The smaller the area of ​​the suburban area, the more carefully the approach to its design and improvement should be. To place everything you need on it, you need to use solutions that save land. Read more about the landscape design of a summer cottage for 4 acres in this material.

What to consider before planning

Before you begin, start by exploring the area. It is necessary to identify all the features of the landscape.

Important! Subsequent edits can be made to the plan you have already created using a pencil or pen of a different color.

Among them:

• exact shape of the plot;
• the presence of a bias;
• lowlands and their degree of moisture due to groundwater;
• shortest paths between existing buildings and functional parts of the site;
• the direction of movement of the sun and the degree of illumination of various zones;
• accurate layout of communications, including plumbing, sewage, lighting.

In the course of the inspection, apply all the features to your plan for the suburban area. Try to complete all the elements to the exact scale. This will help to avoid mistakes when you start the project. Now you need to start the actual planning. Make a list of everything you would like to see on the site. Do it in measurable quantities. For example, you need a children's playground for a 3-6 year old kid with a slide and a sandbox. Or you want to place a decorative pond of 2-3 m² in the recreation area.

Plot shape

The shape of the site can be square, rectangular, triangular and even indefinite outlines.

For any of them, there are a number of general design rules:

1. Any object - a doorway, the edge of a building, a window grill, a tree - when you look at it, creates an imaginary line that can be extended to the sides of it. Most of them need to be connected, otherwise the yard will look disordered.
2. The number of "floors" of the site should not be more than 3-4.
3. The same applies to the color scheme. Bright colors attract attention and allow you to create accent points. But using more than 3-5 colors is not recommended.

Rectangular

Rectangular sections are most common. This is both good and bad. Good, because such an area is easy to improve, and bad, because the owners gravitate to the location of objects in the same way as in neighboring areas.

Important! The children's area must be fenced, and potentially dangerous areas, such as a barbecue or swimming pool, should be located as far as possible from it.

Minor adjustments will give the cottage an individuality:

1. Curved lines give the impression of a larger area than it actually is. Therefore, when dividing into zones and planning malls, divide the territory with curved borders.
2. Straight lines, including squares and rectangles, create psychological stress. Replace them with circles and ovals. This is especially important for flower beds, water elements, the playing area.
3. Alleys lined with annual flowers, lilies on the surface of a pond or decorative boulders next to it, i.e. decorations that can soften visually clear borders of elements, are suitable for a rectangular courtyard.

Be sure to place buildings on the short side of the rectangular section. This will make the area visually larger. Leave the center free or place a body of water there, which helps to avoid a clutter.

Square

Square sections are not much different from rectangular ones. This is the most convenient form that can be easily divided into separate zones.

Planning will consist of a number of simple steps:

1. You need to take a piece of paper and draw a square on it, given that all the elements are drawn to scale.
2. Divide it into parts: the area in which the house and outbuildings are located, a recreation area, a dining area in the fresh air or any that are needed according to your plan.
3. First apply all large elements in each area, and then small.
4. Add tracks in between. Mark necessary communications, such as garden lighting.

To increase the usable area, plan tree planting along the boundaries of the site. It is advisable to place the house not in the center, but in such a way as to leave as much sunny space as possible, since very few plants prefer a shadow for growth. It will also be nice if the game area is only partially obscured - in the afternoon, when the summer sun overheats the air.

Pay attention to the features of planning a square plot:

• buildings are moved so as to minimize the northern part, in which a thick shadow forms;
• the distance between residential buildings, water supply and sewerage must comply with sanitary standards;
• vegetable beds are removed from the roadway as much as possible;
• Garage with parking is shifted closer to the exit of the site.

Narrow

In front of the narrow section, the front entrance zone is always placed. She should be as attractive as possible. Here, beautiful floral arrangements and trimmed shrubs are appropriate. Everything else is done depending on the needs of the owners. It is not necessary to make such a yard symmetrical. But be sure to divide it so that the entire site together does not create the impression that you are walking through a tunnel. Narrow areas are rare.

Important! At When planning, it is especially important to relate the narrow courtyard to the cardinal points and place the buildings in such a way as to obtain minimal shading.

Their features are that:

• there are probably areas of dense shade that give buildings and trees from neighboring areas - this must be taken into account when planning planting;
• Do not plant plants along the fence to avoid the effect of the alley;
• you need to choose trees with a narrow pyramidal crown;
• if it is planned to build a house, then this should be a special project for a narrow site;
• it is necessary to divide into functional zones, placing them one after another;
• the farthest corners should be left for farm buildings;
• do not use “blank borders” so as not to create the effect of a confined space.

