Small traditional courtyard shaded garden in Atlanta with a container garden for summer.

Courtyard Entrance

Forte Building Group, LLC

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional courtyard shaded garden in Nashville with a garden path and concrete pavers.

Fence at Suburban Oasis

Princeton Design Collaborative

Garden allee path with copper pipe trellis Photo by: Jeffrey Edward Tryon of PDC
Design ideas for a small contemporary courtyard shaded formal garden for summer in Philadelphia with gravel.

Corner fence and trellis detail

Dorthy Pautz Landscape Architect

This corner detail shows how the existing side perimeter wall meets the new sidewalk fence and new narrow stepped trellis tops. This custom trellis was designed for privacy and planted with Akebia vine which is evergreen and will add more height and screening when mature. The existing mature Ficus vines were saved on the existing stucco wall by building new small raised planters around the roots.

Narrow Sausalito, CA Landscape Transformed For Outdoor Enjoyment & Usable Space

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

To gain more usable space in this narrow landscape and update the hardscaping and overgrown garden, my design reconfigured the pathway with poured-in-place concrete (cast concrete) pavers accented by Mexican pebbles and a stunning variety of succulents and other site-appropriate plantings that thrive in shade and part sun. We removed the tree to create a patio area large enough to fit a table and chairs for a small group. Non-invasive/clumping Bamboo was added to help screen the patio and provide privacy. Other shade to part-shade plants were included that provide a variety of textures and colors throughout the seasons. Low-voltage lighting was installed for safety and ambiance. Design and Photos: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Contemporary garden

Living Gardens Landscape Design

Contemporary courtyard garden
This is an example of a small contemporary courtyard shaded garden in Orange County with concrete pavers.

Laser Cut Metal Gates and Screens

Grand Ideas

These laser cut metal screens have been attached to the walls of this courtyard, creating a lovely vertical garden.
Inspiration for a small industrial courtyard shaded outdoor sport court in Brisbane with decking.

Rose Bay landscape design

Secret Gardens

Secret Gardens has been developing this stunning harbourside garden over a number of years. A simple layout at water level provides a subtle foreground to the harbour view beyond. Simple, modern plant combinations draw from a simple but consistent colour palette. The main courtyard space is the highlight . A five metre high green wall and water wall provide the backdrop to a large banquet seat. The built in bbq, retractable ceiling, customised firepit and coffee table provide options for year round entertainment. Extensive soundproofing was incorporated into the boundary wall as well as behind the green wall to absorb noise from a neighbouring property.

Water-Wise Fountain

FormLA Landscaping

Gurgling water from this petite fountain is audible and visible from both the interior and the outdoor dining patio. Shaded by a roof extension, little if any water is allowed to evaporate. The water that spills from its side infiltrates the ground to feed the lush, leafy greenery that surrounds it. Photo: Lesly Hall Photography

Highland Park Shade Garden and Patio

Van Zelst Inc

Photo by Linda Oyama Bryan
Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic courtyard shaded driveway for spring in Chicago with brick pavers.

Beaumaris Project – A Holistic Approach Delivers A Healthy Home.

User

Catherine Bailey
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury courtyard shaded garden for summer in Melbourne with a water feature and decking.

Mediterranean Villa and Mexican Colonial Casita in La Jolla

Anna Rodé Designs, Inc.

This vertical succulent garden adds living design to the compact patio.
Mid-sized country courtyard shaded garden in San Diego with a vertical garden and natural stone pavers.

The Front Door / Dwayne Carruth

courtyard with tiled pool and tropical landscaping
This is an example of a large contemporary courtyard shaded formal garden in New Orleans with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

Rear courtyard makeover

Dimension Gardenscape

A quiet retreat off the study of the house, the clients wanted a serene place where they could forget their daily troubles. Paul Huskinson - photographer

Corporate Outdoor Lounge - Baza 3, Iasi

Roxana H

Stilul contemporan de amenajare adoptat evidențează clădirea prin formele geometrice propuse. Prin aceste forme s-au creat spații variante pentru activități de relaxare. Plantele alese sunt plante de umbră și semiumbră. Acestea oferă decor prin port, ramuri, foliaj, flori și fructe. În perioada iernii vor decora exemplarele de mahonie cu foliaj persistent și exemplarele de iederă, dar vor exista și pete de culoare oferite de ramurile de culoare roșie ale exemplarelor de corn variegat. Întreaga amenajare oferă un loc ideal de relaxare pentru angajați. Băncile sinuoase sunt integrate în jardinierele de corten oferind numeroase spații de relaxare și dihnă. Formele sinuoase adoptate oferă posibilitatea de a explora locul și de a reduce efectul de claustrofobie oferit de clădire.

