Why Some Corners of Your Yard Feel “Too Small” (Even When They’re Not)

I just got back from a rainy site visit—soaked to the skin in that classic “dripping down your collar” kind of way. But you know what? I was smiling the whole way home.

Because during our conversation, a little moment of magic happened—one of those garden truths that pops up again and again, and still delights me every time.

My client looked around and said, “It just feels like there’s no space for anything here.”

We were standing in an area big enough for a cozy bench, a curving planting area, maybe even a hammock strung between two trees.

But I knew exactly what she meant.

Because here’s the thing: we don’t experience our gardens objectively. The places we love—where we have coffee, chat with a friend, garden on a sunny day—those areas feel big. Full. Important.

And the corners we don’t use? The shady, forgotten, awkward spots?
They shrink.

Not in real life—but in our minds.

Your Garden Map (According to Your Brain)

If I asked you to draw your garden from memory—just a quick sketch, no peeking—you’d probably be surprised at the result.

That little patio where you sit every morning might balloon in size. And that corner behind the shed? It might not even make it onto the page.

We don’t just map space. We map feelings. Memories. Habits.

And that’s why observation is so important in garden design—not just measuring tape and site plans, but listening, walking, noticing. Understanding how you use your space now, and how you wish you could use it.

Because sometimes the spots that feel “too small” aren’t actually too small at all. They just haven’t been noticed yet.

A Tiny Experiment for You

Try this sometime:


Take a piece of paper and sketch your yard from memory.

Don’t worry about getting it “right”—just draw what feels right.

Then head outside with your sketch.

• What areas did you exaggerate?
• What zones did you forget entirely?

It’s such a simple little exercise, but it reveals so much.

You’ll see where your attention goes—and where it doesn’t.

And sometimes, that forgotten spot in the back? It’s not wasted space. It’s just waiting for a role and a new ’meaning’.

Maybe a bench.


A stone path.


A single tree or privacy screen.


Or even just a question: what if I used this part of the yard differently?

Our gardens are more than measurements—they’re memories, routines, and possibilities. And when we start seeing them with fresh eyes, surprising things can happen.

So, tell me…


Is there a part of your garden that feels small, but might actually be bigger than you think? 🌱

 P.S. These photos are from a new garden I designed some time ago – amazing how much we fit into a space that at first seemed so small!