Do you have a small outdoor space and a budget to match? Follow these 7 rules.

Here's how to make the most of an outdoor space in the city, even if it's small, awkwardly shaped, or surrounded by other buildings.

Any outdoor space in the city, no matter how small, is a precious thing.

« See you again York, if you're lucky enough to have a deck or patio, you're one of the lucky few,” said Keita Turner, a Manhattan-based interior designer. “Anytime you have something like this, it should be an extension of your home.”

In other words, you owe it to yourself to make the most of it. best advantage, even if it's tiny, awkwardly shaped or surrounded by other buildings.

"We actually prefer smaller, more intimate spaces", said Kat Bell, who runs the Los Angeles-based company. the Argyle Design company with her husband, James Drew. "With huge gardens, we end up creating these intimate moments anyway, because it's nice when there are different destinations in the garden."

Here's how she and other designers create the smallest outdoor spaces sing.

ImageArgyle Design separates frequently large landscapes in smaller and more intimate spaces. Credit...Jenna Peffley

Keep it simple

If you're hoping to set up a small space for cooking, eating, sunbathing, playing and reading, it's unlikely that this will do. the case. one of those really good things.

“When you have a small space, don’t try to do too much,” said Jarema Osofsky, partner in landscaping firm. Dirt Queen NYC office. “Focus on and really commit to how you actually want to use the space.”

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