How to make a courtyard garden look bigger – 8 tips and tricks from the experts to utilize every inch of your city yard

Pulling together the design of a small urban courtyard garden is always a joy. First off it's a small project that feels do-able, doesn't take for ever to complete, and won't break the bank as the quantities of materials, plants and accessories needed are on a small scale.

As part of your courtyard garden ideas you'll also want to find out how to make a courtyard garden look bigger to get the most out of your space. It's tempting to cram in as much as you can, but this will lead to a cluttered space that's the opposite of what you're trying to achieve.

A courtyard garden is also key if you're living an ‘inside-outside’ lifestyle, and should be a cohesive space that works as an extension of your interior aesthetic. With this in mind you will still want to include separate areas for relaxing and eating outdoors even if it's going to take some working out, as well as plenty of planting to green up your space.

8 of the best ways to make a small courtyard garden look bigger

'Making a courtyard garden feel bigger than it really is can test a designer’s ingenuity to the full,' according to leading landscape designers Rosemary Alexander and Rachel Myers, co-authors of landscaping bible The Essential Garden Design Workbook. 'A designer cannot make a small garden bigger, but it is possible to give the impression of space. There are plenty of tricks with the details that can be employed.'

One of the main considerations is to avoid cluttering up a courtyard garden with too many ideas when working out how to make a small garden look bigger. 'In a genuinely small space, there may be room for only one good idea. Ensure you provide enough room for this element,' is the advice from Rosemary and Rachel.

Rosemary Alexander

Rosemary Alexander is founder and principal of the English Gardening School, a talented garden designer, and a skillful educator. In the UK, she is a trustee of the Great Dixter Charitable Trust and judges regularly for the Royal Horticultural Society. She is well known on the international lecture circuit.

Rachel Myers

Rachel Myers is a landscaping expert specialising in small garden design. She has designed gardens in France, Belgium, and Colombia. At the English Gardening School, Rachel lectures on both garden design and practical horticulture diploma courses. Her work has been featured in numerous books and magazines.

1. Take into account scale and proportion

Proportion contributes greatly to the overall mood of your courtyard garden. All the elements you plan to include should be in proportion to the size of the house, apartment building or any other structures. Meanwhile any objects should be chosen on a scale with the garden area, avoiding anything that might look disproportionate.

'It's always a good idea to pay specific attention to scale and proportion,' says landscape architect Scott Seargeant. 'Everything you use in the space must make the courtyard garden look larger or it should be removed.'

Alternatively, the scale or proportion of the courtyard must be changed in relationship to the other participants in the space. 'To make a courtyard garden look bigger everything must adhere to the theme and purpose in the right amount,' explains Scott. 'Play with these elements. Rearrange them until you feel the space expanding and you will have achieved your goal.'

Scott Seargeant

In addition to his beautiful landscapes, California-based Scott Seargeant specializes in tree care and has consulted in many US states, Mexico, and Canada diagnosing complex urban tree issues. Scott has a college degree from Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, Ca. and over 40 years' experience in landscaping. He is also a published author, writer, award-winning photographer and film producer.

2. Keep your courtyard garden design simple

There are several design concepts you can use to make a courtyard garden look bigger. Keep things simple, usable and practical. Don't be tempted to throw everything into your design. Instead consider if all the elements you like work together, and if not how you can simplify things by removing unnecessary items or ones that don't work as part of the larger design.

A small courtyard space is often viewed in one glance. This means that a limited color palette and carefully curated finishing touches will create a much more cohesive effect than a crammed and cluttered approach.

'Less equals more,' says Scott Seargeant. 'Items such as plants in large pots, and dark colors will immediately make a courtyard feel bigger as long as they are used in a minimal way.'

Try not to design anything in the middle areas of the courtyard, adds Scott. 'Keep the center of the space open. Avoid the cliche of placing a fountain, statue or potted plant in the middle. The tasteful use of mirrors can make the space look larger and, in my opinion, is a top contributing factor for how to make a courtyard garden look bigger.'

We love the idea of using strategically placed mirrors to reflect greenery or light that can trick the eye and double the perceived size. A few pieces of vertical wall art work well too, especially if coordinated with the taller plant material.

3. Be mindful of furniture choices

Think carefully about what style of furniture you choose and pay attention to detail. It's definitely worth exploring the market for pieces that are appropriate for your space and create that small outdoor living room moment.

'Once you have established what type of furniture is needed in the courtyard garden and where it is going to be placed, you can start to consider the design of each item,' advise Rosemary Alexander and Rachel Myers. 'As a general rule, opt for simple, well-made products that blend in, as you will be less likely to tire of them in the long run. Whatever design you choose, make sure it complements the style of the garden and its surroundings.'

Choose furniture with a light and airy design such as wrought-iron or metal chairs that allow light and air to move through, rather than boxy, solid styles that go all the way down to the floor, as these can make the space feel packed.

Built-in seating can also be particularly effective where space is limited, as it offers storage space for cushions and other outdoor accessories, so reduces clutter.

