Photos: Let this small urban garden transformation inspire you (2024)

Tricky dimensions and awkward shapes can make any garden redesign daunting, but that didn't stop one London couple from transforming the tiny courtyard at their Crouch End flat into the ultimate urban sanctuary.

Reshuffling a small garden is no easy feat, which is why the Londoners headed to home design platform Houzz to begin the makeover process. After stumbling across a similar urban project, they enlisted the help of garden designer, Georgia Lindsay, to translate their vision into a reality.

Measuring just 40 square metres, the L-shaped space had a whole list of requirements, including the need for a bike shed, parking space, stylish seating area, extra security, and bee-friendly plants. 'It's quite an unusual plot,' says Georgia about the garden, which was originally divided into two when the house was converted. 'Because of the layout, the owners and the downstairs neighbour felt very much in each other's pockets.'

Georgia set to work on creating a transitional space, adding black fretwork screening to hide the car, bin, and nosey neighbours. When it came to seating, Georgia opted for a metal framed hardwood bench, with colourful planters at either end. 'It's a floating design to create the illusion of as much space as possible,' she says, 'rather than one down to the ground that could have closed off the space.'

Georgia then zoned the seating area with a patterned tiled 'rug', which gives the illusion of traditional encaustic designs: 'They're printed to look encaustic, but they're much more hardwearing and don't need sealing every year.'

To mask the unattractive wrought-iron staircase which leads to the flat's balcony, Georgia covered them in artificial maidenhair fern panels, which was cleverly fitted behind the metal mesh and pulled through the gaps. It was tricky to smarten up, but it's now an eye-catching feature.

'I don't usually like to use artificial, but in the right setting it can be very effective,' she adds. 'And a real fern would have taken a battering here. It gives the illusion it's real because there's lots of real planting in the garden as well. Also, it remains dense, it doesn't deteriorate, and you don't have to worry about stepping carefully. It was a good, robust solution.'

While the stairs might be adorned in artificial foliage, the planters are filled to the brim with a mix of Euphorbia Characias Subsp, Wulfenii 'Black Pearl', two heucheras ('Blondie in Lime' and 'Obsidian'), and Lysimachia.

'I wanted to get some real acid green colour in there to lift the monochrome,' adds Georgia. Many of the plants will look good all year round. In a very small space, it's good to have a lot of evergreen foliage. You can't get away with bare patches in a small garden.'

Speaking about the finished design, the owners are delighted that it now gives them even more reason to nip outside. They explained: 'We like the modern art feeling and the screens cast beautiful shadows as well as being practical – they are a fence, a gate and support for climbers. The inlaid tiling adds personality and quirkiness. Just looking at the garden makes us happy. What was once an eyesore and a burden feels like a new piece of home.'

Looking for some inspiration? Take a look at the gorgeous garden below...

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