Narrow can be not only the site itself. Perhaps you are planning a garden, but only a narrow strip of territory remains for it.

In this case, a number of rules will also apply:

1. Create lawns and malls of the correct form. But at the same time, divide the land into separate sections that do not coincide in visual design in order to avoid the effect of the corridor.
2. When dividing, subordinate each site to a specific goal - garden beds, fruit trees, a platform for evening gatherings with the whole family.
3. The far end of the garden is an area that is often neglected. Therefore, place berry bushes or trees in it that require minimal maintenance.
4. To hide the fence or the unsightly walls of farm buildings, practice planting climbing plants. They take up little space and create a strong green background with a decent height. Remember that deciduous plants bare such walls in winter. If you want to avoid this, use evergreen shrubs or trees.
5. Around the flower beds in a narrow garden must be located curbs, otherwise they will look groomed.
6. Be sure to install light sources to make the garden more attractive.

The choice of style and design of the site

No matter what style you choose, the list of elements in it will be similar, but the design will be different.

Did you know? Flat areas always seem visually smaller, so place flowers on terraces, an alpine hill and other hills.

So, in any of the styles, it is implied that the site has:

• buildings, including the house and outbuildings;
• large plants - trees and bushes;
• grassy areas - lawns, slopes, flower beds;
• decorative elements, including arbors, swings, ponds.

Initially, a person lived in a natural environment and built his buildings in the existing relief. So there were irregular styles of landscape design. The most striking representative of this trend is the east. It is important here that flower beds or gardens look natural and buildings do not dominate them. Then people began to ennoble nature, creating jewelry from marble and stone, geometrically regular buildings. Styles of this direction date back to the times of Ancient Greece.

Designers highlight more than 10 different styles. Some of them are named according to the area where it originated, more modern reflect the design features of individual elements or the direction in art.

Basic styles:

• French;
• Spanish;
• English;
• Oriental;
• Mediterranean;
• deserted;
• forest;
• tropical;
• country;
• Art Nouveau;
• minimalism;
• eco style.

If we are talking about the French style in landscape design, these are beautiful, intricate garden trees and long alleys, between which there are large ponds and fountains. This is a very ordered style with many straight lines and symmetry. It was created in order to impress. Its key element is a house or a palace. From this element, tracks are laid to other points of the site. The central axis is perpendicular to it.

Did you know? An example of the French style is the gardens of Versailles - the largest palace and park ensemble in Europe. Currently, 350,000 trees grow on its territory.

All flower beds near the house are located as low as possible. Trees are planted far away to increase perspective. There are also many pavilions, statues and other decor. The traditional colors on the flowerbed should be limited to white, pink, blue and purple. All the others appeared much later than the creation of the French style and are not peculiar to him. Among the flowers, bulbous prevail. A French-style garden is also possible.

For him, the same principles must be observed:

• symmetry;
• straight lines.

English style arose in the 18th century. He was a form of protest against the geometrically regular lines that preceded him.

It is represented by:

• wide sections of parks;
• sheep grazing on the lawns;
• natural hills;
• small streams between them;
• and of course, arches.

It looks like natural nature, but nevertheless it is created artificially. The obligatory stylistic element of the modern garden in this style is the lawn, and other topography includes bridges, ponds, man-made ruins.

A traditional Spanish style originated in historic Spain. Here the culture and traditions of ancient Greece, ancient Persian and, of course, the Moorish gardens of the Alhambra intersected. Symmetry is one of the main elements of the original Spanish garden. You can change the location of the zones, but the elements in them must be symmetrical. Traditionally, it has a transverse axis, from which 4 zones diverge in 4 directions, delimited by water channels.

There are many:

• pergola;
• trellised garden pavilions.

Did you know? In classical gardening art, hydroplasia plays an important role - the ability to give special forms to fountain jets. They can take the form of a tulip, sphere, fan, etc.

Often used ceramic tiles for paving paths, ponds, fountains, terraces, which make it possible to view the surroundings and other elements. A fountain, a place for planting potted plants and a pool next to them must be included in the project. Today it is one of the most popular styles.

