Raised bed gardens like these – rendered and painted white – are incredibly space-enhancing and practical in a small backyard. They can even encompass seating into their design. Use them to keep the space neat and uncluttered looking, and to divide up and carve niches from your space. They are perfect for housing a small vegetable garden, too.

If your small yard has a woodland or a beautiful view at the end of it, it is worth exposing it if security allows. 

'It could be that a low fence or hedge will allow you to "borrow the view" of the space beyond your small backyard, making it feel larger,' says Lucy Searle, Homes & Gardens Editor in Chief. 'Or, if you have pets, young children or need a taller fence, a line of trellis may be the perfect solution, allowing you to see greenery beyond the yard, while keeping your space safe.'

When looking for small garden ideas for borders and containers, always plant according to the space available. Obviously that means choosing the best trees for small gardens, but it is relevant to your choice of shrubs and flowers, too. 

'When planting out a border, particularly at the center of a yard, perhaps dividing a deck from a lawn, I always take careful note of the full-grown height of what I'm putting in and, if I will be seated, perhaps at a dining table or lounger, I take that into account, too,' says Lucy Searle. 

'Sometimes, I want planting to be tall for privacy, but often, I want to ensure I can see beyond it into the rest of the garden. It's worth noting that lower planting at the center of the yard will help the space feel less divided, wider and longer.' 

Decorating a small backyard should never be an afterthought. In fact, roof gardens, patios and balconies provide a great opportunity to enjoy the surrounding views and extend the living space of your home, however tiny. 

Sleek, simple and sophisticated is the golden design rule for any roof garden. Choose materials to complement patterns or colors in the surrounding landscape or adjacent buildings so the design blends in. 

Whether you envisage creating an al fresco entertaining space with an outdoor table and chairs, or a relaxing retreat with an outdoor sectional and lounge chairs, be sure to choose the best outdoor furniture to suit your needs and desired look.

With a little planning, creativity and innovation it is possible to transform an unused roof space into an area to relax, unwind and entertain.

Approach the furnishing of your small backyard in a similar way to the treatment of the inside. 

Consider warmth underfoot by adding a outdoor rug, or introduce punctuations of color and texture in throws and cushions, as shown in the outdoor living room above.

The hard materials you use will also make a difference. Panels of timber for some of the boundary treatment can be softer in appearance than stone or rendered walls and will also create a quieter space with less echo. 

Create the illusion of space in your garden with pleached trees. 

Pleaching is a tree-training technique that produces trees with clear, straight stems and a canopy trained on a framework to grow into a screen. 

It creates a sense of mystery by allowing glimpses of other areas. When they are planted in rows, they form an elevated 'green wall' effect, which can be a great, natural alternative to a high garden fence.

'Pleached and parasol trees provide a useful way of shading a terrace, reducing the heat and glare of reflected sunlight,’ says Rob Chew, garden designer at Abbotswood Gardens.

If floor space is at a premium, a living wall might be the only option for those seeking to create a plant-filled backyard. 

Where space is tight, planting vertical garden walls is a great way to introduce more color into your garden. 

Smart living walls are an easy solution, covering surfaces with flowers and foliage to disguise old fences and sheds, or even your bin. Add pollinator-friendly flowers and your living wall will feed the bees, too, or try edible plants for fresh ingredients right outside your door.

Award-winning garden designer Alexandra Froggatt suggest using leafy evergreens for year-round cover, such as Siberian bugloss (Brunnera), small ferns, heucheras and sedges, or plant lettuces, thyme, chives, marjoram and strawberries for an edible wall. 

For an easy combination of good looks and longevity, smooth hardwood deck boards from a responsible source are the go-to option. Deck is a great way to enhance your small backyard space, as it can be used to zone an area that’s purely for outdoor dining. 

They are a practical option for small backyards as they’re durable, require minimal maintenance and last for years. They also look better than softwood ridged decking, which needs more work and isn’t as long lasting. 

Hardwood boards are available in a range of different woods and colors, from light to dark, which means you can customise your deck with a shade that suits you. The combination of natural wood, harmonious planting and a carefully chosen accessory or two (like this smooth concrete fire table) works every time. 

The beauty of decking too, is that you can add to it over time. So you can start with a  small deck and then create a larger area that could include balustrades and even a small fence to provide an element of privacy and enhance a shade garden. 

Even the smallest backyard or terrace can make an enticing outdoor space with a little care and attention. 

'Keep it simple – don’t get too carried away when planning for a small backyard or patio,' says Dan Bowyer, Fisher Tomlin & Bowyer. 

'A carefully chosen palette of materials and plants is often the most satisfying. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t be experimental, just be mindful that trying to squeeze everything into a compact space will make it cluttered and decrease usability.' 

Instead, opt for a maximum of one or two points of interest. 

Here, a statue at the bottom of this space leads the eye down the garden path. Or, rather than trying to cram in more outdoor furniture than the space can comfortably contain, keep seating simple with one of the best Adirondack chairs.

Streamlined, modern materials work beautifully in a small backyard. Play with timber panels, steel-framed doors / windows and oversized pavers for a contemporary aesthetic that is still very much grounded in nature. 

Color is important, too. Opting for light greens, silvers and grays will help create a sense of spaciousness, while highly reflective, shiny leaves can add light and shimmer, providing a greater depth of field in the planting scheme.