Gardens

Just because you don’t have a yard, doesn’t mean you have to go without a garden. There are many ways to incorporate plants into your small patio.

• Mount canning jars on your wall to build an herb garden.
• Use repurposed wooden pallets to house herbs and cascading plants.
• Incorporate vines and cascading plants into the structure of your patio.
• Buy hanging planters to create a vertical garden.
• Use repurposed items like cement blocks, wooden crates, birdcages, pails, and whatever else the flea market has to offer to create quirky planters.
• Build shelves or frames on the walls to house your potted plants, or use a shelving unit.

When building your patio garden, always think vertically to maximize the space. It’s amazing what can be accomplished with a little creativity.

Patio Furniture

The amount of patio furniture you can have depends on the size of your patio, and what you’d like to use it for. Benches are a good idea because they can be built against the wall and create a more open space in the middle. Here are a few other ideas for compact patio furniture:

• Multi-tasking furniture: Having a bench or ottoman double as storage for gardening supplies, and other things, is a great way economize your space.
• Collapsible furniture: If your patio is usually used by just one or two people, all you may want is a bench or nook to sit in. But if you have company, you may need more. Collapsible furniture is useful for those occasions because once you’re done, you can just put it away and enjoy having more space!

Stores that sell patio furniture usually have lots of options for smaller spaces. Do research online and in-store to find what suits your aesthetic and comfort!

Decoration

Don’t sacrifice decorating just because you have a small space! Like gardens, thinking vertically and using wall space is the key to maximizing your patio’s potential.

• Repurposed items: Using antiques, or other “junk” items, is a great way to recycle and give your space a unique look.
• Hanging items: If you have any sort of ceiling—perhaps lattice or canopy—items like birdcages or wind chimes will hardly take up any space.
• Mirrors: Incorporating a mirror into your patio will make the space appear larger.

The key to getting the most out of your small patio is creativity and experimentation! Just because your patio is small, doesn’t mean it can’t be the patio of your dreams!