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  1. Garden & Outdoor
  2. Patio
  3. Size: Compact

Small Midcentury Patio Ideas and Designs

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8x10 Signature Series Home Office Space
8x10 Signature Series Home Office Space
Studio Shed - Live Large. Build Small.Studio Shed - Live Large. Build Small.
This 8x10 Signature Series Studio Shed, located in Portland, OR, was built for use as a home office. This unit did not require a permit.
Photo of a small midcentury patio in Portland.
West Seattle Mid-Century
West Seattle Mid-Century
Board & VellumBoard & Vellum
Photos by Tina Witherspoon.
This is an example of a small midcentury back patio in Seattle with concrete paving, no cover and a fire feature.
Mid Century Courtyard Remodel
Mid Century Courtyard Remodel
SCJ Studio Landscape ArchitectureSCJ Studio Landscape Architecture
Already partially enclosed by an ipe fence and concrete wall, our client had a vision of an outdoor courtyard for entertaining on warm summer evenings since the space would be shaded by the house in the afternoon. He imagined the space with a water feature, lighting and paving surrounded by plants. With our marching orders in place, we drew up a schematic plan quickly and met to review two options for the space. These options quickly coalesced and combined into a single vision for the space. A thick, 60” tall concrete wall would enclose the opening to the street – creating privacy and security, and making a bold statement. We knew the gate had to be interesting enough to stand up to the large concrete walls on either side, so we designed and had custom fabricated by Dennis Schleder (www.dennisschleder.com) a beautiful, visually dynamic metal gate. The gate has become the icing on the cake, all 300 pounds of it! Other touches include drought tolerant planting, bluestone paving with pebble accents, crushed granite paving, LED accent lighting, and outdoor furniture. Both existing trees were retained and are thriving with their new soil. The garden was installed in December and our client is extremely happy with the results – so are we! Photo credits, Coreen Schmidt
Elegant Home
Elegant Home
LDB HOMES LLCLDB HOMES LLC
Side Patio with Solid Wood construction.
Inspiration for a small retro side patio in Seattle with an awning.
Diamond Heights Mid-Century Modern
Diamond Heights Mid-Century Modern
Regan Baker Design Inc.Regan Baker Design Inc.
First home, savvy art owners, decided to hire RBD to design their recently purchased two story, four bedroom, midcentury Diamond Heights home to merge their new parenthood and love for entertaining lifestyles. Hired two months prior to the arrival of their baby boy, RBD was successful in installing the nursery just in time. The home required little architectural spatial reconfiguration given the previous owner was an architect, allowing RBD to focus mainly on furniture, fixtures and accessories while updating only a few finishes. New paint grade paneling added a needed midcentury texture to the entry, while an existing site for sore eyes radiator, received a new walnut cover creating a built-in mid-century custom headboard for the guest room, perfect for large art and plant decoration. RBD successfully paired furniture and art selections to connect the existing material finishes by keeping fabrics neutral and complimentary to the existing finishes. The backyard, an SF rare oasis, showcases a hanging chair and custom outdoor floor cushions for easy lounging, while a stylish midcentury heated bench allows easy outdoor entertaining in the SF climate. Photography Credit: Scott Hargis Photography
The Park Residence - Palm Springs
The Park Residence - Palm Springs
ModshopModshop
Small retro back patio in Los Angeles with a fire feature and a roof extension.
Villa Vicin' 'O Mare
Villa Vicin' 'O Mare
Allen ConstructionAllen Construction
Whole house remodel of a classic Mid-Century style beach bungalow into a modern beach villa. Architect: Neumann Mendro Andrulaitis General Contractor: Allen Construction Photographer: Ciro Coelho
Bluestone Pavers and Mahogany Bench
Bluestone Pavers and Mahogany Bench
California Eco Design, Inc.California Eco Design, Inc.
The courtyard merges a seating area with a wrap around deck. The deck maximizes space without causing harm to an enormous Japanese yew tree.
