Decorating your courtyard on a budget

Courtyard, patio, exclusive corner space... whatever you like to call it, you can often add your sense of flair from bits and pieces you already have around your home.

I have a walled courtyard attached to my home, I like to think it has a French flavour, it is nothing out of the ordinary and most of its content has been recycled.

I quite like to upcycle, or as I like to call it, add some rustic charm.

The table for my alfresco dining is about 35 years old, something my brother made me, it really needs replacing but I haven’t the heart.

He lives overseas, and this is like having a little piece of him at home. I did give it a bit of a jazz up last summer after I found some paint test pots and put my artistic talent to use, decorating the top of it.

A collection of candle holders made from old fence posts… complete with barb wire adds interest come the evening.

When my umbrella fades from the sun, I get the old test pots out again and do some more decorating or I make some bunting to dress the edges.

I sometimes replace the fabric on my chairs, and I always say to the man who does the repairs, the seat doesn’t need to be the same colour as the back... as you may have noticed, difference is something I relish.

On the odd occasion I rummage in my dad’s shed, and I have had a few finds. An old copper and an old basket are at present adorned with flowering daffodils and come summer you will find lettuces growing out of them. I found an old copper tea urn and that now sports a lovely ladder fern.

An old metal chair and a metal table stand that just needed the top replaced, make a nice talking piece. Terracotta pots in the summer overflow with white pansies and I have a little water feature that just sits among some herbs and is the home to a lime green frog who likes to visit.

A large red heart made from wood sits atop a steel rod and sways in the wind and there is a lovely couch made from recycled totara. It is rather industrial looking, so I add to the comfort by introducing a rug or two plus a scattering of cushions come summer.

I have seen some beautiful courtyards over the years, but the most important things in your courtyard should be friends and family, laughter, good food... and oh a nice wine wouldn’t go amiss!