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  1. Garden & Outdoor
  2. Patio
  3. pavers

Back Patio Ideas and Designs

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Port Streets 10
Port Streets 10
Garden StudioGarden Studio
Design ideas for a traditional back patio in Orange County with a fireplace and a pergola.
Alderwood Landscape
Alderwood Landscape
Alderwood Landscape Architecture and ConstructionAlderwood Landscape Architecture and Construction
Photo of a medium sized classic back patio in Seattle with a fire feature, a gazebo and natural stone paving.
Outside Interests
Outside Interests
ZEN Associates, Inc.ZEN Associates, Inc.
Nat Rea Photography
Design ideas for a traditional back patio in Boston.
Sonoma / Sea Ranch Redux
Sonoma / Sea Ranch Redux
Marcus & Willers ArchitectsMarcus & Willers Architects
Photos: Anthony Dimaano
This is an example of a medium sized contemporary back patio in San Francisco with concrete paving.
ZUMA: Outdoor
ZUMA: Outdoor
Saffron Case HomesSaffron Case Homes
Photo of a contemporary back patio in Los Angeles with a fire feature, concrete paving and a pergola.
Gathering Table
Gathering Table
Arterra Landscape ArchitectsArterra Landscape Architects
Michelle Lee Wilson Photography
Photo of a contemporary back patio in San Francisco with a fire feature.
Laurelhurst Garden
Laurelhurst Garden
Howells Architecture + DesignHowells Architecture + Design
This project reimagines an under-used back yard in Portland, Oregon, creating an urban garden with an adjacent writer’s studio. Taking inspiration from Japanese precedents, we conceived of a paving scheme with planters, a cedar soaking tub, a fire pit, and a seven-foot-tall cedar fence. A maple tree forms the focal point and will grow to shade the yard. Photo: Anna M Campbell: annamcampbell.com
Oakville, Ontario
Oakville, Ontario
ShadeFXShadeFX
These homeowners wanted something that would make the ultimate outdoor living space with the practical functionality of sun protection and the added privacy of the lattice panels.
Mid-Mod Oasis in the City
Mid-Mod Oasis in the City
Lifescape Colorado.Lifescape Colorado.
This is an example of a retro back patio in Denver with concrete slabs, a pergola and a bar area.
Shawnee Residence
Shawnee Residence
Lazar Landscape Design and ConstructionLazar Landscape Design and Construction
This is an example of a contemporary back patio in San Francisco with concrete paving, no cover and a bar area.
Hermitage
Hermitage
Urban Building GroupUrban Building Group
Jim Schmid Photography
Inspiration for a traditional back patio in Charlotte with a fire feature and no cover.
Schiff Patio
Schiff Patio
Design PlatformDesign Platform
Modern outdoor patio expansion. Indoor-Outdoor Living and Dining. Poured concrete walls, steel posts, bluestain pine ceilings, skylights, standing seam metal roof, firepit, and modern landscaping. Photo by Jess Blackwell
Geneva Transitional Home with Farmhouse Kitchen
Geneva Transitional Home with Farmhouse Kitchen
Havlicek Builders Inc.Havlicek Builders Inc.
Backyard with custom pergola and built in grill in Geneva, Illinois.
Large traditional back patio in Chicago with brick paving, no cover and fencing.
Myrtle Mid-Century Residence
Myrtle Mid-Century Residence
Giulietti Schouten Weber ArchitectsGiulietti Schouten Weber Architects
David Papazian
This is an example of a retro back patio in Portland with a fire feature and no cover.
Amazon Drive
Amazon Drive
Landscapes WALandscapes WA
Joel Barbitta
Large contemporary back patio in Perth with a fire feature and gravel.
Traditional Style Wall & Steps
Traditional Style Wall & Steps
katie_shoemaker23katie_shoemaker23
Traditional Style Wall using Techo-Bloc's Baltimore wall & Piedimonte caps. Traditional Style platform steps framed with Piedimonte caps.
Design ideas for a traditional back patio in Other with a water feature and a pergola.
Palo Alto Retreat
Palo Alto Retreat
Jenna Bayer Garden Design, Inc.Jenna Bayer Garden Design, Inc.
Design ideas for a large mediterranean back patio in San Francisco with concrete paving and a gazebo.
Archadeck Outdoor Living
Archadeck Outdoor Living
archadeckoutdoorlivingarchadeckoutdoorliving
This wonderfully stunning backyard is a sight for sore eyes, as it seems to beckon “Welcome, please come on in.” At the rear of this outdoor living space is a step-up hot tub that easily holds a entire family of eight. The upper level deck is actually two decks in one. The upper tier – decked out with hardwood floor, columns and black metal rail posts, serves as an outdoor dining room, outdoor living room and outdoor kitchen. The lower tier is a rain deck, completely protected from weather elements above. A slate patio sets the stage for this all natural rock and boulder firepit.
Cobbled edge brick circle mini-patio
Cobbled edge brick circle mini-patio
Natalie DeNormandieNatalie DeNormandie
Photograpy by Liz Linder ( http://www.lizlinder.com/).
This is an example of a small classic back patio in Boston with brick paving.
Modern in Bed-Stuy
Modern in Bed-Stuy
New Eco LandscapesNew Eco Landscapes
Photos by Lori Cannava
This is an example of a small contemporary back patio in New York with no cover and natural stone paving.

