Tiny House Tiny Garden

Tiny garden with folding garden furniture and a vertical living green wall

I don’t want to jinx anything for you all but through the showers this week there have been glimpses of blue skies and glimmers of sunshine, indicating that summer may well be finally on its way. I love being outside as much as possible, but I have very limited outdoor space available (2 x 2 metres, to be exact). Don't worry, there are plenty of ways I have found to make the most of even the smallest of spaces.

Here are my best tips:

Consider your needs

First, think about how you want to use your outdoor space. Do you want a space to entertain guests? A place to relax and unwind? Or a place to grow plants? Once you know your needs, you can start to plan how to use your space most efficiently.

Get creative

If you have a tiny outdoor space, you'll need to be creative with your furniture and design choices. For example, instead of a traditional table and chairs, you could use a folding table and chairs that can be easily stored away when not in use. Or, you could use a hammock or inflatable furniture to save space. Personally I have both - a fold-down table and chairs for outdoor entertaining, and two wall hooks for a hammock that I can hang up  when I want to laze outside.

Think vertically

Another great way to save space is to think vertically. For example, you could install a vertical garden wall or hanging plant pots. I had a living wall installed by the fabulous Gannon & associates in Dublin which comprises felt pockets for plants nailed to a plywood board which is screwed into my back wall. This makes great use of vertical height.

Add greenery

Even if you don't have green fingers, there are plenty of ways to add greenery to your tiny outdoor space. For example, you could plant hardy succulents or cacti, or use artificial plants to add a touch of nature.

Use lighting

Lighting can be a great way to transform a tiny outdoor space. In my opinion there is no such thing as too many fairy lights - get solar powered ones in any garden centre. Lighting can also help to make your space feel more inviting and relaxing.