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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is this garden too small?

55 replies

Anonabc · 12/07/2022 22:18

Really struggling to find a home. Found one that’s lovely but DH thinks the garden is small - it’s 9.5metres by 12 metres. What do you all think? He thinks we will regret it as kids are so young. Yes I also think the garden is small but nearby is a huge park. I’m really torn

OP posts:
sleepyhoglet · 12/07/2022 22:19

I can't visualise that. How is it laid out currently? How near are other houses? What's the soil like? Would you ever want to extend the house?

sleepyhoglet · 12/07/2022 22:21

Also that's 4031ft which doesn't seem that small. A tennis court is 78 by 36ft so about half of that

MixedCouple · 12/07/2022 22:22

That's good compared to most these days. Modern properties are a joke for outdoor space but 12.5 metera by 9 is good.
We have 0 outdoor space with a baby and I'm already so worried about the next year or so when baby will be playing more outdoora I don't want to be going to the park eveey flipping day for hours.
I miss the days when I was younger we had 90 foot by 20 foot garden and Mum could juat watch us and keep an eye from the kitchen window.
Property developers are BA&$×!DS

WishILivedInThrushGreen · 12/07/2022 22:22

I wouldn't have a garden so small but I love gardening.
If you don't care about gardening then it would make a decent enough toddler play area.

Equalbutdifferent · 12/07/2022 22:26

The quality and design of the space makes a huge amount of difference. If you can make it beautiful and functional then go for it as you have the park close by

imnotthatkindofmum · 12/07/2022 22:27

My garden is tiny. Smaller than that.

The park is at the front of my house, my DD is there all the time (aged 8)

There's room in the garden for table and chairs, bbq, shed, small mud kitchen, 8ft trampoline and paddling pool occasionally.

We have about 1/3 patio and rest grass and a path to the shed.

No room for any fancy gardening which is fine by me as I hate it, and I have no decent spare time to do it well.

When we have family over we just all sit in a big circle in the middle, it's actually very sociable!

It's a bit smaller than our old garden but flatter so more practical and we use it far more.

Holymole · 12/07/2022 22:30

I think it just depends what your needs are. We've never wanted a big garden as neither of us like gardening.

I guess if you wanted space to grow things/space to entertain guests plus space for a play area it might feel small, but if it's just a bit of outside space you need for fresh air it'll be fine given the park is close.

Firecat84 · 12/07/2022 22:31

That's bigger than ours and I love ours. I also thought it was far too small before we moved in but with a nearby park it's absolutely fine. We have a lot of sun and it's not overlooked which I think makes all the difference.

dailymailwillrotyoursoul · 12/07/2022 22:31

There is no such thing as 'too small' really, in my town some of the most popular houses for families are terraces with big yards, they are so desirable.

You have to make your own choices.

I have a smaller garden than that, I love gardening, we are happy.

Dishwashersaurous · 12/07/2022 22:31

Sounds a good size for a house in a town.

Summersolargirl · 12/07/2022 22:34

Yes it’s small. It’s about 30 foot wide by 35 foot long. Which if folks struggle to visualise is just under three doors laid side by side wide and four doors wide.

it’s up to you, it’s perfectly fine, but yes it’s a very small garden.

daisypond · 12/07/2022 22:36

I think that’s OK. It’s bigger than my garden, and we have three DC. We also love gardening. We don’t have swings or slides or a trampoline. We have two parks within ten minutes’ walk.

Tumbleweed101 · 12/07/2022 22:36

I'd say it depends how crowded it is - are there lots of houses huddled close and over looking it or does it open out onto fields/views?
I like a bigger garden and we made the most of it when the children were small but depends on what you'd like to do with the space.

imnotthatkindofmum · 12/07/2022 22:38

Tumbleweed101 · 12/07/2022 22:36

I'd say it depends how crowded it is - are there lots of houses huddled close and over looking it or does it open out onto fields/views?
I like a bigger garden and we made the most of it when the children were small but depends on what you'd like to do with the space.

That's a good point. When the kids next door play football it does sound like they're actually in my house. They're not very well behaved though so they constantly scream at each other. They appear to have lost many balls even though they swore they came into my garden 🤷🏻‍♀️

Grendalsmum · 12/07/2022 22:39

Summersolargirl · 12/07/2022 22:34

Yes it’s small. It’s about 30 foot wide by 35 foot long. Which if folks struggle to visualise is just under three doors laid side by side wide and four doors wide.

it’s up to you, it’s perfectly fine, but yes it’s a very small garden.

Eh? You have seriously huge doors ...

easyday · 12/07/2022 22:40

That's wider than mine snd it's fine. After all once your kids start kicking a football around most gardens would be too small.
If it ticks mist if your boxes and location is good go for it.

bloodyunicorns · 12/07/2022 22:43

Summersolargirl · 12/07/2022 22:34

Yes it’s small. It’s about 30 foot wide by 35 foot long. Which if folks struggle to visualise is just under three doors laid side by side wide and four doors wide.

it’s up to you, it’s perfectly fine, but yes it’s a very small garden.

Don't be silly. How big are your doors?? Ours are about 6 foot 5, so that means 31 foot is almost five doors long - not three 🙄

Op, does the house tick most of your boxes? Having a park nearby is perfect!

SofiaSoFar · 12/07/2022 22:55

sleepyhoglet · 12/07/2022 22:21

Also that's 4031ft which doesn't seem that small. A tennis court is 78 by 36ft so about half of that

I think your maths is a bit out there.

9.5 x 12 = 114m^2

That's 1,227 ft^2

sleepyhoglet · 12/07/2022 23:02

@SofiaSoFar I just googled the conversion but it took the x sign out between the two numbers!

sleepyhoglet · 12/07/2022 23:02

I think it is 40ft by 31ft

TheLette · 12/07/2022 23:27

I'd love a garden that big ! It's all relative. In my part of London, with terraced houses, the gardens are the width of the house (about 4.5m) and about the same deep. It takes quite a lot of effort gardening wise still so 9 X 12m strikes me as ideal. Anything bigger would require too much maintenance I think (assuming you end up ramming it as full of plants as I would!)

Original poster
Anonabc · 13/07/2022 06:33

This is the diagram showing garden size: what do you all think now?

Is this garden too small?
OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 13/07/2022 06:53

It sounds quite big really and unless you like gardening or are happy to pay a gardener then having anything bigger is a curse not a blessing as it's just more work to do. It's plenty for outside space to sit in the summer, hang washing and have some space for DC to play.

How does it compare with what you have now and what would your DH do with more outside space?

PuttingDownRoots · 13/07/2022 06:59

What's behind the garden? If is an open space, the garden will feel bigger than if its a 6ft fence then another house or apartment block... (and is there back access or do you have to take everything through the house?)

daisypond · 13/07/2022 07:52

With your diagram, yes, I still think it’s completely fine.