Small retro back patio in Los Angeles with a fire feature and natural stone paving.
mid-century courtyard home / laguna niguel
mid-century courtyard home / laguna niguel
Moss Yaw Design studioMoss Yaw Design studio
a private gathering area and fire pit incorporates horizontal cedar alongside black brick and wide vertical siding
This is an example of a small midcentury courtyard patio in Orange County with a fire feature, concrete slabs and no cover.
Hillside Hideaway (after)
Hillside Hideaway (after)
Michael Muro Garden DesignMichael Muro Garden Design
Architectural slabs merge the old and new and provide visual interest. 2020
This is an example of a small midcentury side patio in Seattle with concrete slabs.
Mid Century Remodel
Mid Century Remodel
VFLA Architecture + InteriorsVFLA Architecture + Interiors
Small midcentury back patio in Denver with gravel and no cover.
Anaheim Patio
Anaheim Patio
Sitio Landscape ArchitectureSitio Landscape Architecture
Design ideas for a small midcentury back patio in Orange County with concrete slabs and a roof extension.
Umgestaltung Hausgarten
Umgestaltung Hausgarten
besgen Landschaftsarchitekturbesgen Landschaftsarchitektur
besgen Landschaftsarchitektur
Inspiration for a small midcentury back patio in Cologne with gravel.
Flagstone Patio with Custom Garden Beds
Flagstone Patio with Custom Garden Beds
Ecology ArtisansEcology Artisans
Five months after install, we have nearly complete coverage by silver carpet (Dymondia margaretae). Very pleased how fast and flushed this came through. Looking forward to experimenting more with the possibilities. We also built the custom garden beds around the patio to provide non-compacted growing space for the client.
Palm Springs
Palm Springs
reimagined habitatreimagined habitat
Design ideas for a small retro courtyard patio in Canberra - Queanbeyan with tiled flooring and a pergola.
Walnut Creek Eichler Remodel
Walnut Creek Eichler Remodel
Destination Eichler, LLCDestination Eichler, LLC
John Shum, Destination Eichler
Photo of a small retro courtyard patio in San Francisco with concrete slabs and no cover.
Ranch Update
Ranch Update
Kara Kersten DesignKara Kersten Design
Small retro back patio in Kansas City with concrete slabs and no cover.
Mid-Century Ranch Home Remodel
Mid-Century Ranch Home Remodel
ReVision Design/RemodelingReVision Design/Remodeling
© Lassiter Photography | ReVisionCharlotte.com
This is an example of a small retro back patio in Charlotte with brick paving and no cover.
Mid Century Courtyard Remodel
Mid Century Courtyard Remodel
SCJ Studio Landscape ArchitectureSCJ Studio Landscape Architecture
Already partially enclosed by an ipe fence and concrete wall, our client had a vision of an outdoor courtyard for entertaining on warm summer evenings since the space would be shaded by the house in the afternoon. He imagined the space with a water feature, lighting and paving surrounded by plants. With our marching orders in place, we drew up a schematic plan quickly and met to review two options for the space. These options quickly coalesced and combined into a single vision for the space. A thick, 60” tall concrete wall would enclose the opening to the street – creating privacy and security, and making a bold statement. We knew the gate had to be interesting enough to stand up to the large concrete walls on either side, so we designed and had custom fabricated by Dennis Schleder (www.dennisschleder.com) a beautiful, visually dynamic metal gate. The gate has become the icing on the cake, all 300 pounds of it! Other touches include drought tolerant planting, bluestone paving with pebble accents, crushed granite paving, LED accent lighting, and outdoor furniture. Both existing trees were retained and are thriving with their new soil. The garden was installed in December and our client is extremely happy with the results – so are we! Photo credits, Coreen Schmidt
8x10 Signature Series Home Office Space
8x10 Signature Series Home Office Space
Studio Shed - Live Large. Build Small.Studio Shed - Live Large. Build Small.
This 8x10 Signature Series Studio Shed, located in Portland, OR, was built for use as a home office. This unit did not require a permit.
Design ideas for a small midcentury patio in Portland.

Small Midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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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