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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Lily Smith

From outdoor rugs to mood lighting: how to transform a small outdoor space

A woman reclines in a striped deck chair reading a book, a cat nearby, in a candlelit garden
Small but mighty: a few thoughtful touches can turn even the tiniest outdoor space into a place to relax. Photograph: Kathrin Ziegler/Getty

The reality of city living is that if you’re lucky enough to have a “garden”, it’s more likely to be a patio or balcony that can barely fit a bike than a huge expanse of grass.

But just because an outside area is small and lifeless doesn’t mean it can’t be transformed into the perfect place to relax. Whether you use walls to add greenery, maximise outdoor dining with folding furniture or create ambience with lighting, your balcony or garden can be small but mighty with a bit of thought.

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