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

Small Patio Ideas and Designs

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Fulham Courtyard
Fulham Courtyard
Lucy Willcox Garden DesignLucy Willcox Garden Design
This 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.
Outdoor Kitchens and BBQ Areas
Outdoor Kitchens and BBQ Areas
Design Outdoors LimitedDesign Outdoors Limited
A countryside garden with a BBQ and side burner, Reclaimed brick used for the structure.
Photo of a small classic courtyard patio in Kent with an outdoor kitchen, brick paving and no cover.
Trellis & Firepit Area - Northeast View
Trellis & Firepit Area - Northeast View
Krueger ArchitectsKrueger Architects
Unlimited Style Photography
Photo of a small contemporary back patio in Los Angeles with a fire feature and a pergola.
West Coast English Retreat
West Coast English Retreat
Verde Fine GardensVerde Fine Gardens
Photo by Samantha Robison
Design ideas for a small classic back patio in Other with natural stone paving, a pergola and fencing.
Laurelhurst Garden
Laurelhurst Garden
Howells Architecture + DesignHowells Architecture + Design
This project reimagines an under-used back yard in Portland, Oregon, creating an urban garden with an adjacent writer’s studio. Taking inspiration from Japanese precedents, we conceived of a paving scheme with planters, a cedar soaking tub, a fire pit, and a seven-foot-tall cedar fence. A maple tree forms the focal point and will grow to shade the yard. Photo: Anna M Campbell: annamcampbell.com
Small outdoor room with a green wall in Kensington
Small outdoor room with a green wall in Kensington
The Garden BuildersThe Garden Builders
Pro Colour Photography
Inspiration for a small contemporary back patio in London with a living wall and natural stone paving.
Beautiful Small Landscape
Beautiful Small Landscape
Southview DesignSouthview Design
A paver patio (Anchor Afton, walnut color) to gives the homeowners the entertainment and dining space they wanted. The blended colors of the pavers pull together the colors of the roof shingles (brown) and the New York Bluestone (blue/gray). The smaller pattern of the pavers defines the space, inviting guests to sit. Plus, the plant bed between the wall and the patio gave the homeowners a space to plant seasonal color and an edible garden.
Thigpen Residence
Thigpen Residence
Chris Corbett DesignChris Corbett Design
Neil Michael - Axiom Photography
This is an example of a small modern courtyard patio in Sacramento.
4th Street Townhouse, Park Slope
4th Street Townhouse, Park Slope
Harper Design BuildHarper Design Build
This is an example of a small contemporary back patio in New York with natural stone paving and a pergola.
Seattle Cozy Patio
Seattle Cozy Patio
SCJ Studio Landscape ArchitectureSCJ Studio Landscape Architecture
In Seattle's Fremont neighborhood SCJ Studio designed a new landscape to surround and set off a contemporary home by Coates Design Architects. The narrow spaces around the tall home needed structure and organization, and a thoughtful approach to layout and space programming. A concrete patio was installed with a Paloform Bento gas fire feature surrounded by lush, northwest planting. A horizontal board cedar fence provides privacy from the street and creates the cozy feeling of an outdoor room among the trees. LED low-voltage lighting by Kichler Lighting adds night-time warmth . Photography by: Miranda Estes Photography
Contemporary Patio
Contemporary Patio
Design ideas for a small contemporary back patio in Chicago with a fire feature, natural stone paving and a pergola.
Outdoor Kitchen
Outdoor Kitchen
DeGoey DesignsDeGoey Designs
This is an example of a small urban back patio in Other with an outdoor kitchen and brick paving.
Naperville Private Residence
Naperville Private Residence
CB Conlin Landscapes Inc.CB Conlin Landscapes Inc.
Lower-level reclaimed Purington clay brick patio with natural stone steps, lush shade plantings and vintage street lamp.
Design ideas for a small traditional back patio in Chicago with brick paving.
Brookhaven Plunge Pool & Outdoor Living Oasis
Brookhaven Plunge Pool & Outdoor Living Oasis
Boyce Design + BuildBoyce Design + Build
This 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
Patio Projects
Patio Projects
TKSL ConstructionTKSL Construction
This is an example of a small traditional back patio in Denver with stamped concrete and no cover.
sm22 - interior design Milano
sm22 - interior design Milano
co.arch studioco.arch studio
Un giardino deve rappresentare un sogno ad occhi aperti, non un disegno. La terrazza su cui si affacciano quasi tutti gli ambienti della casa è stata pensata come una stanza verde e contemporaneamente come una quinta. Si è scelto di creare un giardino selvaggio di miscanthus e carex, realizzando coni ottici dall’interno delle stanze. Una parete vegetale, mediante l’installazione di vasi in ceramica realizzati da Marlik Ceramic, una giovane designer iraniana. I tiranti in corda uniscono i vasi e creano un disegno geometrico. Ad architettura rigorosa e semplice contrasta bene un giardino disordinato: un ordine dell’architettura nella natura senza ordine
Mustang Park, Carrollton
Mustang Park, Carrollton
AquaTerra OutdoorsAquaTerra Outdoors
AquaTerra Outdoors was hired to bring life to the outdoors of the new home. When it came time to design the space we were challenged with the tight space of the backyard. We worked through the concepts and we were able to incorporate a new pool with spa, custom water feature wall, Ipe wood deck, outdoor kitchen, custom steel and Ipe wood shade arbor and fire pit. We also designed and installed all the landscaping including the custom steel planter. Photography: Wade Griffith
Trellis & Firepit Area - North View
Trellis & Firepit Area - North View
Krueger ArchitectsKrueger Architects
Unlimited Style Photography
This is an example of a small contemporary back patio in Los Angeles with a fire feature and a pergola.
West London Courtyard
West London Courtyard
Karen Rogers at KR Garden DesignKaren Rogers at KR Garden Design
Walpole Garden, Chiswick Photography by Caroline Mardon - www.carolinemardon.com
Design ideas for a small traditional patio steps in London with brick paving.
Mid-Cambridge Full Home Renovation
Mid-Cambridge Full Home Renovation
Fresh Start Contracting CompanyFresh Start Contracting Company
Eric Roth
This is an example of a small contemporary back patio in Boston with tiled flooring and no cover.

Small 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.
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