Patio with Natural Stone Paving Ideas and Designs

Inspiration for a large farmhouse front patio in Dallas with a potted garden, natural stone paving and a roof extension.

Outdoor Living Addition

Lindross Remodeling

Johan Roetz
Expansive contemporary back patio in Tampa with natural stone paving, a roof extension and a bar area.

Earthship Farmstead

Kaplan Thompson Architects

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

Fiberglass pergola covering hot tub

Fine Decks Inc.

Landscaping done by Annapolis Landscaping ( www.annapolislandscaping.com) Patio done by Beautylandscaping (www.beautylandscaping.com)
Photo of a large classic back patio in DC Metro with natural stone paving, a gazebo and a bar area.

2017 Cleveland Homearama Model

Otero Signature Homes

Inspiration for a large rural back patio in Cleveland with an outdoor kitchen, a roof extension and natural stone paving.

Weekend In The Country

Louis Fusco Landscape Architects

Medium sized farmhouse back patio in New York with natural stone paving and no cover.

Outdoor Stone Fireplace and entertaining space with seatwalls

Waitkus Design

Karen Waitkus
Medium sized country back patio in Philadelphia with a fire feature and natural stone paving.

DAVIDSON - RENOVATION

Robert A. McGraw Architect

Jon Encarnation Photography
Large mediterranean back patio in Orange County with an outdoor kitchen, natural stone paving and a pergola.

Lake Shore Arts and Crafts Garden

Calafia Design

Katy Sheppard
Inspiration for a medium sized traditional back patio in Chicago with natural stone paving and a pergola.

Altamar - Courtyard

Legacy Custom Homes

Legacy Custom Homes, Inc
This is an example of a large mediterranean courtyard patio steps in Orange County with natural stone paving and no cover.

Modern in Bed-Stuy

New Eco Landscapes

Photos by Lori Cannava
This is an example of a small contemporary back patio in New York with no cover and natural stone paving.

Traditional Patio

Design ideas for a classic patio in Atlanta with natural stone paving and no cover.

Alderwood Landscape

Alderwood Landscape Architecture and Construction

Design ideas for a large contemporary back patio in Seattle with a fire feature, natural stone paving and no cover.

Mill Valley Residence

Pedersen Associates

Front yard renovation with new waterfall and bridge and fireplace seating area. Barbara Ries Photography
Traditional patio in San Francisco with natural stone paving and a fire feature.

Outdoor Living

Terra Ferma Landscapes

With a range of materials and installation skills used in this project, it is truly showcased in this patio area.
This is an example of a large traditional back patio in San Francisco with a fire feature, natural stone paving and no cover.

Cobblestone

Ascent Custom Homes

Photo of a traditional patio in Milwaukee with natural stone paving and a bar area.

Merion Residence

Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.

Scot Gordon Photography
This is an example of a traditional back patio in Philadelphia with natural stone paving and no cover.

Terraced stone patio with fire pit

Landscapes by Tom LLC

Terraced stone retaining walls with a bluestone patio and fire pit. Grand arched stairs made of natural stone stair steps.
Large rustic back patio in Boston with a fire feature, natural stone paving and no cover.

Patios

Diamond Homes, Inc.

Denver Urban Patio
Photo of a medium sized classic side patio in Denver with a living wall, natural stone paving and no cover.

Eads Residence

James Glover Home, Inc.

Mediterranean patio in Orange County with a fire feature, natural stone paving and no cover.

Patio with Natural Stone Paving 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.

United Kingdom

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