Corporate Outdoor Lounge - Baza 3, Iasi

Roxana H

茶露庭

Dominik Zoen 植物や石の心を活かす庭造り

Inspiration for a small asian courtyard shaded garden for summer in Other with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Manhattan Courtyard

Apiary Studio

A private children’s foundation hired award-winning architecture firm, Christoff : Finio Architects, to renovate and remodel the classical-style townhouse structure into a modern and light-filled headquarters. Christoff : Finio contacted Hans to develop a planting plan for the intimate, rear courtyard gardens as well as a planting scheme for the front tree bed. We carefully selected plant material that could thrive in an extremely low-light environment while providing seasonal interest and color as a counterpoint to the modern interior. Herbaceous flowering and evergreen plants were selected to drift through each other with intermittent vertical accents, creating a lush courtyard border.

Topanga Retreat

Campion Walker Landscapes

In this extensive landscape transformation, Campion Walker took a secluded house nestled above a running stream and turned it into a multi layered masterpiece with five distinct ecological zones. Using an established oak grove as a starting point, the team at Campion Walker sculpted the hillsides into a magnificent wonderland of color, scent and texture. Natural stone, copper, steel, river rock and sustainable Ipe hardwood work in concert with a dynamic mix of California natives, drought tolerant grasses and Mediterranean plants to create a truly breathtaking masterpiece where every detail has been considered, crafted, and reimagined.

Outdoor Spaces.

Endless Landscapes

Handmade terracotta tiles with beige grout. Annandale rear patio area.
Design ideas for a small country courtyard shaded garden for fall in Wollongong with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Shaded Courtyard Garden Design Ideas

Get Inspired by Gardens on Houzz

A lot of the time when you get home from a long day at work, all you want to do is wind down. Where better to do this than in your very own garden at home? If you do it right, a great garden design can send you right into holiday mode. But where to start? There’s so many styles to choose from when it comes to garden design. Whether you want to create a tropical, modern, contemporary, beach style or country garden - or something else entirely - the large garden image gallery on Houzz has got you covered. Get inspired and collect your ideas to narrow down your desired garden style and features.

How to Create a Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a garden and if it’s appropriate for your climate. You may want to consider adding a deck or other landscaping features, but the plants you choose will mostly dictate your style and what kind of ongoing maintenance is required. Don’t worry if your backyard isn’t very spacious - there are many plants that can thrive even in a small space and allow you to turn your space into a little paradise of your own, regardless of size.

Decide which plants to use

The greenery you choose is critical to your look. For example, if you’re trying to create a tropical garden palm trees and bamboo are your go-to options. Other popular options are golden cane palm trees and fern for ground cover. From there you can add some colour with bright flowers like frangipani, hibiscus or bromeliads. All these are actually quite hardy plants, so once established, your tropical garden is actually quite easy to maintain. Use this structure and apply it to your style. Research which plants you need to set your base for a garden and go from there.

Add some decor

If the plants don’t quite do it for you yet, or if you want to add some extra wow-factor, consider adding some extra features. Even if you can’t accommodate a swimming pool, hot tub or pond, you could look at smaller water features. Simple rocks can also have a great effect, while statues and gnomes will add some extra character. Don’t forget to add some furniture so you have a nice place to sit and enjoy your garden!

Need some help?

Once you know what you want your garden to look like, it may be hard to make it a reality on your own. If that is the case for you, consider consulting a professional to help you with your garden design. Every photo you find on Houzz will lead you to the local pro that did the job, so you won’t have a problem picking the perfect person to help! Whether you need a gardener in Brisbane, a landscape architect in Melbourne or a fireplace installer in Sydney, you can be sure to find one on Houzz.