Back Patio Ideas and Designs

Patios are the go-to solution for turning your garden, or part of it, into an outdoor living area. A well-laid patio will integrate your home seamlessly into your garden, providing a solid and level surface for garden furniture and potted plants. Well designed patios are about more than just paving slabs – its positioning and layout are crucial to how much you enjoy this space. Before you start picking out patio ideas for materials and laying your patio, ask yourself important questions such as what will you use it for? How many people should it accommodate? Which part of your garden has the best aspect and sunlight? Will the patio have enough privacy?

How should I position my patio?

If you are designing your patio as a space for entertaining then make sure it’s wide enough for the garden furniture you want so you haven’t got guests tipping over into the flowerbeds. Don’t be wedded to the idea of having your patio attached to the house; think about positioning yours elsewhere in the garden if that space doesn’t offer the best aspect or lighting position. Consider the position of the sun through the course of the day and depending on whether you are most likely to want to dine outside at breakfast, have lunch on your patio or host dinner outside, you may want to position your patio differently. You can connect patios to your house with a footpath or stepping stones to allow easy transportation of food and drink.

How should I design and lay my patio?

Rectangles are the classic shape for patios, not least because they make the most efficient use of space and can be softened with garden edging. However, a rounded patio or a paving circle can perfectly complement a garden which isn’t linear in design. Paving slabs come in an extensive range of materials and are the most practical surface for patios. Yorkstone has the most traditional appeal, whereas concrete blocks, granite and slate patio slabs have a great texture and colour for modern gardens. Natural stones such as limestone, travertine and Indian sandstone vary in colour and finish and are a great way to add shade and texture to your patio. For some patio ideas that offer an alternative to block paving, loose material such as crushed stone and wood chippings have a rustic and more casual feel; if there are specific materials that re-occur elsewhere in the garden, you could repeat this in your choice of patio materials for consistency. Finally, it’s not a British summer without the great British barbeque, so look at patio ideas that incorporate barbeques and think about how you could accommodate one on your patio.

What garden furniture does my patio need?

Rattan garden furniture is a patio favourite, offering a durable, attractive finish that blends well into natural surroundings. Metal garden furniture and wooden garden furniture are sturdy alternatives available in many styles. Weight is a good feature in garden furniture to stop it from being blown away, but if you want to be able to move your furniture around the patio and garden to follow the sun you won’t want to go too heavy. Browse the various patio ideas that include garden furniture to see what styles of furniture go with different types of patios. If you find a particular patio set you like, you may be able to ask the designer where the furniture is from so you can look at buying the same set for your patio. Good, outdoor patio furniture crafted in high-quality materials should withstand bad weather, but cold, wet British winters followed by strong sun in the summer will be enough to weather even the best furniture, so it’s important to have somewhere, such as a shed, to store it when not in use for long periods of time. If you don’t have the space to store patio furniture, make sure that at least the cushions and umbrellas are stowed away out of the elements, and consider investing in a waterproof cover. One piece of furniture that might be able to stay out for a bit longer is a patio heater; it will warm any brave patio users and most modern designs are built to survive the cold weather. If you prefer something a bit more rustic than a patio heater, look at fire pits instead which will add warmth and an attractive centrepiece to your patio. If privacy or shade is an issue, then covering patio furniture with a parasol or sheltering patios with a gazebo or pergola are both smart patio ideas – these can be covered in climbing flowers or even wound with outdoor fairy lights for romantic evening lighting.
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