As Spring approaches it is time to start thinking about your outside space. Those of us who only have a small area outside to work with may not have considered the possibilities. Your area may be a roof terrace, balcony, yard or city garden. As the owner of a particular small area you may have written off landscaping altogether, however, you may be surprised at how much can be achieved in any small area. You will need to be creative and it will probably need to be fairly low maintenance especially if the area is difficult to access ie through the house with no direct access from outside.
There are many things you can do to liven up your small space in time for Spring. If you have boundaries you should consider breaking these up either by using colors (paintings), plants especially climbers or even objects such as mirrors. Mirrors are ideal in small areas as they create that illusion of space.
On the ground there a number of possibilities. If your area does have access problems / drainage issues etc. real grass is not going to be an option. Alternatives to real grass are decking, patios or artificial grass.
Artificial grass is ideal if you want to create a green area. Modern astro turf * is so realistic looking that you can create a lawned area that looks just like real grass but without the maintenance. With a small area it is advisable to incorporate curves which can be done at ground level. Artificial grass can be cut to any shape or size and be incorporated with and around other structures.
A focal point in your garden can also take away from the size of the area. A water feature can be considered as a focal point, there are so many sizes available that there will be something to suit every garden. You may surprise yourself when you consider all the options available for smaller gardens. That dull space you thought you would never be able to enjoy might actually turn into a haven for relaxation and you may even encourage wildlife into your garden.