If your garden is long or narrow, creating a beautiful outdoor oasis can be tricky. However, despite the design challenges that these awkwardly shaped spaces can pose, there are plenty of narrow garden ideas out there that will help transform your outdoor area into a breathtaking spot for relaxing, dining, or hosting.
Whether you’re looking to create a stylish dining area to enjoy meals in the sunshine or a cosy seating area complete with a sleek modern awning, these ten narrow garden ideas will help you make the most of your outdoor space.
1. Opt for multifunctional furniture
Space is often limited in a narrow garden, so it’s best to choose furniture that can serve multiple different functions. This could be an outdoor sofa that doubles as sun loungers, or a coffee table with built-in storage.
If your space allows, adding a stylish modern pergola to your narrow garden is a great way to provide shade while also adding architectural interest to your outdoor area.
2. Create a bistro-style dining area
A stylish outdoor dining area is a must if you want to spend more time in your garden, but it can be difficult to find furniture that fits if your space is very narrow.
Bistro sets are small and compact, which makes them a great option for even the narrowest of gardens. They’re available in a wide range of styles and colours, which means you’re sure to find a sophisticated option that complements your outdoor space perfectly!
Top tip: Make sure you have a dedicated area for alfresco dining. A bistro set would look great sitting on a paved section at the very end of a long, narrow garden.
3. Add shade with a bespoke retractable awning
If you want to enjoy your garden comfortably on hot sunny days, you’ll need a shaded area where you can cool off. Finding garden shade ideas that fit a narrow space can be tricky, but a bespoke retractable awning is the perfect practical solution.
Retractable awnings are great for narrow gardens because they save space. Instead of having to move your seating around depending on whether you want to be in the sun or the shade, which might not be possible if space is limited, a retractable awning allows you to control how sheltered your garden is at just the press of a button.
The Markilux 1710 Stretch awning allows the projection to be greater than the width, making it the ideal choice for narrow gardens.
4. Avoid overcrowding the space
Less is more when it comes to narrow garden design, so take care to avoid making the space feel cluttered and overcrowded.
To do this, prioritise a select few furniture pieces that you know you’ll use regularly and refrain from adding anything that will take up more space than is necessary. For example, you might opt for a casual dining set with a sofa where you can both dine and relax, instead of choosing a separate sofa and dining set.
5. Go bright and bold with colours
In a small, narrow garden, the space can end up feeling dull and uninviting if you don’t choose the right colour palette. That’s why it’s a great idea to choose bright, vibrant colours that will reflect the sun and make your small garden more visually appealing.
Adding a pop of colour could be as simple as choosing bright cushions for your sofa or even selecting a sun-loving colour for your stylish electric awning – we’ve got over 250 different awning fabric colours for you to choose from!
6. Blend the indoors and outdoors
For a unified look, consider taking inspiration from inside your home when designing your narrow garden. This will help make your indoor and outdoor spaces feel like one cohesive whole rather than two distinctly separate spaces, creating the illusion of a much bigger garden.
You could do this by incorporating accent colours from your living room into your outdoor space, whether through furnishings or your flower choices.
7. Set up different zones
If it’s long narrow garden ideas you’re looking for, consider creating different zones within your garden to get the most out of the space and add visual interest.
Start by thinking about the different zones you want to create. These could include a comfortable seating area, a dining area, an outdoor cooking area, a vegetable plot, or flower beds, to name just a few ideas.
Once you’ve decided what kind of zones you’d like to incorporate, you can differentiate them with hard landscaping, planters, built-in seating, paving, decking, paths, or a metal pergola. To keep the whole space open and inviting, make sure you can see down the garden into each zone as soon as you step outside.
8. Add greenery with vertical planters
Space for plants is often limited in narrow gardens, so you might need to get creative. Vertical planters are the perfect solution, allowing you to add greenery to your garden while saving valuable ground space for your outdoor furniture.
Trellises, hanging baskets, wall-mounted planters, and shelves are all great options to make your outdoor space feel like a lush secret garden!
9. Include plenty of lighting
If you want to enjoy your outdoor space even after the sun goes down, you’ll need to add some lighting. It’s best to layer your light sources in a narrow or long garden to keep the space fully illuminated and visually interesting.
If you have a path spanning the length of your garden, you might consider placing lights along the pavers to light up the walkway. Fairy lights can be wrapped around trees and plants to make them stand out, while a retractable pergola with built-in LED lighting is perfect for illuminating your seating area.
10. Install a garden room at the end of the garden
A long garden offers a great opportunity for a beautiful garden room at the bottom. You could use this as a home office for distraction-free working, a dedicated space for your fitness routine, or simply a secluded retreat to enjoy a little bit of peace and quiet.
With its sleek and modern design, a garden room is also sure to add a touch of luxury to your narrow garden.
Let Open Space Concepts help you transform your narrow garden
If you’re feeling inspired by these narrow garden ideas, the team at Open Space Concepts can help to make your dream garden a reality.
We specialise in the design and installation of bespoke outdoor living structures, perfect for creating a comfortable and stylish space to relax, dine, or host in. Each structure is custom-made, which means there are options available for even the most narrow garden areas.
Want to make an enquiry? Simply get in touch via our online contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
