Shape Land First, Then Add Water
In Tiny Glade, terrain sculpting means changing ground height and slope (how steep or gentle the ground is). Start big: make one high area, one mid area, and one low area before you do small touch-ups. Those three layers help your diorama read clearly from far away, so buildings and paths do not blur into one flat patch.
Favor smooth transitions over sharp cliffs. If a wall or path looks off, fix the land under it first instead of hiding it with extra decoration. Keep your main structure on the calmest, flattest zone, then raise edges behind it to create a natural backdrop.
Water That Improves Composition
Use water as framing, not filler. Tiny Glade lets you draw and erase water areas, so place ponds or narrow shapes where they contrast with stone, paths, or foliage. Leave a little shoreline visible so each shape reads clearly. Build the bank first, then tune the water edge; small terrain edits around shorelines usually look cleaner than over-detailing the water itself.
For cleaner scenes, give each area one clear water job: foreground accent, center focal point, or background separator. If every area has water, nothing stands out. A beginner-friendly order is land forms first, one intentional water shape next, then decorations last to support the layout.