Patio Ideas and Designs
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.
Whether you want inspiration for planning a patio renovation or are building a designer patio from scratch, Houzz has 404,177 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Square Feet Architects and Charlotte Rowe Garden Design. Look through patio photos in different colours and styles and when you find a 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 patio ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.
Our clients here gave us a free reign to redesign their kitchen area by adding a luxurious new modern extension to transform their home. Large bespoke sliding doors open up the new cedar lined extension onto a new patio area blending outdoor style living seamlessly to the rest of their house.
I like the outdoor eating place and the raised wood patio - webuser_295928891
Photography by Simon Maxwell
This is an example of a contemporary patio in London.
Clear glass roof and seating area - dannii_barclay
Inspiration for a contemporary courtyard patio in London with concrete paving and no cover.
Steel french doors in black with the handle plate - lastyle
Zinc clad rear extensions
Rick McCullagh
Medium sized contemporary back patio in London with concrete slabs and no cover.
Steve Lyne
Photo of a contemporary patio in London.
Fencing with plants growing vertically. Integrated seating - katy_harrison11
Fine House Photography
This is an example of a classic patio in London with a potted garden.
Fencing - webuser_115821181
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LED garden spike lights are the ideal fittings to light your garden as you can move them as the planting grows and matures. Our range of LED outdoor garden lights include LED spike spot lights, LED spike floodlights and a wonderful new candle-like product – the Carella.
Lighting under seating at fire pit - casqu1
Adelina Iliev
Inspiration for an urban patio in London.
Black framed patio doors leading onto courtyard - webuser_727528956
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
Walpole Garden, Chiswick
Photography by Caroline Mardon - www.carolinemardon.com
Design ideas for a small traditional patio in London with brick paving.
The circular design on floor and borders - webuser_256757765
This is an example of a contemporary courtyard patio in London with no cover.
Outdoor room idea and lots vertical planting and privacy - philmadden
Julia Cody
Traditional patio in London with a living wall and no cover.
Roundhouse Urbo handle-less bespoke kitchen in cream, high gloss lacquer and book-matched Walnut veneer, with Vanilla compact composite quartz worksurface.
Love the seamless flow from indoors to outdoors. Makes the kitchen / living room seem huge. This is what I want - mztafreshi
Thanks to our sister company HUX LONDON for the kitchen, joinery and panelling.
https://hux-london.co.uk/
mummy i like the big windows - rsehmi_307
Charlotte Rowe Garden Design. The new high-spec kitchen with limestone flooring opens out seamlessly on to the courtyard. Around the water rill are raised beds and bench seating, playing with the change in levels, all clad in the same pale limestone.
How to add in patio planting and raised beds plus seating (add to this) - webuser_756134627
Adelina Llive
Design ideas for a contemporary patio in London.
Outdoor patio space, borders, lawn, bbq area - lizwesthead10
Design ideas for a small contemporary back patio in London with concrete paving and no cover.
I think the horizontal fencing here adds a great contemporary twist to the garden. - elisha_boulton