Tiny Twickenham courtyard garden

This tiny courtyard packs a punch, with a seating area, dog-washing station, storage for bins and bikes and as much planting as possible. The only remaining element from the old garden was the Magnolia, now underplanted and given room to spread above a corten steel water bowl. The fences were all replaced and the location of the gate changed to maximise the space, giving a clean route of granite plank paving from the kitchen/diner right through to the back boundary.

Two Kettler rope-weave lounge chairs sit at the heart of the garden, angled towards each other for conversation rather than lined up against the fence. Creeping thyme has been planted through the gravel joints between the granite planks, releasing scent underfoot and softening the hard landscaping. Around the seating, deep borders of Tiarella wherryi, white Muscari White Magic, Dianthus carthusianorum and Sidalcea Elsie Heugh bring texture and colour from spring through summer, while clipped evergreen Hebe rakaiensis add structure that holds the space together in winter. The fences are planted with Trachelospermum jasminoides and Rosa Iceberg.

Practicality was as important as prettiness in a garden this size. Bins and recycling are hidden behind a timber screen, bikes have their own dedicated storage, and a waterbutt and outdoor tap make dog-washing and watering straightforward without eating into the planting. Every element earns its place — nothing here is wasted, but nothing feels crowded either.

Plain paved courtyard with a wooden bistro table and chairs before garden redesign The courtyard before its transformation, showing bare paving, a simple wooden bistro set and weathered fencing prior to the new planting and hard landscaping design.
Scaled concept plan of a small Twickenham courtyard garden showing seating, planting and storage areas Concept plan (scale 1:50) for a tiny Twickenham courtyard garden, showing the layout of granite plank paving and gravel, garden chairs, a water bo
Two lounge chairs beside a corten steel water bowl set into a planted courtyard border A relaxed seating area pairs neutral rope-weave chairs with a rusted corten steel water bowl, tucked beneath a multi-stem tree and surrounded by naturalistic plan
Close-up of white and pink Tiarella (foam flower) spikes in a shaded Twickenham courtyard border Delicate Tiarella flower spikes emerge from lush green foliage in the shaded border of this small Twickenham courtyard garden, adding soft texture and s
Two woven rope lounge chairs on a granite paved patio surrounded by pink cottage garden flowers A pair of Kettler rope-weave lounge chairs sit on honed granite paving, framed by timber slatted screening and a colourful border of pink dianthus and si
White grape hyacinths growing beside a corten steel water bowl edging a granite path Clusters of white grape hyacinth (Muscari) and creeping thyme soften the edge of a corten steel water feature, bringing spring colour and texture to this compact Lo
A single rope-weave lounge chair beneath a multi-stem tree with a Buddha statue in a courtyard garden A quiet corner of the courtyard garden, where a single Kettler chair sits beneath a multi-stem tree beside a small Buddha statue, creating a calm r
Creeping thyme growing between granite paving slabs in a courtyard garden Aromatic creeping thyme spills across the joints of granite paving, softening the hard landscaping and adding fragrance underfoot in this Twickenham courtyard garden.
Two garden lounge chairs facing each other in a small courtyard with a Buddha statue and multi-stem tree A pair of Kettler lounge chairs create an intimate seating area in this tiny Twickenham courtyard, centred around a multi-stem tree, Buddha stat
A rope-weave lounge chair beside a border of pink dianthus and sidalcea flowers A neutral rope-weave lounge chair sits close to a vibrant border of pink dianthus and sidalcea, bringing cottage garden colour right up to the seating area.
Close-up of pink and white sidalcea mallow flowers against a timber fence Tall spires of pink and white sidalcea (prairie mallow) flower against warm timber slat fencing, part of the soft cottage-style planting palette used throughout this Twickenha
A lounge chair on granite paving beside a corten steel water bowl surrounded by planting A single Kettler lounge chair overlooks a corten steel water bowl set within a lush planted border, illustrating how seating and water feature combine in this s
Close-up of a lounge chair beside a Buddha statue and multi-stem tree in a courtyard garden A close view of the seating corner, where a Kettler lounge chair sits beside a small Buddha statue beneath a multi-stem tree, framed by timber screening and
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A gardener's garden in Wimbledon
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Balham North-Facing Courtyard Garden