How to make your patio look bigger

2. Seeing double

Mirrors might be the oldest trick in the book, but for good reason. This gothic mirror (£87.50) from Not On The High Street not only has a fairytale appeal but the window illusion expands the length of the garden. To take the idea further, cover an entire wall in a sheet of mirror. It's the latest fad among city slickers.

3. Take to the floor

‘Material for a terrace should relate to the house,’ says Rosemary Alexander, principal of The English Gardening School. Using the same flooring indoors and out creates the effect of one sleek and continuous surface, enlarging the sense of space. These slate floor tiles (£7.98) from B&Q are ideal for a natural chic look.

4. Going potty

Inject some life into your garden with a colourful planter. These Oval Planters (£39 for three) from The Conran Shop add a bold dash of blue and double as window boxes if space is short. Hanging baskets and wall-mounted pots are another crafty floor space saver. Co–ordinating colours and shapes in the garden also helps minimise clutter.

5. Wall to wall

Treat patio walls like those you would indoors – as canvases to be decorated. Susan Bradley’s strikingly original, laser cut Outdoor Wallpaper (£250) acts as a piece of wall art or a clever alternative to trellising. Make your walls pack a big style punch.

6. Climbing high

Climbers lead the eye upwards, adding a 3D dimension to your patio. Nursery owner Fraser Wescott recommends evergreen plants with year–round appeal like Trachelospermum Jasminodes (£12.99) from Crocus. ‘Careful pruning allows the plant to flower yet have adequate rest to maximise the flowering period,’ he insists.

7. Create an illusion with light

For interiors, Mark Garside of Livingetc advises, ‘Light the furthest wall you see when you enter the room, as lit areas appear further away.’ Apply the same rule to patios. This low voltage set of 3 Brighton lights (£25) from Garden Trading will throw a moody glow on a wall or trellis.

8. Flexi space

Want to be able to change your patio from alfresco dining room to daytime lounging area at your whim? Choose folding garden furniture, which can be stashed out of sight when not in use. This Tahiti folding garden chair (£89) from John Lewis has a locking mechanism to make sure it doesn't fold when drawn forward.

9. Clutter clearing

In general, small areas need more creative organisation. To maximise space in a patio, it’s vital to minimise clutter – keep everything in order. Garden sheds don’t come much more trim than this Midi compact version from B&Q – now £63.36, reduced from £74.98 – but it offers ample room for stowing your tools.

10. Water of life

You don't need much space for an attractive water feature which adds energy to an area. This pewter cascading water feature (£75) from Littlewoods Direct maximises water’s reflective surface and brings some sunlight into your patio.

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