Chinese style has been around for over 3000 years. It began to develop as a hunting area for the recreation and entertainment of the emperor. But now there are many options: the scientist’s garden, the monastery, the cemetery and many others. The basis is the creation of an idealized miniature landscape, which is designed to express the harmony between man and nature.

It is necessarily surrounded by walls and includes:

• one or more ponds;
• composition of stones;
• trees looking like a natural forest.

Each garden has richly decorated pavilions that are naturally embedded in the landscape.

The Egyptian style is based on the climate of the country. So, in order to avoid the destruction of cultural buildings during the flood of the Nile, the Egyptians invented artificial terraced gardens, which were installed in elevated areas. Canals were built for their irrigation, and in order to take a break from the heat, malls were thought out under the shady trees. Vineyards, flowerbeds, open pavilions were always located near the canals.

Mediterranean landscape design is a combination of crystal clear warm water and lush vegetation, as well as delicious dinners with friends in the fresh air. No wonder he is popular all over the world. The culture of many nations influenced this style. And now it is a garden with symmetrical elements, a feeling of free space, terracotta accessories, small wall fountains, Mediterranean trees and shrubs, fragrant vineyards, rocky patios and areas for recreation and entertainment.

Japanese landscape design attracts many homeowners due to the ease of maintenance and the possibility of its easy creation. Not only simplicity and convenience are appreciated here, but also peace. He must tune in a calm contemplative mood. Of several modern areas, the most popular is the tea garden.

Did you know? The Japanese believe that roses cannot be planted along the alleys - the guest may accidentally get hurt and this will be a manifestation of hostility on the part of the hosts. To decorate them, you need to select squat plants without thorns.

It will have:

• small pond;
• the arbor corresponding to the sizes;
• small decorative statues;
• other items.

The central point is this pond. If you move from it in any direction, you should be able to see a new, previously hidden section of the garden.

Art Nouveau arose by the end of the 1950s. It is characterized by bright colors and abstract patterns. They combine perfectly with the unique use of lighting, textures and space to enhance the beauty of nature. It is better than others for a small area. To minimize the cost of space on the garden, practicing the cultivation of potted plants, columnar apple trees and other methods.

Materials, colors and textures that are used in the yard must be used inside the house. Often taken synthetics, wood, canvas, raw concrete. Furniture, accessories and decorative accents should not only be modern, but also reflect the individuality of the owner.

The minimalist design of the garden is not a special gardening style, but an aesthetic principle based on the fact that the fewer the elements, the better. Plants are carefully selected for such a garden, and unusual materials must be combined with them. Structures such as stainless steel and glass are often present here. They should emphasize the dominance of man over nature and orderliness over chaos. If a water element is placed in the garden, it should contrast with the plants. Minimalism has existed for many centuries and in its essence can be applied to any style.

Urban garden design can also decorate the smallest courtyard, expanding the sense of space in it, as well as adding variety. It is built around a central point, taking into account the principles of minimalism and selectivity in the selection of components.Attention is focused on accent points - they can be a gazebo, an interesting plant, sculpture, decorative tree, pond, etc. One large plant must be surrounded by many ground cover or undersized shrubs.

Division into zones and location of objects

Zoning is the division of the territory into several functional areas. This is an essential element of planning. But the number of zones is not stationary, and you can choose the ones you need.

It can be:

• rest zone;
• garden;
• Playground for children
• eating area.

Each zone may require a different level of service or care. This is precisely what reflects the specifics of division. Drawings by professional landscape designers explain in detail the topography of the plots and determine the boundaries between them. You can share with the help of plants planted in the form of a decorative hedge, edging from ground cover or undersized crops, walls, arches.

Living sector

From the moment people began to build homes, the space around them began to be adjusted to different needs. The main zone was called the courtyard. Therefore, the residential area of ​​a country cottage is the house itself. And if it is not there, planning begins with determining the place where it will be located. Try to minimize the shading it creates. The house is built on stable ground and planned so that it looks attractive. Therefore, if the site already has a house, then pay attention to its windows, doors and roof. Perhaps they should be cleaned or updated.

Garden and garden areas

The tradition of creating a garden zone dates back to the beginning of industrialization. To make work at industrial enterprises more attractive, workers were allocated plots for summer cottages. They grew vegetables and partially fruits in order to add variety to their diet and realize the person’s internal desire for contact with nature. It is very difficult to place a full-fledged garden on a small plot.

Therefore, there are a number of compromise solutions:

• cultivation of columnar or dwarf trees;
• combination of beds and flower garden.

