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  1. Garden & Outdoor
  2. Patio
  3. Contemporary

Contemporary Patio Ideas and Designs

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Lahontan Custom Home
Lahontan Custom Home
MD ConstructionMD Construction
Medium sized contemporary back patio in Sacramento with concrete paving and no cover.
Toll Brothers Verde River, Rio Verde
Toll Brothers Verde River, Rio Verde
Toll Brothers, Inc.Toll Brothers, Inc.
CDC Designs and Josh Caldwell Photography
Contemporary back patio in Phoenix with an outdoor kitchen.
Pool Cabana
Pool Cabana
Nyhus Design GroupNyhus Design Group
Designed to compliment the existing single story home in a densely wooded setting, this Pool Cabana serves as outdoor kitchen, dining, bar, bathroom/changing room, and storage. Photos by Ross Pushinaitus.
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Grove Lane, SE5
Grove Lane, SE5
Fine House PhotographyFine House Photography
Image: Fine House Studio © 2017 Houzz
Inspiration for a medium sized contemporary back patio in London with natural stone paving.
Contemporary Toronto backyard space
Contemporary Toronto backyard space
Elite Pool DesignElite Pool Design
Contemporary backyard space includes and in ground spa, fire feature, water feature, gardens and outdoor living space. Designed and built exclusively by Elite Pool Design.
Clarksville Charmer
Clarksville Charmer
Yellow Door DesignYellow Door Design
Dror Baldinger
Contemporary patio in Austin with a water feature and no cover.
484 North Parkway
484 North Parkway
SDH Studio Architecture and Interior DesignSDH Studio Architecture and Interior Design
SDH Studio - Architecture and Design Location: Golden Beach, Florida, USA The Architecture is conceived as an ensemble of vertical and horizontal planes that guide the user through a sequence of spatial and visual experiences. Our clients’ passion for the outdoors is embedded in the entire project. Also, the use of color is an important feature that highlights certain accents along the design.
Thayer Residence
Thayer Residence
Neumann Mendro Andrulaitis Architects LLPNeumann Mendro Andrulaitis Architects LLP
Ciro Coelho Photography
Photo of a contemporary patio in Santa Barbara.
Arbogast Custom Homes Belvedere Clean Line Soft Contemporary
Arbogast Custom Homes Belvedere Clean Line Soft Contemporary
Arbogast Custom HomesArbogast Custom Homes
Inspiration for a contemporary back patio in Austin with an outdoor kitchen and a roof extension.
Indian Ridge Remodel
Indian Ridge Remodel
Angela Wells Interior DesignAngela Wells Interior Design
Trent Teigen
This is an example of a medium sized contemporary back patio in San Diego with natural stone paving, a fire feature and a roof extension.
My Houzz: See How a Couple Transformed Their 1941 House
My Houzz: See How a Couple Transformed Their 1941 House
Megan HansenMegan Hansen
Photo: Megan Hansen © 2017 Houzz
Photo of a contemporary back patio in San Francisco with no cover and a bbq area.
Rancho Mission Viejo Spa
Rancho Mission Viejo Spa
Arc EnvironmentsArc Environments
This is an example of a large contemporary back patio in Orange County with concrete slabs and no cover.
Woodinville
Woodinville
Timberline Patio CoversTimberline Patio Covers
This project started in 15' we just went back and took photos and it came out spectacular. What a great space to use year round for entertaining, cooking, watching a game, or even playing a game of chess. He really decked it out after we finished up!
Winter Park Contemporary
Winter Park Contemporary
Level OneLevel One
This is an example of a medium sized contemporary courtyard patio in Orlando with no cover.
Harpenden, Hertfordshire
Harpenden, Hertfordshire
Jackie BretonJackie Breton
Medium sized contemporary back patio in Hertfordshire with a water feature, natural stone paving and no cover.
Mustang Park, Carrollton
Mustang Park, Carrollton
AquaTerra OutdoorsAquaTerra Outdoors
AquaTerra Outdoors was hired to bring life to the outdoors of the new home. When it came time to design the space we were challenged with the tight space of the backyard. We worked through the concepts and we were able to incorporate a new pool with spa, custom water feature wall, Ipe wood deck, outdoor kitchen, custom steel and Ipe wood shade arbor and fire pit. We also designed and installed all the landscaping including the custom steel planter. Photography: Wade Griffith
Entry Courtyard
Entry Courtyard
Landwell Design + Build Co.Landwell Design + Build Co.
This is an example of a small contemporary courtyard patio in San Luis Obispo with a water feature, concrete paving and a pergola.
Concrete Paved Patio
Concrete Paved Patio
DSTscaping and RLC ConstructionDSTscaping and RLC Construction
Design ideas for a large contemporary back patio in San Francisco with a fire feature, concrete slabs and no cover.
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.

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.
Hardscaping
Hardscaping
Northwestern Landscape & DesignNorthwestern Landscape & Design
Inspiration for a medium sized contemporary back patio in Seattle with stamped concrete and no cover.
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