Common Design Challenges in Courtyard Gardens

Courtyard gardens are often among the most rewarding outdoor spaces to design. Tucked away from the street and surrounded by architecture, they offer privacy, shelter, and a sense of quiet that larger gardens can’t always provide. But they also come with their own set of challenges.

At Oliver Burgess Garden Design, we’ve worked on many courtyard projects across London and Kent. Over time, we’ve seen a few consistent design obstacles that come up in these spaces, from tricky access to limited light and room to manoeuvre.In this article, we explore the most common challenges in courtyard garden design and how they shape our creative approach.

1. Working Within Tight Dimensions

Courtyards are, by nature, compact. Whether they’re side returns, rear patios, or central voids within a building layout, space is usually limited. That creates constraints on what can be included, how zones are defined, and how people move through the space.

Designing in tight spaces means:

• Every element has to be functional and efficient

• Oversized furniture or planters can easily overwhelm

• Circulation routes must be carefully considered

In our South London courtyard project, for example, we used floating benches and built-in planters to keep the layout open while still providing structure and usable features. The design embraced the small footprint rather than fighting against it.

2. Managing Light and Shade

Courtyards are often surrounded by tall buildings, boundary walls, or fences. This can result in inconsistent or limited natural light throughout the day, especially in urban settings like London or compact terraces in Kent.

Key light-related challenges include:

• Areas of deep shade near walls or between buildings

• Suntraps with little natural airflow

• Low-angle light in winter or evening

These conditions affect everything from plant choice to material selection and seating placement. A well-designed courtyard must account for how the light shifts and use it to its advantage.

3. Limited Access for Construction and Maintenance

Many courtyard gardens are only accessible through the house or down narrow side passages. This can make delivery and installation of materials more complex, and may limit the use of machinery.

Common access-related challenges include:

• Restrictions on transporting large paving slabs or trees

• Difficulty removing old concrete or hard landscaping

• Noise, dust, or disruption within residential properties

Planning a successful project means working with these constraints. That might mean breaking materials down into smaller components, using pre-cut or lightweight products, or scheduling work in phases to minimise disruption.

4. Balancing Privacy and Openness

Courtyards are private by nature, but they can also feel closed-in. The surrounding architecture often creates a sense of enclosure that can be either comforting or restrictive, depending on how it's handled.

Designers must balance:

• The need for privacy (especially in overlooked city plots)

• The desire for openness and airflow

• The importance of visual depth and layered views

Our approach often involves vertical planting and screening. These features can soften boundaries without increasing the sense of confinement.

5. Creating Usable Zones Without Clutter

With limited space, multifunctionality is essential. But trying to fit in too many uses – dining, lounging, growing, storage – can quickly make the layout feel cramped.

The challenge is in defining usable zones without adding clutter. In courtyards, there is rarely room for large divisions or expansive lawns.We solve this by:

• Integrating seating into boundaries or planters

• Using surface changes to define areas subtly

• Designing with visual flow, so the space feels calm and unified

This approach was central to the layout in the South London courtyard project. Despite a small footprint, the garden includes space to sit, plant, and relax, without feeling overfilled. Zoning is especially important in courtyards, where each metre must work hard — see our tips on how to divide a garden without losing flow.

6. Managing Drainage in Enclosed Spaces

Courtyards are often flat and enclosed. Without careful planning, water can collect quickly, especially in older properties or those with poor subsurface conditions.

Drainage issues may arise from:

• Paving laid without proper falls

• No access to mains drainage or soakaways

• Compact ground that prevents natural infiltration

These issues can damage plants, stain surfaces, or lead to long-term structural problems. Drainage must be addressed from the start, with appropriate slopes, sub-base construction, and water run-off points.

7. Designing for Year-Round Interest

Courtyards are often viewed from inside the home, especially in winter when they’re used less frequently. If the design only comes to life in summer, the garden may feel like a blank space for much of the year.

The challenge is to create a garden that looks good in every season, not just when the sun is shining.We address this by:

• Including evergreen structure and textural plants

• Using hardscape features like seating, sculptures, or water bowls

• Designing lighting schemes that give the garden a presence at night

A well-considered planting scheme is crucial to this — and often includes a mix of seasonal interest and eco-conscious choices suited to London and Kent conditions.

Final Thoughts

Courtyard gardens present unique design challenges. But with careful planning and a creative approach, those same limitations can become opportunities. The restricted size, changing light, and high boundaries all shape the character of the space, and offer a chance to do something considered and personal.

At Oliver Burgess Garden Design, we embrace these challenges. From South London terraces to Kent country houses, we’ve helped transform courtyards into outdoor spaces that feel open, beautiful, and surprisingly functional.