Grace and Matt Savage were busy dentists expecting their first baby when they moved into a new house with, to their delight, a teeny, 10th-of-an-acre yard.

We’ll keep it simple, they thought.

But Grace’s dad, an entrepreneur with a passion for landscaping, wasn’t satisfied.

First came the boxwoods. Then the rose bushes. The pergola. The cactus.

Today, the couple’s backyard near Ballantyne, N.C., is a lush garden exploding with color and art — the perfect place for meditating with a cup of tea or chasing around the Savages’ son, 16-month-old Price.

In the enclosed backyard, a knee-high dry-stacked stone wall contains several lush rose bushes. A spacious bed butting up against the back of the house features a diverse mix of vegetation, including cactus, weeping cedar trees and colorful pansies, along with large and small art sculptures. Small boxwoods line one side of the white fence that separates the Savages’ yard from their neighbors’.

As more builders offer homes on small lots, homebuyers are faced with a challenge: How can I make the most out of my postage-stamp-size yard?

Dong Hahn, Grace’s father, shared his secrets behind the Savages’ enviable yard:

Outdoor art: Don’t be afraid of art in the garden. The Savages weren’t sure what to think when Hahn arrived with a 350-pound marble tiger from Italy, but it’s a stunning addition to their back patio area. And the smaller sculptures of animals bring life to the beds.

Think about scale: Small, sculpted plants look more at home in a small yard than fast-growing monsters. Small, slow-growing plants often cost more money, though: little yards don’t always mean little money.

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Look up: Add some elements of height to your yard. Hahn planted several tall trees, but he also added a couple of pretty birdhouses and a pergola, and plans to add trellises for roses.

Combinations: Think about combinations of colors, plants and other design elements you love. Hahn likes to mix flowers and stone, so he surrounded rose bushes with a stone wall he created.

Year-round color: Plan your landscaping so plants will bloom in sequence. Cherry trees that bloom in early spring may be good to put near rose bushes that bloom a little later in the season. That way there will always be some color in most parts of your yard.

Focal points: Because many small yards like the Savages’ are surrounded by fences or buildings, it’s important to spread small but visually interesting focal points around the area so there’s something to look at from any vantage point. That will make the walls around you fade into the background.

Liz Harris, program chair for the horticulture and turf program at Central Piedmont Community College, offers these pointers:

• You can create the illusion that a yard is bigger than it really is by placing larger plants closer to gathering spots and smaller plants farther away.

• Even in a tiny space, try to create a sense of mystery. Don’t place all the plants in full view. Layer things so you can’t see everything from one place.

• Changes in depth, such as steps and patios, can make yards seem bigger.

• Don’t be afraid to use some of the same design techniques you use to make interior rooms look bigger, like mirrors. Hung mirrors can make closed courtyards look larger.

• Don’t be a “plantaholic.” Think carefully about every plant you choose.

• As you would when decorating any interior room in your house, think carefully about the mood you’re trying to create. If you want your garden to be calm and serene, the colors and shapes of the plants you choose will be far different from those for a vibrant, colorful garden.

• Think about sounds and smells. Water features and fragrant flowers and plants are wonderful additions even to the smallest garden.

Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company