Outdoor Spaces Of All Sizes
How nice were those two cracker days last week? I was particularly pleased as I had photos on one day and a video the next at our wonderful listing at 35 Rata Road, and both days Wellington couldn’t have looked better. I noticed more smiles on dials over those two days, and a few more t shirts revealing the pale arms of a long Winter. It’s days like those that the mind turns to being outdoors which is the perfect opportunity to start plotting how you will use your outdoor space this summer.
Not everyone has large gardens to work with, but I think there are great hacks for any sized space and many of them don’t require any outside help. Just a bit of elbow grease and a few trips to Bunnings and the garden centre and you can transform your outdoors for maximum enjoyment in the coming months. I thought I would share a few thoughts for a few different spaces to hopefully inspire some transformations of your own.
Courtyard Garden/Small Space
Our last house had a challenging rear area that prior owners had given up on trying to improve. It had gravel on the ground and a high concrete wall (complete with graffiti – and not the good kind), and a few old pellets under the one redeeming feature – the peach tree.
We started by getting plants in the ground; a row of Portuguese laurel, some hydrangeas and our go to – Ficus. The Ficus creeper is a slow burner, so we have learnt that as soon as you move in is when you get them in the ground. But when they take off, they take off!
Second was painting the concrete wall black. Might seem like a strange choice in a small space, but it helped the wall recede, and once the ficus took off it was basically a green wall. We replaced the gravel with white pebbles and a few pavers and set up an outdoor space under the peach tree with an old outdoor bench and chair.
(Before vs After)
Several years later we added decking including a boardwalk from the back gate rather than our hand placed pavers. This gave a more finished feel to this space, but when budget had only allowed for the simple approach, it worked a charm.
This area proved to me that a small space can still pack a punch and provide multiple zones and sense of connection with the outdoors. Many happy memories in that space under in infamous peach tree.
Apartment Balcony
If you’re dealing with a really small space, like an apartment balcony, for me, it’s all about the plants. Rather than trying to get too much furniture out there, a few relaxing chairs surrounded by greenery is my ideal small space. Pots, plants, creepers and hanging baskets, the more the better.
Apartments can feel removed from nature, so I’m a big fan of bringing nature to you. If your body corporate allows, some string or festoon lighting is the cherry on top, but if rules don’t allow, you can probably still enjoy the glow from a few solar powered bollard lights peppered through the pots.
PS - If your apartment doesn’t have a balcony, don’t despair, I’ve visited many apartments where the occupant has been very liberal with indoor pants, and the feeling it creates is on a par with an outdoor space. Greenery, fresh air and the general good vibes that plants bring can be enjoyed as equally indoors as out.
Space To Roam
(35 Rata Road Front Deck)
If you are lucky enough to have a large site, then the options are limitless. But given there are often limits on things like budget and willing and able people power, it’s good to have a few simple hacks to maximise the outdoor opportunity that you have.
As shown with my approach to our courtyard garden, I’m a big fan of zones. Unless you have a tribe of rugby mad little people that need the full length and breadth of the lawn, I think creating various spaces to enjoy is the luxury you have when you have room.
(35 Rata Road Back Deck)
Areas can easily be defined by furniture, plants, hard landscaping, lighting and cooking items (BBQ, pizza oven). Give some thought to which spaces you are drawn to at various times of the day. For example, you wouldn’t put a fire pit in the space that gets the best of the morning sun. Consider what you want to be doing in those areas, is it a chill out area, or an after work drink area or a salute to the sun area? The purpose of the space will then lead you to look at what you can do underfoot, above and around.
(Our Garden At Home!)
We have been so fortunate to have had the help from Racheal at Hedge Garden Design at our current home, and we are benefitting from her immense talents on a daily basis as we watch our garden mature. We have a dining spot, a gathering spot, and with a few bean bags at the ready, a relaxed and flexible chill out spot (lawn). Last thing on the list is a cooking spot, and I’m setting Summer 2025/6 as the goal for that.
Whether you can get help, or whether you need to find the inspiration yourself and roll up your sleeves, (Pinterest!), having some way to connect with nature on a daily basis just has to be a good thing.
“Nature can generate many positive emotions, such as calmness, joy and creativity and can facilitate concentration. Nature connectedness is also associated with lower levels of poor mental health, particularly lower depression and anxiety.” Mental Health Foundation
Enough said.