[Harmless Teddy Bear]

They also unearthed a courtyard filled with ornate decorations, which contrasted the humbler appearance of the newly excavated rooms.

Their courtyard would have been where they received and entertained guests. So it would have been more decorated.

Two thousand years and people remain people.

[SunkenCiv]

The larger, finer homes had a sort of office / conference room right off the atrium, where business deals were negotiated and contracted. These were separated (visually, rather than sonically) from adjacent rooms by wood screens, some of which have survived in Herculaneum. Typically the meeting's host held the cards, the visitor was the supplicant.