Outdoors: 10 Inspiring Ways to Perk Up Your Patio
With thoughtful planning and clever design ideas, the humble patio has the potential to be a gorgeous extra room
If your patio is on the uninspiring side, don’t despair. It’s not difficult to take it from zero to hero – simply step away from the ordinary and embrace these innovative ideas. Whether you’re longing for the perfect party setting, or for somewhere to curl up in the shade with a good book, your patio can provide. From Middle Eastern inspired tiling to a bijou balcony, check out our ideas for every budget and space – and let your imagination run wild.
Lay parquet decking for texture
Reminiscent of old school assembly halls, these simple wooden parquet tiles are a great way to update a patio, bringing interesting texture into the small space. A simple white table and potted plants are the finishing touch.
Reminiscent of old school assembly halls, these simple wooden parquet tiles are a great way to update a patio, bringing interesting texture into the small space. A simple white table and potted plants are the finishing touch.
Bring the inside out
Transport the cosy mood of a living room to your patio to create a leafy relaxing zone. Lounge chairs, pouffes and cushions form a comfortable seating area, while an outdoor fireplace or simple fire pit will give cooler days a warm glow.
Transport the cosy mood of a living room to your patio to create a leafy relaxing zone. Lounge chairs, pouffes and cushions form a comfortable seating area, while an outdoor fireplace or simple fire pit will give cooler days a warm glow.
Choose shapely tiles
Give a patio a touch of elegance by choosing unusual-shaped tiles, such as octagons. These large terracotta ones tessellate beautifully with little squares to create an intricate pattern, perfect for an entertaining area.
Give a patio a touch of elegance by choosing unusual-shaped tiles, such as octagons. These large terracotta ones tessellate beautifully with little squares to create an intricate pattern, perfect for an entertaining area.
Create a holiday mood
You’d be forgiven for thinking this bright patio was somewhere in the Mediterranean. Actually it’s in London, but the clever use of white concrete planters, grasses and simple paving interspersed with pebbles creates a sunny, ‘holiday at home’ vibe.
You’d be forgiven for thinking this bright patio was somewhere in the Mediterranean. Actually it’s in London, but the clever use of white concrete planters, grasses and simple paving interspersed with pebbles creates a sunny, ‘holiday at home’ vibe.
Weave in curves for extra impact
The addition of the wire sphere, circular paving slabs and curves on the screen add impact and interest to this patio area. The contrasting textures of the smooth concrete and gravel work together beautifully, as well as being super practical.
The addition of the wire sphere, circular paving slabs and curves on the screen add impact and interest to this patio area. The contrasting textures of the smooth concrete and gravel work together beautifully, as well as being super practical.
Be creative with mosaics
Transport yourself to sunnier climes by paving your very own mosaic. Swirls and circle patterns are ideal for beginners, but it’s your patio, your rules. The more elaborate and wild the pattern, the better.
Check out 9 patios that think outside the box
Transport yourself to sunnier climes by paving your very own mosaic. Swirls and circle patterns are ideal for beginners, but it’s your patio, your rules. The more elaborate and wild the pattern, the better.
Check out 9 patios that think outside the box
Light your way
Make a patio area as inviting after sundown with thoughtful lighting. The blue light strip in this patio matches the woodwork of the trellis and canopy and brings a cool, modern look to the outdoor dining area. Don’t forget to include uplighters amid the foliage, too, for pretty evening shadows.
See more lighting ideas for patios
TELL US…
Do you have a patio? How have you made yours an inviting place to be?
Make a patio area as inviting after sundown with thoughtful lighting. The blue light strip in this patio matches the woodwork of the trellis and canopy and brings a cool, modern look to the outdoor dining area. Don’t forget to include uplighters amid the foliage, too, for pretty evening shadows.
See more lighting ideas for patios
TELL US…
Do you have a patio? How have you made yours an inviting place to be?
You don’t need a garden to create a patio space. Here, a balcony has been paved with grey slabs that lead the eye through a glass screen to the horizon. This is admittedly a fine backdrop, but a similarly relaxed seating area can be created on any balcony with a view.