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Contemporary Patio Ideas and Designs

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Design ideas for a large contemporary side patio in Other with concrete paving and no cover.
Combe Lodge
By ST Building and Renovation Ltd.

Photo: Hamptons International
Design ideas for a large contemporary side patio in Other with concrete paving and no cover.

Design ideas for a contemporary back patio in Sussex with concrete slabs and no cover.
Long and Shady
By Plum Garden Designs Limited

Design ideas for a contemporary back patio in Sussex with concrete slabs and no cover.
Love the seating and could be a cheaper alternative to free standing swing - which is what I originally thought I'd be aiming towards.. - ashleigh_martin42

Inspiration for a contemporary patio in West Midlands with concrete slabs.
BBC Gardeners World Live 2018
By Wilson Associates Garden Design

Inspiration for a contemporary patio in West Midlands with concrete slabs.
Wires in between upright posts. - houssteve

Photo of a medium sized contemporary back patio in London with no cover and tiled flooring.
Birch Grove Extension & Refurb
By felixdb architectural design

Birch Grove. We designed a large contemporary rear extension and refurbished the whole house.
Photo of a medium sized contemporary back patio in London with no cover and tiled flooring.
Extension of the back room with sliding doors that open fully to create patio effect in summer - webuser_220708858

Photo of a small contemporary courtyard patio in London with no cover.
Mayfair House Apartments
By The Next Level

View of the roof terrace in this ultra prime duplex apartment. Bowers & Wilkins AM1 outdoor speakers provide the entertainment.
Photo of a small contemporary courtyard patio in London with no cover.
Horizontal slatted fence on the right, pleached trees. - webuser_15593151286

Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary back patio in London with no cover.
Milton Road, East Sheen, SW14
By Marsh & Parsons

Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary back patio in London with no cover.
I love the seating at the rear of the photo, for the back of our garden - webuser_281996433

Inspiration for a contemporary back patio in London with concrete paving and no cover.
Cosy House
By Malone Architecture

Matt Spour Photographer
Inspiration for a contemporary back patio in London with concrete paving and no cover.
Glass doors that fold back onto themselves - ankemenelaou

Photo of a medium sized contemporary back patio in Hertfordshire with concrete slabs and no cover.
9154 St Albans
By Sheldon Peever Studio Ltd

Photo of a medium sized contemporary back patio in Hertfordshire with concrete slabs and no cover.
Idea garden extended - webuser_257116793

Photo of a contemporary back patio in London with a fireplace, tiled flooring and no cover.
Garden design 7
By Campbell Gardens

Photo of a contemporary back patio in London with a fireplace, tiled flooring and no cover.
Fireplace towards neighbours with herb beds next to it and/or space for logs - johnlinda_boyt

This is an example of a medium sized contemporary back patio in London with a potted garden and natural stone paving.
Chelsea
By MWAI Architecture and Interiors

Alexander James
This is an example of a medium sized contemporary back patio in London with a potted garden and natural stone paving.
Very modern, minimalist. Entertaining focussed. - webuser_843638843

Inspiration for a contemporary back patio in Hampshire with concrete slabs and a pergola.
The Three Steps to Relaxation
By Simon Orchard Garden Design

Inspiration for a contemporary back patio in Hampshire with concrete slabs and a pergola.

Inspiration for a contemporary back patio in Cornwall with no cover.
Tavistock garden
By Plantlife Landscape

Inspiration for a contemporary back patio in Cornwall with no cover.
The natural and hidden feel of the seating area - webuser_145185752

Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary back patio in Sussex with tiled flooring.
Garden design ferring
By Waller & Son Property Services

Garden seating pod, Indian sandstone patio with Sussex brick edged pathways
Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary back patio in Sussex with tiled flooring.
Rotating sun seating - steve_millington86

Design ideas for a contemporary back patio in London with no cover.
South London Home
By Sieger® Aluminium Systems

The three-track sliding glass doors featured one fixed panel and two sliding panes to create a wide opening that allows fresh air to flow throughout the property. A Sieger® Casement Window was installed alongside the Sieger® slim sliding door as the same black RAL colour to create a contrast between the bright white internal and external walls.
Window style and flooring style - kyleiamaflea

Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary back patio in London with no cover.
Howitt Road
By Graham Ford Architects

Agnese Sanvito
Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary back patio in London with no cover.
Swimming pool in the English garden - jekaterina_smolaninova55

Inspiration for a small contemporary front patio in London.
The view from inside which leads directly out onto the garden
By Georgia Lindsay Garden Design

The bifold doors open directly onto this seating area creating a seamless flow from interior to exterior. Photographed by Nathalie Priem
Inspiration for a small contemporary front patio in London.
Access to the side with the kitchen looking out on to it - pritesh_chudasama

Large contemporary patio in London with no cover.
Private House, Notting Hill
By Layzell Architects

William Layzell
Large contemporary patio in London with no cover.
Garden furniture - misshollyjones

Design ideas for a small contemporary courtyard patio in London with a living wall and concrete paving.
Lennox Gardens
By Clarisford

Design ideas for a small contemporary courtyard patio in London with a living wall and concrete paving.
Side seating in front of wall but adjacent to window - jamie_hayton42

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.

Whether you want inspiration for planning a contemporary patio renovation or are building a designer patio from scratch, Houzz has 81,965 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Layzell Architects and Campbell Gardens. Look through patio photos in different colours and styles and when you find a contemporary patio design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful contemporary patio ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.
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