Start by Reading the Space

A courtyard garden is rarely more than a few paces across, but that does not make it any less rewarding. Before you buy a single pot, spend a fortnight watching how the light moves. Note which wall catches the morning sun, where the shade settles by mid-afternoon, and whether the space is sheltered or funnelled into a wind tunnel between two buildings. A courtyard facing north can still be a suntrap in July, though it will be cold and dim from November through to February.

Measure properly, too. Write down the width and depth in metres, the height of the walls or fence, and the position of any drain, tap or manhole. Check what the boundaries are made of: brick and block will take a wall plug and a shelf bracket happily, whereas a flimsy fence panel will not hold a heavy planter. Knowing this now saves a great deal of frustration later.

Going Up: Vertical Planters That Earn Their Keep

When floor space is scarce, the walls become your borders. Wall-mounted troughs, stacked pots on a sturdy frame and simple trellis all multiply the planting area without stealing a single paving slab.

• Fix wall planters into masonry with proper wall plugs, never into the fence panel. A 60cm trough of damp compost weighs a good deal more than most people expect.
• Stagger the heights. A row of troughs at eye level, another at knee height and a couple of tall pots on the ground gives the eye somewhere to travel.
• Choose plants that cope with restricted root room: thyme, oregano, chives, trailing nasturtiums, alpines, strawberries and compact salvias all thrive in a shallow trough.
• Fit a drip line or use self-watering containers. High-level planting dries out fast, and a fortnight of neglect in a heatwave will undo a whole season's work.

Climbers do the heavy lifting on the walls themselves. A fan-trained fig, a climbing hydrangea on a shady wall or a potato vine on a sunny one will green an entire side of the courtyard within two or three seasons.

Mirrors and Other Tricks of Depth

A mirror panel is the quickest way to make a narrow courtyard feel twice its size, but position matters more than size. Hang it where it reflects something worth looking at — a favourite pot, a climber in flower, a lit lantern — rather than a blank stretch of sky or, worse, next door's wheelie bin.

Use weatherproof mirror panels designed for outdoor use, mounted on a sealed backing board, and angle them very slightly downwards so they catch planting rather than grey cloud. One well-placed panel usually beats three; too many mirrors in a tiny space can feel disorienting.

Other reliable depth-makers include a slatted screen set 30cm or so from the boundary wall, pale gravel instead of dark paving, and a shallow water bowl that throws light back up. Even a simple trellis, painted the same colour as the wall behind it, adds texture without visually shrinking the space.

Pale Colours and Scented Climbers

Colour has a remarkable effect on how large a small garden feels. Whites, creams, soft lilacs and silver foliage bounce light around and keep the mood calm, while a single hot-orange pot can dominate a courtyard entirely. Paint walls, fences and furniture in pale, muted tones — a soft stone white or a washed grey-green sits well with green foliage — and let the plants provide the contrast.

Scent is what turns a courtyard from a passage into a room, and scented climbers are ideal because they use vertical space and release their perfume at nose height.

• Summer jasmine for a sunny wall and a long season of fragrance.
• Star jasmine for a sheltered, south-facing spot where its evergreen leaves shrug off the winter.
• Honeysuckle for a north or east wall, with an evening scent that carries beautifully.
• Climbing roses in cream or pale pink, chosen for fragrance as much as for flower.
• Sweet peas grown up an obelisk, for cut flowers and a scent that fills the whole space.

Add pots of lavender, rosemary or nicotiana near the seating area, and the effect is complete: a restful, fragrant corner that feels far larger than its measurements suggest.

Flooring, Seating and the Evening Glow

Practical decisions on the ground make the space usable. Gravel laid over a weed-suppressing membrane is cheap, quick and forgiving of awkward shapes; decking or porcelain paving gives a firmer surface for a table and chairs. Aim for a clear route from door to seating so you are not stepping around pots with a tray of tea.

Seating should suit the space rather than dictate it. A small bistro set, a built-in bench along one wall or a pair of folding stools that tuck away will all work better than a bulky dining set. If you can, add a little storage — a lidded bench or a slim waterproof box — for cushions, tools and the watering can.

Lighting extends the evening and makes the garden feel bigger after dark. Use warm white rather than cool blue, keep it low, and light the plants rather than the space. A string of festoon lights on wall hooks, a couple of solar uplighters pointed at a climber and a lantern or two will be ample. Avoid floodlighting; it flattens the planting and irritates the neighbours.

Keeping It Looking Good Through the Year

A small garden shows every mistake, so a little routine goes a long way.

• Spring: top-dress pots with fresh compost, feed established plants and repaint furniture and pale walls while the space is quiet.
• Summer: water containers daily in hot spells, deadhead regularly and tie in new growth on climbers.
• Autumn: clear fallen leaves, plant spring bulbs in pots and move tender plants under cover.
• Winter: rely on evergreens, coloured stems and structural pots for interest, and check that wall fixings have not loosened in the frost.

With a bit of vertical thinking, a clever mirror and a generous helping of scent, even the smallest courtyard can become the most-used room in the house.