How to Create Great Garden Rooms

No matter how small your yard is, it can be divided into separate areas. Did you know that dividing even small yards into different rooms can actually make your garden seem larger?

The first thing you should do is ask yourself some questions to determine what type of spaces you want to create. Do you like to entertain or dine outside? Do you have children or pets that need an area to play? Do you want to have an area for a vegetable or kitchen garden? How much time to you have to spend maintaining your garden?

It's a good idea to think ahead and decide where you want to place each of your separate areas. Draw out a plan and then start with one area and work off of it to start creating each of your areas. Remember, it doesn't all have to be done all in a day!

The best place to start is to find an area of your yard that already lends itself to being divided. A cozy corner, an area behind a tree, or an alcove beside the garage or house.

Now that you've decided where to place your first room, you need to decide how to "enclose" it. There are lots of ways to make one area of your yard separate from others. You can add a fence or wall, or a simpler way would be to create flower beds and plantings around the area.

A border of ornamental grasses makes a great screen or wall to separate areas.


A pathway leading through an arbor makes a great dividing point going between one area to another.


Vines growing over a structure makes a great dividing wall for a garden room or retreat.