11 ideas for awkward-shaped gardens – to transform narrow, sloping, and otherwise tricky yards into beautiful, functional spaces

If you have a plot that is a little unusual in size and shape, you need to think carefully about how to optimize it. At first it can seem an impossible task, but with a bit of planning and a few clever enhancements, you can transform your outdoor space into an idea for awkward-shaped gardens that provides both function and beauty to enjoy.

Start by making a list of some of the problems you've identified in your yard, such as poor layout or no clear footpath routes. If it's an awkward shape, does it appear too small or too big, or is it long and narrow? Maybe it lacks character and is boring visually, without interesting focal points. Some gardens might be too sunny or shady making it difficult to keep plants alive. Whatever the case, there's a backyard idea that will turn these weaknesses into features that add value to your outdoor space.

Once you have identified some of these problems, you can start planning a garden that embraces the imperfections of your yard and retains the elements of your garden you already love. To help inspire you, we take a look at some of the best ideas for awkward-shaped gardens.

11 stunning ideas for awkward-shaped gardens

We've identified some of the most common garden design dilemmas, and have gathered advice on how to solve them. Discover the right awkward-shaped garden solution for your outdoor space:

1. Transform your triangular plot with seating

If you're the owner of a triangular plot, then that far corner may have you bewildered. In fact, perhaps your entire view from the house seems to center around that rather severe-looking point, and you need to find a way to bring attention elsewhere.

Well, as this example above shows, there are a few tricks to make it feel lighter, brighter, and actually useful.

For starters, paint surrounding walls or fences in pale hues and encourage foliage to grow up and around them – this will soften the harsh angles. Then, draw the eye to the front of the plot with bold patterns and fun features.

Finally – add some outdoor seating. That way, you can use the corner and admire your garden from a fresh perspective. It also turns this awkward space into an outdoor living room space, making it usable - you can even use this outdoor wicker sofa from Amazon to take outdoor living to the next comfort level.

2. Cozy up a narrow courtyard

This small penned-in courtyard has been brought to life with lots of foliage and a charming outdoor dining set. It provides the perfect, cozy space for an intimate garden party.

By immersing the seating in plenty of leafy foliage, this enclosed space offers some escapism. You can even use the best trees for pots if you're working with a paved courtyard garden.

Get the look pictured above with this wicker outdoor dining chair from Wayfair.

3. Transform severe slopes into statement steps

Is your yard so steep it feels almost impossible to work with? Then perhaps it's time to take inspiration from sloped backyard ideas, like the image above which breaks the space up into levels.

This floating staircase uses wooden garden steps to lead you to the top level of the yard, without too much hard landscaping.

If you prefer an even softer look, then why not introduce a fast-growing climbing plant? You can train plants, like the best clematis, to climb up the rails of garden steps, for example.

Or, to maximise the sloping area of your yard, landscape design expert Joe Raboine suggests using retaining walls alongside steps.

'Retaining walls are an excellent opportunity to incorporate additional features into your backyard,' he says. 'You can create planters, built-in seating, raised garden beds, steps, and sitting areas within the garden wall, all of which contribute to more usable space for an outdoor garden.'

Joe Raboine

Joe oversees the Belgard Residential Program. Joe strives to promote the idea that outdoor living is not only a good investment for homeowners but can also fundamentally change lives for the better by bringing people together. Joe started his career as a contractor over 25 years ago.

4. Double the space with a mirror

If your garden feels small, then there's a few ideas for awkward-shaped gardens that you can try to make it more interesting.

One of the best ways to make it feel more spacious is to add outdoor mirrors – the bigger the better. Hang one up along a wall and not only will it help to bounce the light around, it will also create an illusion of space – your garden will be instantly doubled.

This outdoor mirror from Wayfair has a beautiful window effect, similar to the one pictured above, and is a great option for those wanting to adopt a modern backyard style.

5. Make small, square gardens look bigger with circles 

The designer trick for difficult plot shapes is to define a new and more pleasing garden shape within the boundaries. The resulting planting pockets will then help to disguise the existing boundaries.

Circles are a bold shape which will create a strong statement and draw the eye from an otherwise awkward-shaped plot. One of the most successful garden path ideas is to design one that sweeps around one side of a circular lawn, drawing the eye to an area beyond.

