At long last I’m going to be able to start planning and implementing a design for our tiny back garden.
Nearest the house there is already a terrace and I may add another line of tiles. Then I will have a winding path of remaining tiles to back left hand corner where there is a gate. I want these tiles to go through an archway part way down the garden and I’m wondering how far down the garden to position the archway.
My gut feeling is not half way (a bit like a horizon on 50% in a photo - thirds are better). So, those of you good on design, grateful your thoughts please.
Should the arch be a third of the way down the garden, or two-thirds? Bearing in mind I’m looking for an optical illusion that gives the feeling the garden is longer.
Is this any good Sue : I asked the question of Chat GPT : how can you make a small garden seem larger. Their answer is:
You can make a small garden feel much larger with a few clever design tricks:
Use fewer, larger elements: One large planter or feature often looks less cluttered than many small ones.
Create clear zones: Divide the garden into areas for sitting, planting, and walking, but keep the transitions subtle.
Use diagonal or curved paths: They make the eye travel farther and can make the space feel deeper.
Keep the centre open: Put plants and furniture around the edges rather than filling the middle.
Choose light colours: Pale paving, walls, and furniture reflect light and create an airier feeling.
Plant vertically: Climbers, trellises, and tall narrow plants add greenery without using much floor space.
Use mirrors carefully: A weatherproof garden mirror can give the illusion of an extra section of garden.
Create layers: Put low plants in front, medium-height plants in the middle, and taller plants toward the back.
Blur the boundaries: Let some plants overlap walls or fences so the edges are less obvious.
Keep furniture compact: Built-in benches or slim furniture can save valuable floor space.
A particularly effective trick: Make the garden slightly narrower toward the back, with progressively smaller plants and paving. This creates a forced-perspective effect, making the garden appear deeper than it really is. And they gave me this example :
Arches fool the brain into thinking there’s something beyond as much as change perspective. But your plan looks about right
Your limit is making sure you have two useful zones - once you go through the arch you don’t want to end up in a dark corner with a shed. So 3 metres from the shed is probably your best compromise.
The big trees behind - if your screen hides the fence - they become a “part” if your garden visually and stretch it a tad. I’d stick a small cherry or Acer in the corner next to the shed - it sort of blends with the big trees behind
I can’t be the only one to have spotted that the “Before” and “After” images are of different locations!
Yes, handle with care and don’t trust it farther than you can throw it, but I think @SuePJ has some useful pointers. I’ve seen mirrors used, as suggested.
I think @Rachel05 's friend had the right approach, the first picture seems much longer but would not be affected by some adornment of those strangl.y posed fences (did you have the old man the other side propping them up? )
I predict well deserved exciting times for you both.
And do not let us down by avoiding further photos.
)
