Patio Ideas and Designs

Brett Winter Lemon Photography
Photo of a rustic back patio in Portland Maine with no cover, a fire feature and natural stone paving.

Garden

John Bynum Custom Homes, Inc.

Inspiration for a medium sized classic side patio in Atlanta with a potted garden, brick paving and no cover.

Cupcake Cosmos

Laurie Demetrio Interiors

Photo of a large nautical back patio in Chicago with an outdoor kitchen, natural stone paving and a roof extension.

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Coral Cay

Laura Brophy Interiors

Patio in Orange County.

Romantic Tarrytown Terrace

Westover Landscape Design

Often, less is more. Take this landscape design composed of climbing roses, hydrangeas, and lilies surrounding a bluestone terrace. This small, suburban garden feels both expansive and intimate. Japanese forest grass softens the edge of the terrace and adds just enough of a modern look to make the garden’s owners, urban transplants, happy. “My husband and I were looking for an outdoor space that had a secret-garden feeling,” says homeowner Anne Lillis-Ruth. “We’ve had fun adding furniture, antique planters, and a stone fountain to [landscape designer] Robert Welsch’s beautiful landscape. The white and green plantings provide the perfect backdrop to my collection of colorful table linens, glassware, and china. We love our garden!” Dean Fisher loved it, too. “The setting is so lovely and relaxed. It evokes the south of France, with its intimate scale and the integration of house and patio through the use of the vines and other plantings.”

Scot Meacham Wood Design

This is an example of a classic patio in San Francisco with no cover.

Greico Designer Builders Dallas

Greico Designers/Builders Dallas

View of courtyard from upper level
Photo of a large modern courtyard patio in Dallas with natural stone paving and no cover.

Joanna Archer Case Study: Family Courtyard With RHS Prestige Trellis And Fencing

The Garden Trellis Company

We asked Joanna Archer why she choose our RHS Prestige Solid Fence Panels and RHS Prestige Square Trellis (38mm gap) for this project of hers. She replied, “Our garden designs are built to last, so we always choose materials with exceptional quality and longevity. The solid fence panels really deliver on this, and the finish of the paintwork is beautiful. We like using the 38mm square trellis for additional privacy. It’s a stylish option for a classic traditional style garden such as this.”

Tuscan Residence

Bureau Namas

Capturing the essence of Tuscany with a contemporary twist, this villa radiates modern elegance amidst its Italian - inspired architecture. The structures are thoughttully arranged around a private courtyard, evoking a sense of timeless charm. Emphasizing the illusion of separate additions over time, diverse finishes and a dynamic interplay of roof heights and massing create a captivating aesthetic that seamlessly blends tradition with contemporary flair.

The Menagerie | Decomposed Granite Patio

Twistleaf

Photo by Brittany Dawn Short
This is an example of an eclectic patio in Austin with decomposed granite.

Beaumount . View of living spaces from patio

Cook Architects

Inspiration for a contemporary patio.

Bow Mar Ranch Remodel

KGA Studio Architects, PC

This is an example of a large classic back patio in Denver with a fireplace and a pergola.

Bayshores 3

Garden Studio

Photo by Mellon Studio
Coastal patio in Los Angeles with a fireplace, tiled flooring and a pergola.

West Coast English Retreat

Tierra Madre Fine Gardens

Photo of a small contemporary back patio in Other with a water feature and gravel.

2020 NARI CotY Award Winning Residential Landscape Design/Outdoor Living

National Association of the Remodeling Industry

Sardone Construction, Dallas, Texas, 2020 Regional CotY Award Winner, Residential Landscape Design/Outdoor Living Under $100,000
Design ideas for a classic back patio in Dallas with concrete paving.

Outdoor Kitchens

Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors

Centered on an arched pergola, the gas grill is convenient to bar seating, the refrigerator and the trash receptacle. The pergola ties into other wood structures on site and the circular bar reflects a large circular bluestone insert on the patio.

Sonoran Scandi

K2 Signature Homes

Rear patio with custom wood-clad raised planter/bench using Thermory Ash. Exposed aggregate concrete hardscape.
Large scandinavian back patio in Phoenix.

Santa Cruz Sustainable

K & D Landscaping, Inc.

Residential home in Santa Cruz, CA This stunning front and backyard project was so much fun! The plethora of K&D's scope of work included: smooth finished concrete walls, multiple styles of horizontal redwood fencing, smooth finished concrete stepping stones, bands, steps & pathways, paver patio & driveway, artificial turf, TimberTech stairs & decks, TimberTech custom bench with storage, shower wall with bike washing station, custom concrete fountain, poured-in-place fire pit, pour-in-place half circle bench with sloped back rest, metal pergola, low voltage lighting, planting and irrigation! (*Adorable cat not included)

Traditional Patio

Inspiration for a classic patio in Denver.

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 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 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.

San Clemente Craftsman

Living Gardens Landscape Design

Inspiration for a medium sized classic patio in Orange County with a fireplace.

United Kingdom

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