Today, I want to share how to transform a tiny patio with creative tips that add both charm and functionality.
I can’t count the times I’ve visited a client’s garden and heard them express frustration that their patio space is too small or oddly shaped to be useful.
However, with a few creative strategies, even the tiniest areas can become some of the most enjoyable spots in your garden.
The three patios featured below are each unique, yet share common elements that transform them into the gems of the garden. Read on to discover how to unlock your patio’s potential!
1. Hidden Gem Guesthouse Courtyard
If you’ve read my blog for any time, you know I often feature the garden of Freeland and Sabrina.
That’s because their garden has SO many different areas, including this small, hidden courtyard right outside their guesthouse.
It’s one of my favorite spots in their garden.
And this year, while hosting our amazing 2-day ‘Napa Garden Experience’, I’ve been fortunate enough to spend a fair amount of time there, allowing me plenty of time to take in all the details.
Here are a few observations as to what elevates this patio from a simple seating area to an inviting space that’s a visual feast for the eyes.
Layered color echoes
Take a close look, and you’ll notice green, blue-green, and maroon color echoes run throughout this courtyard – from the seating cushions, artwork, succulents, and flowers.
As subtle as it is, this repetition not only brings depth and richness to the space but also adds a calming element of continuity throughout.
In fact, the longer I quietly sat in this courtyard, the more I began to realize it’s the unassuming container of ‘Red Heart’ sempervivums placed in the center of the space ties the entire courtyard together.
Both the glaucous blue-green and deep maroon colors of the succulent are repeated throughout the courtyard.
Take a look below to see what I mean.
Don’t Forget the ‘ceiling’ in your garden room
When designing a cozy garden room, comfortable seating is a given. But to enhance the sense of intimacy, you might consider adding the illusion of a ‘ceiling’ through the use of tall plants, a charming arbor, or even a simple patio umbrella.
In the Tanner’s courtyard, the umbrella does exactly that, helping to provide shade while creating the perfect private retreat.
Maximum plant impact – no boring plants here!
The colors used in this courtyard are primarily calm and soothing greens, blue-greens, and maroon.
And, while these lush and complementary colors keep it visually ‘cool’ and relaxing, strategically placed textural contrasts keep the space feeling dynamic and visually intriguing without feeling overly cluttered due to excessive use of color.
Examples here are the feathery sumac leaves, the oversized, smooth leaves of the hostas, the tight, crinkly foliage of the scented geranium, the oversized smooth and shiny leaves of the liguilaria, or the foxtail fern’s fuzzy fronds.
This sumac, for example, not only has striking, feathery foliage, but its fall show is unbelievable!
I particularly love how the brilliant fall colors echo the tiny flowers of the neighboring abutilon.
Note how the sumac is planted in a container, which helps it compete with the redwood tree’s massive roots and keeps its suckering roots in check.
In small spaces, every inch matters!
Including the fence made by Freeland, which features wine barrel hoops that add an artistic touch. I just love this idea.
The gray and silver colors, along with the shapes of the foliage, reflect the pattern of the fence.
Don’t forget the impact of ‘big and bold’
Using bold foliage and oversized plants in a small space may seem counterintuitive, but it’s a great way to create the illusion that the space is larger than it actually is.
Conversely, if a small area is filled with plants that have tiny leaves and flowers, it can give the impression of a crowded, confined space.
However, when you introduce oversized shapes, like clipped boxwood balls, or large plants, such as sumac in a container, the area appears much larger (and more visually interesting!)
This small planting bed is located just outside the guesthouse door, leading to the patio.
While it might be tempting to fill the bed with smaller plants, it is instead planted with a few varieties that have big and bold foliage: hydrangea, asparagus retrofractus, and foxtail fern.
(By the way, I absolutely love the asparagus retrofractus that I have growing in my own garden.
It’s one of those rare plants that’s incredibly low-water and tough as nails, while appearing lush. Click here to see it, and others, planted under my oak tree.)
2. Succulent Sanctuary Patio
While sorting through my countless photos the other day, I realized that I never wrote about the stunning succulent garden belonging to Jim Bishop and the his partner Scott, located in the Mission Hills neighborhood of San Diego.
I can’t believe I overlooked it, as it’s one of the most incredible gardens I’ve ever seen.
In the spirit of “better late than never,” I’m including a glimpse of their private courtyard patio in this post. It’s one of the most unique, personal, artistic, and fun succulent courtyards I’ve come across.
Add Cohesion Using Similar Containers
This small courtyard overflows with structural, textural, and colorful potted succulents, cacti, and air plants (tillandsias) — they’re everywhere!
Jim’s philosophy (which I resonate with!) is that more is more.
However, his consistent use of cobalt blue and terra cotta containers helps maintain a sense of order, adding an essential element of repetition that prevents the space from looking too chaotic.
Take a closer look, and you’ll notice Jim has plants everywhere – like these air plants placed within the tiny gaps between the bricks along the wall.
And if you’d like to read more about the amazing world of tillandsias, click here for some of my favorites and how I use them as houseplants.
Or the succulent that cascades from its container tucked up into the patio umbrella (which is such a clever idea!)
The umbrella not only acts as the ‘ceiling’ of the garden room (as mentioned above, in the Tanners’ courtyard) but the hanging plant gives the illusion of being in the jungle. Very cool.
Another example of terracotta and blue colors helping to create a ribbon of unity throughout the space.
But remember – too much repetition can become a little predictable.
To ‘wake up the eye’ add a pop of color, like Jim has done with his patio cushions and pillows.
Don’t forget to add personality!
