Small Patio Ideas and Designs
Refine by:
Budget
Sort by:Popular Today
1 - 20 of 14,099 photos
Lucy Willcox Garden DesignThis Courtyard was transformed from being an Astro Turf box to a useable, versatile Outdoor Room!
Small contemporary back patio in London with a bbq area, tiled flooring and a pergola.
Small contemporary back patio in London with a bbq area, tiled flooring and a pergola.
Krueger ArchitectsUnlimited Style Photography
This is an example of a small contemporary back patio in Los Angeles with a fire feature and a pergola.
This is an example of a small contemporary back patio in Los Angeles with a fire feature and a pergola.
Kalamazoo Outdoor GourmetMr. and Mrs. Eades, the owners of this Chicago home, were inspired to build a Kalamazoo outdoor kitchen because of their love of cooking. “The grill became the center point for doing our outdoor kitchen,” Mr. Eades noted. After working long days, Mr. Eades and his wife, prefer to experiment with new recipes in the comfort of their own home. The Hybrid Fire Grill is the focal point of this compact outdoor kitchen. Weather-tight cabinetry was built into the masonry for storage, and an Artisan Fire Pizza Oven sits atop the countertop and allows the Eades’ to cook restaurant quality Neapolitan style pizzas in their own backyard.
Kate Eyre Garden DesignDesign ideas for a small mediterranean back patio in London with natural stone paving and a pergola.
Exterior Worlds Landscaping & DesignThis shade arbor, located in The Woodlands, TX north of Houston, spans the entire length of the back yard. It combines a number of elements with custom structures that were constructed to emulate specific aspects of a Zen garden. The homeowner wanted a low-maintenance garden whose beauty could withstand the tough seasonal weather that strikes the area at various times of the year. He also desired a mood-altering aesthetic that would relax the senses and calm the mind. Most importantly, he wanted this meditative environment completely shielded from the outside world so he could find serenity in total privacy.
The most unique design element in this entire project is the roof of the shade arbor itself. It features a “negative space” leaf pattern that was designed in a software suite and cut out of the metal with a water jet cutter. Each form in the pattern is loosely suggestive of either a leaf, or a cluster of leaves.
These small, negative spaces cut from the metal are the source of the structure’ powerful visual and emotional impact. During the day, sunlight shines down and highlights columns, furniture, plantings, and gravel with a blend of dappling and shade that make you feel like you are sitting under the branches of a tree.
At night, the effects are even more brilliant. Skillfully concealed lights mounted on the trusses reflect off the steel in places, while in other places they penetrate the negative spaces, cascading brilliant patterns of ambient light down on vegetation, hardscape, and water alike.
The shade arbor shelters two gravel patios that are almost identical in space. The patio closest to the living room features a mini outdoor dining room, replete with tables and chairs. The patio is ornamented with a blend of ornamental grass, a small human figurine sculpture, and mid-level impact ground cover.
Gravel was chosen as the preferred hardscape material because of its Zen-like connotations. It is also remarkably soft to walk on, helping to set the mood for a relaxed afternoon in the dappled shade of gently filtered sunlight.
The second patio, spaced 15 feet away from the first, resides adjacent to the home at the opposite end of the shade arbor. Like its twin, it is also ornamented with ground cover borders, ornamental grasses, and a large urn identical to the first. Seating here is even more private and contemplative. Instead of a table and chairs, there is a large decorative concrete bench cut in the shape of a giant four-leaf clover.
Spanning the distance between these two patios, a bluestone walkway connects the two spaces. Along the way, its borders are punctuated in places by low-level ornamental grasses, a large flowering bush, another sculpture in the form of human faces, and foxtail ferns that spring up from a spread of river rock that punctuates the ends of the walkway.
The meditative quality of the shade arbor is reinforced by two special features. The first of these is a disappearing fountain that flows from the top of a large vertical stone embedded like a monolith in the other edges of the river rock. The drains and pumps to this fountain are carefully concealed underneath the covering of smooth stones, and the sound of the water is only barely perceptible, as if it is trying to force you to let go of your thoughts to hear it.