4. Consider planting levels carefully

A mix of clever planting can further enhance the illusion of space. If you can see a visible boundary it reveals how small a space is. If you cover it with greenery, it will disguise the small dimensions. Using planting designs that help to draw the eye up is another trick to make a space feel bigger and more inviting.

Focus on plants that grow either above or below eye level. Low-growing ground cover can provide greenery without obstructing the space in any way. Trees that grow tall and straight will provide space underneath them and can add shade to your courtyard garden.

Scott Seargeant agrees. 'Make sure you don’t neglect the floor zone. Incorporating a few small plants to the floor space will complement the space as well as lengthening the vertical depth. The use of espalier plants or thinner width plants with some height will add to the volume.'

Courtyard gardens are often overlooked from many angles and share neighbours’ walls or fences, which can dominate. Unifying the boundaries will really help to bring a design scheme together and give the impression of stretching the space. Fences and boundaries can be greened up with fast-growing climbers and wall-trained shrubs that will also encourage wildlife into your courtyard garden.

5. Make full use of space with a vertical garden

To make a small outdoor space feel bigger, keep it open and go vertical with planters, raised beds and living wall ideas. Vertical design leads your eye upward and makes the space feel bigger.

Using plants in this way makes it more of an immersive experience too, as you can enjoy them at eye level to better appreciate the flowers, foliage and scent.

'There are practical benefits of planting a vertical garden too,' says outdoor living expert Leslie Adkins. 'Installing a vertical garden or living wall in your courtyard can give you plenty of extra space for growing your favorite plants as well as serving as an attractive, artful addition that makes the space feel bigger.'

Leslie Adkins

Leslie Adkins is the group vice president of marketing and ESG development at Trex Company, a leading brand of outdoor living products. She has extensive expertise related to outdoor design trends, along with planning and building dream outdoor spaces.

6. Zone your courtyard garden into separate spaces

To make your courtyard garden look bigger start with a designated area for relaxing and if possible a separate one for dining too, rather than throwing everything together in an unstructured way. By dividing the space like this you can make it appear much bigger than it is.

Make a good dining space your key focus for those indoor-outdoor moments. But use the space wisely. There should be sufficient room for chairs to be moved away from the table easily according to the number of people to be seated. Then even the very smallest of spaces can appear roomy. But cut corners and it will just feel cramped and uncomfortable.

A pergola is a great idea for creating a separate space and adding another dimension to the courtyard garden that can make it appear bigger, as well as offering privacy if you're overlooked.

'An open pergola frames the space and adds structure without boxing it in,' says pergola expert Tim Heneveld of Pergolux. 'Everything should feel intentional and proportional. The goal should be a layout that’s practical, stylish, and easy on the eye.'

By designating specific areas for different uses, you can make the most of the area you have and prevent it from feeling cluttered and disorganized.

Tim Heneveld

Tim Heneveld is the country director for Pergolux in North America, the leading provider of louvred pergola kits in the US. He has recently featured in the LA Tribune, Space Coast Daily, and the Good Men Project.

7. Make the most of a borrowed view

'Another way to create a sense of space is to design a small courtyard garden that “borrows” a feature from its surroundings,' say Rosemary Alexander and Rachel Myers. 'This could be an interesting tree or a dramatic skyline to extend the apparent size of the garden.'

Admittedly there are usually more views to borrow in rural situations. However, even in the centre of busy, built-up cities glimpses of pleasant views can be found to be exploited.

'Every garden will appear bigger if the eye is drawn to a viewpoint beyond its boundaries. This is a useful trick to employ when working out how to make a courtyard garden look bigger.'

8. Choose your color palette carefully

'To make a small courtyard garden feel bigger, stick to light neutrals like beige or pale gray for walls and flooring to open up the space,' says Tim Heneveld. 'Add darker accents to create depth and contrast.'

'I like to keep colors lighter too and incorporate them throughout the space,' says Scott Seargeant. 'White works well but can be a bit sterile or less imaginative. Softer tints of blue, green or combinations such as sea green work well, as do hints of soft yellow.'

Meanwhile painting dark colors on boundaries such as using garden wall ideas can help to create the illusion of space in a small courtyard garden. Painting them black or charcoal gray can help them disappear, opening up the courtyard to give it a larger feel.

Brighter colors can work too, if you love the idea of using your imagination and making a statement wall, for example, as a focal point that detracts from the small dimensions of a courtyard garden.

'Combining the bold color tones associated with Palm Beach, outdoor spaces this season create a punchy counterpoint to abundant planting,' says Helen Shaw, director of color marketing at Benjamin Moore. 'Raspberry pink shades, imperfectly applied for texture and depth, evoke a sense of 1950s La Dolce Vita.'

Helen Shaw

Color expert and international marketing director Helen Shaw is part of Benjamin Moore's UK division. Helen and her husband Craig are founders of Shaw Paints, acquired by Benjamin Moore in 2020.

Now you know how to make a courtyard garden look bigger check out other solutions for small gardens such as balcony garden ideas and roof garden ideas to help you make the most of your precious spaces.