How to create a more private area at back of garden

[DuckieALaOrange]

I am completely new to gardening, and reading the mountains of information is proving very overwhelming.

I have a sunny north east garden which is pretty much a blank canvas. It isnt huge, but I would like to create a seated patio area at the bottom which gets the most sun. I have a vision of hiding that area with shrubs, maybe with a walk through pergola (not sure if that is the right term?) covered with honeysuckle - I know how I want it to look, but I have no idea how to achieve it, so I have the following questions if anyone would be so kind

1/ if i am planting shrubs, do i plant them almost like a border? But if so, where do i plant the tallest plants - closer to the house or closer to the seating?

2/ would shrubs or flowers work best to create a screen? Or a combo?

1. other than hydrangeas and honeysuckle, I have no clue as to what to plant!

As you can see, I am totally clueless!

I'm planning a seating are at the back of my garden. At the back third of my garden, in the middle but to one side, I have a yoshino cherry which has a broad arching habit. I'm planning on curving the border on the other side and planting perhaps a weeping or arching tree, or large shrub. Some people use a trellis, but it wouldn't look right in my garden

Just to add, I'm not an experienced gardener and read your post to see if anyone had any ideas

Thanks @whatisthisinhere your plan sounds very much like what I have in mind - especially the cherry tree! I have just ordered Alan Titchmarsh's book Small trees, which will hopefully provide some inspiration. Good luck with your plans - maybe we can plan together?!

I want so many trees, I can't decide on just the one. If I could I'd live in a forest

I have a small garden approx 77-80 msq but it’s kind of a wide rectangle so the short end is the one facing the house. Currently have a hedge which makes the garden look even smaller and cell like. I’m thinking of having a pergola like the one they showed in Ep 1 of ‘your garden made perfect’ - is it something similar you’re after? If so I think you might need lots of plants around it to get the covered look.

Who are you being private from - your house or the neighbours?

at the bottom which gets the most sun. I have a vision of hiding that area with shrubs, maybe with a walk through pergola
I think that you need to be careful that your 'hiding' doesn't obliterate the 'most sun'. If you have wispy things (eg honeysuckle on a pergola) then you will hide it from the house but also get dappled shade without blocking out too much light.
Think about the view from the house to the pergola but also from the pergola back to the house.
I think that you are best getting the definition/form of your private area from architecture (pergola, archway, trellis) rather than planting (works in summer, not so good in winter). Architecture gives more height than shrubs (and is immediate, no growing necessary) and also takes up less space. Have some smaller (less space-hungry) plants at the foot of the architecture and then grow some climbers up it (early years you can have instant effect with annuals like sweet peas; later years you have can established plants like honeysuckle or roses).
When choosing plants, try to include nice fragrances to add to the ambience.

@senua

Who are you being private from - your house or the neighbours?

at the bottom which gets the most sun. I have a vision of hiding that area with shrubs, maybe with a walk through pergola
I think that you need to be careful that your 'hiding' doesn't obliterate the 'most sun'. If you have wispy things (eg honeysuckle on a pergola) then you will hide it from the house but also get dappled shade without blocking out too much light.
Think about the view from the house to the pergola but also from the pergola back to the house.
I think that you are best getting the definition/form of your private area from architecture (pergola, archway, trellis) rather than planting (works in summer, not so good in winter). Architecture gives more height than shrubs (and is immediate, no growing necessary) and also takes up less space. Have some smaller (less space-hungry) plants at the foot of the architecture and then grow some climbers up it (early years you can have instant effect with annuals like sweet peas; later years you have can established plants like honeysuckle or roses).
When choosing plants, try to include nice fragrances to add to the ambience.

Thanks @senua. I mainly want to increase privacy from my neighbours - lovely as they are their upstairs windows all look down directly into my garden (4 houses in total can all see in). I did think that having a secluded area that is partly hidden from the house may be nice, but that isnt so much of an issue.

Ironically I have been studying my neighbours' gardens for ideas, and while next door is the exact opposite of what I would like (all paved on one side, grass on the other with minimum planting), next door but one looks like what I want, from what I can see of it. And that's the point. I cant see in to their garden due to the lovely tall shrubs and small trees they have - different colours and shapes which mean that the floor of the garden cant be seen. I am considering knocking on their door to ask them about it, but given I have only been here less than a month, I am worried they may think me strange

@Ozanj

I have a small garden approx 77-80 msq but it’s kind of a wide rectangle so the short end is the one facing the house. Currently have a hedge which makes the garden look even smaller and cell like. I’m thinking of having a pergola like the one they showed in Ep 1 of ‘your garden made perfect’ - is it something similar you’re after? If so I think you might need lots of plants around it to get the covered look.

@Ozanj I have just speed watched that episode, it is something similar I am after thank you, but their garden is probably twice the size of mine so I need to try and figure out the best way to portion it out