Gardening urged to add water fountain or small sculpture to their garden

If you have a smaller garden, it can easily feel cluttered if the space is not utilised carefully. But gardening expert Fiona Jenkins at has shared some of her top tips on how to make your small garden appear larger.

One of Fiona's best tips is to establish focal points within your garden that will draw the eye to certain areas and create the illusion of a larger space. Features such as a sculpture, a small fountain, or a flower bed will create visual interest and a sense of purpose. This prevents the space from feeling cluttered and helps give perspective on the area. It is especially effective in narrow gardens and will make the space feel more organised and inviting.

Creating zones for seating, planting, and storage will help separate areas and create the illusion of more space rather than having everything clumped together in a cluttered manner. This can be done in creative ways, such as with trellises covered in plants, flower beds, or features like a raised decking area.

The fence can make your garden feel more enclosed. Adding bushes or climbing plants can trick the eye into believing the space is larger than it actually is.

Incorporating plants of different heights and textures around the edges of your garden will disguise any harsh boundaries and create a softer, more visually appealing aesthetic.

Bring colour and light into the garden - dark colours can look great in moderation, but too much of them will make your garden feel more enclosed. Putting in brightly coloured plants or outdoor lighting is a great way to spruce up dull areas.

Plant flowers in light tones can add a splash of colour to your greenery. Be careful not to overcrowd, as this could make the area feel busy and therefore smaller.

You could also string solar-powered fairy lights along fences and trellises or install wall and path lights to draw focus to certain areas of the space.

Choosing practical-sized furniture can help avoid a large furniture set taking over the space. Fold-up metal furniture is a great option as it is available whenever needed but can easily be packed away to create room.

The same goes for statement features in your garden. Try going for smaller items or features that can be hung up rather than taking up ground space.