Long boring garden, please help MN Gardeners!

[getoffthecoffeetable]

So, mine is one of those gardens that's got a long, scruffy, uneven lawn, the garden's about 150ft by about 25ft. DH has just made me a fabulous patio which takes up about 35ft. I'd love to be able to get rid of some of that lawn and do something with it all but am just lacking in inspiration (and cash to do it!).
DH and I are not scared of hard work and sorting it all out, just need some ideas really.
There aren't that many plants in the edges, there's an apple tree, a small conifer and a bit of planting near the front but that's about it really.
Would love to cut the garden up a bit so it's no such an expanse of space. What would you recommend? Any ideas for what plants would create good and quick coverage? Have an 18 month old DS and a 5 year old staffie. DS enjoys his watering can jobs and has been tending to the tomato plants really well.
Thank you for any ideas.

Make rooms. We had such a garden in the UK, and used stout trellis to divide up the garden, shed and veggie patch at the back, as well as the deck because that's where the sun was.

We had a paved patio and very small pond - quite safe if you cover it with rebar - rusts nicely and strong enough for an adult to stand on, while reeds can grow through and newts and stuff get in. If you get the edging right and the water levels kept up, the birds will be able to have drink, too.

Mmm makes me think of making a mini pond here, but I brick it at the thought of snakes, for the dog's sake, not mine, you understand.:o

We have the same problem and are very slowly getting to grips with it. Bottom third will be the veggie plots, fronted by trellis so I can get some quick growing climbers up them. We also have a garage running along the side at the front so it looks even narrower from the house. At the end of garage we have an old apple tree, and at the very back on the same side we have a big old lilac. We are going to plant a tree (probably a magnolia) about 2 thirds down on the opposite side, so that it forces your gaze from side to side as you look down the garden, making it feel wider. (Tips hat to theskiinggardener! Her idea, not mine!) We're also going to use lots of soft curves as we re-shape the beds around the lawn, again to make it feel wider rather than long. I'm currently researching shrubs, hoping to get some layered cuttings to take so I can get a bit of repetition (and some free plants) to tie it all in. I'm trying to avoid anything too bulky at the sides, we have a big scruffy hedge at the momment, and it's pretty oppresive.

I am hoping eventually to have a pergola with seating in one of the far corners that gets the sun, because the garden feels pretty spacious from that vantage point. Also means I can have someone to sit and watch DD play if we manage to get a summer one year!

Thanks so much for your ideas. I was thinking of doing rooms but wasn't sure how to go about it.
What's rebar?
I like the idea of a tree as well. Next door had some gorgeous fruit trees and they've chopped them down. I was gutted. Had been very green with envy about the trees!
Also loving the pergola with seating. Right, now to start sketching a plan, DH will be pleased!
I suppose the trick is just to do everything in stages, am so impatient though, I want it all done now!
Happy gardening.

Rebar is the thick wire grids that builders pour concrete into to strengthen it for floors, walls, etc. It's sold in standard measures so you'll want to cut it down. I use it as a portable trellis, hung on S-hooks off the fence.

Last garden was mainly a long lawn, far too much for mowing, and only low hawthorn hedge separating it from a field, so I gradually turned bottom quarter into wildflower meadow for practical reasons, which really worked.

The Rebar's an excellent idea (now I know what it is lol).
It's a beautiful day here today and I don't work Wednesdays so will crack on with the garden today with my two little helpers (DS and our staffie)

You might get a few more ideas here:
www.floralandhardy.co.uk/pages/long-thin-gardens