The 7 expert hacks to help your garden feel bigger this summer from the colours you use to the size of your furniture

The Sun

14-05-2025

AN expert has revealed seven tricks to make your garden feel bigger this summer, from colours to the size of your furniture.
With the sun blazing down on the UK this week, many of us are likely spending as much time as possible in the garden.
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However, if you've noticed that your outdoor space is looking a little cramped, you may be wondering if there's anything you can do to make it look bigger.
With this is mind, Ivana Agustina, Head of Project Management at ShrubHub, an award-winning online landscape design service has revealed seven things to do to make your tiny outside area look like a sprawling haven.
Create Zones
The expert revealed that breaking your garden up into different zones makes it feel larger than if it is just a single open area.
'The human brain perceives multiple small experiences as more substantial than one uniform space,' Ivana explained.
'By dividing your garden into zones – perhaps a dining area, a lounge space, and a planting section – visitors mentally 'travel' through your garden, making it feel much bigger.'
Diagonal Lines
Ivana explained that breaking your garden up into diagonal lines tricks your eyes into thinking that the space is bigger than it actually is.
'Garden pathways or patio pavers laid at a 45-degree angle create an illusion of expansion," she said.
'This works particularly well in rectangular gardens, where the diagonal lines fight against the boxy boundaries.'
Vertical Gardens
If you have limited space in your garden, growing plants up trellises or on walls can make the garden feel bigger.
"Vertical gardening is both practical and visually expanding,' the expert said.
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'By drawing the eye upward with wall-mounted planters, trellises with climbing plants, or tall, narrow planters, you create height that makes the garden feel more spacious.'
Strategic Colours
Even the different colours you use in your garden can affect how big the space looks, according to the expert.
She advised: "Place brighter colours like yellows and oranges near the entrance of your garden, transitioning to cooler blues and purples at the far end."
'Cool colours visually recede, making that section of the garden seem farther away than it actually is.'
Garden features that add the most value to a house
A well-kept garden can add anywhere between 5-20% to the value of a property.
Sellhousefast.uk carried out a study and consulted 36 estate agents, garden designers and property professionals from across the UK.
And the experts revealed the garden feature which adds the most value to a property is a shed.
Shed - 82%
Patio or paving - 76%
Secure fencing, walls or gates - 72%
Outdoor lighting - 66%
Sturdy decking - 62%
Water features eg. fountain or pond - 58%
Modern garden furniture - 54%
Artificial lawn/grass - 40%
Mirrors
Mirrors are often used to make the inside of homes look big, and you can use this trick in the garden too.
'An outdoor-rated mirror placed at the end of a garden reflects plantings and sky, effectively doubling the visual space,' Ivana said.
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'For safety, choose shatterproof acrylic mirrors designed for outdoor use.'
B&M is currently selling an Al Fresco round sectioned mirror for £10 which will make your garden look huge for a bargain price.
Furniture Size
Having a huge set of garden furniture in a tiny garden overwhelms the space, make your garden look minuscule.
Instead Ivana recommend picking smaller furniture and, to give the area "breathing room."
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She added that this trick also applies to greenery, and recommended planting small plants instead of enormous trees.
Create Mystery
"Human curiosity is a powerful tool in garden design,' Ivana said.
'When we can't see everything at once, we perceive there's more to discover.'
The expert recommended partially screening areas with tall grasses, bamboo, or lattice panels that "hint at spaces beyond without fully revealing them".