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  1. Garden & Outdoor
  2. Patio
  3. Hard Landscaping: Gravel

Contemporary Patio with Gravel Ideas and Designs

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Palo Alto 2
Palo Alto 2
Randy Thueme Design Inc. - Landscape ArchitectureRandy Thueme Design Inc. - Landscape Architecture
Kitchen, dining area and fire feature. Jason Liske photographer
Inspiration for a contemporary back patio in San Francisco with gravel and a bbq area.
debora carl landscape design
debora carl landscape design
debora carl landscape designdebora carl landscape design
Design ideas for a contemporary patio in San Diego with gravel, no cover and fencing.
Highland
Highland
Brookside Landscape DesignBrookside Landscape Design
This picture shows the fire lounge seating area and artificial turf area for family games. Photography: Brett Hilton
Large contemporary back patio steps in San Diego with gravel and no cover.
Venice Canals
Venice Canals
Katie Leede & Company StudioKatie Leede & Company Studio
Medium sized contemporary back patio steps in Los Angeles with gravel and no cover.
West Coast English Retreat
West Coast English Retreat
Tierra Madre Fine GardensTierra Madre Fine Gardens
This is an example of a small contemporary back patio in Other with gravel and a pergola.
Canopy-Shaded Dining and Display Space
Canopy-Shaded Dining and Display Space
FormLA LandscapingFormLA Landscaping
The series of outdoor rooms welcomes use of the entire garden and entices exploration.
Photo of a large contemporary back patio in Los Angeles with an outdoor kitchen, gravel and no cover.
Red Ledges La Sal Peak Showcase
Red Ledges La Sal Peak Showcase
PureHaven HomesPureHaven Homes
This is an example of a contemporary back patio in Salt Lake City with a fire feature, gravel and a roof extension.
Flower Avenue Residence
Flower Avenue Residence
Peter Vincent ArchitectsPeter Vincent Architects
Design ideas for a contemporary back patio in Los Angeles with a fire feature, gravel and no cover.
Magnolia Hill
Magnolia Hill
Bonick LandscapingBonick Landscaping
Corten steel risers lead to cozy seating area Landscape Design: Michael Pappas for Bonick Landscaping Photography: Clay Hayner Furniture: Brown Jordan Kantan Rockers
Riverside Retreat
Riverside Retreat
Eileen Deschapelles Interior DesignEileen Deschapelles Interior Design
Landscape Designer, Robin Kramer
Medium sized contemporary back patio in New York with gravel and no cover.
Vacation in Venice
Vacation in Venice
Regal Construction & Remodeling Inc.Regal Construction & Remodeling Inc.
Inspiration for a large contemporary back patio in Los Angeles with gravel, no cover and a living wall.
Amazon Drive
Amazon Drive
Landscapes WALandscapes WA
Joel Barbitta
Large contemporary back patio in Perth with a fire feature and gravel.
Sunny Slope Remodel
Sunny Slope Remodel
Matt Garcia DesignMatt Garcia Design
Casey Dunn
Contemporary courtyard patio steps in Austin with gravel.
Ferndale Remodel
Ferndale Remodel
UserUser
Linda Oyama Bryan
This is an example of a medium sized contemporary back patio in Seattle with an outdoor shower, gravel and a roof extension.
Milne
Milne
bild DESIGNbild DESIGN
Design ideas for a contemporary patio in New Orleans with gravel and a roof extension.
Contemporary Patio
Contemporary Patio
Inspiration for a medium sized contemporary back patio in Los Angeles with gravel and no cover.
Stunning Contemporary
Stunning Contemporary
Knight Architects LLCKnight Architects LLC
Renovation of a ranch with a great room and kitchen opening up to new conrete terrace with built in fireplace, grill and planter.Pete Weigley
This is an example of a contemporary back patio in New York with no cover, gravel and a bbq area.
Parlette Residence
Parlette Residence
WA Design ArchitectsWA Design Architects
Copyrights: WA design
This is an example of a medium sized contemporary back patio in San Francisco with a water feature, gravel and no cover.
Alfresco Living
Alfresco Living
Scot Eckley, Inc.Scot Eckley, Inc.
Contemporary patio in Seattle with gravel and no cover.
The Shack
The Shack
Feldman Architecture, Inc.Feldman Architecture, Inc.
Photos by Mark Dessert
Design ideas for a contemporary patio in San Francisco with gravel and no cover.

Contemporary Patio with Gravel 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.
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