Viewing other gardens or backyards will give you ideas for new design for your home and landscape.

This you tube has ideas that are good for the smaller yard or small space design ideas. Oftentimes even in a larger yard there are small spaces that need plants and personality. The ideas here may give you a new backyard or patio look.

Many of the plants that are unique small plants would work in the yard or on balconies and many plants could be brought in for the winter if grown in containers and you live in a cooler climate. I enjoy bringing plants in during the winter months. It doesn’t seem as cold!

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Arbors and arches will add to any garden or backyard area. They can be purchased or if you have available supplies they can be made rather easily.

An arbor can be made from willow, which is available in many backyards. There is the yellow or weeping willow and the more wild willow that grows along creeks and near swamps. Just make sure if you’re trimming willow off your property that you have permission of the property owner.

This you tube is about how to make an arbor from willow. In this you tube the creator talks about the willow growing later during the season, which it may do the first year depending on your climate.

The following season you may wish to treat the willow with a weather sealant to help the arbor last longer by protecting it from water.

The next you tube will show you how to create four different trellises for basic garden purposes. Most of the items are probably around your home or can be easily picked up from a hardware store, garage sales or an auction.

These trellises are more functional than artistic. But you could use the same ideas to create a trellis from willow or another bendable wood if you want a more rustic look.

Arbors and trellises make better use of space which is important in small space gardening, patio gardening or balcony gardening.

I also like to look of plants growing vertical plus I find I have less insect problems when plants are off the ground and exposed to better air circulation.

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One of the most important things in a small backyard or garden area is to create a design that will give you flow.

If your garden spaces flow from one to the other you will create a feeling of more space. It also helps with relaxation and enjoyment of the backyard area.

The following you tube has great ideas for creating flow in the home and yard.

I liked the use of low maintenance plants in the front design area. The design plans also worked with tying the house into the landscape, both in the front and backyard areas.

When you work with designing your yard space if you tie the home into the yard you create a flow and the space becomes larger. This is particularly true in you have a porch area or patio and use color to blend the spaces together.

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Houseplants add life and character to your home, patio and balcony. They will also improve air quality. However, they can also take up valuable space on your floors and table tops, which is an important factor if space is limited.

photo credit: lostash

The best solution when adding plants indoors or out is to look for space you might not be using or would normally overlook.

If you have a free corner in your space, you can add hanging plants and floor plants. Avoid plants that produce a lot of lateral growth. Palms and the corn plant (which is tolerant of low light) are great for small spaces because all their foliage is at the top. Consider trailing plants like the sweetheart vine for hanging planters.

By the bottom of the plant grouping you could add colorful plants or garden art.

You have just used a space that is often overlooked and you will find by softening the edges of a space you will create a larger feel.

Its easy and fast to adapt an existing floor screen or replace it out for one that can hold potted plants. Add a window box to a window or place glass shelves higher in the window to give a feeling of extended space.  You may want to replace the pillar candle in a candle sconce with a small potted plant.

Wall-pocket planters will add color in the tiniest of spaces. Hang them nice and high. I also place small mirrors near the plants to add more light and carry the color of the plants.

You’d be surprised by the impact of a single tendril of ivy running down the length of your wall. Baby tears and other creepers are another good choice.

photo credit: Avia Venefica

Wall pocket can often be picked up at garage sales or a thrift shop for pennies. And the vintage look will add character to you room, patio or balcony.

And my favorite addition to any room is a vertical garden, or “living wall”. Each garden wall has it own unique look.

If your plants are for patio and balcony areas you may wan to consider how hardy they are. Will they handle wind and cold? Should they be brought in during the winter or just protected from wind and the elements?

One final consideration in adding plants to a small area is to carefully select the plants. You will only have room for a few in a small space design so try and get a few plants with height, a few vines and plants with a little color. You may also have to consider plants for low light areas.

Tip: Remove plants from the wall for watering to avoid damage to floors, walls or rugs.

Technorati Tags: indoor plants, small balcony design, small patio design, small space design

The winter months when yard work and gardens slow down or come to a complete halt is the perfect time to plan small space design ideas.

photo credit: jessicareeder

There may have been areas of your garden and backyard what did not work as well as you intended or that just need an overhaul. I myself have noticed that when I make better use of my space I also have less work, and although I like working in the garden I also like relaxing too.

So what can you do to improve the use of your backyard and garden space?

• The patio can serve as an entertainment area and children’s play area. Add storage benches to tuck away children toys and games when not in use.
• Have a foldaway picnic table or have a movable table that can be used in another part of the yard.
• Switch to vertical gardening, raised bed gardening or container gardening to make use of small spaces, patios and hillsides.
• Look at areas near the house or garage to see if there is space that could be used that is setting unattended.
• The use of a hammock that be put up or down, tents for the children, mini wading pool, or a badminton set can add hours of entertainment but all items can be taken down or traded to make use of small spaces.
• Use small furniture in the backyard. It will give a feel of more space.
• Tall plants will soften corners and add depth making your space feel larger.
• Add night-lights and lanterns to extend your time in the backyard. The evening will add a new feel to your area and a feel off space. If you stagger your lights in layers you will also add the feel of more depth.
• Use an online landscape planner or grab graph paper and lay out your backyard Make cutouts of the shape of your home, trees and any other backyard item. Move around your cutouts to see if you can make better use of your available space.

Most important, take time and think back to last summer. What worked in the yard and what did you miss or was a bit disappointing. This is the time to make plans and add comfort and atmosphere to your backyard oasis area.

Last year I noticed I needed to redo the patio area and make it more of an extension of the indoor living space. I also want to add more night lighting. So these are winter planning ideas I will be concentrating on for better use of my small space backyard and patio.

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