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  1. Garden & Outdoor
  2. Patio
  3. Contemporary

Contemporary Patio Ideas and Designs

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Fulham Courtyard
Fulham Courtyard
Lucy Willcox Garden DesignLucy Willcox Garden Design
This Courtyard was transformed from being an Astro Turf box to a useable, versatile Outdoor Room!
Small contemporary back patio in London with a bbq area, tiled flooring and a pergola.
Tongdean Road
Tongdean Road
Granit Architects + InteriorsGranit Architects + Interiors
Our client bought a Hacienda styled house in Hove, Sussex, which was unloved, and had a dilapidated pool and garden, as well as a tired interior. We provided a full architectural and interior design service through to completion of the project, developing the brief with the client, and managing a complex project and multiple team members including an M and E consultant, stuctural engineer, specialist pool and glazing suppliers and landscaping designers. We created a new basement under the house and garden, utilising the gradient of the site, to minimise excavation and impact on the house. It contains a new swimming pool, gym, living and entertainment areas, as well as storage and plant rooms. Accessed through a new helical staircase, the basement area draws light from 2 full height glazed walls opening onto a lower garden area. The glazing was a Skyframe system supplied by cantifix. We also inserted a long linear rooflight over the pool itself, which capture sunlight onto the water below. The existing house itself has been extended in a fashion sympathetic to the original look of the house. We have built out over the existing garage to create new living and bedroom accommodation, as well as a new ensuite. We have also inserted a new glazed cupola over the hallway and stairs, and remodelled the kitchen, with a curved glazed wall and a modern family kitchen. A striking new landscaping scheme by Alladio Sims has embeded the redeveloped house into its setting. It is themed around creating a journey around different zones of the upper and lower gardens, maximising opportunities of the site, views of the sea and using a mix of hard and soft landscaping. A new minimal car port and bike storage keep cars away from the front elevation of the house. Having obtained planning permission for the works in 2019 via Brighton and Hove council, for a new basement and remodelling of the the house, the works were carrried out and completed in 2021 by Woodmans, a contractor we have partnered with on many occasions.
Garden & Extension, Oxfordshire
Garden & Extension, Oxfordshire
AH Design StudioAH Design Studio
Contemporary patio steps in Oxfordshire.
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Birch Brooke - Barnes
Birch Brooke - Barnes
Burbeck Interiors ltdBurbeck Interiors ltd
Inspiration for a contemporary patio in London.
Birchington Road - Crouch End, London
Birchington Road - Crouch End, London
A2studioA2studio
Inspiration for a contemporary patio in London.
Chelsea Flower Show 2023
Chelsea Flower Show 2023
UserUser
Design ideas for a contemporary patio in London.
Contemporary courtyard
Contemporary courtyard
SeedOnceSown LtdSeedOnceSown Ltd
This is an example of a contemporary back patio in London with tiled flooring and no cover.
Zoned Garden For Entertaining
Zoned Garden For Entertaining
Harrington PorterHarrington Porter
Photo of a contemporary patio steps in London with no cover.
Modern Classic in Central London
Modern Classic in Central London
Germinate DesignGerminate Design
Contemporary patio in London with a fire feature and a roof extension.
Kitchen and Garden Refurbishment
Kitchen and Garden Refurbishment
Pencil and BrickPencil and Brick
Photo of a contemporary patio in London.
French touch house
French touch house
EMR ArchitectureEMR Architecture
Design ideas for a contemporary patio in London with fencing.
Outdoor kitchen in Oxshott, Surrey
Outdoor kitchen in Oxshott, Surrey
Grillo Outdoor KitchensGrillo Outdoor Kitchens
Teamwork makes the dream work, as they say. And what a dream; this is the acme of a Surrey suburban townhouse garden. The team behind the teamwork of this masterpiece in Oxshott, Surrey, are Raine Garden Design Ltd, Bushy Business Ltd, Hampshire Garden Lighting, and Forest Eyes Photography. Everywhere you look, some new artful detail demonstrating their collective expertise hits you. The beautiful and tasteful selection of materials. The very mature, regimented pleached beech hedge. The harmoniousness of the zoning; tidy yet so varied and interesting. The ancient olive, dating back to the reign of Victoria. The warmth and depth afforded by the layered lighting. The seamless extension of the Home from inside to out; because in this dream, the garden is Home as much as the house is.
Castlebar Road
Castlebar Road
OmniformOmniform
Contemporary patio in London.
Arnos Grove Garden Apartment
Arnos Grove Garden Apartment
VORBILD ArchitectureVORBILD Architecture
Medium sized contemporary back patio in London with natural stone paving.
Shoreditch Townhouse
Shoreditch Townhouse
Empty ProfileEmpty Profile
Contemporary patio in London.
The Boltons
The Boltons
MH Costa Construction LtdMH Costa Construction Ltd
Contemporary patio in London.
Laguna Beach - Temple Hills
Laguna Beach - Temple Hills
Corbin Reeves ConstructionCorbin Reeves Construction
Photo of an expansive contemporary back patio in Orange County with a fireplace, concrete paving and no cover.
Outdoor Living: Gardens & Patios
Outdoor Living: Gardens & Patios
Cue Group of CompaniesCue Group of Companies
This is an example of a small contemporary back patio in London with concrete slabs and no cover.
Solana Beach Eclectic
Solana Beach Eclectic
UserUser
Photo of a contemporary back patio in San Diego with a fire feature and no cover.

Contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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.
Thayer Residence
Thayer Residence
Neumann Mendro Andrulaitis Architects LLPNeumann Mendro Andrulaitis Architects LLP
Ciro Coelho Photography
Photo of a contemporary patio in Santa Barbara with concrete slabs, a pergola and a fireplace.
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