Phytoncides are responsible for the aroma of plants, they have the ability to repel insects. For example, onions and garlic are dangerous for pests of roses. And if you plant them next to the bushes, you will simultaneously solve 2 problems.

Economic zone

The zone of outbuildings should occupy about 10% of the site. Such extensions can be a barn, a garage, a house, a bathhouse and any other structure designed to serve your site and its inhabitants. Outbuildings are best placed where there is maximum shading. You can’t use them under plants, because most crops need sun. And, since it will be more damp or cool there than in the rest of the territory, it is also not worth using shady spaces for a recreation area or a playground.

Leisure areas

Regardless of the size of the yard, you must create a recreation area in it. This is a place where you can relax, relax and have fun. It can be separated from the rest of the plot with decorative trellis, climbing plants or hedges.

Important! The most common planning mistake — This is a combination of elements from different styles. Choose one, but be sure to check out how to use it to implement certain ideas. And also do not forget to repeat the basic stylistic elements in the design of a residential building.

Stages of creating a recreation area:

1. Identify a point from which it would be convenient to contemplate the surroundings. This is especially important where, due to the hilly terrain, a great view opens up from the site. Do not miss the chance to create a recreation area at this point.
2. Planning it best is from scratch. To do this, the mess is eliminated on the site, dry branches are cut and the existing shrubs are rejuvenated.
3. You definitely need a seat here. It can be sun loungers, chairs, swings or a hammock.
4. Set next to the fountain. It will create coolness on a hot day, and the sounds of water will have a calming effect.
5. You can also install a sun umbrella to create shading. If there is already a large tree nearby, place the rest of the elements closer to it.
6. If we are talking about Mediterranean styles, then a grapevine or fragrant flower bed can be placed next to the chaise lounge. But do not forget that the selected plants must match your climatic zone.
7. If you will place elements on a concrete or stone platform, then think about a barbecue, fireplace or other source of fire. It will create a wonderful atmosphere on a cool evening.

Regardless of whether you will place a cooking zone on the street, you may need its simplified options or elements:

1. A small bar or table, made in the form of countertops, which is attached to the wall next to the kitchen window. In order to serve dinner in the fresh air, you need only a couple of minutes.
2. In the same way, a mini-garden of herbs in separate pots can be placed near the window. To pick a couple of branches, it will be enough just to reach out from the window.
3. If you place a recreation area on a concrete platform, then on it you can create a small pizza oven or decorative fire.

If you decide to make a full kitchen, this is also possible. Depending on the budget, layout of the yard and needs, you can install an outdoor sink, countertops, stove or oven, refrigerator, barbecue area. The set of elements is up to you. Such a project should be implemented if frequent recreational activities take place in the courtyard. After playing sports or working in the yard in the summer there is a desire to take a shower. And many summer residents install such a structure using improvised building materials - siding, wood or polymeric materials.

Planning options

When zoning the territory, consider the following:

1. The front of the site is the front. There may be a children's playground, flower beds, access area for a car.
2. The kitchen area is positioned so that the prevailing winds carry smoke from the source of the flame away from visitors.
3. The playground must have a fence - it is installed for the safety of the baby. And the floor on the site is made of rubberized materials or crushed sawdust.
4. On the front flower bed are plants with decorative foliage. They do not have to bloom, but are required to maintain the attractiveness of the yard. Plant them, starting from undersized at the beginning of the site and ending with tall at the end.

Design and Decor Ideas

The flower garden can also become the highlight of the site, but for this you need to choose the right plants. So, most of them fade within a few days or one month, and then the flower bed becomes dull and monotonous. To prevent this from happening, select crops so that some flowering plants give way to others. And in order that the site does not look bare in the winter, be sure to consider planting accent evergreen trees or shrubs. A variety of shapes and sizes will allow you to choose what suits your chosen style.

In addition to the flower garden, decor elements can be:

• figurines;
• water elements;
• lighting;
• benches.

But, given the small size of the plot, the decor is better to combine with functionality. And if you really need to, then use the tier when dividing the garden. For example, plant strawberries or herbs in flower pots and decorate with them the wall of a barn or other extension. Or create a decorative pond with bumpers, on which you can sit down and relax.

If you carefully plan, you can even equip a cottage of a minimum size. To do this, it is enough to calculate the size and location of all elements at the planning stage. In addition, the small plot has an additional bonus - investments in it will be much less than in the improvement of a large territory.