A large piece of core-10 steel, which is deliberately intended to rust quickly, rises up like an arced wall from behind the fountain stone. The dark color of the metal helps the casual viewer catch just a glimpse of light reflecting off the slow trickle of water that runs down the side of the stone into the river rock bed.
To complete the quiet moment that the shade arbor is intended to invoke, a thick wall of cypress trees rises up on all sides of the yard, completely shutting out the disturbances of the world with a comforting wall of living greenery that comforts the thoughts and emotions.
UserThe goal of this landscape design and build project was to create a simple patio using peastone with a granite cobble edging. The patio sits adjacent to the residence and is bordered by lawn, vegetable garden beds, and a cairn rock water feature. Designed and built by Skyline Landscapes, LLC.
Susan Cohan GardensCustom trellis stained Benjamin Moore Yorktowne Green HC-133 are supports for espaliered apple trees and a backdrop for a small deer resistant perennial bed.
THE UP STUDIOModern Shaded Living Area, Pool Cabana and Outdoor Bar
Inspiration for a small contemporary side patio in New York with an outdoor kitchen, natural stone paving and a gazebo.
Inspiration for a small contemporary side patio in New York with an outdoor kitchen, natural stone paving and a gazebo.
Design ideas for a small contemporary back patio in Chicago with a fire feature, natural stone paving and a pergola.
Horn & Co. (Previously JHLA)Our clients on this project were inspired by their travels to Asia and wanted to mimic this aesthetic at their DC property. We designed a water feature that effectively masks adjacent traffic noise and maintains a small footprint.
Flavin ArchitectsModern glass house set in the landscape evokes a midcentury vibe. A modern gas fireplace divides the living area with a polished concrete floor from the greenhouse with a gravel floor. The frame is painted steel with aluminum sliding glass door. The front features a green roof with native grasses and the rear is covered with a glass roof.
Photo by: Gregg Shupe Photography
Tierra Madre Fine GardensPhoto by Samantha Robison
Design ideas for a small classic back patio in Other with natural stone paving, a pergola and fencing.
Design ideas for a small classic back patio in Other with natural stone paving, a pergola and fencing.
Boyce Design + BuildThis contemporary backyard oasis offers our clients indoor-outdoor living for year-round relaxation and entertaining. The custom rectilinear swimming pool and stacked stone raised spa were designed to maximize the tight lot coverage restrictions while the cascading waterfalls and natural stone water feature add tranquility to the space. Panoramic doors create a beautiful transition between the interior and exterior spaces allowing for more entertaining options and increased natural light. The covered porch features retractable screens, ceiling-mounted infrared heaters, T&G ceiling and a stacked stone fireplace
Bartone InteriorsA conversation area that can communicate with guests inside the kitchen (through the accordion doors to the right) or the pool deck beyond!
Inspiration for a small contemporary patio in Raleigh with concrete slabs and a roof extension.
Inspiration for a small contemporary patio in Raleigh with concrete slabs and a roof extension.
Harper Design BuildThis is an example of a small contemporary back patio in New York with natural stone paving and a pergola.
Ketti Kupper Conscious Life DesignFlagstone patio with Rust Patina Steel planters that containerize the soil and serve as retaining walls. We cut into the slope to level the garden and create space for dining. Photo by Ashley Elizabeth Ford.
LDa Architecture & InteriorsTEAM
Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors
Builder: 41 Degrees North Construction, Inc.
Landscape Architect: Wild Violets (Landscape and Garden Design on Martha's Vineyard)
Photographer: Sean Litchfield Photography
DeGoey DesignsInspiration for a small industrial back patio in Other with an outdoor kitchen and brick paving.
Mass HardscapesThis is an example of a small traditional back patio in Boston with a fire feature, concrete paving and no cover.
Small Patio Ideas and Designs
1