Creative landscaping and planting ideas for courtyards are usually designed with the idea of bringing some of the interior of your home outside or bringing a bit of the outdoors into the house as another room.  Either way you look at it, a small courtyard garden or patio and can be one of the the most intimate, private or most interesting areas in the home, front entry, or outside landscaping.  Courtyard designs in their most basic concept are enclosed, open air patios or garden ideas surrounded by walls (usually tall) for privacy and protection of the elements. And generally they're either a front entry, attached to a wall that leads into the home, or the garden will be in the interior of the house.

When a space is too small to inhabit outside think about how it can used to enhance indoor spaces .  Water features are key, but not the ponds of a natural or traditional landscape. Instead, put in a small courtyard pool or a fountain, either in the center of the space or on the wall. Rustic and contemporary furniture styles work well in these spaces, but be sure the pieces are strong enough to hold their own. The interior versions of these nature spaces are becoming more and more popular in contemporary home design as people strive to bring the outdoors in, or for those who don't have the luxury of their own outdoor space, an internal courtyard provides an ideal alternative. Adding an intimate courtyard to your home gives you a place to entertain guests or just relax.

Proper drainage should be a priority consideration in the planning stage of all landscaping and garden design. It’s especially important when planning enclosed areas such as courtyard garden ideas.

The size of your courtyard will determine how you put the finishing touches on the space. A large courtyard may be able to accommodate an outdoor dining table and chairs and possibly even a fire feature. On-the-other-hand, a small courtyard can be easily overwhelmed with accessories. In this case, keep things simple - a basic bench and a few potted plants will work well.

Plants are the key to softening both the inside and outside of courtyard walls. Hedges and ornamental grasses can be grown along the walls, or a grouping of container gardens can be placed in a corner. Climbing plants are great because they will grow up and over the walls. If you live in a climate that allows, bougainvillea will add a nice pop of tropical color. The plants you choose can help establish a theme in your courtyard. For example, ferns and evergreens will create a Japanese vide.

Finally, a courtyard needs lighting. First and foremost all pathways should be lit for safety. Then you can think about lighting your water feature to make it a nighttime focal point. And last but not least, you can add sparkling string lights or Moroccan inspired lanterns for ambiance.

The balance of any garden is crutial, but particularly so in a smaller area, where each part of the space has to work, flow and add to the overall effect. The choice of materials, both in terms of hard landscaping and planting, is important to give the desired ‘feel’, and should work together to give a coherent entity to the garden. Privacy is often an issue in a smaller, surrounded garden and we can advise on various screening methods.