Creatively Transforming 7 Unusual Corners in Your Garden: Strategies for Utilizing Neglected Areas
Transforming Garden Corners: Creative Ideas for a Modern Oasis
Garden corners, often overlooked and underutilized, can be transformed into stylish and functional spaces with a little creativity. Here are some modern ideas to help you make the most of those awkward spots.
One approach is to plant a specimen tree, such as Betula utilis jacquemontii, to add privacy and create a natural focal point. This can be further enhanced by complementing it with seating and fragrance plants like jasmine climbers. This setup turns the space into a cozy, shaded relaxation spot [1].
Vertical planting is another wonderful way to remedy a flat-looking small garden and enliven a corner used for dining. Using terracotta pots vertically on walls or in staggered groups can add texture, warmth, and vertical interest to small corner areas, especially in tight courtyard or urban gardens where floor space is limited [2].
Unique zoning and planting tailored to the shape of the space can help create flow and maximize use in irregular plot shapes. For instance, triangular garden designs can be particularly effective in making the most of an awkward corner [4].
Creating small seating areas, built-in benches, or planting layered foliage and flowers that soften hard angles and introduce visual balance and personality are other ways to transform these corners [1][3].
When it comes to choosing plants, remember to select those that are suitable for the conditions in your garden. They should require minimal maintenance, leaving you more time to enjoy your outside space. Variegated or silvery foliage like Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Carex 'Ice Dance', or Lamium maculatum can lift the whole space in a dark corner [5].
In a small garden, a corner can also serve as a functional storage area, which you may want to disguise with an eye-catching garden screen.
For those living in cities where wood-burning is restricted due to smoke emissions or fire hazards, there are plenty of smokeless options available now, such as gas and bioethanol burners.
Lastly, using foliage that reflects light is a lovely way to brighten a dark corner in the garden. A mirror, light-toned gravel, or pale glazed pots can bounce light around and visually open up a dark corner [3].
By considering sunlight exposure, privacy needs, and practical use while leveraging these design techniques, you can turn awkward corners into stylish, useful garden features.
[1] Garden Design Ideas: Making the Most of Your Space, The Guardian, 2021 [2] Vertical Gardening: How to Make the Most of a Small Space, The Telegraph, 2020 [3] 10 Ways to Make the Most of Your Garden, Huffington Post, 2019 [4] Triangular Garden Design: 5 Inspiring Ideas, Homes & Gardens, 2020 [5] The Best Plants for Shady Corners, The Spruce, 2021
- Instead of ignoring the corner in your outdoor living area, consider integrating furniture, such as a small table and chairs, to create a comfortable seating spot that utilizes the space effectively.
- For a dramatic touch, use decorative items like art or unique furniture to add a trendy vibe to your corner garden, subtly enhancing the overall lifestyle of your home-and-garden.
- Color can play a significant role in transforming garden corners, with variegated or silvery foliage providing a pop of brightness to darker areas, while lighter gravel, mirrors, or pale pots can help reflect light and visually expand the space.
- When selecting furniture for outdoor living, opt for pieces with interesting textures that complement the ambiance of the living room, seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor decor.
- To extend the functionality of small corners, consider stackable furniture or vertical plant stands, which can serve as both decor and storage solutions during different seasons, thus catering to your home-and-garden lifestyle tailored for modern oasis living.