Use round, spherical planters (like this one from Amazon) to enhance the use of circular shapes further.

6. Line a narrow plot with pots

Houses with awkward side areas often get very little light, but that doesn't mean narrow gardens can't have plenty of planting. Try laying gravel with stepping stones, or paving, and lining the edges with pots of lush, shade plants.

The key is to start with a simple clean-up of the area. Once cleared, a muddy patch or a pathway can be spruced up with plenty of outdoor accessories to transform it into a useable space - try adding an outdoor rug, like this one from Amazon, to bring the space together, for example.

As for choosing the right plants, try growing shade-lovers like evergreen ferns, cyclamen, and hydrangeas.

If you're starting a container garden from scratch to incorporate one of these ideas for awkward-shaped gardens in your yard, try shopping for planter sets. This terracotta planter set from Amazon gives you a good number of pots to start with.

7. Think vertically in smaller gardens

Small backyard ideas tend to be overlooked by other houses. But, at least there are plenty of fences and walls to provide planting surfaces that won't use up precious floor space, as well as providing a canvas for color and greenery.

You can create a vertical garden in many ways. For example, use this vertical hanging planter from Amazon to make a living wall, or repurpose a ladder to display potted plants.

You can also create a green oasis and much-wanted privacy by extending the height of your boundaries with materials such as trellis or woven willow, which will let through light for an airy effect. Cover with trailing plants such as evergreen clematis, climbing hydrangea and honeysuckle in soft shades of green. This will draw your gaze upwards and make the small space feel bigger.

8. Keep things clutter-free

If you have an awkward shaped plot, you don't want to add insult to injury by having clutter. The key to keeping the space clear is smart, like with plenty of backyard storage for small spaces.

This could be anything from putting up hooks in your shed to mounting shelving on a wall for your tools. A neat set of shelving adds a storage dimension and many garden furniture ranges include storage under the seats.

Keeping as much clutter out of the way as possible will help keep your outdoor space looking its best.

'You can keep the overall layout simple and clean to avoid clutter,' suggests Joe Raboine. 'Think about what you want to grow - do you want a functional space to grow fruits, vegetables and herbs or an aesthetic garden with fragrant florals? Having a plan will help you maximize your space and determine what exactly to plant,' he says.

9. Mix up the materials

Don't be tempted to cover the whole area of a garden with just one surface. Gardens that are all lawn or all paving can look bland and uninspiring. There is an array of materials to choose from.

Wood is great for deck ideas, then consider porcelain or stone paving for garden paths. Alternatively, gravel and pebbles are fairly cheap, can be laid by less experienced gardeners, and are great choices as part of your ideas for awkward-shaped gardens.

Work with the existing shape and mark out garden zones which could be laid with different surfacing materials and watch as the shape is transformed from awkward to awesome.

10. Change the shape of your flowerbeds

This can be easier than you think and it doesn't necessarily involve any hard landscaping.

Mark out the area before you begin so you know exactly what to expect in terms of size and area. You can use the sharp edge of a large shovel to reshape and expand your beds into your lawn - this garden shovel from Amazon is a good choice.

You could go for a curved edge and introduce a softer and more wild planting style or go for something straighter and keep it looking clean and contemporary. You can even create a foliage border for year-round interest.

11. Give a long, thin garden a new dimension

A long garden can be a daunting starting point, particularly if you're new to gardening. Seeing a long corridor of space spread out before you can leave you wondering how to make the most of it.

Avoid having a long continuous path running down the garden that accentuates the length. Instead, try splitting the garden up into distinct areas – you could even make these different shapes to make them more inviting to explore.

For example, place some stepping stones through plants in a central space which links shady and sunny seating areas on either side. Use dividers such as trellises (like this trellis from Amazon) or tall plants to break up the line of sight between sections, to give intrigue and privacy.

FAQs

How do I hide an unsightly area in my yard?

Introduce some garden privacy to hide an unattractive area of your yard. This could be anything from this wooden garden screen from Amazon to using the best ornamental grasses for privacy. Alternatively, dig a border in front of the area you wish to hide and grow plenty of leafy evergreens to conceal it.

You might have been seeking ideas for awkward-shaped gardens if you have a large piece of land to work with. It can feel overwhelming knowing what to do with so much space, but there are plenty of ways to manage a large backyard, including allowing an area of your garden to become wild.