Need ideas for a courtyard, please....

We've purchased a condo with a courtyard in serious need of a make over. It needs a new hard surface and step and we'd like to keep a small green space for the dogs. We would like to find a way to create privacy and break up the space into smaller conversation areas. I want color, easy to care for plants/bushes as we travel a lot and don't want to put a lot of time into redoing the beds every year. We can't put up anything higher than the 6' fence. So a pergola or tall bushes and trees would be out. We back up to the neighbors condo and their second floor over looks us. We have table and chairs to go out there, but plan to purchase other furniture. Looking for creative ideas.