Being in a terraced house or busy urban area should be no barrier to creating a fabulous small garden.

We love working with home improvers, designers and architects wanting to maximise a modest amount of outdoor space. Here are a few key considerations and ideas when it comes to fencing!

1. Slatted fencing

One of the optimal ways to fence a smaller space is to use a non-solid style, like slatted fencing. Also commonly known as Venetian fencing, it’s a smart, architectural choice for any garden, but it works particularly well in smaller spaces.

The clearest and most obvious benefit is that it allows some natural sunlight into your space, but slatted fencing can also visually elongate your space. It’s basically a subtle optical illusion — the flowing horizontal lines to make it seem more spacious.

Sunlight falling on your fencing can also produce shadows, adding another visual element to your garden. Throw in trendy some up-and-down lighting to the fence posts and you’ve immediately got a smart, atmospheric space.

If you have a wall, don’t despair. Slatted fencing can also be used in front of the wall, giving you all the elongation benefits. A short section could also be used to top a wall.

The slats typically have a 10mm gap, so they provide a surprising degree of privacy, especially if you choose a wider slat.

For efficient use of space, you could also adapt the fence into a bench area, with the slats becoming the back of the seating.

2. Blend nature into your fence

No grass is no excuse for not having a nature-filled garden, so consider adorning your space with plants and fauna. One great bonus to a smaller garden is that it takes less to transform the space — a little effort can go a very long way.

Not only does greenery make us feel good — a principle known as biophilic design — but it adds different textures and colours to your garden, giving the impression of greater size. In an urban area, this could be your very own eco-friendly oasis.

A space-saving way to do this is by incorporating these natural elements into a feature wall at the end of your garden, similar to a project we worked on! This can also blend it into any natural surroundings, making for a clearer visual passage for the eyes — again, giving the illusory impression of more space.

Trailing plants can also help your fence to blend in, making for a seamless visual journey.

3. Choose a lighter colour

It’s a longstanding design rule for good reason: darker colours can shrink a space. So, when it comes to the best modern fencing colours for a small garden, we’d recommend a light golden brown, straw yellow or, for on-trend minimalism, possibly light grey.

Airier colours reflect light and can blend in with natural surroundings for a more expansive look. By avoiding potentially jarring darker colours, you’ll create a more seamless look that’s easier to traverse visually, creating a sense of greater size.

This can be achieved with a lighter-coloured timber species. Some popular options include the light straw colours of Siberian Larch. Similar is Douglas Fir, whose wild grain pattern can add some extra character.

Another species you may be familiar with includes Western Red Cedar, whose versatile, warm reddish-brown and salmon pinks are sure to prevent your space shrinking. Don’t discount the exotic golden browns of Iroko, either.

Factory finishes can also help you secure a certain look. Our ColourFlex range includes a number of airy tints, including white, light natural and grey — any colour is possible.

4. Use fencing panels (or a trellis) to zone your garden

To make the most of your modest outdoor area, consider theming certain areas — perhaps you’ll zone off and create a mini wild garden with a dedicated seating area for reading and relaxation?

To avoid making the space look smaller, this should ideally be done with a subtle partition that allows light to flow, like a slatted fence panel or a trellis. Trailing plants and flowers could be added to create a natural, colourful screen.

5. Consider a pergola

It may seem counter intuitive, but a small, one-bay gazebo or pergola can actually work fantastically in a tighter space. It adds year-round usability and functionality, helping to theme your garden whilst taking up surprisingly little physical real estate.

A pergola, in particular, might be a particularly smart choice. Whilst the lack of roof gives less cover, it permits light to pass through and can be decorated with various trailing plants and hanging baskets to add more character and interest to your space.

Creating a special smaller space?

We offer designer slatted fencing in a range of colours and quality timber species — perfect for adding natural beauty and inviting light into any space that’s on the smaller side. We also supply a range of stylish one-bay solid oak pergolas and gazebos!

If you have any more queries or questions about your next project, simply get in touch using the button below.