Sizing up your small outdoor space
1. Less can be more
It’s important not to try and fit too much into your small space. Do one thing, and do it really well. You might decide to keep your patio for outdoor dining, with a table and chairs, or instead just use it for lounging, or perhaps for growing vegetables.
2. It’s easy being green
Don’t be scared of planting. Some people think ‘if I have a small courtyard and pave the whole thing, it will feel much bigger and be more useable’. But remember that a garden has to have plants to be a garden. Plants also add texture and draw the eye to the greenery, enhancing the sense of size.
3. A change is as good as a holiday
You can now get coffee tables that double up as fire-pits, as well as other multi-purpose furniture pieces or use plenty of fold-up chairs that you can sit pots on and then turn back into seats when people come around. They’re all an excellent use of space.
Think about how you’re planning to use the space. Is outdoor dining essential, or is it primarily a space to relax and unwind? Take your design cues from what you really need.
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Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52.8% Human-centred experience and communication
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14.7% Critical thinking
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29.8% Resilience and adaptability
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2.7% Other - I will share below!
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