Small spaces like patios and courtyards are the perfect place to add your personality, as even the smallest touches won’t get lost like they can in larger gardens.
And while the metal mariachi men would certainly stand out in a larger garden, seeing them up close and personal in a small patio means you can fully appreciate the clever use of air plants.
The impact of ‘big and bold’
Just like in the Tanner’s patio, above, the addition of a few big and bold plants not only keeps the small space visually interesting, but also creates the illusion of the space being more expansive than it is.
If you want to read more about this incredible garden (and to see why the San Diego Horticultural Society named Jim as Horticulturist of the Year in 2019 click here.
3. Jewel Box Courtyard (that’s also wheelchair-friendly)
Several years ago, I designed this courtyard, and it remains one of my favorite little gardens ever.
While you can read more about this garden by clicking here (including some pretty inspiring before-and-afters), I’d like to highlight a few key points discussed earlier and show how this garden incorporates them.
Every inch counts – detail, detail, detail!
As mentioned in the other examples, above, it’s so important to make the most of every inch in a small patio.
Judy, the homeowner, did exactly that, by including tucking in a few of her prized heirlooms here and there.
In addition to adding her own personality to this space, she also wanted to add the gentle sound of a water feature.
The importance of fragrance!
Fragrant plants are an excellent addition to small patios as the scent of even subtly scented flowers intensifies in intimate quarters.
Add a ‘ceiling’ to your garden room
In Judy’s garden, the ‘ceiling’ is a tall, narrow L-shaped trellis that we built to provide privacy from the neighboring condominiums while creating a retreat-like atmosphere.
14 Comments
It’s been a while – your post is jam packed with good information and ideas, as usual, and it makes me wonder why I put off reading it. Feeling a little overwhelmed, I guess, but the goal now is to simplify life down to the really important things – you make the cut, Rebecca! Thanks for sharing all these great patio gardens.
Hello Barbara, so nice to hear from you! I totally understand about feeling overwhelmed and simplifying is a GOOD thing (phew – glad I made the cut!!) Glad you enjoyed the post and hope your year is a good one! 🙂
Dear Rebecca, Merry Christmas from far away and Hot, Hot, Hot Sydney! Over many years I’ve enjoyed your amazing work in yours & your customers gardens! I just found out another plant we both have & love – asparagus fern, mine is in a big plastic pot has to be broken to get it out, it’s huge, under a camellia tree & next to it is a evergreen white hydrangea over a meter high, absolutely gorgeous at the moment, love it! Happy New Year!
So nice to hear from you, Rossie, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, too (though I wish it wasn’t so hot for you!) That Ming Fern is one of my favorites ever – I only wish I could find it in the nurseries as I’d definitely plant it more often. I bet yours is gorgeous with a white hydrangea next to it. Here’s to cooler weather for you and a year filled with peace and happiness!
Hi Rebecca,
The cobalt blue containers on my deck, in full sun, get hot to the touch, so I lined them inside with bubble wrap and placed another container inside to try to keep the roots cool.
Love your blogs and webinars. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.
Hi Judy – thanks for the great tip about preventing burned roots! So glad you’re enjoying my blog and webinars and I wish you and your family a beautiful Christmas!
WOW! What a treat! I instantly recognized Jim’s garden as it is also my fave in San Diego! ( maybe ANYWHERE!).
Great inspiration as part of our landscape makeover includes our side yard ” private” patio ( except it ISN’T as it can be seen from the green belt above! Not sure if we want to keep/ update our gas plumbed fire pit that we have not used in years… we also pulled out spa so we have dirt between 2 slabs. Considering the cost of gas ( ours is plumbed for natural) do you have people asking for and USING gas firepits??
thnx!
Hi Barbara – how fun that you recognized Jim’s courtyard. His garden is amazing, isn’t it? I love those stacked bottle walls he’s got (I’ll have to write about those sometime….) Re: your gas fire pit – I really don’t have a lot of people requesting them, but I know those who have them like them, even if they don’t use them they can look really nice in the garden with seating around them. It depends on you, though, and if it’s taking up valuabe space and you’ll never use it, I say ‘be gone, firepit!’ 😉
Hi Rebecca!
I am just about to start designing a tiny patio so your timing is impeccable! And my client has dozens of cobalt containers, it’s really fun to see how they were placed in Jim Bishop’s patio!
I really appreciate your posts, thanks so much!
Happy Holidays,
Lesley
Hi Lesley, I’m so glad you enjoyed today’s post and I have no doubt you’ll create an amazing patio for your client! Happy Holidays to you, too!
Good Morning Rebecca! WOW…what a lovely and unexpected surprise to read your article this morning and see our own small patio featured in photos and with your descriptive writing ! It is a special place for us as well. You have given us a most wonderful Christmas gift! I am sure your article will inspire others to create a small, but fabulous garden space of their own.
Thank you so very much.
Good Morning, Sabrina, and I’m so glad this morning’s article was a happy surprise. Your courtyard is so breathtaking, I absolutely love it. Changing the fabric of your cushions was a game changer, wasn’t it? You’re amazing with color, truly amazing. Merry Christmas, my friend. 🙂
I’m curious what the color of the cushions were previously? They look amazing now and I’m not sure I would have come up with that choice on my own. I may need to switch up my patio cushions too!
Hi Julie, I feel the same way – in fact, I’m not 100% sure but I think the cushions may have been tan. I DO know, however, that the natural teak color of the furniture (which is was also previously painted) was redone in that beautiful, unifying green color and combined with the blue-teal color is a showstopper.