Courtyard Ideas

Style

• Determining how to style your courtyard largely depends upon the style of your house and interior decoration, since you will want to create a cohesive flow from one space to the other. Courtyards are popular in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and in other Southwestern and Mexican-style homes. You can evoke this style by plastering and painting the courtyard walls in earth tones and using plenty of terracotta pots planted with a variety of cacti, agave and bougainvillea. If your home is architecturally more contemporary, a minimalist, Japanese-style courtyard might be more suitable. Make the focus of attention a water feature and use plenty of gravel and pebbles. Use plantings sparsely with this style. For example, choose Japanese maples for their delicate and colorful foliage.

Location

• Courtyards offer some shelter for planting by virtue of being enclosed. Still, you must base decisions on what to plant in your courtyard on factors such as location and the types of plants that will tolerate the weather in your region. Buy plants at a local nursery that stocks varieties and species that thrive in your climate. Also check that the soil is suitable for your planned planting. Courtyards frequently rely heavily on container planting. This allows you to use the best soils for the specific plants going into those pots and troughs.

Furnishing

• Visit a home and garden show to get ideas on how to best utilize the courtyard space. Ideally, you want to create a space that is tranquil and provides comfortable seating. Home improvement centers offer a variety of tables, chairs and loungers in a wide range of prices. If your budget is tight, visit thrift stores, garage sales and auctions. Ask gardeners you know to donate a few plants and cuttings that you can nurture in your courtyard. Most gardeners are delighted to share their excess plant stock.

Pools

• If your courtyard has sufficient space and you can afford it, an in-ground pool can add to the space's usefulness and boost the value of your home. Alternatively, a reflective pool or koi pond can create a sense of tranquility. These two options also allow you to introduce water-borne species of plantings into your courtyard, such as water lilies.