The table is only big enough for 4 of the chairs you show and IMO the plants have taken over the space , Figure out exctly what you want from this space then empty it and only put back what you want for this to function Post apic of the whole house ther emust be many places for plants they do not all need to be in this space .

To use that space, you'll need shade. 30 Backyard Shade Ideas to Maximize Your Outdoor Space (bhg.com) Sunrooms Ideas: Seamless Exterior Additions (bhg.com)

Boo; my husband also wants me to cull my plants. :/ I love all the flowers, though -- they make me happy everytime I see them. This weekend we'll remove everything and move back slowly -- thanks for the idea.

Shade is a bit of an issue. In the middle of the day/late afternoon in the summer, it can be oppressive -- but only for a few hours, and there generally are shaded areas all day.

Keep the plants on the steps so that the usable floor is open. The big glass table takes up a lot of space and gives back almost no function. With out using it as a plant stand, can it be pulled out to provide table seating for the padded chairs?

Try two separate dining arrangements.

Love Jan Moyer’s suggestion of a rectangular table with 8 chairs! Scale down the size of your furniture. Many companies are now offering smaller sized chairs, tables, etc. for apartment living. Large rocking chairs or recliners won’t do well in this space. Love Jan’s idea of a console server with ottomans covered in bright indoor outdoor fabrics. You have a lovely space to work with. How are you nailing night time lighting? I would try and give the space the feeling of an Italian Trattoria!

Italian trattoria is exactly the vibe I'm looking for. :D And my husband is so smug -- he's been lobbying for an oblong table in the middle AND culling my plants for awhile now. :P We have lighting -- all four corners of the courtyard are illuminated, and one of my favorite things is to sit reading in my bed in the evening and see the lights glowing on my flowers.

I would consider stringing lights diagonally across the entire space above the table area. At night! Gorgeous!!!!

Given your wish list, I think you will need new furniture. Suggest creating two zones - dining and lounging. Remove all the plants so you get a better sense of the space. Add them back (edit if needed) and place together, as they will have much more impact.

Lounging area: consider what meets your needs seating wise. To increase usage during hotter times of day, consider a small pergola if feasible. Can even grow vines or add fabric and with your love of plans, hang baskets. .

Dining area: consider an extension table and open up for 10 when required (turn temporarily if needed). The extra chairs can be placed in lounging area, so be sure they are comfy and are complementary.

Measurements and placement will be key, so do to-scale planning on your grid.

"And my husband is so smug -- he's been lobbying for an oblong table in the middle AND culling my plants for awhile now."

He is correct, sorry, and you can't balance the space, have room to move, unless major dining function is in the middle.

Once done? You realize you are left with tighter spaces at ends. Feet and inches don't lie.

1/4 inch to one foot.

More importantly? A cluster of THREE POTS, Scaled to a generous space each corner is more effective than I don't even know where to look. If you want a single at steps, up to you: )

Everyone can spout off about three areas, post no scaled drawing, no pencil put to paper, split it whatever.......lol . It just isn't that vast, and the space taken by the two curved entry points is your "decider". NOT Me: )

Such beautiful court yard you have! Enjoy it!

Given Jan’s diagram and table’s location, hope the extension table idea is an option, but placed a bit closer to dining room and when extended, seems like you could accommodate 10 - when needed only - as it sounds like it‘s an important aspect and is worth measuring out. Note dimensions of tables (pre and post extension) that you are considering and add a bit to accommodate chairs to see if feasible. Fyi: We hosted a Rehearsal dinner on our appx 12x24 patio for 18 and it worked fine and having everyone at one table on a summer evening can’t be beat.

Here is one link with dimensions, to help.

https://www.houzz.com/products/compamia-vegas-xl-extendable-102-118-dining-table-black-prvw-vr~174473985?epik=dj0yJnU9bkJvU3RwTmUtRmJPVnNSaDVJdEV3NE4tNS1JOUtrRnMmcD0wJm49R2xTVkhWVHlUWENvVW9GdFBiNGU3dyZ0PUFBQUFBR1p3SFNz

Regarding lounging, if you tuck seating into the right corner (looks like it gets more shade), it’s ok for things to overlap the entrance by a bit and when needed, add dining chairs for additional seating. Add a grouping of your plants on the opposite side.

