Courtyards have been around for thousands of years, and while styles and materials have changed since then, the basic meaning and use has remained the same. Courtyard designs should be open, secluded spaces to mingle with friends, host events or just sit and contemplate the day.
How you decide to design the space is entirely up to you and the possibilities are endless. You can design a courtyard that matches the rest of your home perfectly or make something completely unique, transporting you to a new world each time you step outside.
You can find many landscape designers in Sydney, as well as other major cities. They are really helpful in transforming your backyards or even designing one from scratch.
Here are five things you can consider while designing your new courtyard space:
Creating Privacy with Trees, Shrubs, and Walls
One of the main features of courtyard designs is its privacy and there are many ways to achieve that depending on your style choices. Surrounding the courtyard with a brick or stone wall will definitely work, but a lot of people opt for greenery instead. By planting trees and creating hedges, your courtyard becomes a secluded and peaceful space.
If you already have walls in place but would like a more natural look, you can consider planting vines around the border. As they grow, they begin to envelop the walls, adding a vibrant green to the scenery.
Using Levels and Playing with Space
By thinking with spaces, you can design a courtyard that’s both unique and multi-functional. A popular current trend is to use negative space. Rather than fill up the courtyard with things like water features, plants and outdoor furniture, the space is left empty and items added in sparsely.
The courtyard is designed with strong lines and curves and becomes a work of art in itself. By using levels, you can create unique segments which either blend together as you walk through them or become completely different.
Installing Rocks or Gravel Instead of Grass
By using stone or cement steps, you can divide your courtyard into sections and then use rocks, pebbles or gravel to mark the lines and give the courtyard a sense of direction. Surrounding the space with flowers and shrubs will also help give the space an overall boundary.
Adding a Central Fountain
A fountain can be the crown jewel of your courtyard, with all elements designed around it, or it can be a secondary or decorative piece and be sitting off to the side. Either way, installing a fountain adds a sense of peace to the space – providing sounds of flowing water, reflections from rocks and trees and a general aura of being close to nature.
Use Curved Lines, Paths and Walkways
Another option is to incorporate a walkway leading to and from the courtyard. Mainly reserved for the “garden” design theme, they help emphasize the courtyard’s entrance and provide a big build-up, making the courtyard itself stand out as well. They also make walking in and out of your home a most pleasant experience.
You can also create a more modern and open walkway using stones and lines, the same way you incorporate negative and positive space into your courtyard design.
Mia Guerra
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