allowing wider plant variety. Careful selection based on cultural needs, sizes, shapes, foliage colors, and textures creates a personal space.

Browse the Houzz section on garden foliage

EcoWalls

You can usually go vertical, as with this living wall. Pay close attention to cultural needs so watering and maintenance requirements are similar across sections. Don't hesitate to employ a vertical gardening specialist.

Allow your inner artist expression by combining sizes, shapes, colors, and textures uniquely. And be sure to show us where your journey takes you.

Learn more about adding a living wall

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