Pottery barn makes a butterfly Nassua oval table that can change size to suit your group.

https://www.potterybarn.com/products/nassau-oval-teak-dining-table-mp/?catalogId=84&sku=6215108&cm_ven=FreePLA&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Outdoor%20%3E%20Outdoor%20Dining%20Tables

I didn't realize there were extendable patio tables -- that sounds perfect. Yes, the 2 main functions are lounging (I do this pretty much every day), and then hanging out and dining with a bigger crowd. We rarely access the courtyard from the bedroom; it's almost always from the dining and kitchen doorways. Today, I'm going to move out some of the plants, and move the grill over to the kitchen-door side. I might need a little prep table to go next to it.

Will move the glass table into the backyard for now. It makes a nice gardening surface; I might just have to shift my potting activities out of the courtyard (OOOOH time to get a little greenhouse??? hahah). We actually have a lot of space to behind the courtyard -- one side sunny and one side mostly in redwood + oak tree shade -- but for some reason, we rarely go there. Laziness?

OH, I'm also starting to pin pics of saltillo courtyards to look for what kind/style patio furniture to get. The wrought iron is really pretty, but I think those sets generally will be too big for this space. Any recommendations? Spanish-style house, yellow and blue Talavera tiles on step risers, rustic mosaic in stucco, etc.

As far as your plants, you have to watch out that your patio doesn't turn into what I call an "orphan plant rescue"! I'm neat and that drives me crazy! My DH is prone to setting up "plant rescues"! LOL

I would buy a matching pot/planter set and put in drought tolerant plants that don't "shed" or make too much of a mess in a patio. Why create extra work?

Here is what I did in my lanai/patio. I have another set on the other side, but with a different Bromelia.

I believe feet and inches never lie. I doubt you need an "extendable" table that suits your style..

That said? You add a folding table to any rectangle, or seat six and four in two tables and..you and hubby each host a table!

Go back and look at the scaled drawing, and yes, I'm with DH on the rest. (No oval, just a nice RECTANGLE so you can add a folding table: ) Add serve at the kitchen exit.

Leave room to not trip....for guests to exit/enter the obvious rooms. Room to b.r.e.a.t.h,e : )

You won’t find a wrought iron extension table. Would rustic Mediterranean work and then the extension table options open up.

Chairs can play a big part in getting closer to the Spanish look and to highlight the yellow/blue/stucco, incorporate the colors in cushions, dishes/pottery, etc.

https://www.article.com/product/13497/latta-slate-gray-dining-table-for-10

OK; starting to shift things around. I moved the grill to the lower left; the round patio table+chairs to the lower right; and the glass table to the center (this is temporary until we find something else a little longer, a little narrower, and with chairs that slide all the way underneath). Got rid of a few plants, including some of the orphans. ;) Moved the olive to the right pillar. I'll probably move out some of the succulents to make room to move the flowers to their spot. It's still crowded, but the tomatoes, herbs, and chard stay for the summer. Still need to convince the guys in my family to move the 2-ton chiminea.

I know the lounge chairs are too big, but those are the ones everyone in my family use during the day, so I need to figure out how to keep at least 2 in the courtyard. Maybe put them where the round table is, and get rid of that... although I've been really enjoying sitting there eating my breakfast this week!

Sorry for the terrible quality of this^ pic -- taken through the screen in my daughter's room, and she's still asleep! ha

I'll call this " the problem remains"

Everyone has a different tolerance for clutter. There is too much planting clutter, no matter where you put anything.

You aren't out in acreage on a farm.

Better but still too much stuff. I like where you moved the furniture. Everything in the chimnea corner should go. You can have your lounge chairs in that corner. Still more plants than you need.

Try having no plants onnthe floor serface. Only on the stairs. That will open up the useable part of the room and mitigate the tripping hazzard ofnthe multiple steps.

Oh, no tripping hazards, and I definitely have a higher tolerance for.... shall we say denser foliage ;) than some people -- I'd have this courtyard stuffed with twice as many flower pots if it were all up to me! But the chiminea corner is the next one to get purged, along with more of the succulents and probably the sad little red flower by the olive tree. This weekend's job. I think I need to coordinate the furniture more, at least by color. Too much going on.

Did you search on Houzz photos?

I just put in"spanish courtyard patio" in the search bar and then select "spanish courtyard patio IN PHOTOS".

A few that I saw ...

SPANISH ARCHITECTURE 2 · More Info

Spanish Courtyard · More Info

Oh Hey O'Hill · More Info